In just a couple of weeks, LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers is going to be 37 years old.
That’s an advanced age for most NBA players and he’s definitely a bit slower than he used to be but, all in all, James is still playing like one of the best competitors in the league.
He set the internet abuzz Wednesday night with an incredible block that had him taking off in a way that a 37-year-old just doesn’t do.
LeBron’s head touched the backboard 🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/ygYbMxGxri
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 16, 2021
Currently, James is making 27.4 points, 6.6. rebounds, and 7.4 assists a game which is leading many to ask if he’s in contention for MVP this year.
The answer is yes: after a rocky start to the season, James is once again in the conversation for MVP.
Getting Better
While James is doing very well right now, it wasn’t always like this.
James was never out-and-out bad this season (is he ever?) but he wasn’t producing the points he is now nor was he leading his team as they’d expect.
At the beginning of the season, James was averaging 23.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 6.4 assists with a troubling 4.2 turnovers.
As you can see, he has stepped it up and flipped some sort of switch inside of himself, which has led him to be the player everyone knows and loves.
LeBron James over the last 8 Games:
39 PTS, 6 AST, 5 REB
30 PTS, 11 AST, 7 REB
33 PTS, 9 AST, 5 REB
23 PTS, 6 AST, 11 REB
30 PTS, 5 AST, 4 REB
20 PTS, 11 AST, 10 REB
33 PTS, 6 AST, 5 REB
30 PTS, 10 AST, 11 REB pic.twitter.com/9CF6YEQbyh— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) December 13, 2021
This has come at a great time for the Lakers, who have gotten better as James has.
The team is now sixth in rebounds, steals, and points and is also fourth in blocks and field goals made.
As James has found his footing, the rest of the squad has too.
This sort of improvement should thrust James into the running for MVP but there is another reason why he’s being talked about along with Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant: everyone loves the idea of James winning at this point in his career.
The Narrative
There is no doubt that James is producing numbers that make him worthy of being this season’s MVP.
There is also no doubt that the media and NBA fans are fired up by the idea of a man who is nearly 40 doing so well and claiming such a coveted prize.
It is important to remember that the MVP award is voted on by people who live and breathe basketball and report on it and study it and, of course, love it.
There is a lot of romance in the concept of James, one of the best to ever do it, winning another MVP title before he surely retires in a few years.
Of course, this isn’t the only reason that James could win the trophy.
If he takes his fifth Most Valuable Player, it will be because he is once again one of the most incredible players on the planet.
But it can’t be denied that he might get a few extra votes because of the incredible story behind his win.
Competition for MVP this year is tough especially with Curry breaking records, Durant carrying all of Brooklyn on his back, and Nikola Jokic remaining at the top of his game, but James is now once again making his presence known, and the thought of him taking home the grand prize is not as far-fetched as it was only a few weeks ago.
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