Kobe Bryant: Can the LA Lakers Star Win Another MVP Trophy?

Mission: Impossible was one of my favorite television series during the 1970s and 80s, and my captivation with the show began when this famous phrase was repeated each week: "Your mission if you choose to accept it..."

That line was usually followed by an intricate task that was so cheesy and unbelievable that the show very well could have been called Mission: Ridiculous.

But the thought of contemplating and completing an insurmountable feat continued to draw me week after week, and my loyalty was finally rewarded when Tom Cruise decided to bring one of my favorite childhood shows to the big screen.

Cruise's re-imagination of the show had plot lines that were just as preposterous as the original, but Cruise managed to infuse his character Ethan Hunt with emotion and personality.

As a viewer you knew that the odds were stack against Hunt, but unlike the original, Cruise made you care about the journey, even though you knew how the story would end.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant will embark on his 16th season seeking redemption from his team's embarrassing sweep in the second round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks.

The Lakers are still talented enough to compete for an NBA title despite their defeat last season, so by no means would a championship run be categorized as an impossible feat.

But Bryant capturing his second NBA MVP award at the conclusion of the 2011-12 season probably would.

For the record, I hang with the majority of Lakers fans who think Bryant is much more interested at this point in his career with collecting rings rather than individual accolades, but that doesn't mean the thought hasn't entered his mind.

The NBA has increasingly become a young man's game and if you don't believe me, take a peek at the top 10 scorers from the 2010-11 regular season.

Bryant and Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki are the only above-30 players to populate the list.

Of course scoring isn't everything, but when you think about what Bryant was able to accomplish last season in the face of visible decline from peers like Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett, it makes the feat a little more impressive. And Bryant played most of the season injured.

The MVP award is very subjective since it's almost impossible to measure a player once you dismiss statistics and enter the realm of impact.

Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose won last season's MVP award with some of the more unimpressive numbers of any winner, but he did lead his team to the NBA's best regular season record.

Bryant and Rose's numbers last season were similar in many respects, but the fact that Kobe had the benefit of a more talented cast of teammates was likely a huge factor.

And the fact that Bryant is surrounded by exceptional players probably excludes him from any future NBA MVP awards.

That's not to say that Bryant can't win another MVP title, but if he does the Lakers will likely spend next postseason in their same position on the couch.

Even at 33 years of age I'm convinced that Bryant can average 30 points five rebounds and five assists per game, which would certainly thrust him into MVP talk.

However, if Bryant did average those numbers the Lakers would not advance to next season's NBA Finals because it would mean that his exceptional teammates like Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom would not be getting enough offensive looks.

In order for the Lakers to be successful it will take a balanced approach, and if Bryant is scoring 30 points per game, then balance is clearly not the goal.

Unfortunately Bryant could replicate his averages from last season, the Lakers could advance to the finals and Bryant would still be shut out of the league MVP award because he no longer fits the profile.

These days the NBA has more prolific scorers (Kevin Durant), and more versatile players (LeBron James), but more importantly, they are both also younger and more identifiable with today's NBA fans.

That doesn't make James, Durant or the previously mentioned Rose better players than Bryant, but it does signal a clear shift in how we applaud our NBA heroes.

It's no coincidence that Bryant was the last MVP winner to actually lead his team to a NBA Finals berth, which just happens to be the way most players are historically measured.

In a perfect Purple and Gold world Bryant would average 25-5-5 next season, win the MVP award and follow it up with another Finals MVP trophy.

That would be the perfect scenario for most Lakers fans. But I'm pretty sure that Bryant and most of his fans would be just as satisfied with a ring for the other hand.