MVP; Poisonous Chalice?

[Ed Monix]

After Embiid finally won his much coveted MVP, the 76ers were knocked out of the conference semi-finals.

Under achieving is nothing new for the MVP award recipient. In fact, in 22 years, only 4 MVP’s would go on to win the championship…a mere 18.18%.

Over the past few seasons, the MVP winner has gotten further and further away from what matters most…an NBA title.

[Kernewek]

Regular season awards have only a correlational effect to post-season success? Say it ain't so.

[Ed Monix]

Regular season awards have only a correlational effect to post-season success? Say it ain't so.

From 1980 to 2000, 52% of MVP’s also won the NBA championship.

[Ed Monix]

[Moranis]

At some point they stopped giving the award to the best player in the world and I think that has some correlation.  I think it probably started in the late 90's where very few times the unquestioned best player in the sport actually won the award and those are the players that tend to win the championships.

[Moranis]

Since Jordan won in 98, the MVP winners that were on champions where Shaq in 00, Duncan in 03, Lebron in 12 and 13, and Curry in 15.  During that time, there were a number of MVP's that were arguably not even top 5 players in the sport i.e. Iverson, Nash x2, Rose, Westbrook, Jokic (the first time, not the 2nd).  Again it is arguable, heck I think you could argue Embiid isn't a top 5 player.  Before Iverson every single MVP was an unquestioned top 5 player in the sport (except maybe McAdoo) and the vast majority are the special room type players.