Bill Simmons outlined his four rules for selecting an NBA MVP, developed throughout the 2000s. The criteria include assessing the impact of replacing the MVP candidate with a decent player on the team’s record, determining who would be the first pick in a hypothetical pickup game, ensuring that even opposing fans could understand the MVP choice, and identifying which player will be most memorable from that season a decade later. He also referenced his analysis of controversial seasons in his 2017 awards column.