Giannis Antetokounmpo tries to divide the defense of James Harden and LeBron James in the NBA 2019 All-Star Game. (Photo: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)

It goes without saying that most basketball fans in Milwaukee prefer Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo to win his first National Basketball Association MVP trophy after the 2018-19 season, but James Harden and Adidas would like you to reconsider.

In a full-page ad purchased in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Tuesday edition, Adidas makes a call on behalf of Harden regarding some of the most discussed aspects of his game, such as his withdrawal maneuver (considered to be traveling by some) and his penchant for drawing faults.

The Rockets are in Milwaukee on Tuesday for their only visit to the city this season, a face-to-face battle between the league's top two MVPs. The Bucks won a battle in Houston on Jan. 9, 116-109.

RELATED: Giannis Antetokounmpo? James Harden? Who is the MVP? This race of the NBA is far from decided.

The ad takes a conversational and conciliatory approach to expound his argument and begins with the title "A message regarding James Harden (which he understands you can not read)". "

"You are also free to be angry at James Harden's step back," reads in the announcement (see the full layout below). "You're free to call it a trip and flambé it on your podcast, but a quick question: if you could take that step back, would not you?" James Harden thinks you could do it. he freely accepts that you do not do it …

"The fact is that whoever will vote for the MVP, it will not change James Harden.It feels free to play the game as he does.James Harden is free to be James Harden.And you are free to play. ;to be you."

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The MVP is voted by 100 members of the media. Harden received 86 first-place votes last year and won the award during a landslide for the 2017-18 season.

You can reach JR Radcliffe at (262) 361-9141 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @JRRadcliffe.