This season's race for MVP is one of the most compelling in years. Traditionally, the award tends to go to the best, most key player on one of the league's top two or three teams. Current top candidates include Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Chris Paul, plus LeBron James, despite his Cavaliers team having far less wins than many more successful teams. And, with the amazing 22-game winning streak from the Rockets, Tracy McGrady recently entered the discussion.

After a March 16 Heat-Mavericks game in Miami, I met with the league's 2006-07 MVP Dirk Nowitzki and asked who gets his vote.

InsideHoops.com: Other than yourself and any of your teammates, who are the official Dirk Nowitzki candidates for the league MVP?

Dirk Nowitzki: That's tough. LeBron certainly has a case in the East. On the Celtics, KG has had a great year. And in the West, to me it's been Kobe, the way he's been scoring, really setting the tone every night for his team, and to me he's the best player in the league anyway, scoring-wise and all-around player. I'd probably give it to Kobe. Those three definitely deserve it.

This year's race will go down to the wire, with more truly deserving candidates than in any recent season. But I agree that right now, Kobe deserves it by a nose.

Jeff Lenchiner is the editor of InsideHoops.com.