Sports

Who’s the Man? Is LeBron James the Real MVP?

Published

10 years ago

May 26, 2015

Oakland Post

Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James (left) and Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry (right)

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (left) and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (right)

By Perry Green and Stephen Riley
Special to the NNPA from the Afro-American Newspaper

It is hard to argue with the 2015 MVP Award selection of Golden State’s Stephen Curry. An incredible regular season backed by a stellar postseason performance has officially landed Curry into the household name category. His Warriors team is only one game away from their first Finals appearance since the 1974-75 season, and it’s no secret why. Equipped with a lethal jump shot, elite vision, crafty ball-handling skills and a magnetic personality, Curry’s regular season award is fitting and well deserved.

Golden State finished with the Association’s top record with 67 wins, a franchise best, and made believers along the way. The Warriors appear destined to meet up with the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team who just finished last season with the No. 1 overall selection in the NBA Draft and now sits just two games away from the Finals. What’s changed so much for the Cavs? Perhaps a focused and mature LeBron James? Curry is this year’s MVP but was his play as vital to his team as James? Perry Green and Stephen D. Riley of the AFRO Sports Desk debate the question.

Green: There isn’t a more skilled player in basketball than Curry. Sure, the MVP award is based upon a player’s importance, but Curry aced every single field you can have when it comes to an MVP race. He was the best player on the league’s best team and he put on nightly routines throughout the year that were as entertaining as a sitcom. James’ acquisition no doubt helped boost Cleveland to the No. 2 team in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, and they’re set to finish the postseason as the conference’s best team. A Finals matchup would virtually decide the real MVP and I’m all in favor of Curry showing us he fully deserves his title.

Riley: When you take a team that finished with last summer’s top overall selection then subsequently traded away that selection and still finished as one of the top teams in the conference, how can you not be impressed by that? James could realistically have been the MVP for the last 10-plus seasons that he’s been in the Association, but we continue to downplay his greatness. You’d be hard-pressed to research history and find a team who finished with the top pick in the draft and moved the player they selected and still had a remarkable turnaround. James has impacted the Cavs from top to bottom, from the worst player on the team to the best player. Players who couldn’t win with other superstars are now vital pieces; and coaches who never coached in the league are now big-time coaches. Golden State is only one season removed from winning 51 games, but it hasn’t been the turnaround that the Warriors experienced. If we were recounting you have to give it to James.

Green: James wasn’t alone in his return to Cleveland. Yes, his play was vital, but let’s not act like the roster is bare without talent. Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson and a host of others have proven so far that they belong in this league, and sometimes a change of scenery is all it takes to revitalize a player’s career. I’m not yet willing to grant the improved play by guys like J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert to the “almighty” influence of LeBron James. I think those guys are playing better on their own, and now James is benefiting from it. Let’s remember, the Cavs were a .500 team before the team traded for Smith, Shumpert and effective big man, Timofey Mozgov. Those three players made this team complete, so let’s not give a LeBron all the credit. On the other hand, Curry’s been flat out fantastic this season. And, the fact remains that he’s been the most influential player on the Association’s top team and that’s the key ingredient to becoming the MVP. He also won the three-point shooting contest and dazzled in the All-Star game. It’s been a record year for both Curry and the Warriors and while James has been his usual rock solid self, he hasn’t captured basketball enthusiasts’ hearts the way Curry has this year.

Riley: When I’m searching for a MVP I’m just looking for the facts. And the main fact is Cleveland was a bottom-of-the-barrel team just a season ago, and now they’re set to finish as one of the top two teams in the NBA. Curry’s offense sells tickets and puts fans into seats but no matter what he does in his NBA tenure, he’ll never be the transcendent player that is James. The Warriors and Cavs appear headed on a collision course right into each other, and I would even give the nod to Golden State since they’re the healthier team at the moment. However, no one expected this Cleveland team to be this deep into the postseason, especially after last year’s finish. What James’ presence has done to elevate that coaching staff and his teammates is something that not all players can do. Sure, Curry can go out and lead by performance, but he just doesn’t have James’ intangibles. The Most Valuable Player Award could really go to James every year, we know that, but for what he’s done this season with that team it should’ve been a no-brainer to select him this season. He’s been a beast on the court, but has also been the MVP for the franchise as well. It was his presence that made Cleveland a more attractive place to guys like Love, Smith and Shumpert. And it’s been his influence on Irving that has turned the young point guard into a prime time player. It’s too late to hand James the award, but it’s clear who the trophy really belongs to.

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WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries Kick Off Season with Community Programs in Oakland

“The Golden State Valkyries are more than a team—they’re a movement,” said Oakland Interim-Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Their touchdown in Oakland marks a new era of opportunity, inspiration, and equity in sports. This partnership reflects our city’s deep commitment to uplifting women, investing in youth, and building a community where every dream has a place to grow. We’re proud to welcome the Valkyries to The Town.”

Published

3 days ago

May 18, 2025

Oakland Post

The Valkyries came to Oakland City Hall with a “Hoopbus.” Present were (from left to right): City Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Rebecca Kaplan, Zac Unger and Rowena Brown; Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, Valkyries President Jess Smith, a Valkyries team representative and Deputy Mayor LaNiece Jones. Photo courtesy Rebecca Kaplan’s office.

Team installs new nets at playgrounds, holds flag-raisings at City Halls in Oakland and S.F.

Special to The Post

The Golden State Valkyries brought the excitement of their inaugural season to every corner of the Bay Area with a full slate of community celebrations leading up to their historic home-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.

The week featured flag-raising ceremonies at city halls in Oakland and San Francisco, three “Violet Net” installation days at Oakland parks to encourage basketball play, fun “Hoopbus” takeovers at multiple schools presented by Kaiser Permanente, and player appearances.

In total, 90 violet nets were installed on 45 basketball courts across 34 public parks throughout Oakland this week. A list of the parks receiving violet nets can be found at Valkyries.com.

About the Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA affiliate of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, were announced as the 13th WNBA franchise on Oct. 5, 2023. According to Norse mythology, Valkyries are a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering – flying through air and sea alike.

This brand is Golden State’s modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce. Tipping off during the 2025 WNBA season, the team is headquartered in Oakland and will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. For Golden State Valkyries’ assets, including team logos, visit valkyries.com.

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Activism

McClymonds High Names School Gym for Star Graduate, Basketball Legend Bill Russell

William “Bill” Felton Russell was born on Feb. 12, 1934, and died on July 31, 2022. He achieved fame as a U.S. professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. He was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career.

Published

3 months ago

February 18, 2025

Oakland Post

Bill Russell and Brian McGhee in McClymonds High School Gym, 2011. Photo courtesy of Brian McGhee.

By Ken Epstein

West Oakland’s McClymonds High School, “the School of Champions,” this week named the school’s gymnasium in honor of one of its most famous graduates, basketball legend Bill Russell (class of ’52).

Russell is widely known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In 2011, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civil honor, from President Barack Obama for Russell’s contributions to basketball and the Civil Rights Movement.

The McClymonds’ naming ceremony was held on Wednesday, the same day as Russell’s birthday. Oakland leader Bill Patterson, a longtime friend of Russell’s, was scheduled to cut the ribbon at the reopening of the gym, which had been closed for several months for renovation. Russell’s daughter Karen was scheduled to attend the ribbon cutting.

Russell’s name and signature are now printed on the gymnasium floor.

Patterson was working at DeFremery Park when he met Russell. “I befriended him as a boy and during his years at University of San Francisco” said Patterson. “We stayed friends for the rest of his life.”

Said McClymonds Principal Darielle Davis, herself a McClymonds graduate, “We are excited to honor Bill Russell for his sports accolades and because he broke color barriers. He is part of our legacy, and legacy is really important at McClymonds.”

Brian McGhee, community schools manager at McClymonds and former football player at UC Berkeley, said that Russell meant a lot to him and others at the school. “He was a beacon of light and hope for West Oakland,” he said. “He did a lot for sports and for civil rights.”

Starting in 2018, Ben “Coach” Tapscott worked with Patterson and other McClymonds grads, community members, and former coaches to encourage the Oakland Board of Education to endorse the naming of the school gym, which finally happened recently.

“We worked hard to make this happen,” said Tapscott. “He’s an important part of McClymond’s history, along with a lot of other famous graduates,” he said.

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Activism

OPINION: Politics, Football and Identity in Trump’s America

If you haven’t noticed, all Americans are engaged in an even bigger game that means so much more than the Super Bowl. Our democracy is falling apart.

Published

3 months ago

February 17, 2025

Oakland Post

iStock.

By Emil Guillermo

Two Filipino American stories made headlines recently.

First, Nikko Remigio, the Filipino and African American kick returner for the Kansas City Chiefs, did not win Super Bowl LIX.

The other, Alameda’s Rob Bonta said no to running for governor. I don’t blame him. It’s not like a mass of people wanted him to run.

But I did.

Whenever there is a Filipino American in a place you don’t expect, I’m rooting for that person.

As California’s Attorney General, Bonta is probably the most active defender among Blue States pushing back against Trump’s Extreme-Right agenda.

I’d like to Bonta run for California’s top job, but he’s better off waiting in line. The Democrats need a spot for Kamala Harris, and Bonta not running obliges the hierarchy.

History can wait. Bonta’s just 52.

Harris has held off speculation of her next move, saying she just moved back to the state. But it seems governor is the path for her.

For now, Bonta needs to continue taking the fight to Trump in the courts.

Football and Identity Politics

My dad, whose birthday would have been Super Bowl weekend, came to the US in 1928 as a colonized Filipino, an “American National,” where he couldn’t be a citizen, vote, own property or even marry the person he wanted.

Not if they were White.

Still, he believed in America. He never gave up.

Sort of like Nikko Remigio.

My dad would have loved Nikko.

If you haven’t noticed, all Americans are engaged in an even bigger game that means so much more than the Super Bowl. Our democracy is falling apart.

You want to get passionate about Eagles and Chiefs?

Let’s be passionate about our Founding Fathers, too.

Nikko didn’t change the game. He touched it three times and provided more yards than all of KC’s running backs.

That’s all I needed to see.

He’s our Filipino guy.

Detractors may call it “identity politics.”

People don’t seem to understand the fight for visibility. To be recognized. To be seen. It’s all wrapped up in the big idea of Civil Rights.

I was nowhere near as good as Nikko when I played. But when you are blessed to play football, you play your hardest.

For me, that was when I was 12 and 13 playing Pop Warner football in San Francisco. I was MVP for my team as a running back.

But I was ashamed of my dad. He wasn’t like the other dads. And I remember going to the team banquet to retrieve my trophy alone.

I didn’t realize it probably meant more to him than I thought.

I wish I had shared my MVP moment with him like Nikko shared his joy with his dad, Mark, born in Seattle to two Filipino immigrants, and his mom, whose mixture of Black and White made Nikko the picture of diversity.

Filipino American and Black and White at the Super Bowl.

But don’t forget, there is one game bigger.

The Super Bowl for Democracy. We’re battling for it every day Trump pushes a cockamamie idea that shakes the foundation of our Democracy.

About the Author

Emil Guillermo is an award-winning journalist and commentator. Watch his micro-talk show “Emil Amok’s Takeout/What Does an Asian American Think?” on www.YouTube.com/emilamok1 Or join him on http://www.patreon.com/emilamok