Scottie Thompson redefines the MVP award
The most valuable player (MVP) award is often given to the player who performed the most at a high level in the entire league. Usually bestowed upon the best player of the winningest team in a particular season, the MVP is one of the most coveted awards in sports, especially basketball.
The chance of winning the basketball MVP award is often not a lot. But how you will get it is pretty clear. You need to really play out of your mind and carry your team to greatness.
Being the best scorer is often rewarded when picking the MVP. But it’s not always about points. It’s about your overall impact on your team in winning games. Basketball is a team sport and the goal is to win games, if your team isn’t winning, your points have no real value.
That is what Scottie Thompson proved when he won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the 47th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) season.
Scottie Thompson bested Mikey Williams of the Talk N’ Text Tropang Giga for the coveted award. That is despite Williams averaging a league-best 18.7 points per game. What made Thompson stand out amongst the contenders is not his scoring. It’s his all-around play that was really vital for the Ginebra’s success.
Thompson averaged 13.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.2 steals for the Ginebra Gin Kings. He led the Gin Kings throughout the 2021-2022 PBA season, which also resulted to them winning the Governor’s Cup Championship.
In terms of scoring, Scottie Thompson may not be the best scorer in the league and even in his team. But what makes him the best player is his all-around game and his impact on his team’s evident success. His rebounding, playmaking, and his stellar defense are what helped him establish his status as a bonafide star in the PBA.
As the award’s name implied, the MVP award should be given to the player who is valuable to his team. Being a scoring machine is definitely a huge boost, but MVPs are not just about scoring.
With Thompson winning the PBA MVP award, he reminded everyone, including the players, that to be the best, you have to be versatile. You have to be stellar at a high level. You’re not going to cut it by just being the best at one thing. You have to be the best at everything to be the MVP.
