Kobe vs CP3

Kobe Bryant will receive the 2008 NBA MVP award. Kobe is the best player in the NBA, but is he the most valuable?

Kobe's stats: 28.3 PPG, 5.4 APG and 6.3 RPG
Paul's stats: 21.1 PPG, 11.6 APG and 2.7 SPG

Kobe's PPG are 2nd highest in the NBA, but averaging 28 points isn't anything crazy. Paul's 11 assists per game are crazy...especially when you consider he also scores 21 points per game. Kobe can take over a game like no other player...but, can he make his teammates better like Paul can. I don't know the answer to that question and if people point to the fact that the Lakers' finished first in the West as evidence that Kobe makes his teammates better, be careful. I don't know if Kobe made his teammates better this year, I think that his front office made the team better by adding/drafting players (Gasol, Fisher, Ariza and a more mature Bynum and Farmar). Kobe didn't do anything different then what he has been doing since Shaq left.

The fact that Kobe has never won an MVP award is mind-blowing, but the 2008 NBA MVP isn't a career award, its a single season award. And to stamp Kobe as the runaway MVP this season might be a little narrow minded.