NBA's Closest MVP Races Ever: Jokic, Jordan, & More!

So this year's NBA MVP race between Jokic and Shea is one of the best ever

But is it the best? Let's go through the contenders. So all the way back in 1957, Bob Cousy beat out Bob Pettit for MVP by two votes

And interestingly, compared to this year, the argument was that while Cousy's Celtics were just so much better than Pettit's Hawks

even though Pettit was probably the better player. Of course, 1962 was very famous because that was the year Wilt averaged 50

Oscar Robertson averaged a triple-double, and yet Bill Russell won MVP. Dr. J vs. Larry Bird was so close in 1981 that a couple years later, they ended up making a video game out of it

Again, in another best player vs. best team debate, Magic Johnson edged out Michael Jordan in 1989

Duncan vs. KG in 2003 was very close, and that was cool because both guys played the same position

And then over the last 20 years, there really haven't been many close races. But the 2019 Giannis vs Harden, does Giannis have a bag debate

That was fun