The Cleveland Cavaliers basketball player, LeBron James, tried to get past the Golden State Warriors basketball player Nick Young in the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena, Ohio on Friday (6/8/2018). Warriors champions after a 4-0 win over the Cavaliers. (AFP / Tony Dejak)

Although reportedly out of harmony, Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving still admits the prowess of former team-mate LeBron James. Irving rate LeBron more worthy of MVP NBA 2017-2018.

As is known, LeBron failed to reach his fifth MVP. He lost out against Houston Rockets James Harden. LeBron had to settle for second place after Harden.

But in the eyes of Irving, LeBron is supposed to get the MVP title. Irving's assessment is based on NBA statistics of the 2017-2018 season. According to Irving, Harden won the public choice MVP, while the real LeBron MVP.

"I'm happy for [Harden] I do not vote MVP is difficult to measure now because now you have a MVP of choice people and MVP NBA I think the public choice MVP must be James [Harden] but MVP NBA is definitely 'Bron.I mean, if we're talking statistically closely, he's in all categories ... He's amazing, "Irving said on Hot 97 show.

The selection of MVP winners and other awards in the NBA Awards is based on a panel of journalists covering the NBA.

#Work alone

Irving and LeBron were rumored to be at loggerheads. The reason Irving chose to move from the Cavaliers last year. The reason is because Irving does not want to be under the shadow of LeBron.

After leaving Irving, LeBron worked hard on his own to bring the Cavaliers through to the NBA finals before being defeated by the Golden State Warriors.