2012 NBA All-Star Game: Steve Nash Should Be in MVP Consideration

At the All-Star break this year, there are only a few likely outcomes for the NBA MVP race.

Yet Steve Nash winning is not one of them. In fact, Steve Nash probably won't get any votes. If he does indeed not receive any votes, it will be an outright travesty.

His stat line can't tell it all, although it is impressive. He is averaging close to 14 points and 11 assists a game. While that may not seem MVP-worthy, there is more to consider: He is playing with one of the worst supporting casts in the league.

Without Nash, the Phoenix Suns would have a hard time beating the Charlotte Bobcats.

Besides Nash, the Suns have two players with an efficiency rating over 15.00, giving them a grand total of three above-average players. The Bobcats, on the other hand, also have three above-average players.

So what has been the difference between the two teams?

Steve Nash.

His importance is seen in the fact that Phoenix has 10 more wins than another team with comparable talent. 

If we consider the MVP as an award for the player who is most vital to his team's success, Nash should definitely get consideration. Without Nash, the Suns would probably be in the Anthony Davis sweepstakes, instead of being a borderline playoff team.

LeBron has Wade and Bosh, Kobe has Bynum and Gasol...

...Nash has Gortat and Dudley. That doesn't exactly seem like an equal distribution of talent.

The truth is, the Los Angeles Lakers or the Miami Heat could easily beat the Suns on any given night without their star players. The Suns would struggle to be the second-worst team in the league without Nash.

There is no other player who is as important to his team's success as Nash.

Another reason for considering Nash is his actions off the court.

Nash has not even asked for a trade, although a movement to "free Steve Nash" was created so Nash would have a chance to compete for a ring.

He understands that leaving Phoenix would hurt the team too much, so he has not even tried to leave Phoenix, even though it is glaringly obvious that the team does not have the talent to win.

We've seen too many superstars give up on their teams when the talent runs thin, including Dwight Howard this season. Nash seems totally involved, refusing to quit on his team even when he knows he can't win.

On the other hand, Dwight Howard is coasting through every game, relying on his freakish athleticism to get by without being criticized.

Shouldn't Nash be rewarded because he goes out to win every night, no matter how much he wants to leave Phoenix? 

However, the truth is that one must have overwhelming statistics to win the MVP when his team isn't even in the playoffs, but that doesn't mean that a player like Nash can't even get consideration.

At the least, he deserves a few third-place votes because other than LeBron James, no player has been more vital to his team, more committed and more deserving of the MVP.