This debate is getting old.
James’ Cavaliers’ have clinched their first trip to the playoffs since the 1997-98 season and home court advantage for the first round. The team has 47 wins with five more games to play in the regular season. He has become known throughout the league for his unselfish play and elevating the play of his team collectively, while also authoring one of the most historic seasons ever by an individual player. In other words, he is the "perfect storm" on the court.
Here is some compelling evidence in support of LeBron James being the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (all stats as of April 18):
Has posted 49 games of 30 or more points and 10 games of 40 or more points on the season.
Has led or tied for the team lead in points in 72 games, rebounds 18 times, assists 59 times and steals 35 times.
Has scored the winning points (the points that gave Cleveland its final lead) in the fourth quarter or OT in 10 games this season.
Is averaging 15.7 points in the second halves of games this season and has posted second halves of 20 or more points in 23 games including four games of 30 or more points in the second half. In the fourth quarter of games this season, James is averaging 7.7 points and has scored 15 or more points in the fourth quarter on 11 occasions.
Is ranked second in the NBA in triple-doubles with five. In those games, the Cavaliers are 5-0 and in his 9 career triple-doubles, Cleveland is a perfect 9-0.
Has led Cleveland in points, rebounds and assists in the same game a league-high 16 times this season.
Leads the league in ‘and 1” plays – plays in which a player makes a field goal while being fouled and makes the following free throw attempt.
Is the one of just two players in the NBA (other being Shawn Marion) to have made at least 100 three-pointers and put up 100 dunks on the season.
Leads or is second in three of the most commonly used statistical analyses of player efficiency:
John Hollinger’s Player Efficiency Ranking
1. LeBron James – 28.18
2. Dirk Nowtizki – 28.16
3. Kobe Bryant – 27.93
4. Dwyane Wade – 27.68
5. Kevin Garnett – 26.88
82games.com Roland Rating (As of 3/27)
1. LeBron James – 16.8
2. Dwyane Wade – 16.7
3. Kobe Bryant – 14.6
4. Elton Brand – 12.7
5. Yao Ming – 12.6
NBA Efficiency Ranking
1. Kevin Garnett – 30.3
2. LeBron James – 29.4
3. Shawn Marion – 28.8
4. Elton Brand – 28.5
5. Kobe Bryant – 27.8
Ranks second in the NBA’s efficiency ranking (29.4), third in scoring (31.4), sixth in free throws made (601), 12th in assists (6.6) and 15th in steals per game (1.56). He also leads the NBA in points in the paint.
As of April 11th, 2006, James has made 19 of 29 field-goal attempts this season in the last two minutes of a one-possession game (66 percent). No other player with at least 25 attempts has made more than half of them. Derek Fisher ranks second at 50 percent (13-for-26). (Courtesy of Elias Sports Bureau).
Is in the midst of a critical stretch of 10 games where he has scored 32 or more points in 10 consecutive games. He scored 35 or more in nine straight games from March 22 – April 10 becoming just the third player since 1970 (Michael Jordan - 10 in 1986 and Kobe Bryant - 13 in 2003) to have nine or more straight games of 35 or more points In those nine games, James averaged 38.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 7.6 assists. The last player to post at least those averages during a nine-game span was Oscar Robertson during the 1964-65 season.
Named the youngest NBA All-Star Game MVP this season after posting 29 points and six rebounds in the Eastern Conference’s 122-120 win.
Became the first player in NBA history to be named the Player of the Week for three consecutive weeks on his way to winning the award five times this season. He is also the first player since the 02-03 season (Bryant and Duncan) to win the weekly honor five or more times.
James was also named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for November and March this season. He is the only player to win the monthly honor more than once this season.