Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma thinks LeBron James should be at the top of the award list.
"The NBA MVP is a very political award," Kuzma said after the Lakers' 116-105 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday. "Bron should have been the MVP at least eight, nine, 10 times. Everybody knows that."
James' team officially started the campaign for the 36-year-old, now in his 18th season, to win his fifth after he dazzled with 37 points on 14-of-22 shooting, 8 rebounds and 6 assists in the victory over the team owned by Michael Jordan, one of only three players in history with more MVPs than James.
When asked about Kuzma's claim, James admitted he felt he has been snubbed in the past, but he wouldn't specify how many he felt he deserved to win.
"I should have more than four, I believe," James said. "But ... I don't sit around thinking about it or crying about it, or whatever the case may be. I just try to come in the next season and be the MVP and be talked about [for] it again. I bet a lot of the greatest that played this game feel like they should have more as well, if you ask any one of those guys.
"This is another opportunity for me to able to be recognized as the best player for that particular season, and this season. So, hopefully, I can continue to just play great basketball and see what happens at the end."
James last won the award after the 2012–13 season, his third year playing with the Heat.
