When debating the NBA’s Most Valuable Player, most use statistics to settle the conversation. Russell Westbrook did it all for the Thunder this year, averaging 31.6 PPG, 10.7 RPG and 10.4 APG. Westbrook became the first player to average a triple-double over an entire season since former player Oscar Robertson did so in the 1961-62 season. In the process, Westbrook recorded 42 triple-doubles on the year, breaking Robertson’s mark of 41.

On the other hand, James Harden became elite this season, averaging 29.1 PPG, 11.2 APG and 8.1 RPG — not far behind Westbrook’s marks. While he’s not the triple-double king, Harden still tallied 22 on the year, led the league in assists and double-doubles with 64. But where Harden separates himself from Westbrook is in making his teammates better.

The Arizona State product joined former player Nate Archibald as the only players in NBA history with at least 2,000 points and 900 assists in a single season — and Archibald averaged 10 more minutes than Harden when he achieved that feat in 1972-73. This means that Harden not only shot lights out, but he also dished the ball well in the process.

Even if he doesn’t win MVP, Harden should at least be in the conversation for Most Improved Player. Harden learned to play the point for the Rockets, excelling in his increased role in the offense. The traditional shooting guard created an average of 56.2 PPG for his teammates this year, also the most since Archibald in the 1972-73 season.

Harden improved on the other side of the ball as well, and is even a better two-way player than Westbrook. According to Bleacher Report, Harden has contested 8.2 shots per game, third most in the NBA among guards. Westbrook hasn’t been as sharp, contesting just 3.6 shots per night, the worst rate of any NBA player who’s logging at least 30 minutes per game.

Westbrook’s and Harden’s numbers are otherworldly; yet, the MVP is almost never based on statistics alone. For example, despite Robertson’s magical 1961-62 season, he did not receive the MVP award; in fact, he finished third in the voting. It was former Boston Celtic Bill Russell who won the award, averaging 18.9 PPG and 23.6 RPG. Hall-of-famer Wilt Chamberlain finished second, averaging a monstrous 50.4 PPG and 25.7 RPG. All-time great Elgin Baylor finished fourth with 38.3 PPG, 12.5 RPG and 4.6 APG.

So why did Robertson get snubbed? Wins. Russell and the Celtics won a league-best 60 games and went on to win the NBA title in 1962. The MVP award is often awarded to the best player on the best team each year. Since the 1955-56 season when the award began, the MVP has been on the team with the best record in their respective conferences 49 out of 61 times in 82-game seasons. In those 12 instances, there have been only five seasons where an MVP’s team has not won at least 50 games.

In the regular season, Harden led the Rockets to 55 wins and the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, who are currently playing the Thunder, the No. 6 seed in the West, notching just 47 wins on the year.

Most of the time the MVP award is given to the best player on the best team, but it should be given to the player who is having the best season. This season, the NBA MVP will break history either way. If Harden wins, he will become just the third player in Rockets history to win MVP, and the first since Hakeem Olajuwon in the 1993-94 season. If Westbrook claims the honor, he will be the third MVP in NBA history on a team seeded sixth or lower in their respective conference.

Whether the fans like it or not, wins are a major factor in determining the NBA MVP, and if it comes down to records, Harden will win.