Naismith winner Jimmer versus Kemba

Yesterday, Jimmer Fredette received the Naismith player-of-the-year award. So, odds are good that your local newspaper has an article like this one today: Jimmer has the trophies; Kemba has a game to play.

Yes, the easy-to-write editorial of the day is the piece that says: Sure, Jimmer Fredette is winning every player-of-the-year trophy in the NCAA, but Kemba Walker is playing for the championship. Here are a few responses to this trite editorial:

1. Any fan of Jimmer's knows he would give up all the personal awards for a shot at the NCAA championship -- so quit hassling him about not being in the top game. It's not like he chose the Naismith over the championship.

2. Comparing player-of-the-year awards to championship games is nonsensical, because the two are not mutually exclusive. You either win player of the year or you don't, just as you either win an NCAA championship or you don't. Kemba might win a championship, but he failed to win player of the year. The converse is true for Jimmer.

3. Failure to win the NCAA championship does not reduce the value of the player-of-the-year honors. Jimmer Fredette was the best player in the NCAA this year. To be the best player, one does not necessarily have to take one's team all the way to the championship. The best player is the best player, regardless of how his team performs.

Jimmer had an amazing season this year, and fully deserves the honors he is receiving.