Kobe Bryant: 10 Reasons He'll Dominate LeBron James in 2010 to Win MVP
This year's race for NBA MVP will be one of the more thrilling in recent years and feature two of the best in the game, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.
Other players such as Kevin Durant are in the mix, but all eyes will be on Kobe, as he tries for a three-peat, and LeBron, as he debuts in Miami with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The two players will battle for supremacy all season long.
Handicappping the race early, here are 10 reasons why Kobe Bryant, not LeBron, will walk away with the hardware.
No. 10: No Three-Peats
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The only players in NBA history to win three consecutive MVP awards are Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell and Larry Bird.
Let that sink in.
Only three people ever have won it three straight years. Not even Michael Jordan accomplished that (though he should have—Charles Barkley got it in a sham of a vote in 1992-93).
LeBron is no Wilt and he's no Jordan. We've seen plenty of people win two in a row, but eventually the voters switch it up and give someone else the trophy.
I think that's going to happen this year.
No. 9: Game-Winning Shots
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We can debate the merits of LeBron James and his clutch-ness until the cows come home (and I have on this site).
But one thing you can't dispute: Kobe Bryant has lit up the highlight reels with clutch buzzer-beaters and game-clinching shots. The shot that Bryant hit against Miami last year, fading to the left and yet still making the shot, was one of the most amazing shots I've ever seen.
Kobe makes the big shots that ESPN runs over and over again; that is something that can sway MVP votes.
No. 8: Leader of a Champion
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Kobe Bryant is a two-time defending champion.
If the Lakers have another great season, and there's no reason they shouldn't, it's going to mean something.
LeBron's only been to one Finals, and while he carried the team on his back to get there, being a champion puts a target on your back. Playing at an all-time-great level with that target is one of the most difficult things to do in sports.
Kobe has proven he can do that and it may be one of the more underappreciated things about his game.
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No. 7: Tougher Competition
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It's no secret that the Western Conference is the dominant conference in the NBA. That's the way it has been for a decade, probably longer.
While the power has shifted a bit in recent years, the West is still the better conference. When a team like the Oklahoma City Thunder is an eight seed, you know the conference is deep.
Kobe and the Lakers face that type of competition night in and night out.
Meanwhile, LeBron and the Heat will feast on teams like Toronto and Indiana. While there are strong teams in the East, there are fewer than in the West and many more mediocre teams.
No. 6: Regular Season Success
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With Kobe going against tougher competition in the West, his success against those teams should be weighted more heavily than LeBron and Miami's inevitable success in the East.
Strong teams in the East can pad their win total against weaker teams, and while there are some teams like that out west (I'm looking at you, Minnesota), the top tier is much, much deeper than it is in the East.
The Lakers will compete for the top seed this year; Los Angeles has a much harder road to get there than Miami, and that has to be taken into account.
No. 5: Stats Drop For LeBron
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With LeBron teaming with Wade and Bosh in Miami, his gaudy stats from the past few seasons will take a drop.
There are only so many shots to go around; with two top scorers on the team, LeBron will find it hard to replicate his scoring numbers in Miami. Kobe will put up more points as the top scoring option for the Lakers, making his stat line look more impressive.
However, James has the best court vision and feel for the game that we've seen in a long time; in this environment, LeBron could average a triple-double for the season. If that happens, it would be one of the most impressive accomplishments in the history of basketball.
No. 4: Outplays Kevin Durant
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Kevin Durant is another top contenders for this year's MVP award, and after his performance in the World Championships, even more buzz surrounds the former Texas Longhorn.
Bryant and Durant met in the first round of the playoffs, with Kobe outplaying the Thunder forward, who struggled in his first playoff series. Bryant could help his case for MVP by shining in head-to-head matchups with Durant.
Las Vegas has made Durant the current favorite to win the award, so big wins over Durant and the Thunder could help sway the vote in Kobe's favor.
No. 3: Healthy Season
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Kobe has been back in recent years by a bunch of bumps and bruises that have caused him to miss some action.
A lot of that had to do with playing deep into the playoffs—not to mention a trip to China to play for Team USA in the Olympics.
If Kobe can avoid those little injuries along the road and play a full schedule, he can help his case for MVP.
While he may take an occasional night off if the Lakers are close to clinching home-court, a healthy season can only improve his numbers and make a better case for an MVP award.
No. 2: LeBron's Perception
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LeBron James suffered a big media backlash, deserved or not, for the way he handled his free agency this summer.
He was perceived as a diva who went out of his way to scorn Cleveland after all of the support that they gave him. "The Decision" was one of the worst public relations moves in history, turning LeBron from one of the most loved athletes in sports into one of the most hated.
While Kobe is arguably just as hated as LeBron, no one questions his mental toughness to win a ring on his own. Heck, Kobe even helped run Shaq out of town because he wanted to win on his own.
Stats mean a lot in terms of an MVP award, but perception matters too.
No. 1: Dwyane Wade
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Think of a high-powered college football offense: When two strong players are on the same team, one player inevitably suffers when the time comes for Heisman voting.
LeBron and Dwyane Wade will likely take votes away from each other, opening the door for Kobe to take the MVP. After all, this is Wade's team: it'll be hard for someone who's not "the man" to win the award.
To win MVP, LeBron will have to drop a triple-double for the season and I'm not sure that's going to happen. Wade will have an amazing year, as defenses stretch to defend the Heat, and take votes from LeBron come MVP time.
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