Unicorn or Unicorn for MVP?

Player A: 12 Games / 31.7 PPG / 10.4 REB / 4.7 AST / 59.4 FG% / 30.4 FG3% / 76.5 FT%

Player B: 11 Games / 30.4 PPG / 7.3 REB / 1.1 AST / 51.3 FG% / 41.1 FG3% / 84.1 FT%

If these numbers are the only thing given to you, you don't get to watch any game film, you don't get to see the team's records, you have no access to the players' stories throughout the "short season," you choose Player A. It's not too hard to choose that player based on points, rebounds, assists and field goal percentages. But what if I told you that Player B ends up winning the award over Player A? Would you be upset based on the numbers? Probably.

Player A is Giannis Antetokounmpo and Player B is my beloved, beautifully large dad Kristaps Porzingis. In this edition of the "Way too early NBA MVP award ceremony" I give the MVP to Porzingis. While Giannis (we're calling him Giannis because "Antetokounmpo" is way too difficult to type over and over again) is having the better season numerically, but Porzingis is doing things to make the people of New York once again fill up The Garden and make everything loud and exciting again.

The first thing needed to win MVP is incredible plays or athleticism. Giannis has an incredible amount of both of those and they're both shown in this dunk from Friday night against the Spurs that made me wet my pants.

Now if this dunk doesn't make you think about how Giannis is an alien and not actually just an extremely good basketball player, then you're wrong. Giannis wins the first MVP category.

Another thing you would need to have for your advantage in the MVP race is also one of the biggest reasons for winning the MVP: storyline. Last year Russell Westbrook won the MVP based off of numbers, freak athleticism, and storyline. He broke Oscar Robertson's record for triple-doubles in a single season with 42. I went streaking when the record was broken, and I will go streaking again by the time the season is done. Porzingis has a storyline for this season to win the MVP. The Knicks are in a never ending abyss of not being able to do the right things for the organization due to the incredible leadership of James Dolan. Phil Jackson told everyone publicly that it would be better if Carmelo Anthony played for another team, and then the Knicks were forced to trade him for Enes Kanter and Doug McDermott (which has actually been good for the team this season) to the Thunder. Phil Jackson also said he was going to listen to trade offers for Porzingis. Those were probably the most stressful four days of my entire life, and if Porzingis had been traded, I probably would not be writing this article right now.

People didn't think Porzingis could be the number one option for a team, they didn't think he could be a leader for the Knicks either. He's taking over the same storyline from Westbrook of why not? The Knicks were left to tank for this season and maybe even next season to put together a very young core and get rid of the most atrocious contract in the NBA with Joakim Noah. Porzingis had other thoughts, and decided to take this team to the winning side with a 7-5 record to start the season. I'm not sure how long the winning will last in New York this season because the team is not actually this good I don't think, but if Porzingis keeps playing this way, he won't have a problem winning this season's MVP.

The last thing you need to win the MVP is playing for a big market. This screws over so, so, so many good players in the NBA, and possibly will screw over Giannis. He's an otherworldly talent, and a lot of casual NBA fans won't even watch him play more than eight games this season due to him playing for Milwaukee. The Bucks sit at a 6-6 record currently, and are waiting on January or February to get Jabari Parker back. The Bucks are young, fun to watch, and suuuuuuper long. Once they get Parker back and healthy, Giannis might have a crutch to lean on when his not so great jump shot isn't falling. The Bucks will be good soon, I just don't know how good or how soon.

Porzingis has the advantage of playing in New York City and in The Garden. There isn't really much to explain about The Garden or even New York. It's huge, it has celebrities at every game, and everyone talks about the Knicks even if they don't win games. It's hard to beat a guy that's 7'3" that plays in New York and is still playing at an absurd level. In this "way too early NBA MVP award" session, Kristaps Porzingis wins the MVP due to playing in a larger market and for having the better storyline. It's stupid, I know, but that's how the NBA works.

All stats are up to date as of Sunday, November 12.