NBA: LA Lakers Lebron James’ Special Trait Plays Role In MVP Chances

The LA Lakers have climbed to the top of the Western Conference this season with the addition of superstar big man Anthony Davis. The Brow’s frontcourt presence has been pivotal in the success of the Lakers throughout the season. He leads the team in scoring with 26.7 points per game accompanied by 9.4 rebounds per outing.

While Davis is in position to lead the team into a deep playoff run, the captain of the Purple and Gold still is Lebron James. In his 17th season, the King is still on top of his team with how he’s able to facilitate and take control of the pace on the court. He is averaging 25.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 10.6 assists per game.

This puts an interesting predicament in the MVP race. The leading candidate for the MVP award has mostly been Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak has been the favorite to win because he has led his team to the top of the league. The Milwaukee Bucks are 53-11 and were the first team to secure a playoff spot.

But with the recent games over the weekend, the Lakers were able to clinch their own postseason berth with a win over the number one seed in the league. James stood out and tallied 37 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists.

While the Lakers are criticized for lacking the depth in their squad, they were able to prove that they could win against stacked teams. They followed their big Bucks win with a strong statement against one of the deepest rosters in the league, the LA Clippers. The Clippers were in full force that game but fell short against Lebron’s effort of 28 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists.

His consistency of finding his teammates and facilitating on his own and has been his trademark contribution to the teams he’s played for. But what shines the most in Lebron’s candidacy in the MVP race that makes him so special are his leadership traits.

Per ESPN by way of Clutch Points, Rachel Nichols shared that determining the MVP is more than just the stats. “I do think value comes into play with leadership,” she said. Nichols also added that the fact that Lebron has recruited and made Davis even more effective the floor is indicative of his leadership.