The Race for 2008 NBA MVP
Lebron James and Others Compete for Most Valuable Player
An MVP pitch for Lebron James, Dwight Howard, Amare Stoudemire, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, and Tim Duncan
These six players are putting up the best numbers in the NBA this season. But which one deserves to be named NBA’s Most Valuable Player?
Lebron James
The Stats:
- 30.2 Points per game
- 8.1 Rebounds per game
- 7.5 Assists per game
- 2.0 Steals per game
- 1.1 Blocks per game
- Efficiency Rating: 31.2
The Pitch:
Lebron James has led a very bad team in the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 32-26 record. He leads the league in scoring and his overall stats are better than any other player in the NBA. He makes everyone who plays with him better and it is not hard to imagine Cleveland in the bottom of the standings without Lebron.
Dwight Howard
The Stats:
- 21.7 Points per game
- 14.4 Rebounds per game
- 1.4 Assists per game
- 1.0 Steals per game
- 2.4 Blocks per game
- Efficiency Rating: 28.2
The Pitch:
Dwight Howard leads the league in rebounds and has led the Orlando Magic to a 37-23 record, third best in the Eastern Conference. Howard is perhaps the most dominant big man in the game right now and makes the Magic that much better of a team.
Amare Stoudemire
The Stats:
- 23.8 Points per game
- 9.2 Rebounds per game
- 1.2 Assists per game
- 0.8 Steals per game
- 2.3 Blocks per game
- Efficiency Rating: 27.4
The Pitch:
Everyone talks about Steve Nash, and now Shaquille O’Neal, in relation to the Phoenix Suns. However, Amare Stoudemire posts spectacular numbers every game because he is a great player, not just because he benefits from a good system. Amare has great skills and bails the Suns out when Nash and company are struggling.
Chris Paul
The Stats:
- 20.7 Points per game
- 4.0 Rebounds per game
- 10.7 Assists per game
- 2.7 Steals per game
- 0.0 Blocks per game
- Efficiency Rating: 26.6
The Pitch:
In just his third year in the league Chris Paul is arguably the best point guard in the NBA. He leads the league in steals per game and his average of 20+ points and 10+ assists per game isn’t bad either. As for helping his team, the New Orleans Hornets are in a dogfight with the Lakers and Spurs for the best record in the Western Conference.
Kobe Bryant
The Stats:
- 27.8 Points per game
- 6.1 Rebounds per game
- 5.4 Assists per game
- 1.0 Steals per game
- 0.5 Blocks per game
- Efficiency Rating: 26.1
The Pitch:
Kobe Bryant’s numbers look similar to those of his spectacular 2002-2003 season. Additionally, the Los Angeles Lakers are having their best season in the past few years as they boast a 40-17 record and are holding onto first place in the Western Conference by a slim margin. Kobe has played well all year and recently gained more confidence when the Lakers brought in center Pau Gasol.
Tim Duncan
The Stats:
- 19.8 Points per game
- 11.5 Rebounds per game
- 3.3 Assists per game
- 0.8 Steals per game
- 2.0 Blocks per game
- Efficiency Rating: 25.7
The Pitch:
Tim Duncan, as usual, has his San Antonio Spurs in the top tier of the Western Conference. His numbers are great and he has not allowed his team to drop off after the loss of point guard Tony Parker. The Spurs are a championship contender every year and he is the reason why.
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Stats provided by NBA.com and are accurate as of 2-27-08
