MVP Race – Kobe Bryant vs. LeBron James
Dwayne Wade a Distant Third in the Battle for the NBA's MVP Award
Apr 26, 2009
Yes, Dwayne Wade had a remarkable season. The Miami Heat guard led the league in scoring and single-handedly dragged his team into a No. 5 seed, albeit with a mediocre 43-39 record. Wade's superhero act resulted in him bursting into the MVP discussion during the latter part of the season.
His torrid scoring even briefly overshadowed the top two contenders. After a captivating March 9 performance against Chicago - a 130-127 overtime win in which Wade poured in 48 points and hit a dramatic buzzer-beater to win the game - proponents of Wade's candidacy were at a fever pitch.
MVP Comparison
Still, time has lent perspective, and LeBron and Kobe's body of work over the 82-game schedule makes them the clear cut favorites for the prestigious award. First, the numbers. LeBron and Kobe are right behind Wade in the scoring department and posted comparable statistics in the other areas of the stat sheet.
When it comes to the number that matters most - wins - LeBron and Kobe have a decided advantage over Wade. They posted 66 and 65 victories, respectively, significantly higher than the total of Wade's Miami Heat. While some may correctly point out that Wade has far less talent surrounding him, Kobe and LeBron have enjoyed similar success in comparable situations in their careers.
Remember LeBron taking that motley crue of journeymen all the way to the 2007 NBA Finals? Or Kobe leading the 2005-2006 Lakers (a squad that featured the infamous Kwame Brown and Smush Parker playing key roles) to a seventh game against the heavily favored Suns?
Playoff Impact on MVP Race
The true test of an MVP is making the leap from good to great. The list of players who have put up lofty numbers on mediocre teams is as high as the Trump Tower. Statistics take on greater meaning when they are placed in the context of significant team success.
The Lakers and Cavs were the two best teams in the NBA this season, with Kobe and LeBron playing the superstar role on those squads. They both led their teams to the top spot in the conference, often dominating much of the competition along the way. Indeed, LeBron's Cavs were nearly invincible at home, posting a 39-2 record at Quicken Loans Arena that nearly bested the Celtics all-time mark of 40-1.
The playoffs have further vindicated the MVP candidacy of Kobe and LeBron. The Cavs were the only team to post a sweep in the first round, while Kobe's Lakers quickly dispatched the Utah Jazz. A Finals match-up between the two could be brewing, a series that would clarify just which superstar is the MVP.
If the best player on the best team isn't the definition of the most valuable player, then what is?
