Race to the MVP – Who’s The Man?

Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers | Team Record: 57-25
	PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT% 28.3 6.4 5.4 1.8 0.5 .459 .840
	If Kobe is voted to receive the Maurice Podoloff trophy this year, in his 12th season in the NBA, he’ll match Karl Malone as the MVP who had the longest service time before winning the MVP. Malone won it in 1996-97, his 12th season in the NBA. Only Wilt Chamberlain (1959-1960) and Wes Unseld (1968-69) have won MVP as rookies.

Chris Paul, New Orleans | Team Record: 56-25
	PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT% 21.1 4.0 11.6 2.7 0.1 .488 .85
	Chris Paul has had an exceptional season. He breathed life into a flat-lining franchise and a devastated city. He will become the fifth player in NBA history to lead the league in assists (11.6) and steals (2.7) in the same season. Paul’s emergence as a legit MVP candidate this season reminded me of the first time I saw him in person at the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge at 2006 All-Star in Houston. The rookies were on offense on the same side of the court as we were and Paul had the ball at the top of the key. With three post players lined shoulder-to-shoulder in the lane, Paul disappeared behind them and in the blink of an eye, was — FOOM! — there he was at the rim for a layup. It freakishly and frighteningly fast — like when a cartoon character goes through a solid object. I had never seen anything like it. This season was like that for Paul. FOOM! He announced himself as one of the game’s top players. Let’s hope we see it again.

Kevin Garnett, Boston | Team Record: 61-15
	PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT% 19.0 9.3 3.5 1.4 1.2 .540 .80
	KG will receive some first-place votes for MVP, but more than likely, he’ll be more of a front-runner for Defensive Player of the Year. Of all the top MVP candidates this season, KG’s push for MVP is based more on the intangible — heart, intensity, attitude, effort, karma, aura, feng shui, you name it — than any other candidate this year. His individual numbers don’t pop out at you, but one does — 65 (and possibly 66). Those are wins. While many have written in and claimed Paul Pierce as the Celtics MVP, I respectfully disagree. Pierce had his time as The Man for Boston and he did well in that capacity. Just not as well as KG this season.