Skip Bayless Makes Surprise Pick As Strong NBA MVP Contender

Leonard is the rare superstar who can score big points while also locking down opponents on the defensive end, something that has rarely been seen, regardless of era. He is even more rare when one considers the fact that most two-way superstars throughout NBA history have been big men.

As Bayless pointed out, he doesn’t put up as many shots as some other superstars, but he has been incredibly efficient. He even compared Leonard’s impact to that of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who was named the NFL’s MVP for the 2019 season, because his impact goes beyond his stats.

Bayless also mentioned another important argument Leonard has in his favor. The forward has thus far missed only four of the Clippers’ games and has “worked his tail off” to be able to be available this often.

Due to various injuries and injury concerns, Leonard hasn’t appeared in over 60 regular season games since the 2016-17 campaign, back when he was a member of the San Antonio Spurs.

Of course, their annual playoff failures are the nagging bone of contention for the Clippers. Star teammates Paul George, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook all have a history of underperforming in the postseason, and anything the team accomplishes in the regular season won’t matter if it doesn’t earn a world championship ring.