Kobe wins MVP award

[MapleLeaf]

From the LA Times

It took 12 seasons, but Kobe Bryant has finally been selected the NBA's most valuable player, The Times has learned.

Sources familiar with the outcome who were not authorized to speak publicly about the award until the official announcement from the league said Commissioner David Stern will be in Los Angeles next week to present the trophy to Bryant.

The award, selected by NBA writers and broadcasters, figured to go to either Bryant or New Orleans guard Chris Paul, who guided the Hornets to second place in the Western Conference in the regular season.

Bryant's season capped a massive turnaround from a tumultuous off-season in which he asked to be traded.

The Lakers went from shaky preseason forecasts to winning the top spot in the West, finishing 57-25 in one of the most grueling regular-season races in league history. The Lakers then swept Denver in the first round of the playoffs, with Bryant averaging 33.5 points a game in the series, although the votes had already been cast by then.

Bryant, 29, lost a little in the scoring column during the regular season, falling from 31.6 points a game last season to 28.3 during the 2007-08 season, but his defense was notably better and he averaged 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists, numbers that were tied for the second- and fourth-best outputs of his career.

He also deferred to teammates much more than in the last few seasons and rarely forced his will on games, a trait that saddled him in the past.

Despite his explosive on-court ability, Bryant never engendered much MVP support until this season. He was third in the voting last season, fourth two seasons ago, and did not receive a vote three years ago when the Lakers failed to make the playoffs.

He was fifth when the Lakers last advanced to the NBA Finals, in 2003-04.

As the 2007-08 regular season wound down, Bryant spoke about the MVP award.

"MVP nowadays is not an individual award," he said last month. "You really have to make your teammates better and elevate your ballclub. For me to be nominated in that race is a tremendous honor because that's really been one of the criticisms that people have had of me, is how well do I make my teammates better. From that standpoint, I feel like I've already won."

The Lakers usually let the fortunes of their players rest on their own achievements, but the team took the added step of creating a Bryant-for-MVP campaign by sending material to NBA writers around the league.

The concept mimicked an old-style political election campaign and consisted of bumper stickers, campaign buttons, red suspenders and a letter from "campaign manager" Jerry Buss, who urged writers to vote for Bryant.

It might have lent a helping hand, although Bryant's season-long play ultimately had the final say.

Bryant is the fourth Laker to win the MVP award. Shaquille O'Neal won in 2000, Magic Johnson won three times, the last in 1990, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the MVP three times as a Laker, the last time in 1980.

 

[playmaker7]

All I got to say is....HAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHH FINALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!

 

[.s31t]

About <Censored>ing time... Hes been the MVP last 3 years.

 

[.GR]

As much as I hate to say it, he deserved it.

 

[MapleLeaf]

Yeah, it was either him or Paul. It'll be interesting to see how close the voting was.

 

[Mexi]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-kobe3-...0,6268282.story

It took 12 seasons, but Kobe Bryant has finally been selected the NBA's most valuable player, The Times has learned.

Sources familiar with the outcome who were not authorized to speak publicly about the award until the official announcement from the league said Commissioner David Stern will be in Los Angeles next week to present the trophy to Bryant.

The award, selected by NBA writers and broadcasters, figured to go to either Bryant or New Orleans guard Chris Paul, who guided the Hornets to second place in the Western Conference in the regular season.

Bryant's season capped a massive turnaround from a tumultuous off-season in which he asked to be traded.

The Lakers went from shaky preseason forecasts to winning the top spot in the West, finishing 57-25 in one of the most grueling regular-season races in league history. The Lakers then swept Denver in the first round of the playoffs, with Bryant averaging 33.5 points a game in the series, although the votes had already been cast by then.

Bryant, 29, lost a little in the scoring column during the regular season, falling from 31.6 points a game last season to 28.3 during the 2007-08 season, but his defense was notably better and he averaged 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists, numbers that were tied for the second- and fourth-best outputs of his career.

He also deferred to teammates much more than in the last few seasons and rarely forced his will on games, a trait that saddled him in the past.

Despite his explosive on-court ability, Bryant never engendered much MVP support until this season. He was third in the voting last season, fourth two seasons ago, and did not receive a vote three years ago when the Lakers failed to make the playoffs.

He was fifth when the Lakers last advanced to the NBA Finals, in 2003-04.

As the 2007-08 regular season wound down, Bryant spoke about the MVP award.

"MVP nowadays is not an individual award," he said last month. "You really have to make your teammates better and elevate your ballclub. For me to be nominated in that race is a tremendous honor because that's really been one of the criticisms that people have had of me, is how well do I make my teammates better. From that standpoint, I feel like I've already won."

The Lakers usually let the fortunes of their players rest on their own achievements, but the team took the added step of creating a Bryant-for-MVP campaign by sending material to NBA writers around the league.

The concept mimicked an old-style political election campaign and consisted of bumper stickers, campaign buttons, red suspenders and a letter from "campaign manager" Jerry Buss, who urged writers to vote for Bryant.

It might have lent a helping hand, although Bryant's season-long play ultimately had the final say.

Bryant is the fourth Laker to win the MVP award. Shaquille O'Neal won in 2000, Magic Johnson won three times, the last in 1990, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the MVP three times as a Laker, the last time in 1980.

FIANALLY! man i'm soooo happy right now.

let the hating begin......

 

[MapleLeaf]

i beat a laker fan in posting

posted in lakers section already

 

[jarrod2323]

already a thread about this MERGED

 

[Mexi]

ok my bad. sh!t

SICKNESS
i'm waiting for CC06 to come in here saying CP3 got robbed

 

[Pugz]

About <Censored>ing time... Hes been the MVP last 3 years.

I agree with this, and would like to add a congrtas to Kobe.

 

[RipCity32]

There will be no hating on my part, congrats to Kobe. Well deserved.

 

[dez]

He definently deserves it, Kobe is the best player ive ever seen. The game seems so easy to him, I think he should have won it the past two or three years, but better late then never right?

 

[Mexi]

this is gonna be some extra motivation for Kobe to get the title this season!

....hopefully

 

[dez]

I dont know ho many of you will feel about what Im about to say but....

I'd put Kobe on MJ's level if he's able to get 3 more rings.....anyone agree?

 

[Mexi]

I dont know ho many of you will feel about what Im about to say but....I'd put Kobe on MJ's level if he's able to get 3 more rings.....anyone agree?

only f-gs would disagree with that statement

 

[CameronCrazy06]

About <Censored>ing time... Hes been the MVP last 3 years.

Haha absolutely false... 7 seeds aren't MVPs.

Anyways it was deserved. It all came down to who got the 1 seed in the West.

Best player... in the best team from the best conference... as far as the regular season goes.

 

[MapleLeaf]

only f-gs would disagree with that statement

=(

but i agree

 

[CameronCrazy06]

I dont know ho many of you will feel about what Im about to say but....

I'd put Kobe on MJ's level if he's able to get 3 more rings.....anyone agree?

Agreed for sure, but highly doubtful he wins 3 more rings...

 

[Mexi]

Haha absolutely false... 7 seeds aren't MVPs.

Anyways it was deserved. It all came down to who got the 1 seed in the West.

Best player... in the best team from the best conference... as far as the regular season goes.

qft
omg we agree on the lakers

 

[dez]

I remember I used to tell people I was related to Kobe (being that he and I have the same last name) lol..... funny thing is they believed me.

But seriously If I werent a Knicks fan, the Lakers would be my team....Kobe is unreal