By: Opinionated MJ

We’re long overdue for giving this man his respect. I think we’ve ignored him because maybe the east was dominated by other headlines that didn’t involve Giannis. LeBron, Kyrie, Raptors, Gordon Hayward, and everything else that wasn’t quite Giannis. We even worried about rather the Wizards were ready to move on without John Wall. The most we remember about the Bucks season is that Jason Kidd was fired and Giannis tried to prevent it. We had a Game of Zones episode that also brought humor into insight.

The Bucks have let go of Jabari Parker, Who also became a headline. Again, they fired Jason Kidd. We forgot about how the season began with a bang from Giannis. He was definitely my early pick for MVP last year. I think LeBron being alone and having roster issues and James Harden ascending with Chris Paul on his team became the narrative for MVP. We were also glued to the screen whenever Russell Westbrook to the floor. Just more stories that led us to ignoring Giannis.

He’s overlooked, often. I think I know why. Maybe it’s because he hasn’t made noise in the playoffs yet. Usually MVP candidate make noise in the playoffs. They have to have explosive and unstoppable games. The last player I can think of that did this was Derrick Rose. No matter how much that’s an afterthought. He fought the Big 3 Celtics. He fought against the Big 3 Miami Heat. It helped him make a name for himself. It put him in rare territory. It made him the youngest MVP. Maybe that’s what the media is waiting to see from Giannis. Maybe they’re just not giving him his respect because there’s no narrative behind him. No storyline. That seems to be what the NBA is all about right now.

This is the season. It’s his time now to make an impact and even become a threat to take the #1 seed in the east. That should be enough to afford him an MVP Award. We’ve watched Anthony Davis put numbers up like Apple when a new iPhone drops. No MVP. No true playoff noise. LeBron has gone west and this puts a huge spotlight on the Eastern Conference.

This will be the season that Giannis has the chance to finally fall into MVP territory. There’s no more smokescreens. There’s no more excuses. There can be no losinh to the Celtics without their two stars. You have to dismantle any short-handed teams. You have to make Kawhi think twice about being in the east. You have to etch yourself into unstoppable territory and takeover the east. There’s no better time than now too write this chapter. Although I made a list of my 10 MVP candidates going into this season without Giannis on it, he is my true dark horse candidate. The one that can change the landscape.

I expect Giannis to take the league by storm this season… Or we’ll continue to not hear about Giannis in the conversation. Time to live up to the challenge handed down to you from Kobe. Time for you to step up to dominance. No more sleepwalking.