With the NBA regular season completed and the playoffs now in full swing, the debate about who should win the league’s most valuable player award remains a popular conversation among basketball fanatics.

The two leading candidates are point guards Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder and James Harden of the Houston Rockets. The two battled it out in the first round of the playoffs with the Rockets eventually winning the best of seven series 4-1.

Both players put up impressive statistics throughout the season. Westbrook is considered the frontrunner for the award because he set a new single season record for triple doubles and posted impressive per game averages. Throughout the course of the season, Westbrook averaged 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists, becoming the first player since Oscar Robertson to average such numbers.

Westbrook’s season was unforgettable, but the award should be given to Harden because of the impact he had on propelling his team to the third seed in the difficult Western Conference after barely making the playoffs as an eighth seed last year and being projected by many sports analysts to miss the playoffs entirely this year.

Harden’s statistics may not be as eye popping as Westbrook’s, but he still averaged a terrific 29.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and a league high 11.2 assists.

Harden primarily played as a shooting guard last year, but his transition to point guard this year made him and his team exponentially better. He has thrived in this new role and excels at creating easy scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.

These easy opportunities come in the form of open threes and free throws. Harden’s drives to the basket are almost always followed by a pass back out to the perimeter or a trip to the free throw line for himself.

The Rockets led the league with 14.2 three pointers per game and Harden shot a league high 959 free throws over the course of the season.

Due to Harden’s heightened level of play, the Rockets went from winning 41 games a year ago to winning 55 games this season without making any major offseason additions. Additionally, the team is averaging almost 10 more points per game than they did a year before and now have the second highest scoring offense in the league.

In determining the league’s most valuable player, it is important to consider more than just individual performance. The way the player helps the team should be a decisive factor.

Westbrook’s consistent triple doubles, highlight reel dunks, and flashy pre-game outfits have made him a fan favorite, yet he has done little to improve the record of his team or the play of his teammates.

Westbrook led the league in scoring, but he also shot significantly more shots per game than any other player.  Harden was much more efficient, scoring only two less points per game while averaging five fewer shots.

Westbrook has the best odds to win the award, but due to the success of the Rockets this season, Harden should win the NBA MVP.

The winner will be announced at the NBA Awards on June 26.