Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade: Analyzing the MVP, Pt. 1

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Kobe Bryant

The reigning MVP is Mr. Consistent. He is, in my mind, the most complete player in the game today. Every time I hear about LeBron James or Dwyane Wade being compared to Kobe as the best overall player in the game, I think back to earlier in the decade.

First, it was Kobe v. Vince Carter. Then it was Kobe v. Allen Iverson. Next is was Kobe v. Paul Pierce. Then it was Kobe v. Tracy McGrady. Next it was Kobe v. Ray Allen. In 2005-06, it was Kobe v. Wade and Kobe v. Gilbert.

It is truly remarkable how long Kobe has remained the standard among perimeter players.

Most analysts remark that this is perhaps Kobe's best season ever. Insiders credit Kobe with letting the offense come to him and reading the flow of the game more accurately. Bryant still puts up the numbers, but he is a more cerebral player now.

Instead of dominance, Kobe opts for precision.

What I most like about Kobe's game, as it has developed, is that he's less concerned about getting to his spots on the floor and more concerned with his teammates getting to their spots. It allows his teammates to invest in the game more while simultaneously creating easier opportunities for himself once the opposing team realizes they have to pick their poison.

As a result, the Lakers have positioned themselves to run away with the best record in the Western Conference—no small feat, given the quality of the teams in the West and the close seeding from two through eights.

Despite Kobe's longevity, three rings and five Finals appearences, he only has one regular season MVP to his credit. Why? Statistics.

Proponents of Kobe argue that there are three types of lies—there are lies, there are damned lies and then there are statistics. Maybe that is true, but at least statistics are objective. Isn't relying on stats more fair than relying on subjective proclaimations of a player's worth?

The reality of the situation is that Kobe's statistics are just not as impressive as Lebron's or Wade's.  Still, there is something persuasive about the argument that the box score doesn't tell the entire story. You have to watch the games. That is why most analysts still call Kobe Bryant the best player in the game.

Basketball is defined by moments. Great players can dominate entire games, but legends dominate moments. That is what Kobe Bryant is. He is a guy that dominates moments.

He'll have a quiet game and then explode for 18 in the fourth quarter just to prove to Ron Artest and the Rockets that they have no shot come playoff time. He'll drop 61 in the Mecca of basketball just as to put on a show for the fans. He'll hit a timely three over the Spurs just to let them know a comeback won't be in the cards tonight.

And Kobe doesn't step into these moments once in a while. He steps into these moments and delivers almost every single game. As an observer, it is impressive because it rubs off on his teammates.  They start to believe they cannot lose—not with this guy on the team. His killer instinct inspires them while demoralizing the opposition.

Still, is Bryant doing anything really more impressive than LeBron? Some have argued that Kobe has been better against top competition. After all, they are 2-0 against the Celtics and 2-0 against the Cavs, and gave Cleveland their only home loss of the season to date. LeBron hasn't been nearly as good against the best competition in NBA—and honestly, has played poorly against the best competition.

Indeed, it is often said that LeBron is doing more with less, but do people really take the time to realize how hard it is to win games in the West where the competition is stronger night after night?

Ask yourself this question: If the Lakers switched conferences and the Cavs switched conferences, what would the likely result be? Would we even be having a discussion on who the MVP is?

The Verdict

As I said before, my definition of a MVP is which player puts his team in the position to best win a championship. As of today, my 2009 NBA MVP is LeBron James. LeBron has just been too good to deny. His statistical production is off the charts and he has the best record in the league, which determines home court advantage in the finals.

If the Lakers end with the best record, it'll be Kobe. With the Lakers one game back and having to play most of their remaining games on the road, the Lakers will need luck, consistency, and smart play for Bryant to repeat.

Part II next week will look at the regular season MVP and how much it should matter in defining a player's legacy.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?