Blake Griffin deserves NBA MVP consideration this season alongside Derrick Rose, Amare Stoudemire and a select few others. In fact, if the Clippers continue their current pace throughout the rest of the season, I will not be surprised if he joins Wes Unseld and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players ever to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season.

In most every year since the early 1990s we’ve had a bona-fide MVP-caliber season that relegated most everyone else to second place. Michael Jordan could very well have won every single MVP from 1988-1998 during the seasons he played and between Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, the brightest stars have garnered plenty of support well before the season ended. Even when Steve Nash won back-to-back awards he was so stunningly brilliant that his nomination and ultimate selection were no surprise.

This year has been one of the most riveting races ever as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant are not at the top for a number of reasons. Because of this a plethora of new candidates have emerged such as Rose, Stoudemire and now, unfathomably, a rookie playing for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Blake Griffin has been that good all season long and for us to hold his “rookie” status against him in the MVP race would be completely unfair to him and the award itself.

There is no getting around bringing this up, especially after his 47 point outburst against Indiana last night. For those out there who assumed that Griffin was simply a high-flying dunk-machine please watch THIS CLIP highlighting his scoring barrage on Monday night. We’re talking a full arsenal of hooks, jumpers, ridiculous layups, spin moves and bank shots along with his usual dunk-fest. Watch the look on the opposing players’ faces just for a second after one of his dynamite plays and you see defeat and awe wrapped all into one.

And when was the last time you watched such a young player rebound with such ferocity?!

Yes, even in the NBA this guy is somehow a man among boys and he’s forced himself into MVP-consideration despite the Clippers’ 15-25 regular season record (although they have won 10 of 14).

I have been an admitted fan of Griffin’s since his college days but I never, EVER expected him to dominate like this so soon at this level.

The last time I remember a rookie making the same type of powerful, dynamic impact? That would be in 1992 when I was just 10 years old watching Shaq destroy foes around the rim with the Orlando Magic.

One of my very first columns was about Blake (READ IT HERE) in November and I have since added a few more to the archives as the season has progressed. While I know that most everyone is going crazy over this kid I can’t help how much I love his hustle, tenacity, hops and drive to be great and I refuse to stop writing about his exploits simply because the masses are as well.

He’s also embraced being a Clipper (for now) and even though I’m a Celtics fan I couldn’t be more excited for this incredibly deprived fan-base.

Why should he be looked at as a potential MVP this year? Consider the following:

  • He’s recorded 27 consecutive double-doubles (33 on the year) which now stands as the longest streak since 1986 for a rookie and second overall since that time. Next up? Kevin Garnett’s streak of 37 straight in 2006.

  • From December 12th through January 16th Griffin posted more than 20 points and 10 boards in 14 straight games.

  • Remember when he burned the Knicks for 44 points, 15 boards and 7 assists in November? Only two others have ever recorded those combined numbers or better since 1986 - Hakeem Olajuwon and Vince Carter.

  • How about the 47 he scored last night on just 24 shots? Only 12 players since 1986 other than Griffin have accomplished such a feat: Ray Allen, Carmelo Anthony, Willie Burton, Manu Ginobili, Josh Howard, LeBron James, Kevin Martin, Alonzo Mourning, Dirk Nowitzki, Shaquille O’Neal, Amare Stoudemire and Dwyane Wade.

  • **Griffin’s current PER (player efficiency rating) of 23.2 ranks behind just two rookies in the last 40 years: David Robinson and a guy named Michael Jordan. It also ranks 14th in the league this season. **

  • He’s currently on pace to become one of just nine players to average more than 20 points and 12 rebounds in their rookie seasons. The others? Bob Pettit, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Walt Bellamy, Elvin Hayes, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, David Robinson and Shaquille O’Neal.

  • The Clippers have jumped to fourth in attendance this season after ranking 20th the previous year. Think Blake might have something to do with this?

  • Los Angeles has won 10 of their last 14 games including victories over the soaring Nuggets, Heat and Lakers. Let that sink in for just a second. Repeat.

I could probably add a few more things but I think we all get the point.

Look, I’m not going to try and tell you that he should be ahead of Derrick Rose or Amare right now. He’s not. The Clippers still have a ways to go before they reach .500 and until they do it might be pointless throwing his name in this discussion considering both of the players mentioned above are leading squads destined for the postseason.

But if you sit back and think about what the definition of an MVP truly is you might find yourself including Griffin whether you like it or not.

Griffin is certainly not perfect. He needs to improve his defense on the pick-and-roll and his free-throw shooting remains atrocious. But has there ever been a great player without a flaw? Perhaps Michael Jordan was the closest and look at the results.

What’s even scarier is that he’s bound to improve. A lot. And that is a frightening proposition for opposing fans like myself.

Think about the last time you watched a rookie dominate like this and appreciate it while you can - you never know how long Griffin’s knees will withstand the relentless pounding of the regular-season grind.

We all thought Blake Griffin’s coming-out party and jump into MVP consideration might happen within the next couple of years.

Forget 2012. I’m starting to think that time is now.

(NOTE: Data retrieved from ESPN and Basketball-Reference.com)

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