Lakers Coach Reveals Why LeBron James Is League MVP

LeBron James had an incredible season with the Los Angeles Lakers, and many would agree that he is the league MVP for the season. Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy agrees with this one.

“This year he is,” Handy said. “I know the team changed, the makeup of the Lakers team changed, but I just think ‘Bron just does so much for his teammates and himself. This dude is like, 35 years old? He was arguably having one of his best seasons. Again, you go from not making the playoffs last year to the team is being reconstructed, we have a new coach, new front office, and a whole new team pretty much…and this dude is still finding a way to have his team with the second best record in the NBA. Just consistency, man.

“The level of consistency that he plays at every night is at a high level. And the MVP to me is again, a player of what the value he is to his team. Not about being the leading scorer in the league. It’s not about if you win the most games in the league; yeah you have to be up there in the top teams in the NBA but, what is the value that this player brings to his team on a night in and night out basis? I think that’s the kind of way that I look at that award.”

LeBron James is the league MVP

King James is 35, and he is in his 17^th season. He is averaging 25.7 points, 7.9 rebounds and 10.6 assists per game. This season, the Lakers have a 49-14 record at this moment. They own the first spot in the West.

But, Giannis Antetokounmpo is still a threat. He had a good season, too, and there are still people who favor him over LeBron.

Antetokounmpo is averaging 29.6 points, 13.7 rebounds 5.8 assists, 1 steal and 1 block per game.

Handy talks about Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers

The Lakers assistant coach also talked about the Lakers’ game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Kawhi Leonard’s team is 2-1 over the Lakers.

“I think in Game One, we didn’t play that well,” Handy said. “They outplayed us. I felt like in Game Two, we mostly felt like that we gave that game away. We were in control that whole game; we were up 15 late in the third quarter, but I just felt like we got a little sloppy and you have to give the Clippers credit, you know they did what they had to do to scrap and claw back to get back in the game but, I feel like we gave that one away. And I feel like in Game Three it just felt like everybody put their –it was almost like their ‘playoff basketball hat’ and ‘Bron set the table.

“I mean, he wanted to – after All-Star break, he wanted start to prepare himself for the playoffs and you can see that in how he plays. He plays different. And you can see playoff ‘Bron activated in Milwaukee and the Clippers. I think he wanted to ‘send a message’ to the people around the league saying, “Look. I’ma let y’all know when I turn the gas on, I’m STILL KING JAMES.” If you will [laughs] so, I think from that standpoint, guys were locked in and I think guys were also whatever BS around the league that they can’t beat the Clippers so, it was one of those days. I think we played a little better. We played a little harder; we made more shots and did some of the things defensively that we could do.”