Here's an interesting fact I didn't even think to check when comparing these two historic seasons between historic players: Michael Jordan did NOT win MVP in the 1986-87 season with those numbers. (Magic did.)
Oscar Robertson also didn’t win MVP when he averaged a triple double, but Westbrook sure did... Jordon’s Bulls finished that season under 500 (40-42). Rockets are a 50+ win team
I wasn't trying to draw any conclusions. I just thought it was an interesting fact. I also notice that there are a lot of next-year repeats in NBA MVP awards history. I'm sure other repeat winners have done far less in their second winning year than Harden has done in this one.
It’s way more interesting than that: https://www.thebasketballnetwork.com/elgin-baylor-mesmerizing-1962-campaign/ Service absence
PSA: Steals and deflections are highly correlated So whatever skill those stats are meant to represent, you're basically double-counting it when you state both. Sauce: I think it was a Kevin Pelton tweet from a few months ago
This is the box score from that day: https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201711050HOU.html
To be honest I don’t like quoting stuff from Matt much anymore. He’s gotten sour over the last year plus.