Kobe Bryant Wins First NBA MVP Award

The Los Angeles Time reported on Friday Night that Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant will be awarded the NBA MVP for the 2007-2008 season.

It's hard to believe that after winning three NBA Championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 30 points per game on a few occasions, including a 35.4 average in 05-06, and leading the Los Angeles Lakers to several playoffs that Kobe Bryant is just now winning his first NBA MVP trophy. It took Kobe Bryant 12 seasons to win the NBA MVP but like Alex Rodriguez, who finally won his first MVP 10 years into his career, it was only a matter of time before Kobe Bryant hoisted the NBA MVP trophy.

Kobe Bryant had one of the best all around performances in recent memory as he recorded 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.84 steals per game, even after tearing a ligament in his pinkie a few months ago.

There were a few other players in the NBA getting a push for the MVP Award, including Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett and New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul, but it's hard to argue with the choice of Kobe Bryant. The NBA MVP led the Los Angeles Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference. Kevin Garnett did lead the Boston Celtics to a better record but Garnett and the Celtics played in the East, where it takes 37 wins to make the playoffs. Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers won one of the deepest conference races in NBA history as 8 teams won 50 games in the West.

The addition of Pau Gasol also helped the Los Angeles Lakers but ultimately Gasol only played 27 games and Andrew Bynum only played 35. Once again the success of the Los Angeles Lakers was squarely on the back of Kobe Bryant.

Anybody could've made an argument for Kobe Bryant winning the MVP earlier in his career. Kobe Bryant had a big hand in winning three NBA Championships for the Los Angeles Lakers but Shaquille O'Neal always got the MVP voters. Kobe Bryant probably should've won the NBA MVP again two years ago when he scored 35.7 points per game and led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 45 - 37 record, despite having probably the worst team in the league around him.