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Miami Heat: Breaking down Jimmy Butler’s MVP chances

By Noah Decker

MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 09: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat reacts against the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter at American Airlines Arena on February 09, 2021 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 09: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat reacts against the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter at American Airlines Arena on February 09, 2021 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket against Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Could Giannis Antetokounmpo or Stephen Curry steal the MVP from Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat?

Let’s move on to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry’s chances at taking home the award next year. Both players have already won the award twice, and last season, both players played some of the best basketball they have ever played in their career. So naturally, they should be considered for the MVP, and either one of them has a great shot at it.

What might keep Antetokounmpo or Curry from winning a third MVP is the idea that voters want to bring new people into the conversation. A little while ago, LeBron James commented that he felt he should have won more than four MVPs.

He acknowledges that the players who won the award definitely deserved it, but he believes he should still have more considering he has been the best player in the NBA for over a decade.

If the MVP award was “Who is the best player in the NBA?” LeBron would have at least 10 MVPs right now. However, that’s not how the award works. It’s more of about “Who has contributed the most to their team’s success this year?” So, anyone could win.

The answer to that question could also arguably be LeBron James for more than four years. However, it is entirely possible that voters got tired of picking James for the award.

This has been a recurring theme throughout NBA history. The greatest players in the league can’t always win the MVP. In fact, there have only been three players to ever win the award three years in a row, and two of them played in the 1960s. The great Michael Jordan was also probably snubbed one or two awards by Charles Barkley and Karl Malone.

Of course, if Antetokounmpo or Curry puts up historically insane numbers and carries their team to a top-two seed, it would be hard to not vote for them. However, we have become so accustomed to seeing both of these players put up historic box scores every night that it would take a lot from them to amaze us at this point.

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