Duncan, Kobe, Shaq, LeBron accumulative career MVP votes

[Ball So Harden]

Kobe Bryant = 5190 points (120 total first place votes)

Tim Duncan = 5237 points (166 total first place votes)

Shaquille O'Neal = 5214 points (220 total first place votes)

LeBron James 7484 points (457 total first place votes)


Keep in mind, the total possible points in a given year changes somewhat from year to year but is relatively close. There is an advantage in total possible votes in newer years, giving a slight advantage to LeBron and Kobe over Duncan, but a larger disadvantage to Shaq. For example, 2008 when Kobe won, there were 1260 total points possible (this ties the most I saw), in one of Duncan's MVPs only 1190 were possible (1260 was possible during his other year), and Shaq competed in years when only 1050 was possible (example, 1995 when he was 2nd).

Interesting note, Kobe has 120 total 1st place votes for his career, something Shaq was able to do in a single year (2000), as well as LeBron (2013).

[Rose'sACL]

offense is pretty much always the biggest factor in MVP votes otherwise duncan would have a lot more votes. Duncan has been the best defender of those 4 throughout his career.

[NZStreetBaller]

who cares ??? popularity contest??

[RoundMoundOfReb]

who cares ??? popularity contest??

Not really. Otherwise Kobe would have way more than Duncan.

[bdreason]

Steve Nash has 2 MVP's.

[Mr. Jabbar]

so many guys trying to look knowledgeable by not voting for the clear cut best player, hipster award..

[Bandito]

Not really. Otherwise Kobe would have way more than Duncan.

It is actually. Duncan won the rings throughout his Mvp years and after Shaq left Kobe was hated for a lot of reasons.

[TheMarkMadsen]

Karl Malone & Steve Nash have a combined 4 MVPs

Kobe, Shaq & Hakeem have a combined 3 MVPs

[Mr. Jabbar]

Karl Malone & Steve Nash have a combined 4 MVPs

Kobe, Shaq & Hakeem have a combined 3 MVPs

that hurt my eyes

[havoc33]

Not really. Otherwise Kobe would have way more than Duncan.

Um no. Kobe has never been particularly popular with journalists, as he has had a tendency to brush them off and always was aloof. Only in recent years has he seemed to ease down on this attitude, as evident by his improved relationship with the local reporters in LA. Colorado hurt him in the MVP polls as well. Remember in 06 when Kobe had a MVP caliber year, many voters left him off the ballot completely. I remember Barkley and the rest of the TNT crew were going off big time about that.

Karl Malone & Steve Nash have a combined 4 MVPs

Kobe, Shaq & Hakeem have a combined 3 MVPs

Just shows you how the MVP award is a complete joke.

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Which year did Kobe deserve the MVP and was robbed? Maybe '06? They were like the 7th seed going 45-37. Who's the last player to win with that bad of a record? And before you say "35/5/5!!!" you gotta realize that 05-06 was a weird year and stats for perimeter players were up league wide. What exactly gives Kobe a significantly better case putting up 35/5/5 and winning 45 games than say LeBron putting up 31/7/7 winning 50 games? Or Duncan putting up 19/11 winning 63 games while anchoring the league's #1 defense? Or Dirk 27/9/3 winning 60 games anchoring the #1 offense?

Heck even his '08 one is debatable with Paul (although I don't really mind Kobe getting it).

This whole Kobe got robbed of MVPs thing is a myth.

[GimmeThat]

next up, the owner says to players, screw the media

or you know, what Dirk says to Marc Cuban
when no one is paying attention to them


because that's how champions are made and all.

[GimmeThat]

Kobe Bryant = 5190 points (120 total first place votes)

Tim Duncan = 5237 points (166 total first place votes)

Shaquille O'Neal = 5214 points (220 total first place votes)

LeBron James 7484 points (457 total first place votes)


Keep in mind, the total possible points in a given year changes somewhat from year to year but is relatively close. There is an advantage in total possible votes in newer years, giving a slight advantage to LeBron and Kobe over Duncan, but a larger disadvantage to Shaq. For example, 2008 when Kobe won, there were 1260 total points possible (this ties the most I saw), in one of Duncan's MVPs only 1190 were possible (1260 was possible during his other year), and Shaq competed in years when only 1050 was possible (example, 1995 when he was 2nd).

Interesting note, Kobe has 120 total 1st place votes for his career, something Shaq was able to do in a single year (2000), as well as LeBron (2013).

Because at the end of the day, the medias have a tough time casting their ballot without looking at stats - not just including that of player, but team performance as well.

[SCdac]

Duncan probably should have gotten 1 more MVP. Shaq too. One thing about Shaq though, it doesn't help that from 1997-2007 he averaged 64 games played a season (not counting the lockout). Sometimes he was just out of shape. Garnett deserved his MVP, as did Dirk. The 2000s was just laden with amazing talent.

[havoc33]

Which year did Kobe deserve the MVP and was robbed? Maybe '06? They were like the 7th seed going 45-37. Who's the last player to win with that bad of a record? And before you say "35/5/5!!!" you gotta realize that 05-06 was a weird year and stats for perimeter players were up league wide. What exactly gives Kobe a significantly better case putting up 35/5/5 and winning 45 games than say LeBron putting up 31/7/7 winning 50 games? Or Duncan putting up 19/11 winning 63 games while anchoring the league's #1 defense? Or Dirk 27/9/3 winning 60 games anchoring the #1 offense?

Heck even his '08 one is debatable with Paul (although I don't really mind Kobe getting it).

This whole Kobe got robbed of MVPs thing is a myth.

For whatever reason Kobe always seemed to end up the odd man out in MVP votings. When he played with Shaq, obviously the two of them cancelled each other out in the votings. 06 though as you mention, is the one year you could say Kobe had a legit case of winning it. Their record wasn't very impressive, but if you dig deeper and look at the team he was playing with, it actually is. No one picked the Lakers to have any chance of making the Playoffs before the season started, but Kobe put that team on his back and posted historic numbers throughout the year. And this in a very competetive Western conference. If that's not what an MVP award is all about, then I don't know what is. I mean it was crazy that year.. Kobe was must see TV, everyone was tuning in to see what he would do next. I bet Jack Nicholson is still kicking himself for not attending one game that year which turned out to be the 81 point game.