In the 90‘s, it was the common opinion that Michael Jordan was the best player in the league, even if he didnt win the MVP every season. So at least from 1991-1998, Jordan was the leagues best player.
But after 1998, which players would you say held the unofficial title of „the best player in the league“? What were the time spans between the respective passing the torch?
lebron wasn’t the best in 2019. It was Kawhi, Steph, or Harden.
Kawhi imo. He average 30 ppg for the entirety of the playoffs.
I think Harden having 4 years in a row with the highest win shares of any player has to mean he was at least 1B in one of those years.
Also Steph has to be 1A or 1B in more years. The guy has been the only actual opposition to LeBron. With all the respect to Thompson, Draymond and even KD but you put all those players in other teams and they don’t sore as high. We saw that in Steph injury years and we saw that again in 2022 where he willed his team to a ring.
Conclusion, I like your list but would give Harden and Steph their well deserved flowers.
Lebron was still viewed as the best player in the world in 21 until Solomon hill injury gm survey that year had him clear n1 and he was mvp favourite with embid being injured his only competitor. Also 2016 after finals no one though steoh , 2008-2010 is also Lebron the moment of his first mvp 2009 I can’t see anyone arguing otherwise unless you’re going to give Kobe credit for a better team . Magic shot 41%+ from 3 while cavs shot low 30s: actually I think non Lebron cavs barely shot 30.%, Dwight shot 70%+ from the ft line. Brons team mates shooting awful from 3 n Dwight’s hot ft shooting isn’t why Kobe was better then Bron , you can argue Kobe the mvp year but even that year was a legacy mvp by the numbers that should’ve been cp3 mvp year quite clearly .
2019 Kawhi
Glaring Tim Duncan omission