NBA MVP: Why a Win for LeBron James Would Be a Diss To Dwyane Wade

Miami Heat forward LeBron James is considered a strong contender to win his third consecutive NBA MVP award, but I can't understand why his teammate Dwyane Wade is not just as strong a contender to win his first.

Most of this season's MVP talk has centered around James, Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose and Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant.

There are arguments to be made for each of the aforementioned players, but if James is seriously receiving strong consideration, then it would be a grave disservice to not hold Wade in at least the same light.

James does average more points, assists and rebounds than Wade, but in the majority of those categories the difference between the players' numbers is inconsequential.

James averages 26.1 points per game, 7.5 rebounds and 7.1 assists while shooting 49.6 percent from the field. Wade averages 25.6 points per game, 6.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists and he connects on 49.9 percent of his shots from the field.

Wade's and James' numbers are so close that they both even average 1.0 steals per game on the defensive end.

I guess if numbers were the only thing that decided the MVP contest then it would be understandable to give James a slight edge, but the award supposedly goes to the player who has been the most valuable to their team and their league.

And could anyone in good faith say that James without a doubt, has been the most valuable member of the Heat?

This is not a referendum on which player is the most talented, because I would give an edge to James based on his superior size.

And I'm sure that other arguments could be made for Wade, and most of them would all be valid.

But the MVP award is not based on a team's most talented player either, and as far as impact goes, how do you distinguish between Wade and James?

James' higher assist total means that he holds more responsibility in distributing the ball to his teammates in scoring position, but Wade is just as good a ball-handler, and the Heat's quick-strike offense does not place a premium on superior point guard play.

And one thing the numbers fail to show when it comes to Wade and James are the intangible aspects like leadership and poise.

Who would you consider to be the team's emotional leader on and off the court?

Who has shown more poise between James and Wade during the Heat's rough stretches in the regular season?

I would answer Wade on both counts, but that doesn't mean the award should go to him as opposed to James.

The truth is an MVP award for either James or Wade would send the message that whoever wins is more valuable than the other, when in reality their contributions are too intertwined to make that statement.

In this instance, maybe it would be better to award the MVP to either Rose or Durant, unless the league decides to make both James and Wade co-MVP's.