If AD had stayed in New Orleans, he for sure would’ve won an MVP award. He was putting up big numbers during his stint there and with no other star player around him, he could have beefed up his stats. However since going to Los Angeles, he had to play along side LeBron James, and despite being well into his late 30s, he’s still that guy and AD’s chances of winning MVP diminished.
idk I think there’s a few MVPs who prefer the award over the title.
Allen Iverson and James “I am the system” Harden both strike me as preferring their individual accolades. Just from the way they talk and regard themselves, I think they value their success more than team success. Quite literally when asked to come off the bench to help his team his response was all in regards to his prior individual accomplishments. "I don’t know any Olympian that comes off the bench. I don’t know any All-Star that comes off the bench. I don’t know any former MVP that comes off the bench. I don’t know any three-time scoring champion that comes off the bench." I also think had Carmelo won MVP he’d be in this convo.