MVP: The Case for Paul George
It may not be as apparent as the argument for James Harden or Giannis Antetokounmpo, but Paul George deserves to be at the forefront of the NBA MVP discussion.
George is averaging 28.7 points per game, 4.1 assists, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.3 steals during the 2019 season. Not only is he second in the league in points per game, but he’s also first in the league in steals per game and loose balls recovered.
It’s also arguable that Oklahoma City just isn’t the same team without George on the court. OKC has a minus-11.2 net rating when he’s on the bench, but that stat jumps to plus-10.4 when he’s active on the court — a remarkable 21.6 point difference.
George has also contributed to some of the Thunder’s biggest wins of the season, in some highly impressive ways. His 47-point, 10-assist, 12-rebound triple-double on Feb. 11 against the Trailblazers certainly proved a point about his ability to lead his team.
Not to mention, he dropped 45 points and outscored Harden in the 117–112 victory for the Thunder over the Rockets, only two days prior to his triple-double. Over a two-week period between Feb. 9 and Feb. 23, George recorded a total of 199 points, including 20 in the All-Star Game.
There is also the argument that the duo of Russell Westbrook and Paul George is one of the most consistent in the West, if not in the League. Their ability to execute the pick-and-roll and their knack for finding each other down court on early fast break opportunities display innate chemistry that wins ball games.
George may not be the obvious candidate for MVP, but there’s no doubt his numbers are making waves in 2019 and causing teams to think twice about the once quiet small forward. With a year like this and his numbers only continuing to improve, it’s safe to say that Paul George isn’t done yet.
