When it was announced that LeBron James would collect his fourth Most Valuable Player award. No one, except the Boston Globe‘s Gary Washburn (and he’s entitled to his views), wanted to be caught with a stain on their ballot … and rightly so. However, does that mean Kevin Durant‘s work (50/40/90 shooting averages and the West’s top record) should go without a well-earned receipt?
For the uninitiated, pro baseball hands out trophies for their top rookie, best pitcher, leading manager and most trustworthy fielder. MLB’s major awards are akin to the four biggest accolades handed out in the NBA – Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year – except that they’re given out in both the American and National League’s, respectively.
Given the NBA’s visible conference divide, isn’t it time that both the elite from the East and the best playing out West serve as different streams of power for their own lighthouses? If baseball, with clear distinctions between its two leagues, awards its players accordingly, shouldn’t the NBA look to do the same?
If the NBA wants to persist with pointless banners (like the ones given out systematically to their divisional record leaders), surely it’s worthwhile presenting more individual accolades (whenever a deserving recipient surfaces). Their Rookie and Player of the Month trackers run side by side, divided by conference, why not carry that over to all the major awards?
Surf the web and you’ll easily find any End of Season Awards discussion inclusive of debate about regrettable exclusion. It would appear, after the 2012-13 season at least, that giving out more individual awards wouldn’t dilute trophy value. Rather, it would attempt to address the need to identify the best in the business on a broader scope, and more often than not, ‘best’ isn’t limited to one talent, or position, or conference.
[One important footnote: Awards don’t have to be mandatory, not when you’re giving out more of them. If the East doesn’t have a standout rookie, don’t assign the Conference one. This’ll increase the importance of award winners over time because stand-alone recipients will appear even more amazing (or lucky, or timely, etc.).]
Would anyone really have a problem with K.D. being awarded a trophy that says “West MVP”? Durant, a lock for First Team All-NBA recognition, falls short of his true title because the NBA believes glass cabinet tokens (for elite play) are a league-wide matter but that’s only because it suits, or, once upon a time, served a more obvious purpose. Durant’s otherworldly season deserves a trophy, not an honorable mention or “second place vote” tally. It’s time the NBA steps up and starts following at least one of Major League Baseball’s best attributes, even if it’s weighed down by its own history.
On the next page, the solution to the MVP dilemma…
“Value,” as the defining word for the Association’s top individual honor, isn’t limited to the Eastern Conference. Likewise, defense isn’t only played in the West, and last time we checked, both conferences continue to field first-year players. Let’s not even get started trying to think about the near impossible task of comparing the adjustments enforced by Gregg Popovich to the management style of Erik Spoelstra to the work put in by George Karl. Why can’t we just start saying, “One clearly ruled the West while another conquered back East?
Once Adam Silver takes over, it makes sense to start fresh and part of his legacy, as Commissioner, should be to either extend everything to be league-wide or separate all things accordingly. Everything else in the NBA appears to be in liquid form while the awards are frozen. Heck, it might even be worth turning the All-NBA First, Second and Third Team’s into simply Conference “Five’s” (for both East and West). Make it mean more to play in the East or West, not less.
To solve any legacy dilemmas, the NBA could look to create a “Mr. NBA” award which would trump all others. This could be given out annually, most likely after the Finals, to a single player who demonstrated a command of the entire season. Again, if no one does, the award remains on the shelf. This would prevent Tony Parker from being an oddity on the honor roll (as Finals MVP). Plus, this way, when we look back, on say 2007, Parker would be Finals MVP but Tim Duncan, thanks to his Regular and Post-season showing, would be ’07s “Mr. NBA.” Again, no one would’ve complained if Karl Malone was given MVP but Michael Jordan was named Mr. NBA (for the ninth time).
One argument the NBA is currently able to hide behind: their current crop of trophy winners are all in the Post-Season (minus Damian Lillard) and thus their respective impact on the season is obvious. LeBron claims another MVP (after kicking ass en route to 66 wins and insane averages), Marc Gasol anchored his Grizz past the high-flying Clippers, J.R. Smith was visibly missed after being suspended when New York arm-wrestled with Boston and Paul George was instrumental in the Pacers’ advancing (in addition to his Game 1 play in Madison Square Garden which has forced a refocus of the East) … but what about Durant? All Kid Clutch did was dominate the final quarter in the opening Round 2 contest (35 points and 15 defensive boards anyone?) but there’s nothing for him to hang his hat on. There’s no such thing as the West MVP!
LeBron has been Mr. NBA for five seasons now, even when Derrick Rose was MVP. Before him, Kobe led the way. Before that, it was Kevin Garnett, Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson and Tim Duncan, (in some order). In the end, Durant might win himself eight straight West MVP’s but he may never claim a single Mr. NBA award because of LeBron. Amending the awards (as it currently stands) doesn’t destroy what we know, it only re-enforces it.
With Adam Silver taking over, should the NBA look to honor players in both Conferences at the end of the regular season?
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