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LeBron James vs The World: How LBJ Compares To Other MVP Candidates

By Dylan Haines

Mar 9, 2017; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) gets defended by Detroit Pistons forward Marcus Morris (13) during the third quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons won 106-101. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2017; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) gets defended by Detroit Pistons forward Marcus Morris (13) during the third quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons won 106-101. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 12, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball over Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball over Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

LeBron James vs. James Harden

James Harden was my preseason MVP pick, and I believe now more than ever that he is deserving of winning his first MVP award this season. However, LeBron James has a convincing argument to make here as well.

For starters, as I alluded to earlier, LeBron’s net plus/minus this season is absurd, with the Cavs playing like a juggernaut when he’s on the court and a lottery team when he sits.

That hasn’t been the case with James Harden’s Rockets this season.

It’s surprising to most that the Cavs play so badly with LeBron on the bench considering all the talent he has around him, but that’s what’s happening. The Cavs are a putrid 4-20 without him since he returned to Cleveland and are winless in the six games they’ve played without him this season.

While Harden hasn’t missed any games this season, the Rockets have held up just fine with him on the bench. This season, the Rockets are +7.7 with Harden on the court and +5.8 with him off, good for a net plus/minus of +1.9. That’s right; the Rockets have been really good with or without Harden on the floor this season.

While that is a great sign for the Rockets’ title chances, it doesn’t do Harden’s MVP candidacy any favors. The definition of “MVP” has been widely debated for years now, but in the most literal sense of the word, Harden hasn’t been nearly as critical to his team’s success as LeBron and Westbrook have been to theirs.

Also worth noting, James Harden is currently just nine turnovers away from setting the NBA record for the most turnovers by a single player in a season, set my George McGinnis in 1974-75, not to mention LeBron is shooting almost 10% higher from the field this season (54.3% to 44.6%).

While I personally believe Harden has the best overall argument to win the MVP award this season, LeBron has a pretty solid argument to make to the contrary.

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