There are players across the NBA that have gotten love as MVP candidates this season and Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers hasn't gotten much buzz. While Lillard continues to fly under the radar, teammate CJ McCollum made a strong case for Lillard to be MVP with ESPN's Taylor Twellman on a recent episode of SportsNation.
Of course, with McCollum being a long-time teammate of Lillard's, he's going to tell the media he believes Lillard is the clear choice for MVP. However, the veteran shooting guard presented a solid case for his backcourt running mate.
McCollum states Lillard's consistency to improve every season is a reason why he should be considered for MVP. After averaging 21 or fewer points per game in his first three seasons in the NBA, Lillard has eclipsed 25 or more points per game with the Trail Blazers in every season.
As for this year, Lillard is currently notching 29.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game. Another reason why McCollum views Lillard as the front-runner for MVP is his ability to deliver in clutch moments. Lillard has made a few game-winners this season, adding to his long list of clutch shots in his career.
Above all, Lillard has led the Blazers to an 18-10 record thus far, which is good enough for the fourth-best record in the competitive Western Conference. What makes their record even more impressive is Lillard has had to play without McCollum in the lineup since Jan. 16.
Following Friday night's explosion, talks of Joel Embiid being the MVP in the NBA are beginning to heat up. But when it comes to who he'd vote for, McCollum believes Lillard deserves to take home the hardware for various reasons.
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