LeBron James Proposes New NBA Award For Offensive Player Of The Year
The NBA's criteria for the MVP award have always been extremely subjective, especially since several individuals from the media cast their votes to reach a democratic solution on the matter. To address this subjectivity, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James proposed that the league follow suit with the NFL and introduce a new award.
On an episode of the "Mind The Game" podcast with Steve Nash, James floated the idea of the "Offensive Player of the Year" award, similar to the NFL. He rationalized this idea by saying:
"I did think about how the NFL does Offensive Player of the Year and MVP. I thought that could possibly be something in our league, where you give an Offensive Player of the Year and an MVP."
The NFL uses distinct criteria to determine each award's recipient. But there was something in this that drew Nash's attention. He chimed in, saying:
"You could be on a poor team, have an unbelievable offensive year, and still win Offensive Player of the Year. And vice versa, you could maybe not have the best player in the league, but you were the most valuable in taking your team to a new height."
The issue with the MVP award lies in the definition of "value", a term that doesn't necessarily equate to "best" player at any point in time. In this regard, the narrative presented by James has some basis in reality.
"It's like, OK, so is it the best player? Is it the player who had the best season with their team? Maybe that's Offensive Player of the Year," James continued. "Or is it just simply the best player in the league? Statistically, this was the best player in the league. Obviously, you're not going to have someone in there whose team didn't come close to making the playoffs … it's not the most valuable, then."
James' proposition certainly presents an interesting perspective. When considering some of the most gifted offensive players in the league, they may not impact winning the same as some other players might. Similarly, some players may be immensely successful with their teams, but their statistical contributions may not necessarily reflect that.
This year's MVP race would be a great case for the distribution of these awards. Although it remains up for debate, some would argue that Nikola Jokic was a superior individual performer to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who eventually won the award, while also securing the top seed in the West.
Gilgeous-Alexander's individual accomplishments also impacted his team's success, eventually helping the Oklahoma City Thunder secure the NBA title.
In many ways, the Thunder guard's performance also challenges James' proposition, illustrating that the "best" player can also be the "most valuable" player in some cases. But considering that the idea itself presents an opportunity for several players to get recognized for their efforts and capabilities, it may be worth taking into consideration.This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cowboys sign TE Jake Ferguson to $52M deal as Micah Parsons continues without extension
The Dallas Cowboys got a deal done at training camp, but not the one fans are looking for. The Cowboys announced Sunday morning that they have signed tight end Tony Ferguson to a four-year, $52 million extension. All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons, meanwhile, remains without a deal as he seeks an extension entering the final year of his rookie contract. The deal for Ferguson makes him the highest-paid tight end in Cowboys history and the seventh-highest paid tight end in the NFL, according to the Cowboys. He signed the extension with one year remaining on his four-year rookie contract that scheduled to pay him $3.4 million in 2025. A fourth-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, Ferguson was a part-time starter as a rookie and has been Dallas' No. 1 tight end in the two seasons since. He emerged as one of quarterback Dak Prescott's favorite targets in 2023 with 71 catches for 761 yards and five touchdowns. Ferguson's production dropped last season as he tallied 59 catches for 494 yards without a touchdown. That still led Cowboys tight ends and was the good for the third-highest production among all Cowboys pass catchers behind CeeDee Lamb and Jalen Tolbert. The Cowboys bolstered their receiving corps with the addition of former Pittsburgh Steeler George Pickens in the offseason. Ferguson projects to remain as a top target for Prescott. Jerry Jones jeered by fans over lack of Parsons progress Parsons, meanwhile remains without a contract extension as the Cowboys prepare to practice in pads for the first time on Sunday. The absence of his extension remains the top story at Cowboys camp and one of the biggest training camp stories in the NFL. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was greeted with boos and calls from fans to "pay Micah" as he addressed fans during a public training camp session on Saturday. Jones' address to fans took place days after his Monday news conference in which he swiped at the availability of both Parsons and quarterback Dak Prescott while addressing Parsons' contract status at the start of training camp. Just because we sign him doesn't mean we're going to have him," Jones said of Parsons. "He was hurt six games last year. Seriously. I remember signing a player for the highest-paid at the position in the league and he got knocked out two-thirds of the year — Dak Prescott. "So there's a lot of things you can think about, just as the player does, when you're thinking about committing and guaranteeing money.' Parsons was not "hurt six games last year." He missed four of 17 games with injury. In his previous three seasons, Parsons played in 50 of 51 regular-season Cowboys games. He's a three-time All-Pro and has made the Pro Bowl after each of his four seasons. Parsons is seeking a deal that will make him among the highest-paid defenders in football after fellow All-Pro pass rushers Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt signed contracts in the offseason paying them $40-plus million per season. Watt signed a three-year, $123 million extension ahead of Steelers training camp that set the new bar. Parsons reported to training camp without his extension, but has been a limited participant since practices started on Tuesday. He watched Wednesday's session from the sideline with back tightness, but declined to call himself a hold-in. Training camp escalates in intensity starting Sunday as the Cowboys practice in pads for the first time.
Yahoo
3 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Rashawn Slater agrees to four-year, $114-million deal with the Chargers
Rashawn Slater, a former first-round draft pick and one of the leaders on the Chargers offensive line, is staying in L.A. for the long haul. Slater has agreed to a four-year, $114-million contract extension, according to a person with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history. Slater, a two-time Pro Bowl selection and a second-team All-Pro in 2021, will be paid out $92 million guaranteed, ESPN and NFL Media reported. Read more: Is Tuli Tuipulotu the next Joey Bosa for the Chargers? Edge rusher 'does it all' Working as Justin Herbert's blindside protector, Slater started every game last season and played a valuable role in helping the Chargers set a franchise record for the fewest offensive turnovers (eight) in a season. He finished last season with the second-best overall grade and the third-best pass-blocking grade at offensive tackle, per Pro Football Focus. Slater's tireless efforts certainly won over Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, who has Slater in his exclusive "Elite Nine" club on the team that includes stars Khalil Mack, Derwin James Jr. and Herbert, among others. 'Speaking on behalf of everyone in the organization, fully support Rashawn and what he's trying to accomplish for himself and his family,' said Harbaugh last month about Slater's push for a contract extension. 'We're all in support.' Times staff writers Sam Farmer and Thuc Nhi Nguyen contributed to this report. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
3 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Right tackle Jawaan Taylor returns to practice as Chiefs put pads on for first time in training camp
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs right tackle Jawaan Taylor made his training camp debut after missing their first four practices because of a knee injury, and he was right in the mix with the starters Sunday as they put on pads for the first time. Backup tight end Tre Watson, who also had been out with a groin injury, passed his physical and joined Taylor on the field. Taylor has started all 33 regular-season games he has played for Kansas City over the past two seasons. But his blocking metrics coupled with a propensity for penalties mean his job is far from secure. The Chiefs signed backup 49ers tackle Jaylon Moore to a two-year, $30 million deal and used their first-round draft pick on Ohio State standout Josh Simmons. After the first week of camp, Simmons appears to have the inside track on the left tackle job, which was a problem position for the Chiefs all of last season. So when Taylor returned, it was in a rotation with Moore for first-team snaps on Sunday. 'We're getting back in the swing. He hasn't done anything," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of Taylor, who showed up on the injury report with knee trouble much of last season and had offseason surgery. 'But all three are kind of competing there.' Reid said he was pleased with the way Simmons looked in his first padded practice. There was some question about whether he would even be ready for camp after tearing his patellar tendon in a game with the Buckeyes last season. 'He did some good things. I wasn't focusing on him the whole time, but I thought he did some good things,' Reid said. 'He's a work in progress. He has to keep working. Young guy.' Meanwhile, Reid said cornerback Kristian Fulton had a procedure to 'clean out' his knee in the spring, which is why he remains on the physically unable to perform list. The Chiefs gave him a two-year, $20 million deal in March. Rookie tight end Jake Briningstool also did not practice Sunday because of a hamstring injury. ___ AP NFL: Dave Skretta, The Associated Press
