James Harden says MVP voters should consider several factors

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With media members to soon begin weighing their criteria for NBA postseason awards, Rockets guard James Harden said he would balance each of the factors often considered – value, player of the year, team success – when judging the candidacy of MVP candidates.

"I think all of the above," Harden said. "I think obviously individually you have to have a really, really good season, but your team has to be in position to be one of the top teams in your respective conference. Then, just look how valuable you are to that team. If you're taken off that team, is your team still good, are you still playoff contenders?

"All that adds into one. Obviously, you have to be winning. And you just have to be having an unbelievable year."

Harden and the Rockets went into Sunday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers with the third-best record in the NBA, one game better than LeBron James and the Cavaliers; 6 ½ games behind Kawhi Leonard and San Antonio.

Harden leads the NBA in assists and is third in scoring. Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook leads in scoring and is third in assists.

The Rockets' James Harden, left, is one of the top candidates for MVP this season; the Cavaliers' LeBron James, right, has won the award four times. The Rockets' James Harden, left, is one of the top candidates for MVP this season; the Cavaliers' LeBron James, right, has won the award four times. Image 1 of / 21 Caption Close James Harden says MVP voters should consider several factors 1 / 21 Back to Gallery

Asked how he defines the MVP, Rockets guard Pat Beverley was more succinct.

"James Harden," Beverley said. "No matter what the media say, no matter what the people say, everybody in the league knows who the MVP is."

Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue, however, said voters might be overlooking James because he has won four times.

"It's like Shaq (O'Neal) when he played," Lue said. "He's the most dominant player; he doesn't get MVP every year. For what he does, what he brings, do everything on the floor, guard five positions, he's not going to win MVP every year just because of how it is. Guys are playing great. When guys are playing above how they played in the past, they have a good chance to win MVP."