By winning his second consecutive MVP, LeBron James finds himself in a special group.
The 25-year-old forward already has more MVP trophies than Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and Oscar Robertson — the only other player in NBA history to fill up a stat sheet like the King.
But can LeBron be included among the elite without a championship ring?
There’s no doubt he has deserved these awards. His 29.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.6 assists a game this season has only been matched by Robertson and Michael Jordan in league history and the Cavaliers are favored to win the title.
But the fact that Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron (all without championship rings) have won five of the past six MVPs shows the lack of a true alpha dog in a league that has thrived on dynasties — the Lakers and Celtics have combined for more than half of the NBA titles.
Timing has also played a part to the early crowning of the King. As Kobe, Shaq, Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan creep deeper into their 30s, LeBron has been thrust atop basketball’s Mount Olympus; no doubt he belongs there based on talent. Still, there has been a change of guard in the NBA this season with four of the top six players in MVP voting being 25 years old or younger — LeBron, Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard and Carmelo Anthony.
LeBron finds himself at a basketball pantheon crossroads with free agency looming and the pressure to win a title growing every year. Will he join Elgin Baylor, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley among the best players to never win a title? Or will he average a near triple-double a game on his way to multiple championships and become this generation’s transcendent player?
