NBA MVP 2012: LeBron James a Slam Dunk to Win for Third Time

Say all you want about LeBron James, but he deserves to be MVP this season.

The Miami Heat star has led his team to the second seed in the Eastern Conference while putting up outstanding numbers once again.

He has proven year after year that he is an MVP candidate, and this year, he proved that he was in a class of his own. He averaged 27.2 points a game, along with 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists. Those numbers are outstanding and are not even the best of his career.

James has put up these type of numbers on a regular basis, which, to no fault of his own, has diminished what he has done. His numbers are now routine, which makes us forget just how hard it is to do what he does. He took a hit publicity-wise with the way he changed teams, but that should not make fans take away what he has accomplished.

This season is another year where James is getting overshadowed by Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant for MVP talks and gets passed over for the Dwight Howard drama or, for awhile, the latest happenings in the Jeremy Lin story.

Durant is probably the closest to James in competition for the MVP award, but he still falls far from James. He averages one less point than Durant, but averages three more assists. James also has a better shooting percentage than Durant and is a better defensive player.

Bryant is another player that gets mentioned for MVP, but this is not a clear thought. The discussion for him as MVP can't be made because just because of his name, which is the feeling I get with this. He just lost his scoring title to Durant, but he shoots over four more shots a game and has not contributed in any other way besides his scoring.

Also, a lot of talk about Bryant is how well he is doing for someone his age. That should not be taken into consideration for an award like this. It is nice to talk about, but has no place in an MVP discussion. If that was the case, then Steve Nash should be the MVP.

The second-half MVP could probably go to Rajon Rondo, who has established himself as the leader of the Boston Celtics. He leads the league in assists and has rejuvenated a franchise that was almost broken up before the trading deadline.

James is the best all-around player on the floor and has proven it this year. He may not have won a championship yet, but this is a regular season award. His game has to start being appreciated more, and he needs to take a step back and realize what he is doing.

Voters have to remember to take the voting year to year and not put into consideration age or diminish accomplishments due to pass success.

If James does not win the MVP award this season, then the voting process needs to be looked at.