Is LeBron James a legitimate MVP threat to Giannis Antetokounmpo?

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo may be the favorite for this season's MVP, but Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James is giving him a serious run for his money.

A heated race is shaping up for this season's NBA MVP Award, with most experts giving Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo a clear leg up. However, a familiar face is making a run at Giannis: Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James.

James, now in his 17th season of NBA service, will have his work cut out for him if he hopes to claim a fifth MVP Award. Time is running a bit short for The King, but he does have a shot.

Antetokounmpo, who won his first MVP last season, continues to prove that he is the driving force behind Milwaukee's success. He's led the Bucks to an impressive 52-8 overall record, and his numbers are among the best in the league.

At 29.9 points per game, Giannis is currently the third-ranked scorer in the NBA. He's not just a proficient scorer, though. He's also fourth in rebounds at 13.8 per contest (career-high). And furthermore, if the season ended today, Antetokounmpo would have one of the highest PER in league history.

It's also worth noting that Antetokounmpo isn't playing alongside another true superstar in Milwaukee, as James is with Anthony Davis in Los Angeles. This makes Giannis' claim to the MVP award a bit stronger, but it certainly doesn't diminish James' importance to his team.

LeBron missed a large portion of last season due to a groin injury, but he's managed to bounce back in a big way. The three-time champion has led the Lakers to a Western Conference-best 46-13 overall record in this campaign, and most experts are projecting a deep playoff run. In fact, some say we'll see the Lakers in the NBA Finals.

Incredibly, James is leading the NBA in assists at 10.6 per game. The Akron native has always been known as a great facilitator, but leading the entire league in this category is a true testament to his unselfish style of play.

At 25.5 points per game, James is currently just outside of the top-ten scorers. Individually, his 6.49 plus-minus mark for the season is second in the league, behind only Giannis' 7.87.

Both LeBron and Giannis have played well in recent games. In Sunday's matchup against rookie phenom Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans, James racked up 34 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds, marking his 13th triple-double performance of this season.