NBA needs Giannis Antetokounmpo or Anthony Davis to win the MVP
By Tron Griffin
The NBA needs Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis or another big man to win the MVP award before it becomes a position award like the NFL’s MVP
The NBA needs the Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 26.4 points, 12.8 rebounds and 5.9 assists a game, or the New Orleans Pelicans big Anthony Davis, who is averaging 28 points, 12.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists a game to win the MVP this year or within the next few years before the award becomes a position award like the Heisman or worse the NFL MVP award.
Since 2007, the NBA has awarded it’s annual Most Valuable Player award to a point guard, shooting guard or a small forward. The last low post player to win the award was in 2007 when the Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki took home the award.
The last center to take home the award was in 2003 when the San Antonio Spurs big man Tim Duncan won the award. However, many people consider him a power forward except for his former coach Gregg Popovich who in 2016 said Duncan had played center for the Spurs for the last 15 years.
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So a big man has only won the NBA’s MVP award twice in the last 15 seasons. If the trend continues, the award might be considered a position award just like the college football Heisman award is considered a quarterback and running back award.
In fact, over the last 15 seasons, 12 quarterbacks and three running backs have won the Heisman. The last non-quarterback or running back to win the award was Michigan cornerback/punt returner Charles Woodson in 1997.
The quarterback award known as the NFL Most Valuable Player Award has been awarded to a quarterback 12 of the last 15 seasons with a running back winning the other three awards.
I know the league has changed from a big man league to a guard/ small forward/ point forward league, but still, the NBA’s MVP award becoming a position award is bad for the league.
The Heisman and especially the NFL’s MVP award media hype has become boring because the hype is usually all about quarterbacks with one long shot running back added to the list every year.
I just want to make clear that I am not against the most deserving player winning the MVP award, which the NBA media usually gets right. I am just pointing out that a deserving big man winning the award would be good for the league.
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Like many people, I cannot name a big man who deserved to win the MVP award in the past five years. Hopefully, that trend will end soon before the league’s biggest award become another position award.