Rose for MVP

There has always been heavy debate over what the true criteria for the MVP award is.  By definition, the award should be given to league's most valuable player.  More often than not, the applied criteria leans more towards the league's most outstanding player.  Sometimes the two are one in the same and no controversy arises, but most years, the winner of the Most Valuable Player award is not actually the most valuable player.  In recent years, prime examples have been Kobe Bryant over Chris Paul in 2007-08, Steve Nash over LeBron James in 2005-06, and Michael Jordan losing to Charles Barkley in 1992-93 and Karl Malone in 1996-97.

This season, little is up for debate.  Whether the criteria involves value or dominance, Derrick Rose deserves to become the youngest NBA MVP in history.  Rose ranks 8th in scoring, 10th in assists, and 3rd amongst point guards in rebounding.  He is one of only two players in the entire NBA to ranks in the top 10 in two major statistical categories (Dwight Howard).  He has also led the Bulls to a 44-18 record thus far (good enough for 2nd in the Eastern Conference).  His dominant production already stated, his value to his team in unrivaled.  Of the top nine teams in the NBA, only Chicago, Dallas, and Orlando had one player selected for the All-Star Game this season.  By all-star criteria, this would say that Derrick Rose, Dirk Nowitzki, and Dwight Howard are the most valuable players this season.  Giving further support to these "top 3," Chicago is 0-1 without Rose this season, Orlando has gone 1-2 without Howard, and Dallas went 2-7 without Nowitzki.  In terms of on-court impact on the team's success, Rose ranks 3rd in the league in usage rate behind only Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony; by comparison, Nowtizki ranks 12th and Howard ranks 17th.

While LeBron James' statistical season cannot be discounted, Derrick Rose has been the most outstanding player this season.  Additionally, Rose, Dwight Howard, and Dirk Nowitzki have been most valuable to their teams.  It is undeniable that the most outstanding player and one of the three most valuable players in the league deserves to take home the MVP award.  Justice will be served this season and Derrick Rose will become the youngest MVP in NBA history.