On NBA.com's Race to the MVP page, LeBron James is listed as the No. 1 choice to win the award, followed by Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant.
Looking at this, I couldn't help but think, what defines an MVP?
Is an MVP the player who helps lead his team to the most victories? Is it the player who has the best statistical season?
Or is the MVP the player who is the most well-liked and respected by the fans and the media?
Well, the Cleveland Cavaliers have a record of 29-23 and are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Now, if they were in the West, they would be in 10th place, right behind the Houston Rockets—two spots out of the playoffs.
Even though the Cavs are not a top 10 NBA team, LeBron James is already being dubbed the 2008 NBA MVP.
I'm confused...very confused. In the past reporters, writers, fans, coaches, and players all said that the player who receives the MVP award should be the best player on the best team. Please tell me why LeBron is the MVP?
I checked on many sites and they all say the same thing. They say that without LeBron, the Cavs would be six games below .500, but are 13 games above it when he does play.
What does that mean? It means that LeBron is the MVP of the Cavs, not the NBA. They also write that his stats are off the charts, averaging about 30 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists.
Think about this: Two years ago Kobe averaged more than 35 points per game, had 62 points in three quarters against the Mavericks, 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, and pretty much carried the Lakers into the postseason.
Were those stats not off the charts?
Had Kobe missed six games like LeBron James this season, the Lakers would have lost all six of those games too. In fact, had Kobe not been on the Lakers during that season, the Lakers would not have even won a game with the roster they had.
I've come down to one final conclusion: The MVP award is based upon how popular a player is, how many commercials he is in, and how many tickets he sells.
I'm not saying Nash, Duncan, Dirk, and Shaq did not deserve to be MVPs, but really, if someone is gonna say that the MVP award belongs to the best player on the best team, then why would LeBron deserve it?
26 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Anonymous about 1 year ago
How did Kobe's team fair last year for the 5 games he was out? I understand your a Kobe jock rider but give Lebron some credit for carrying that Cavaliers team to the finals. Honestly, is their one player on the Cavaliers team besides Lebron you would trade the Lakers counterpart for?
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Kobe will never be MVP because those dumb*** ass media doesn't like him...but he was, and still the people's real MVP! (remember Boston, Atlanta?...MVP! MVP! MVP!)
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Kill them all, I say, kill them all!!! we don't want any MVPs...so kill them all!!!
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The Genius about 1 year ago
This is a problem for the NBA league authorities to solve as it has refused to adjust to the modern dynamics permeating the shape of its league. It would be painful if the season's MVP award went to any player on an Eastern conference team, for we all know that conference is not as competitive as the Western conference, thus, it's much easier for players on Eastern conference teams to rack up wins for their teams AND even stuff stat sheets by accumulating points, rebounds, assists etc against weak teams on the East side...which are mostly the criteria used by advocates and even voters of candidates for the award.
What the NBA league authorities should do is award two (2) MVP awards for the regular season of 82 games [one for the Eastern conference and another for the Western conference], and also a more important MVP award for the NBA Finals [taking into account the 82 regular season games, playoff games and most importantly, performance in the finals series by each candidate]. That way, it lessens the hype of the regular season MVP award, and places more emphasis on the NBA Finals award [which by all means, ought to be the most important of all NBA awards].
Also, it ensures that the NBA Finals will become more enjoyable and intensely competitive. Remember, they say "great players take centre-stage at great times", and what could be greater than the Finals in an NBA season schedule?
LeBron James was runner-up for the NBA regular season MVP award last year. Imagine what a cock-up it would have been had LeBron been conferred with the MVP award right before his woeful performance @ the NBA finals against the San Antonio Spurs. That would have taken alot of credibility away from the MVP award...but no more than has been with the award being awarded to a certain Dirk Nowitzski.
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Michael Bell about 1 year ago
I've come to the conclusion that the MVP is a load of shit. Who cares who wins? Everyone has their own definition of MVP, who it is, and what it means. Kobe's never won one? Fine, give it to him (its not like he hasn't earned it). Kobe doesn't need an MVP to gauge the success he's had in his career. Do we really rank the all time greats on number of MVPs they've won.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
THIS REPORT SHOULD BE CALLED PRAISE KOBE, DISS LEBRON REPORT..
IF KOBE WENT TO CAVS THY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING BETTER THAN THEY DOING NOW.. IN FACT NO PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE COULD DO WHAT LEBRON DOES.
IF LEBRON WENT TO THE LAKERS THEN HE WOULD WIN THE MVP AND THE CHAMPIONSHIPS...
I LOVE KOBE, HE WAS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE FOR A LONG TIME BUT HIS TIME HAS COME AND ALMOST GONE...
BESIDES YOU SHOULD BE ASKING IS KOBE BETTER THAN GILBERT ARENAS?
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Ben Gunby about 1 year ago
Part of the reasons Cleveland record is lagging behind some of the Western Conference teams might be due to the fact that Lebron missed some time. Have you compared their record with him as to without him? It seems that's a pretty pivotal stat when it comes to MVP voting, one you choose to ignore.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I"m a lebron fan, but seriously, as a logical human being, what the fuck does the cav's not doing well during lebron's absence have anything to do with lebron being an mvp? the author said it precisely: it just means lebron's the mvp of his team full of scrubs. there are a few players who if he didn't play, his team wouldn't win as much compared to if he did; if kobe didn't play on the lakers of the last several seasons, the lakers would have been a lottery team; are we supposed to use that to conclude kobe's the nba's mvp? of course not. if we award the mvp to lebron this year on the case that "the cavs don't do as well without him", then the media is full of hypocrites who harbor double standards. the last several years everyone told kobe he couldn't win an mvp because all he did was rack up stats without leading his team (although everyone knows that what he did was a miracle with the lakers winning as many games as they won, since without him they wouldn't have won a dozen games or so), and this year they're telling kobe he can't get an mvp because his stats aren't as "good" as his past. seriously people, let's let go of the hate and appreciate the players for what they are. if kobe wasn't in the nba, i'd give the mvp to lebron; but as of right now, it's hands down kobe (actually, in my opinion, the mvp for the last several years should have gone to kobe- dirk? what a joke. dirk is a crap player. even nash's mvp's were more dignified than his)
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Dude, this world is whack. The Cavs are 0-6 without Lebron, so he's all of a sudden the mvp? Why don't we all just mug every star player of his team so that we see how each team does while their main guy is out with an injury? This is a ridiculous claim to use as support for Lebron; everyone's seriously got a case of falling prey to logical fallacies. You can't discount Kobe's impact to his team just because he didn't miss any games this season. You lebron supporters are pathetic. If Lebron wasn't out for those games, nobody would have had anything to say about him being an mvp candidate (except for filling up stats, but then that would be hypocritical just like the guy above me said) Even if lebron hadn't been injured and had won 4 more games than now, they would still barely be in the playoff race in the west.
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Michael Bell about 1 year ago
I don't think that any LeBron MVP supporters use the 0-6 record without him in the lineup as their main case for his MVP candidacy. The main case are his all around stats (of which no one in the NBA compares) and his progression on the defensive side of the ball. On multiple occasions, he has shut Kobe down and outscored him in the fourth quarter in a head to head matchup to win the game. LeBron’s main criticisms coming into this year were his defense and his end of game decisions. His defense has tremendously improved and he has been the best late game performer this year, hands down (sorry Kobe).
The argument LeBron supporters use when describing the Cavs record without him relates to how some people define what the MVP is. How many times have we heard how important Steve Nash is to his team? That was one of the main arguments people cited when he won his two awards. Well, now people are simply pointing out that, if you took the best player away from every team, the Cavs are arguably the worst team in the league. And this team went to the NBA finals last year! Of course LeBron is the MVP of his own team, that’s not the argument supporters are making. Its how bad the rest of this team truly is in his absence.
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jack hack about 1 year ago
Its a a vogue thing these days to be a cavaliers hater... call it the National Sports Media Brainwashing Effect. NSMBE for short.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I wasted my time reading this stupid article by a stupid writer.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
"kobe jock rider??" anyone who states these types of comments is actually a jock rider himself for the opposing player. It's sad you become so offended when your opinion has become shattered by such a good story. I seriously cannot argue with any of the statements in this story.
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Jordan Alexander about 1 year ago
If you're giving it to the best player on the best team, then Tim Duncan should have about 5 MVPs right now. I honestly don't know what the reasoning is behind the MVP award. Bottom line, each year there are about 5 guys well-qualified to win the award, and I honestly don't care who gets it. You can't argue this year with giving it to LeBron, Kobe, Chris Paul, etc. They're all deserving.
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S T about 1 year ago
I think LeBron might be the easiest MVP vote of the last several years. The MVP is a combination of the best player, the best stats, and the largest effect on his team. LeBron is the undisputed statistical leader of this season so far. He's on a team that is very competitive when he plays and awful when he doesn't. He does things night in and night out that make you say "Wow!" I don't see how anyone could argue LeBron this season.
I agree that Kobe should have an MVP by now (probably Nash's from a year or two back). Don't let Kobe-love or LeBron hate muddle this for you though, LBJ is the undeniable MVP of the 07-08 season thus far.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
this is what every kobe supporter has been saying for years: take kobe off the lakers for the last several seasons, and the lakers would have been one of the worst teams in the league. so now all of a sudden that logic works for lebron? dude...get a life. i love lebron's game, and after kobe's gone, i'm supporting him full throttle, but as of now, kobe's still superior. people use his "superior" fourth quarter stats to prove he's overtaken kobe, but that's just plain ignorant: they don't even realize that kobe has played one of the least amount of minutes in the 4th quarter this year or not even played at all during the 4th- of course his stats gonna be lower; until recently, he's been playing almost 5 minutes less than lebron, and he still has almost as good stats as lebron. if kobe were to play like he has been the last several seasons, kobe's stats would own lebron this year. stop holding a double standard.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Can someone explain to me why people think Lebron is better than Kobe just because Lebron's been having several good games against Kobe and a winning record against the Lakers? Carmelo has an 8-2 record against Lebron...does that mean Carmelo is better than Lebron? No way. Just because the Cavs have been winning against the Lakers and Lebron "shut down" Kobe for a few games doesn't mean he's better than Kobe; it just means he's had several good games against Kobe. Even a lot of mediocre bad players can have a string of really good games against Kobe. Objectively speaking, even with Lebron's great all around stats this year, every knowledgeable basketball analyst knows that Kobe is still more skilled than Lebron.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
thats because you have been brainwashed heres a clue:
1. most of the national media is based in new york
2. they are jealous because there team is "not too great'
3. they want lebron in a quote "major market" (new york)
$. this is why they are constantly writing articles like "Is lebron satisfied in cleveland?"/ type junk
its disgusting coveting that has been going on for years hence' jim rome's statements today
ps.
Jim Everette is so cool!
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
hey, sorry, i'm a bit confused by your response. i'm brainwashed? who's jim rome? can you explain. thanks
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jack hack about 1 year ago
The media has tons of power and when they want to propagate a point of view then they propagate a point of view. In this case they want the world to think that the cavs are a one man team, with no talent except lebron. Untrue.
The Cavs have had one of the best front courts in the league for the last few years. Ilgauskas was an allstar before Lebron arrived. Drew Gooden was a top 4 pick in 2002, and has been a solid contributor for years as a starter. Varegao is one of the best 6th men in the league. Daniel Gibson is one of the best shooters in the league. Larry Hughes may not be worth his max contract, but to say that he is not talented is ridiculous. For instance in his last eight games, Hughes is averaging 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists.
The cavs have a lot of solid bench contributors, that can play on many teams benches.
The real problem with the Cavs has been the lack of chemistry due to not enough outside shooters
The cavaliers record thus far reflects the Holdouts (and team moral while waiting for varegao and sasha to sign), and Injuries to a multitude of players.
When Lebron was injured Andy was holding out and Larry Hughes was injured too. So its not fair to say that the cavs are 0-6 this year without lebron without mentioning the context. But the media is not fair. They repeat cliches and the lies soon becomes "facts".
Jim Rome is basically a jerk in many peoples opinion.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
yes! that is what i always thought about the cavs team but i thought i was going crazy by seeing EVERYONE write how the cavs have NOBODY but lebron. SO MANY of the games they have won were HEAVILY dependent on the role players having superb games to bail lebron out....and then the next day all the media people talk about how lebron was the reason why they won the game without even mentioning a single word about his team mates' big contributions. it's plain disgusting...and the last game where so many people think that lebron "shut kobe down" don't even know that kobe played lebron straight up while lebron and one or two other people were double/tripling kobe the whole time (i do admit lebron did play some pretty good d on kobe that game, but the media distorts the truth so much) people need to realize how coddled lebron is by the nba and the media.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Kobe is a bitch who is powerless against Lebron. Don't you ever forget it.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
lebron's a skill-less hack who only has body size and strength...don't you ever forget that
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jack hack about 1 year ago
a dog chasing its tail! ... no a tail chasing its dog!
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Chris about 1 year ago
I watched LeBron during the All-Star game, and I definitely didn't see a skill-less hack; I saw an MVP performance.
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Ben Gunby about 1 year ago
I'm struggling to understand how a team's record without a player in the lineup shouldn't factor into the MVP race. Doesn't the "v" stand for valuable? It seems to me, to be valuable, you need to be needed. When your team can't win without you, it seems they need you quite a bit, and you are at this point, quite valuable. When the difference of play of your team differs that much when you are out of the lineup that goes to show your VALUE, which when discussing the most VALUABLE player, that value should be factored in.
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