Can Kawhi Really Win MVP?

---

3) Spurs-Record:

• Kawhi Leonard has been on a offensive tear all year--averaging a blistering 26 ppg and leading the Spurs to one of the top records in the league. He definitely deserves MVP consideration but for him to definitely snag the award the Spurs will have to boast the best record in the league. James Harden appears to be the front runner for the award because of the Rockets great turnaround, but if Leonard can get the Spurs the best record that may earn him more votes over Harden at the end of the day.

2) Triple Double History:

• Russell Westbrook is on the verge of making history being the first player in almost sixty years to average a triple double for the entire season. An amazing feat that comes with a whole gravy train of hype. Despite this, Westbrook may be hurt by his team’s inability to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference record wise which may give Kawhi Leonard the edge. These MVP award voters typically reward winning; back in the day Tim Duncan won the award largely because his team boasted one of the best records in the league.

1)Defensive Player of the Year Award:

• Leonard has been the recipient of DPOY award for two straight years and could make history with a third. This could be a consolation prize to the MVP award because he is obviously still the supreme defender in the league; hopefully his candidacy for this award will not prevent voters for seeing him as a bonafide most valuable player. The stock of the “two-way player” is higher in the league than it has ever been, so this may be Leonard’s year to make history and become the Spurs first MVP winner since 2003.