The NBA’s most prestigious award honoring an individual’s excellent season performance is the MVP. Unfortunately the criteria seems to change each year, making it tough to identify the front-runner.
Sometimes the award goes to the player with the freakish stats from an average team, other times the league chooses to recognize the greatest team’s best player.
All in all, there doesn’t often seem to be a clear cut favorite for the MVP. And even when there is, some see the prospect as open to question as a BCS midseason ranking.
The season is technically just past the halfway point and the MVP debate is starting to gain momentum. Personally I believe LeBron James is the front-runner. That said, let’s sort through some of this year’s top names and see if we can come up with a solid opponent to challenge LeBron for the award.
Steve Nash is known for his amazing ability to take his team down the court with perfect passes and shrewd looks. He is the unmistakable leader of his squad. Nash has very good numbers averaging 17.4 points and 11.7 assists per game. But while his leadership is notable, his defense is probably average.
Honestly, there are a couple factors precluding Nash from real MVP contention. First, his stats barely rank him at the top of his own team (Stoudemire has 23.2 points 9.3 rebounds per game). And while a 17-point, 11-assist game would be seen as consistent for Nash, this kind of game would qualify as an off-night for LeBron.
With 30.3 points, 7.8 assists, and 7.3 rebounds per game along with better defensive play, James outranks Nash. Plus, there is a significant gap between James and the second best Cavalier, while the performances of Nash’s squad are a bit more uniform.
Next let’s take a look at Kobe Bryant—one of the more legitimate contenders. Kobe is a very complete player, and like LeBron and others he is undoubtedly the leader of his squad.
First off, defensively the edge goes to Kobe—though I’ll bet LeBron will be in the thick of things when the NBA's all defensive team is announced.
Kobe is a great scorer, and supports his teammates with intuitive looks. But James’ averages top Bryant’s: 30.3 points as opposed to 28; 7.8 assists as opposed to 5.3. James also beats Bryant in boards, with 7.3 as opposed to 6.1.
Their supporting casts are fairly similar, but overall the advantage goes to LeBron.
Now here’s where the questionable criteria used to decide upon an MVP is similar to the data used to compile a BCS ranking.
Dwight Howard is developing as the true dominant force of the NBA's big men down low, and we’ve all seen how this kind of presence benefits a team (e.g. Shaq in his prime).
A big man you can’t control, and can only pray to contain, truly defines dominance—and truly defines Howard. He’s the toughest down low right now and he has his team back in the thick of the playoffs as well.
26 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Anonymous about 1 year ago
First.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
up until recently, kobe has played almost 5 or 6 minutes less than lebron, and often times not played in the 4th quarter at all because he had contributed a lot through the first 3. not only that, unlike lebron, kobe has actually played through multiple injuries, which slightly diminished his performance. do you really think if kobe were to play the same number of minutes AND actually try to shoulder the load like he has the last several seasons (when, by the way, he should have won at least 1 MVP anyway) that he wouldn't be leading the league in scoring? both players are great passers, but i give the edge to lebron for finding more assists. finally, lebron's a forward, while kobe's a shooting guard (not to mention that he's about 3in smaller and 50lbs lighter), so he SHOULD have a higher rebound average, but in this case he only barely edges kobe. in terms of this, kobe's rebounding stat is much more impressive than lebron's. the mvp used to mean something, but now a days it's evolved into a share-the-ware, be-politically-correct, give-it-to-the-media-darling award. with such a fickle, un-rigorous, and undependable voting process (i.e. by ignorant media figurers instead of knowledgeable analysts), what good is it anymore?
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
LeBron should get it so far. Btw the person abvoe me, kobe has less FG% then LeBron. He takes more shots to get points.
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Ling Ge about 1 year ago
I still think at this point Lebron and Kobe are tied, and it'll come down to who plays their best at the end of the season. But I think this article puts too much emphasis on the numbers rather than the impact of a particular player. Like the comment above, Kobe and Lebron play different positions, so certain numbers should swing in favor of certain players.
I mostly disagree with the supporting cast, in that you said they were similar. Kobe's supporting cast pre-Gasol and post-Gasol trade have been much better than Lebron's. The Lakers have the highest scoring bench team, and had Bynum with a dominant interior presence prior to his injury. With Gasol, they may be even better. Lebron's supporting cast is considerably weaker in the starting rotation and on the bench. Therefore, you would expect Lebron to get more rebounds, get more assists, and score more. If Lebron had Jason Kidd or Pau Gasol, his numbers would probably decrease slightly. In short, Lebron has to do more because he has less than Kobe.
I also disagree with Dwight Howard being tied to Lebron because he is still not a dominant center that can take over games, compared to Shaq in his prime. Being in the Eastern Conference, if you took out Dwight Howard, I think the Magic could still be a .500 team or at least be in the playoff picture with Lewis and Turkoglu, like the Washington Wizards.
So then it comes down to Kobe and Lebron. If I had to pick one now, it would be Lebron, simply because when he was injured, the Cavs when on a long losing streak and took a while to get back their chemistry. But Kobe is a very close second because if you removed him from his team, the Lakers would probably tank in the Western Conference.
I think more reasonable would be:
Lebron James
Kobe Bryant
Kevin Garnett
Chris Paul
Steve Nash
Just a side note, two seasons ago, Kobe averaged 35 ppg, while Lebron averaged 31 ppg along with 7 boards and 7 assists, and neither won the MVP. Numbers don't tell everything.
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Jeremy Mason about 1 year ago
Good stats Jeffrey. But u said Kobe and Lebron's supporting casts are similar? Think again buddy. Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher are better in their sleep than Lebron's teammates, Larry Hughes, Daniel Gibson, Zedrunas Ilgauskus and Dwight Gooden.
Not sure how that effects the rankings, but to compare the two supporting casts is unreasonable.
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Sean Stancill about 1 year ago
You know I seen no mention of Lebron's dismal 71% FT shooting that will soon descend back into the high 60's.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Kobe should have picked up the MVP way before Lebron came into the league. With Lebron leading the NBA, Kobe can't win the MVP. Unless Lebron retires before Kobe retires. Kobe doesn't have a chance to win it while Lebron is still in the league.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I thinks it's a blatant mistake of history that bryant, in his eleventh season playing, hasn't clinched an MVP trophee yet. Remember, MJ's first MVP title came in 1988 when Jordan averaged 35 points and didn't go that far into the playoffs ( second round elimination). Honestly the season that earned Jordan his MVP could largely be compared to Kobe's 2005-2006 : same average ( including mind-boggling 81 pts game) and same weak supporting cast. For someone so highly-praised as Kobe not to have ever been the MVP is a sick anomaly. I don't care if Kobe averages less than 20 points in any given Season, he should be voted MVP as everyone who's ever watched basket-ball knows he's the best player since Mike. Talk about resilience. Kobe's now playing with a torn ligament in his pinkie. How brave is that? You know Kobe's situation reminds me of the tee-shirt Stella mcartney worn when they finally inducted her father into the Rock'n'roll hall of fame. The shirt said " about f...in' time". Well if Kobe gets this year, and i hope he will, he should turn up wearing the sale type of garment.
By the way, thanks for your brilliant analysis
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Delon Moore about 1 year ago
First of all, all you haters need to stop gettin at Kobe. He is clearly the best, but LeBron gets respect because he is the man he's been treatin people like kids since he came to the league. But he has looked up to Kobe. He knows he doesn't hold the elite play that Kobe has and is workin and getting better. But if kobe was hooping it would of been a done deal. Kobe would of had 3 MVP honors. He could have played but it didn't happen. Don't doubt his greatness
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
The last time I checked, Kobe has 0 MVPs, dumbasses.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
If the Lakers were in the Eastern conference they would have gone deep into the playoffs the past few years. When Kobe scored 81 everyone said he didn't deserve the MVP because that trophy doesn't go to ball hogs. Now Lebron is averaging more points so he deserves it more. What a joke. Kobe is on another level. Lebron will get there, but he's not there yet. The biggest reason Kobe will win; the pinky. Everyone, including the owner, said he should have surgery and try to help his team with a final playoff push when he gets back. He's too competitive though. He doesn't want to chance missing the playoffs, or even being an 6th seed again. He'll play with the torn up pinky, separated shoulder, cracked rib, sprained ankle, or whatever else comes along, and he'll put up amazing numbers too. The Lakers will get the #1 seed in the West, and he will run away with the MVP finally.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
i have a problem with people saying lebron should is the mvp rightnow. his team can barely stay above 500. the cavs are the fourth or fifth place because they're playing in the east. over in the west, teams 10-12 games over 500 are struggling to stay in the playoff picture. if the cavs are in the west, they would be in the tenth spot out of the playoffs rightnow. if the mvp should go to the best player in the nba, then it should of been kobe bryant for the past two years instead of dirk and steve nash. if the mvp should go to the best player on the best team like everyone else suggested then it should go to kobe bryant this year. the lakers are 20 games over 500, second seed in the WEST 1 game behind the hornets, plus all the experts are saying the lakers are the best in the nba. but of course it will never be that simple with kobe because he will never get the credit that he truly deserves.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Kobe can't surpass MJ but LeBron has now surpassed Kobe. Deal with it Kobe lovers.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Yeah now that kobes the best player on the best team all anyone cares about is your stats. funny how that works huh? where were you guys two years ago? This article doesn't even mention that lebrons team is struggling in the weak, WEAK east and kobe is leading his team to the top of the over-stuffed western conference. That doesn't count for anything anymore?
Oh yeah and when you factor in free throws kobe is a MORE EFFICIENT SCORER than lebron, and a better defender, and his teams got a great record, and he's in the tougher conference, and pau gasol and derek fisher are putting up CAREER NUMBERS with the lakers so FU to all the biatches saying kobe doesn't make his teammates better
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
i guess pau gasols 15% increase in fg% is because kobe doesn't make his teammates better
i guess fishers 8% increase in fg% and 10% increase in 3fg% is beacuse kobe doesn't make his teammates better
i guess lamar odoms 5% increase in fg% when he joined the lakers is beacuse kobe doesn't make his teammates better
i guess shaqs career numbers and only mvp were because kobe didn't make his teammates better
i guess smush parkers exponential statistical increases were because kobe doesn't make his teammates better, and now he can't even get minutes on the worst team in league. but D-wades making him a better player, unlike kobe, who just kept the ball from him.
i guess larry hughes went from all-star to massive dissapointment because lebron makes his teammates better
i guess damon jones went from "best shooter in the league" to a 12th man because lebron makes his teammates better
i guess carlos boozer was actually a better player with lebron james than he is in Utah. funny about those new all-star selections and mvp votes though.
but lebron obviously makes his teammates better and kobe is a ballhog
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
lebroom surpassing kobe? what a joke! kobes the best player in the universe, just ask lebron idiot.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
i can understand how you put lebron infront of kobe but dwight howard? wow!
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I just think i funny how people absolutely refuse to give credit to Kobe Byrant. They re-define what it is to be a MVP every year just to AVOID awarding the title to Kobe. First it was you can't "ball hog." In case some of you people don't understand sports Kobe didn't ball hog. The reason that kobe took so many shots was because at the end of the shot clock no one else was willing to take the cruch shots. Everyone defered to Kobe during cruch time, and Kobe scored over triple teams. Last year Dirk won the MVP award because the Mavs was the best team. Now that the Lakers is becoming one of the best Kobe is not the MVP anymore? What dose the man have to do to get some respect. When he has to score 40 for his team to win, he's "ball-hogging and taking to many shots." When Kobe trust is teammates and dosen't dominate, he's "not taking enough shots and thats why the Lakers lost." Kobe is the best player in the league. LeBron barley comes close. The man sat out six weaks because he dislocated his pinke finger on his left hand. Kobe put up 41 againts the Suns with a torn ligament and a avulsion fracture. Two years a go Kobe basically dragged the Lakers to the playoffs in the West. The West might not have been as strong two years ago, but it was still far strong than the East. The Lakers are 2nd in the West with Kobe. The Lakers will be out of the playoffs without Kobe. What are the Cavs? They're 5th in the East. Without LeBron I can still see them fighting for the 8th spot, after all how hard is it to lose more games than you win and still be in playoff contention? So, who was the MVP agian? They next time LeBron lovers arguee something have something to arguee back with.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Rapists can't win an MVP award. Oh yeah!!!!!!!
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
The logic of the MVP voters and the kobe haters always surprises me.
Finally, I realized that the MVP award means nothing anymore. Try as you may, coming up with a clear definition for MVP is impossible.
Of course, the obvious definition today for MVP is defined as the award that "kobe is never supposed to get". Any disagreements ?
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
That is THE most way to put it.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
You have a major fallacy in your article. You stated:
"Sometimes the award goes to the player with the freakish stats from an average team"
That is not only incorrect, but it's deliberate seeding in order to validate your biased point, that Lebron is the MVP, which he clearly isn't.
No player, by the voting media (since they took over the voting in 1981) has ever won teh award based on stats on an average team. NEVER
No player since the media began voting has ever won it with a team less than 50 wins, or one of the top 4 teams in the league.
Throws your argument right into the trash bin.
MVP's don't go to average teams, no matter how astronomical your stats are.
Kobe or CP3 are the MVP's as of now. Lebron has the 15th best record in the league, and would be a 10th seed if his team was in the western conference. No go for LBJ.
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Jeffrey Kee about 1 year ago
lebron has had a great season but kobe will win the mvp
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Well, Kobe is a great shooter and even better than Lebron; however, Lebron is far more better. This is because, Lebron can change a tempo of a game more quicker than Bryant can. If Kobe is struggling we all can see is very noticeable; however, when Lebron struggles he can hurt you other methods to win. He has a great eye to see an open player and knows exactly where to put the ball. Kobe did fought a lot with injuries to himself and to other teammates; however, is amazing to see where they are today. Lebron is better in my books because, he is tougher and more quicker and jumps higher than Kobe and also could finish moves even when he is hit in the mid air. Sort of like how Michael Jordan has done when he was at his prime. Kobe is alright; but I think Lebron has been far matured than Kobe has. For one lebron should be the one to cry trade me, not Kobe. I do not see why Kobe was saying trade me for anyway. He had better teammates than Lebron but they do not know how to play with each other. Cleveland Cavaliers made it work and sort of like how Bulls have done to win their first NBA title. Most Valuable Player means how they contribute to themselves and for those around him. Well, in this case Lebron James edges over Kobe Bryant; because, there is a chemistry with his team far more than with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Didn't Lebron James hurt his pinkie also? I say Kobe lost his fans when he clearly asked to be traded to another team. If they do not make it to the championship game; maybe Kobe would get traded to another team; however, not by his own choice. You get what you ask for; if you run your mouth to much (meaning Kobe Bryant).
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Didn't Lebron James hurt his pinkie also? I say Kobe lost his fans when he clearly asked to be traded to another team. If they do not make it to the championship game; maybe Kobe would get traded to another team; however, not by his own choice. You get what you ask for; if you run your mouth to much (meaning Kobe Bryant).
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