Who is the least deserving MVP since 1980?

[dubeta]

Kobe's peak, statpadding scoring season was only 4 points more than a 21 year old LeBron

[TheMarkMadsen]

Perhaps. But him exploding because he's an amazing individual talent doesn't necessarily make him the MVP of the league. If that were the case Michael would have 8 or 9..

how does it not? he had one of the most historic seasons of all time, beat the WC champions by himself, etc etc

take Kobe off that team and do you think a line up of

Smush/Vujavic/George/Odom/Kwame 6th man Brian Cook


wins more than 10 games?

[Milbuck]

This is gonna be wonderful bump material when Curry wins MVP.

[ShawkFactory]

which makes what Kobe did even more impressive

i'm sorry, but you're not MVP when the other guy is having one of the most historic seasons of all time and then proceeds to come into your house and bitch slap you by literally beating Dirk's team by himself.

There's a reason 82 games are played. One dominant performance doesn't automatically make one more worthy.

[ShawkFactory]

This is gonna be wonderful bump material when Curry wins MVP.

No. You're a useless basketball mind if you don't think Harden is the MVP. He moves with the grace of a falcon and has a beard of a Baratheon. That light-skinned **** has not shot.

[JT123]

Rose in 11 and Malone in 97.
#voterfatigue

[TheMarkMadsen]

There's a reason 82 games are played. One dominant performance doesn't automatically make one more worthy.

one dominant performance?

that wasn't even his best game that season..

he averaged 40ppg for 2 months..

no other play has averaged 40ppg in one month in NBA history besides Kobe in 03 and Wilt..

06 Kobe did it twice in one fcking season..

you take Kobe off that team and it's a team led by Odom/Kwame/Smush.. that team would have won 10 games max without Kobe.

Voters have admitted to leaving him off the ballot in 06, Charles Barkely went crazy over this.

[Young X]

Kobe was ridiculous, but he was on a 7th seeded team that year. When was the last time an MVP was on a 7th seeded team?

Wade is admittedly a good choice looking back but the Suns still won more games and Nash's regular season play wasn't inferior enough for it to be a bad MVP selection.

Duncan's team had the best record in the league, but Duncan was injured and had one of the worst seasons of his prime.

Bron was on a 4th seeded team, can't remember the last time an MVP was on a 4th-8th seed.

Dirk was the only one with a better case and Wade had a similar case. Nobody else had a better case that year IMO.

[Milbuck]

No. You're a useless basketball mind if you don't think Harden is the MVP. He moves with the grace of a falcon and has a beard of a Baratheon. That light-skinned **** has not shot.

Didn't read. Curry > Harden both as a player and as an MVP candidate.

[TheMarkMadsen]

yo even Bill Simmons, who hates Kobe with a passion as you can see in the quote, knew who the MVP was

You don't know how much this kills me. Actually, you probably do. But Mamba passes all three MVP questions ...

Question No. 1: When remembering this season 10 years from now, which player will pop into your head first?

Answer: Kobe. The dude scored 62 in three quarters against Dallas, then 81 against Toronto a few weeks later. He's about to become the fifth player in NBA history to average 35 points a game (along with Wilt, MJ, Elgin and Rick Barry). He made up with Shaq. He made up with Phil. He made up with Nike. He appeared on the cover of Slam Magazine with a Mamba snake wrapped around him. He did everything but make the obligatory cameo on "Will and Grace." No player took more abuse from writers, broadcasters and radio hosts this season, but Kobe seemed to feed off that negative energy. It was almost Bondsian. And just when it kept seeming like he might wear down, he'd toss up another 50 just to keep you on your toes. Kobe was relentless. That's the best way to describe him this season.

Question No. 2: In the proverbial giant pickup game with every NBA player waiting to play, who would be the first player picked this season?

Answer: Kobe. He's the best all-around player in the league, the best scorer, the best competitor, and the one guy who terrifies everyone else. Plus, if you DIDN'T pick him, he would make it his mission to haunt you on the other team.

Question No. 3: If you replaced every MVP candidate with a decent player at their position for the entire season, what would be the effect on their teams' records?

Answer: If you replaced Kobe with a decent 2-guard (someone like Jamal Crawford) for the entire 2005-06 Lakers season, they would have won between 15 and 20 games. I can say that in complete confidence. Terrible team. When Smush Parker and Kwame Brown are your third- and fourth-best players, you shouldn't even be allowed to watch the playoffs on TV. Throw Kobe in the mix and they're headed for 45 wins. So he's been worth 25 victories for them. Minimum.

In a weird way, Kobe ended up getting what he always wanted: The Lakers completely revolve around him. He gets to shoot 25-30 times per game. He gets to take every big shot at crunch-time. He gets all the credit. Nobody else on the team dares to challenge him. And even better, because he lucked out with the only possible coach who could make this cockamamie situation work, his supporting cast kills itself to make him look good.

Basically, he's Elvis and everyone else is Joe Esposito. And it's working! That's the crazy thing.

Now they're a sleeper in the West -- seriously, do you think Phoenix wants any part of them in Round 1? -- and have the only player in the league who can win a playoff series by himself. He's the Black Mamba, he's Kobe Bryant, he's the 2006 MVP, and since we finally have that settled, I will now light myself on fire.

[SouBeachTalents]

yo even Bill Simmons, who hates Kobe with a passion as you can see in the quote, knew who the MVP was

He also said this the following season

If you asked 100 NBA players who they'd rather play with between Kobe, Vince, Arenas and T-Mac ... T-Mac would win the vote in a landslide. You win with Tracy McGrady.

[TheMarkMadsen]

He also said this the following season

Hard to imagine anybody saying that in 2007 about T Mac but Simmons absolutey hates Kobe/ The Lakers so it not really surprising

which goes to show how much Kobe deserved MVP in 06 when even his biggest hater was singing his praises

[ShawkFactory]

Didn't read. Curry > Harden both as a player and as an MVP candidate.

Classic mix-up on your part.

[JohnFreeman]

Rose

[Showtime2001]

how does it not? he had one of the most historic seasons of all time, beat the WC champions by himself, etc etc

take Kobe off that team and do you think a line up of

Smush/Vujavic/George/Odom/Kwame 6th man Brian Cook


wins more than 10 games?

They would be lucky if they even won 10 games.