The inconsistent narrative of the NBA MVP

Over the past 10–15 years, the changing narrative of the NBA Most Valuable Player Award has been debated heavily. First, Derrick Rose won MVP over LeBron James in 2011, to Russell Westbrook averaging a triple double and winning the award as a sixth seed in 2017, the criteria of the MVP has been erratic.

Typically throughout basketball history, the trophy is awarded to the best player on the best team, but recently we have seen dynamic changes made in the NBA. Lately, the MVP being a fiery discussion among NBA fans, the legitimacy behind the award has been put into question.

This has been primarily caused due to the fact that the award is based on the regular season, and recent MVP winners have achieved minimal success in the postseason.

(Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

The inconsistency of the NBA MVP can be based on the past couple of seasons with Nikola Jokić. Last year, the five-time NBA All star joined Russell Westbrook, becoming the second player in NBA history to win the MVP as a sixth seed.

That mark also made Jokić the 14th player in NBA history to win back-to-back MVPs. This season Jokić is averaging a triple double and is again favored to win MVP for a third straight year. Out of all of his “MVP” level seasons, this would meet the criteria of him being the best player on the best team.

The Denver Nuggets have been the Western conference first seed throughout the entire season, with Jokić tremendous efforts allowing that to be possible. Reaching this mark would put Jokić in elite company with greats like Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlin, and Bill Russell being the only players to win three straight MVP awards.

If Jokić wins once again this could possibly be viewed in the same light as the rest. Legends, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlin and Bill Russell have won at the highest level winning a combined 16 championships, but the furthest Jokić has been in the playoffs is to the western conference finals.

Individual stats and accolades are important, but winning as a team is the ultimate achievement on the road to becoming an all-time champ.

Former NBA veterans and current ESPN analysts JJ Redick and Kendrick Perkins debated on Jokić’s season individually, when Perkins accused the Nuggets center of stat padding.

“No one is knocking what Jokić is doing as far as him having an unbelievable season…But don’t you act like you wasn’t in those locker rooms or didn’t play with those players that were a point, two rebounds or assists away from having a triple-double, a double-double, hitting 50,” said NBA veteran JJ Redick.

Other MVPs in recent years have been held to similar standards. In terms of “stat padding”, Russell Westbrook was criticized for hunting rebounds and assists when he won the trophy in 2017.

In the perspective of minimal postseason success, Giannis Antetokounmpo faced similar pressure to Nikola Jokić. Before winning the 2021 NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks, Antetokounmpo won back-to-back MVPs, but lost in the first round of the 2020 playoffs as a first seed.

Ironically enough from 2017–2019 the league had the “NBA Awards” that took place after the season, and in many cases showcased the leagues Most Valuable player, often after losing early in the playoffs.

The conversation of the NBA MVP is an ever changing roller coaster. We have seen the goal post for the award change based on various storylines and situations.

With an already lack of expectation for players during the regular season, the value of winning MVP has slipped from preceding years.

The emphasis of the playoffs are mostly on the minds of basketball consumers, and to its detriment the Most Valuable player award is not looked at the same.