2016 is the most legendary year of "Little Emperor" LeBron James, not only in the 15-16 season to help the Cavaliers in the finals 1-3 shocking reversal of 73 wins over the Warriors to win the first championship in team history, complete self-redemption and commitment to his hometown, but also in the 16-17 season cut 26.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 1.2 steals of super comprehensive data, reaching a new career season average of rebounds and assists per game, helping the team to rank second in the East with a record of 51-31, unstoppable.
However, it was such a legendary year and such comprehensive data, James still failed to win his fifth regular season MVP trophy in the 16-17 season, and even ranked only four in the MVP vote rate, only getting a pitiful 1 vote out of 101 first votes, which is really surprising and incomprehensible. Could it be that there were three players in the 16-17 season who were more well-rounded and stronger than James? Today, the author will take you to take a closer look at who the three people in front of James in terms of MVP votes that season were, and whether they deserved such a high vote rate.
3rd Place: Kawhi Leonard (9 first votes)
Team record: 61-21
Regular season averages: 25.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 steals
If you look at the data alone, Kawhi Leonard's season average of 25.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game is definitely not as good as LeBron James's season average of 26.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 1.2 steals. However, the stats don't just look at the surface, Kawhi Leonard's contributions on the defensive end are not reflected in the stats, but fans and judges are looking at him, as evidenced by his selection to the All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive First Team this season, as well as the second-best record in the West that helped the Spurs to a 61-21 record.
In addition, you must know that this year, Tim Duncan, the soul of the Spurs, has retired, but the team's record has not changed much, and it is still at the top of the league. Leonard's growth and contribution are indispensable. As for the selection of MVP, in addition to personal data, the team's record is also a blessing, so Leonard should complement the Spurs that have always been ranked high, with the Spurs' high record and his own defense, he won 9 MVP first votes, ranking in front of LeBron James.
Second place: James Harden (22 first votes)
Team record: 55-27
Regular season averages: 29.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 11.2 assists and 1.5 steals
If Kawhi Leonard won the MVP vote with his defensive performance and team record, then James Harden won the MVP vote with his luxurious stats and good team record. Harden not only averaged 29.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 11.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game this season, becoming the season assist leader, but also became the first player in NBA history to score at least 2,000 points, 900 assists and 600 rebounds in a single season, and he helped the Rockets achieve a 55-27 record, ranking third in the West, only one less than Leonard's Spurs.
In this comparison, it is clear that James Harden, who has a stronger offense and is blessed by the assist king, will get more MVP votes, and the second place is completely deserved. Even if it weren't for the exaggerated numbers of the guy in the first place, James Harden's 29+11 double-double stats and the team's 55-27 record alone would have been enough to win the MVP award in any other average season, instead of a measly 22 first-place votes as it is now.
1st Place: Russell Westbrook (69 first votes)
Team record: 47-35
Average stats per game in the regular season: 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, 10.4 assists and 1.6 steals
Averaging 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, 10.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game this season, well, there are no surprises, Russell Westbrook, who got such supernatural statistics, was the well-deserved regular season MVP that season. As for why I say that, because the average triple-double per game data for the season is proof of that. Of course, if you look at it from the current perspective, Russell Westbrook's season triple-double per game doesn't seem to be so exaggerated, and players such as Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic seem to be able to do it easily, especially with Westbrook's Thunder team only 47-35 downs, no matter what, he shouldn't win the regular season MVP this season.
However, the only player to average a triple-double per game in the 16-17 season was back in the 1961-1962 season when Oscar Robertson was the "Big O." The 55-year record was broken, and when Westbrook accomplished this feat, almost everyone tacitly agreed that he would win the regular season MVP this season, even if his team's record was not good, and it was still a certainty that he was only 47-35 and ranked sixth in the West. In this regard, it can only be said that James Harden is really a little wronged, and the average double-double per game this season has broken the dusty average triple-double record again after 55 years, otherwise according to the current selection perspective, the regular season MVP that season should be Harden.