James Harden wins NBA Players Association Most Valuable Player

The Beard has started his season of awards. He takes home a big one after being voted on by his peers.

James Harden is coming off, arguably, the best season of his career. He helped lead the Rockets to be one game away from the Finals and fit in perfectly with his new running mate Chris Paul.

The Beard led the league in scoring this season, averaging 30+ points per game for the first time in his career. It was also the first time that he did indeed lead the league in that category.

He also added 8.8 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game on 45% shooting overall and 36.7% from 3-point range. His eFG% was a solid 54.1% and Harden led the league, once again, in free throws attempted and made.

Now, James Harden has been named the NBA Players Association Most Valuable Player. While this isn’t quite the real award, yet, it is still nice to see the Beard get the respect of the players in the league.

https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1004754791048925184

This isn’t the first time…

This is actually the second time that Harden has been named the Players Association MVP out of the four years that they have given out the award. He also won it in 2015, but Stephen Curry took home the actual MVP that year. Personally, I think these stats were good enough to win the MVP that year. Take a look:

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table

You can be the judge for yourself, though. Here are Curry’s stats from that year:

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table

James Harden should win the real thing

Thankfully, James Harden is the heavy favorite to win the actual MVP award as well. He is a finalist going against LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

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While those other two certainly had incredible and respectable seasons, it should be Harden hoisting his first MVP this year. He will have that opportunity at the Awards Show on June 25. If he wins it, then it will be a great moment for the city and team. Hopefully, LeBron doesn’t swoop in and somehow change the voters’ minds.