Should Tony Parker be considered a candidate for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award? While many in San Antonio answer with a resounding yes, others are unsure of whether or not the all-start point guard deserves to be in the discussion. Before we go any further, it is important to note that Parker has led his team to the best record in the NBA over the first 55 games of the season. This alone should be enough to catapult him into the conversation, as Parker is the “floor general” for the Spurs.
Now, let’s take a close look at Parker’s stats as compared to the other top point guards in the league.
At the time of this article, February 22, he is second in the NBA in point guard scoring at 21.2 points per game. He only trails Kyrie Irving (first) and Russell Westbrook (second) in this category. When it comes to assists per game, Parker once again is at the top of the league. He is currently trailing only four other players: Rajon Rondo, Chris Paul, Jrue Holiday, and Russell Westbrook. And what about his field goal percentage? Well, here is when things really get good. Right now, Parker is shooting 53.9 percent from the field. If you don’t think this is good, compare it to second place: Rajon Rondo is five percentage points back at 48.4 percent. To take this point one step further, Parker averages three more shots per game as Rondo.
When it comes to the discussion of the most complete point guard in the NBA, Parker’s name should most definitely be at the top of the list. In addition to his offensive prowess, his defense is often times overlooked. This is not to say that there aren’t any other point guards, or players for that matter, worth of the MVP award. However, Parker should definitely be in consideration. He is the best player on the best team in the league – and that should go a long way when it comes time to vote for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player.
