Memorable Players Compete for MVP Title

Jerry Thomas, staff writer

NBA MVP Race Down to High School Phenoms

In 1996, a kid named Kobe Bryant was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets and then was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Seven years later, another kid named Lebron James was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Kobe and Lebron are alike in as many ways as they are different, including the fact that they both were drafted straight out of high school and that one is hated just as much as the other one is loved.  The one thing that is constant with the two players today is that they are both legitimate National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player candidates. 

This year’s race is as messy as they come, with as many as five players arguably vying for the award.  Last year’s winner, Steve Nash, has had an even better year this year due to his ability to lead the Phoenix Suns into the playoffs without three of last year’s key starters.  After that, you could have an argument for Allen Iverson who is averaging a career-high 33 points per game and seven assists for the Philadelphia 76ers, but his team did not even make the playoffs.  After those two point guards, the focus is mostly on Bryant and James.

Let’s start with James, who is averaging 31.4 points, seven rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game.  Let’s not forget that he is only 21 years old, which makes that accomplishment pretty impressive.  The greatest of all time, Michael Jordan, only did that one time. 

Lebron also has led the Cavs into the playoffs for the first time since 1994.   James has proved this year that he is basically unstoppable.  His only weakness is his inability to play defense as well as he plays offense.  That will be something that he learns later in his career.  The great basketball players are committed to both ends of the ball.  James also struggled at times when he was indecisive with the ball at the end of games, as he had a tendency to pass first.  The criticism has been that if Lebron is an unstoppable, force he shouldn’t have to pass the ball all the time at crunch time.  This leads me to my choice for who should win the MVP.

Bryant is truly not defendable.  Think about what he has accomplished this season.  First, he is averaging 35.4 points, five rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.  Secondly, the man scored 62 points against the Dallas Mavericks in just three quarters.   Thirdly, Bryant torched the Toronto Raptors for a Laker-record 81 points.  That is second only to Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 points. 

He is only the fifth player to average at least 35 points per game in a season.  He too has led the Lakers back into the playoffs, but he thrives where Lebron struggles.  Bryant is committed to defense, and he also has a killer instinct when it comes to taking game-winning shots.  Just as it was with Mike, everybody knows that Kobe is getting the ball in crunch time.  When Lebron gets to that point, then he would clearly be a MVP.

The only thing that could keep Bryant from winning the award is the popularity of the star player.  He is hated and loved equally, which means that voters who don’t like the guy could vote in the other direction.

The bottom line is this:  Who are you going to think of when you look back on this season in the future?  What face will first pop up into your head when thinking about this season?  Let me just give you a preview, with the chants heard in Toronto on January 22, “ Kobe!  MVP!” “Kobe!  MVP!”