Here are Giannis’ MVP year votes:
78 journalists had him as their first pick. Only 23 had Harden and…that was it. Clear cut case.
He won it again the next year. Again it was only him and Lebron as top vote getters for No1 place in the MVP race. 85 journalists said it was Giannis.
And then? Then the league figured out he just simply isn’t a playoff player. Only one journalist considered him first choice MVP for the 2020-2021 season.
So when you say he is “in the MVP” race, it is an extremely loose way of using the term. The following years only a handful of journalists had him in the top position and possibly this year again maybe 2-3 at best. Whether it’s Embid…
or the Joker,
Clearly Giannis is nowhere near top of mind for most judges. Sure he gets points from the 2nd and 3d place which add up. But he is nowhere near MVP and the downhill is pretty clear.
In the position he plays it not unusual to be past his prime at his age. Furthermore he has no other skill with which to supplement his game. His 3 is getting worse (worse in the history of the NBA) and his free throws are simply appalling.
It is great that the NBA gives out all these consolation prizes. But when players believe the hype and start hogging the ball for stat padding it can clearly damage their team. For the 2024-25 season Giannis received no votes for first but nor for second!
