Why this season is the one for Giannis Antetokounmpo

Now that our season previews have come and gone, what’s next? Well, how about we predict some individual awards? This time, we’re only talking about the Most Valuable Player. You can find our other award predictions right here.

Most Valuable Player: Giannis Antetokounmpo

It’s time.

Russell Westbrook and James Harden will have to split credit with their new star teammates. Kawhi Leonard’s team is going to be worse. LeBron is going to rest for too many games. Isaiah Thomas is on LeBron’s team. Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant will split the Warriors vote. John Wall has no room to grow unless he magically becomes a star three-point shooter.

That’s everyone who finished at or above Giannis’ vote total last year. He improves significantly every season. His team is ready for a breakout and in a weak Eastern Conference, could be the No. 3 seed. Hell, if things go south in Cleveland and Boston takes time to gel, they could get to No. 1. Jabari Parker isn’t going to be able to hoard touches while he recovers from yet another torn ACL.

People talk about Giannis in this vague futuristic sense. People can’t get over how good they think he might one day be, how he’ll be an MVP candidate eventually. But the future has to come eventually. He’s in his fifth year. LeBron was the best player in the world by then. Larry Bird actually won the MVP in his fifth season. So did Tim Duncan. Michael Jordan won it in his fourth. Derrick Rose in his third.

This is going to happen for Giannis. If we can all accept that, then why do we have to slap distant dates on it? Why not now? He is going to continue improving as a player. He is on a team built perfectly to showcase his specific talents. Plus, he plays in a weak conference that has maybe three players with the talent and inclination to defend him on a random Tuesday in February.

The future is now. Giannis is ready to do this right away and nobody in the league is going to be able to stop him. He’s not his best self yet. He still has growing to do. But that has never been an MVP prerequisite. LeBron has won the award four times and it seems like we see a new peak of his every June.

The planets have just aligned for Giannis to win this award. If circumstances were different, he’d have another year or two to fly under the radar. But that period of his career is just over. He’s too good, and the competition is too bad, for him not to start racking up the awards we all know are coming.

Second Place: LeBron James

Third Place: Russell Westbrook

Fourth Place:Nikola Jokić

Fifth Place: Kawhi Leonard