Giannis the true MVP?

Giannis Antetokounmpo was no scrub of an MVP by any means, but was he really more valuable than James Harden?

The Giannis Antetokounmpo story is a brilliant one, and this MVP looks to be just the start of the ‘Greek Freak’s’ long and dominant career. He’s long and athletic, with a work ethic and humbleness that makes him not only a worthy MVP candidate, but also the perfect franchise player. The All-Star put up 27. 7 points and 12.5 boards on 57.8% FG, and even threw in 1.5 blocks to solidify his position as an elite two-way player. But despite all of this culminating 60+ wins and a Conference Finals trip, I struggled to get behind the campaign of Giannis over Harden.

This is no fault of Giannis; he didn’t show a glaring weakness mid-season to change my mind. James Harden was just that good. There are only two players who have averaged more than Harden did this year- MJ in 1987, and Wilt Chamberlain, who spent the 1960’s putting up video-game numbers. Now, as Giannis rightfully said in his winning speech, “the MVP isn’t all about numbers”. And it’s not. But it is a factor. And Harden putting up 36, 6, 7 and 2 was quite frankly, absurd. It was historic, and it wasn’t just his averages, he broke records, he had the memorable nights. 32 games in a row scoring 30+ points?! I don’t care how many free-throws you take or how many times you ‘travel’, this was and will remain an amazing feat for a long time to come.

But this year wasn’t just about the stats for Harden, the guard displayed the whole package. At one point, the Rockets sat at 11-14, and looked out of place with injuries and chemistry issues to deal with. Following an early December win vs the Portland Trail Blazers, where Harden had 29, he took over. 32 games in a row scoring 30 or more, but more importantly, Houston went 21-11 in that stretch, and shot right back into playoff contention. Harden had 50+ four times, including a memorable 61 point game at Madison Square Garden. ‘The Beard’ had his records, he had his memorable nights, but seeing him put all of Houston on his back in the way he did, makes him my MVP. He dragged his team away from the dangers of a wasted season right back into title contenders, seemingly all on his own. Clint Capela wasn’t right, Chris Paul wasn’t right, they’d lost their defensive presence at the forward spots. Harden didn’t care. He took over, in MVP style.

James Harden was more valuable this season than Giannis Antetokounmpo, and in a more historic way. Obviously, without Giannis, that team doesn’t win 60 games, it doesn’t go to the ECF, but the Rockets without Harden? Without his scoring, his facilitating, his much-improved defence, the Houston Rockets aren’t a playoff team this year. No way. If he didn’t put them on his back the way he did, I’d happily take the Sacramento Kings over the Rockets for that 8th spot. The Lakers without their injuries as well. Harden’s value this year was absurd, and it wasn’t even a Steve Nash type of value, where the numbers aren’t extraordinary, but the impact is clear. The numbers were ridiculous. Understandably, he had the green light, but people act like it’s easy to put up 40 if you have that green light. It reached a point where I’d check the box score midway through the second quarter, and it was weird if Harden didn’t already have 20!

Watching Giannis receive his trophy and bring an entire room to tears did soften my view slightly, it really was an amazing watch. That story about Giannis receiving his first pay-check and sending it all back home to Greece, meaning he had no money for a cab and had to run to a game really epitomizes everything that he is about. He’s humble, easy to like and a great star for the game of basketball. And he had an incredible year! The Bucks have got a really, really good one in Giannis, and deserve to celebrate this moment. But James Harden just tipped it for me. Milwaukee are still good without Giannis’ brilliance, they have the pieces to be solid. Harden carried Houston in a way I’m not sure Giannis could ever do without those pieces around him, and had his historical moments to go along with it.

I really think James Harden ( slightly ) became old news around the NBA, and Giannis was seen as the new, exciting future of the league. Giannis will be a transcendent star in this league for a long time, but we let a chance to recognize greatness slip this time around. Harden deserved that second MVP trophy.