KOBE BRYANT - M.V.P.
The 11-year NBA veteran totaled 1,105 points, including 82 first place votes, from a panel of 126 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Players were awarded 10 points for each first-place vote, seven points for each second-place vote, five for third, three for fourth and one for each fifth-place vote.
Bryant finished the season ranked second in the league in scoring at 28.3 ppg, having shot .459 from the field, .840 from the free-throw line and .361 from three-point range. In addition, Bryant added 6.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game. The 6-6 guard led the Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference (57-25, .695), a 15-game improvement over last year (42-40, .512), and the franchise’s 19th Pacific Division title.
Bryant is the youngest player in NBA history to score 20,000 career points and the 16th player in league history to tally 21,000 points and 4,000 assists. This season, Bryant moved past 12 players on the all-time scoring list, including Hall of Famers George Gervin, Bob Pettit, Walt Bellamy and Hal Greer, to 24th all-time. Bryant was named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week three times (Jan. 14, March 3, April 7) and NBA Western Conference Player of the Month presented by Kia Motors twice this season (February, April).
Player, Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | Total Points |
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers | 82 | 32 | 10 | 2 | - | 1100 |
Chris Paul, New Orleans | 28 | 64 | 32 | 2 | - | 894 |
Kevin Garnett, Boston | 15 | 23 | 56 | 26 | 1 | 670 |
LeBron James, Cleveland | 1 | 7 | 28 | 77 | 8 | 438 |
Dwight Howard, Orlando | - | - | - | 7 | 39 | 60 |
Comentarios
Es posible que otros años hubiera merecido el MVP más y que su relación con la prensa fuera dificil y ello le perjudicara, pero este año tiene "peores" números que James, y más o menos similares a los de Chris Paul (qué temporadón!!) pero los resultados del equipo y la sensación de superioridad dada por Kobe, le han valido para hacerse con el trofeo. Ha batido records, ha jugado lesionado de una mano, en fin, ha sido un campeón. Ahora solo falta que el equipo llegue a finales de conferencia -sin Bynum, Ariza y Mihm- y veamos qué tal lo hace. Pero antes tendrá que bregar con los Jazz de Jerry. El entrenador más duro de la NBA.