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  • so moving on this year marked the shortest offseason in the history of the N ba.

  • And despite that, we've seen some of the biggest performances from the league's brightest stars.

  • That being said, who's been the best player in the N B A this season?

  • Max Joel Embiid At this point this season, Joel Embiid been the best player in the MBA.

  • Let me tell you some, this shocked me.

  • First of all, offensively, look at all the numbers.

  • He's been the best.

  • He's like Look at all the numbers.

  • He's been the best offensively.

  • Defensively, I would argue he's also been the best.

  • There's a fence and there's defense.

  • Well, what else is there?

  • There's winning.

  • His team has the best record in the conference.

  • They can't win without him very much, much better record with him than without him.

  • In spite of the fact that Simmons has also playing very well.

  • No, it's Joel Embiid, and here's something that blew my mind.

  • Guys, Do you know who has the highest scoring average per 36 minutes in the history of the N ba for their careers for their careers?

  • Because Jordan's number one K D.

  • Is number three.

  • Kobe is on that list in the top 10, number one per 36 minutes for his career after he dropped 50 the other day.

  • Joel Embiid.

  • People don't know, and this year, guys, he's in shape and he's healthy.

  • He's been the best player in the league so far.

  • Well, with all due respect Toe goat, LeBron James and Joe L.

  • And B and Big Yokich, the best player in the league this year, February as in February 24th, 2021 has been James Harden.

  • Look, not only is he is the best player, he's the best point guard in the league.

  • And if you look at what James Harden has been doing this season, this season is arguably his best season off his career.

  • Yes, he's only averaging 25 points, but we all know he's capable of averaging 30.

  • He's done in the last three years, average 30 plus tonight.

  • But look on top of that.

  • He is averaging his highs and rebounding at 11.6.

  • He's averaging.

  • I mean, at assists.

  • He's averaging 11.6 assists, leading the league in assists.

  • He's averaging 8.5 rebounds.

  • His his career high he's averaging a career high shooting 50 from the field.

  • So let me take you down memory lane for a second.

  • They just went on the Brooklyn That's just went on the West Coast trip.

  • First stop Golden State Warriors.

  • James Harden goes into Steph Curry Arena and gives him that business.

  • They take a bus ride to Sacramento, he goes down.

  • Been hearing the chatter by the Aaron Fox.

  • He gives them that work, and then on the back to back he goes toe Phoenix without Kevin Durant and without Kyrie Irving being down 21 at the half while the Phoenix Suns had been on the six game winning streak at home and goes into 38 11 and on.

  • And then he flies to L.

  • A back the Coptic back the company when he was born and raised and take on the top dogs and the Lakers and Clippers and had them the business and then fly back home.

  • We leave off the road.

  • We went five and we come back to the crib.

  • Forget the time zone.

  • That's not going to affect me with Sacramento Kings.

  • Kings have been waiting on them and guess what he tried to 29 point triple double with a double without Kevin Durant again the Nets on the seven game winning streak.

  • This is some of the best basketball that I've seen James Harden Place and right now today he is the best player in the league.

  • Max Kellerman.

  • Um, I almost think it's almost sac religious, believe LeBron James out of the mix, Max and KP.

  • But for the purposes of this argument, I gotta admit, I'm gonna side with big perk on this.

  • James Harden has been sensational.

  • He's averaging 25 11.

  • He's shooting 48% from the field, nearly 40 from three point range.

  • He's shooting better than 85% from the free throw line.

  • Oh, by the way, he's putting up double doubles like it is going out of style.

  • He dropped 38 on Phoenix.

  • I'm looking at the numbers here.

  • He dropped 37 on the Clippers.

  • We know what he's been doing, and he's leading away.

  • And then when you take into account the fact that Kevin Durant has been out, it hasn't mattered the fact that people were calling him out of shape because he was it didn't matter the fact that he had created some some some controversy because people were calling them out because of how he departed from Houston.

  • And what have you, Um, you just look at that and we forgot the fact that excuse me, we needed to appreciate the reality that it clearly wasn't about the money because he was offered a two year extension at $103 million and turned it down because he's prioritized winning.

  • And then he shows up in Brooklyn with Kyrie is a teammate with K D.

  • Is a teammate with guys like Jeff, Jeff Green, Joe Harris, TLC and the Crew to appease and somehow some way.

  • He takes over ball handling and point guard responsibilities and has played like the best point guard in the game.

  • Not to mention the fact that his defense in the post area showing his strength he couldn't be pushed around, just asked why Linda, how tough he was difficult he was in the post.

  • In terms of defense, James Harden has been nothing short of sensational.

  • He is a league MVP candidate, and and even though Joe L and B there's playing lights out, it does help that they surrounded him.

  • Tobias Habits is having a career year.

  • Tobias Harris Seth Curry has been playing lights out.

  • Ben Simmons is still doing what he's doing, so that and he's got the coaching of Doc Rivers.

  • James Harden just simply is James Harden.

  • This is showing his level of unselfishness, his selflessness.

  • And he is leading this team.

  • He's a league M v P candidate and I gotta deal with.

  • I gotta believe I gotta side with big perkiness.

  • He is a candidate.

  • He's playing the most impressive ball of his career, and that's saying something.

  • I totally agree.

  • I think you missed too many games with the Nets early to push him ahead of Embiid, considering Embiid offense, defense and the Sixers record.

  • But Harden is showing you something right now.

  • It's ridiculous.

  • So thanks for watching ESPN on YouTube for live streaming sports and premium content.

so moving on this year marked the shortest offseason in the history of the N ba.

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