James Harden knows who he would vote for in this year’s MVP race.
All he would have to do is look in the mirror.
Talking to reporters after the Nets win over the Pistons on Friday night, Harden was asked if he belongs in the MVP conversation. After a 44-point performance and a Brooklyn victory without Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, Harden felt the answer was a simple one.
“Do I feel like I belong in it? I feel like I am the MVP,” Harden said. “It’s that simple. I don’t want to be speaking individually on myself, but I’ll just leave it at that”
Harden certainly has a strong case. So far this season, he is averaging 25.8 points per game while leading the league with 11.2 assists per game, which would tie a career-high. He is also leading the league in minutes and keeping the Nets rolling while they are without their other stars. Harden is nearly averaging a triple-double since joining the Nets, averaging 26.0 points, 11.4 assists and 8.9 rebounds per game.
“I just try to go out there every single night and give my teammates everything that I can bring to the game,” Harden said.
Harden is currently 10th in the league in points per game, but other potential MVP candidates like Joel Embiid and LeBron James have gone down with injuries, potentially paving the way for Harden to claim the award. If he continues along the pace he’s been on since being traded to the Nets, he will certainly have a strong case.
Harden’s competition will likely be Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks and Damian Lillard of the Trail Blazers.
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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