Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and Kyle Kuzma (0) against the Phoenix Suns during a preseason game at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Lakers' Kyle Kuzma: LeBron James should have 'at least' eight MVPs

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has won the NBA's MVP award four times in his historic career and is tied with Wilt Chamberlain for the third-most of all time. One of his teammates thinks he should have at least double that, though. 

Kyle Kuzma lobbied for James to win his fifth MVP award on Thursday night following a 116-105 win over the Charlotte Hornets. 

"The NBA MVP is a very political award," Kuzma said, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "Bron should have been the MVP at least eight, nine, 10 times. Everybody knows that."

James notched 37 points, eight rebounds and six assists against the Hornets, his third-best performance of the season. 

The Lakers are now 4-0 since the All-Star break thanks to James, who has had to carry the load with Anthony Davis sidelined. L.A. is now second in the Western Conference with a 28-13 record. 

James is averaging 25.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and eight assists per game this season while shooting 51.4% from the field and 36.7% from deep. When asked about Kuzma's comments, the 36-year-old  admitted that he thinks he should have more than four MVP awards but that it's not something he dwells on. 

"I should have more than four, I believe," James said. "But ... I don't sit around thinking about it or crying about it, or whatever the case may be. I just try to come in the next season and be the MVP and be talked about [for] it again. I bet a lot of the greatest that played this game feel like they should have more as well, if you ask any one of those guys.

"This is another opportunity for me to able to be recognized as the best player for that particular season, and this season. So, hopefully, I can continue to just play great basketball and see what happens at the end."

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