MVP. The Most Valuable Player of the league. A title every player in the NBA craves. A title that puts you in the Pantheon of the Elite. Currently, two names are making waves. First, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Oh, what an explosive season 26-year-old OKC Thunder guard. Second, the reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, who never truly escapes the conversation. However, there is another name that never really leaves anything slightly associated with basketball. Well, if you’ve guessed LeBron James, brownie points!
But sadly, Bron’s name comes with major heartbreak. The NBA released the latest MVP straw poll on Wednesday. This means we have some shifts in the list, some new names here and there, and a lot to talk about. SGA is leading the show after acquiring 77 points, followed by Joker, who received the other 23 points. Meanwhile, the Pistons star, Cade Cunningham, makes it to the MVP straw poll alongside LeBron James.
On the Hoop Collective podcast, Brian Windhorst, Tim Bontemps, and Tim MacMahon dissected the list that surprised many. Meanwhile, Windy presented a setback to his alumni brother from Akron. Bontemps begins the conversation with the sixth place on the list. One third-place vote, two fourth-place votes, ten fifth-place votes. Thirteen total votes. Only other player to get into double-digit votes. Who? Windy takes a wild guess and says, “Cade Cunningham. I considered him for fifth on my ballot.” So, not LeBron, according to him? That’s odd! However, Windhorst did express his true feelings later in the conversation.
Mar 24, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) looks on against the Orlando Magic in the second quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Well, no. Cade Cunningham isn’t the one to hold the sixth place. Instead, it’s LeBron James, as Tim MacMahon points out. Cade, in fact, holds the seventh place, despite having a better record than the Akron Hammer in the last nine games. Also, you could blame Bron’s recent stumbles on his groin injury.
Meanwhile, Tim Bontemps continued the conversation: “LeBron James, man. Once again, it’s sixth in the poll. This is the first time LeBron has been this high in the poll since the end of the 2021 season, when he finished fifth.” This poll receives a major contribution from the media, who cast their votes. So, taunting Windy, considering his connection with Bron, MacMahon pointed out the 40-year-old Lakers star’s recent stats and said that someone in the media decided to give him a 40th birthday gift. To this, Brian Windhorst bluntly responded: “Yeah. Well, I did not consider him at fifth.”
What? So, no belated birthday gift, his old friend? No help to make it to the straw poll. Windy handed the heartbreak to LeBron James. However, the ESPN reporters didn’t mince words in pointing out the recent setbacks that the 21x All-Star forward has been facing.
LeBron James’ gameplay setbacks are in full view amidst MVP straw poll updates
This sixth place that LeBron James has acquired on the poll is the highest since his 2021 5th place. Tim Bontemps highlights James’s unexpected rise in the MVP Straw Poll, securing meaningful votes for the first time in years. Unlike past seasons, where he barely appeared, this nod reflects his stellar form and the Lakers’ resurgence. His recent performances have clearly shifted the narrative.
Windhorst chipped in: “It’s interesting you say that. He’s in a pretty significant offensive slump right now—well, at least a three-point shooting slump. I think he’s shooting since he came back from the groin injury, like 19% in his last nine games on threes. He’s definitely playing harder on defense.”
Credit: IMAGN IMAGES
At the same time, LeBron James’s impact is undeniable. Despite injuries and key absences, he led the Lakers with intensity, especially on defense. Averaging 24-8-8 on 51% shooting and 37% from three, he’s proving age is just a number. And his resurgence in the MVP race feels well-earned, despite the doubtful glares.
Well, LeBron James’ MVP push comes with both triumph and turmoil. His rise in the straw poll is a testament to his enduring greatness, yet his recent slump raises questions. Still, his impact remains undeniable. Whether this momentum holds or fades, the King refuses to be ignored.
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