2019 is definitely a year in NBA history for the MVP award, because this year, even Russell Westbrook, who averaged a triple-double per game, did not squeeze into the top four MVP selections, and even the four players who squeezed into the top four MVP selections, and two did not get any first votes, and the first votes were all concentrated on the first and second players! Today, the author will take you to carefully review the most competitive MVP selection that year, and see how Wei Shao, who averaged a triple-double in the third season, ranks on the MVP list in the 18-19 season, and who are the top four players in the MVP list.
No. 10: Russell Westbrook (MVP scored 3 points, got only one fourth vote)
Team record: 49-33
Regular season averages: 22.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, 10.7 assists, 1.9 steals
It may be aesthetic fatigue, or Russell Westbrook himself has averaged a triple-double per game for the season is worthless, Westbrook, who has averaged a triple-double per game for three consecutive years, not only did not win the favor of the MVP selectors again, but also only got a fourth vote, ranking tenth on the MVP list, which is really surprising. You know, in the 16-17 season, Westbrook won the regular season MVP by averaging 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, 10.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game, ignoring the team's 47-35 record. Unexpectedly, time has passed, and now no one has voted for him in the top three MVPs, and only gave him a consolation prize for the fourth vote.
No. 4: Nikola Jokic (MVP 212 points, no first vote)
Team record: 54-28
Regular season averages: 20.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.2 steals
If you look at the data alone, Nikola Jokic only averaged 20.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game this season, which can be said to be completely covered by Russell Westbrook's average of 22.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, 10.7 assists and 1.9 steals per game.
However, with the exception of Westbrook's 55-year-old triple-double record in the 16-17 season, which made the jurors ignore the team's record, over the years, the MVP selection criteria have relied on the player's personal data plus the team's record and key time performance. So with the team's record of leading the Nuggets to 54-28 and ranking second in the West this season with a 46-36 record that did not make the playoffs last season, even if Nikola Jokic's personal data is not as good as Westbrook's, it is still no problem to get so many votes, and it is well deserved.
3rd place: Paul George (MVP score 356 points, no first vote)
Team record: 49-33
Average stats per game in the regular season: 28 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 2.2 steals
As Paul George, who is on the same team as Russell Westbrook, his season averages don't look so comprehensive, averaging only 28 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.2 steals per game, and even Jokic and Westbrook are not even Jokic and Westbrook in everything except scoring, but he is third in the MVP vote, so it is obvious that the judges balanced Russell Westbrook's votes and voted for Paul George. As for why, it is probably a warning to Westbrook not to brush up on triple-doubles per game so often, and instead of taking care of his own data, it is better to care more about his teammates, let them improve together, and then improve the team's record. After all, averaging a triple-double for three consecutive seasons has made this extremely valuable achievement less and less valuable.
Second place: James Harden (MVP score 776 points, 18 first-place votes)
Team record: 53-29
Average stats per game in the regular season: 36.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 2 steals
As Russell Westbrook's third brother, James Harden is not as fazed as he is to brush a triple-double, but strengthens his scoring while having comprehensive data, averaging 36.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 2 steals per game this season directly brought him to the second place on the MVP list. Although Harden's team record has slipped from 65-17 last year to 53-29 today, there are some suspicions of sacrificing the team to fulfill themselves, but that's because the teams this season are generally strong, except for the Warriors, who are ranked first in the West, which are 57-25, the rest of the playoff teams are basically hovering between 54 and 49 wins, and his average of 36 points per game this season is indeed a feat, and he is the second player to achieve this achievement since Michael Jordan, the god of basketball in the last century. So it's no surprise that Harden got those votes.
1st place: Giannis Antetokounmpo (MVP score 941 points, 93 first-place votes)
Team record: 60-22
Regular season averages: 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks
Giannis Antetokounmpo not only averaged 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, but also led the Bucks to a 60-22 league No. 1 record, so there is no doubt that he is the regular season MVP of the 18-19 season. After all, the MVP selection criteria need to integrate the player's personal data plus the team's record and key moment performance, and Antetokounmpo perfectly meets these three criteria, the personal data is good-looking, the team's record ranks first in the league, and this season has a single brilliant performance of 52 points, 16 rebounds and 7 assists, so he received 93 first votes, and was elected as the regular season MVP for the first time in his career, which is a benchmark for future generations.