LeBron James to be MVP
It's not a surprise, but Monday we'll learn officially that Kobe Bryant will not go back-to-back with NBA MVP awards. Instead, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that LeBron James will win his first Podoloff Trophy. The Cavs have called news conference for later this afternoon, which will be held at LeBron's former high school in Akron.
The voting will disappoint some Lakers fans who thought Bryant more deserving, but it's hard to argue with the call. Whether you're using traditional statistical benchmarks (27.2/7.2/6.9), fancier new metrics (his 31.7 PER and 19.6 win shares figures are highest in the league), or the whole "best player on the best team" thing- Cleveland won an NBA high 66 games- he's pretty clearly the winner, and at least relative to Kobe was more consistently outstanding throughout the season as a whole.
With that, all the important regular season hardware has been handed out, far as I can tell. Of course, there's still one biggie left in the cupboard, and it won't be given away until June. Finals MVP. That, Kobe has said over the past few weeks, is the one he really wants.
BK
PS (9:24 am): Forgot to mention- My favorite part of the MVP honor is that LBJ will, along with the trophy and accolades, win a Kia. No disrespect intended to what I hear is a rapidly improving car company... but does anyone in their right mind picture LeBron James driving around in a Kia?)
GAME DAY!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Laker Fan 24 | May 04, 2009 at 08:01 AM
What is the detailed voting result? Did Kobe come second? Or Wade is?
Posted by: Sara.C | May 04, 2009 at 08:03 AM
Good Morning Fam!
Posted by: Charles | May 04, 2009 at 08:18 AM
BK,
Have the all nba teams been announced?
Thnx
Posted by: Taliq | May 04, 2009 at 08:19 AM
Why are so focused on the regular season MVP,when the real hardware matters the most.NBA champion is what Kobe and Lebron want at the end.Deep down inside I know Lebron believes that Kobe Bryant is the best player in the world hands down with no close second behind him.
Posted by: Kevin R. | May 04, 2009 at 08:29 AM
they wanted to give it to CP3 or D.Wide, but they r gone fishin'. location unknown.
today, also, HEATED exit-interviews with Pat Riley.
LGL
Posted by: ouchhhhh | May 04, 2009 at 08:29 AM
Has Most Improved Player been handed out? Did I miss that?
AK
Posted by: Andrew and Brian Kamenetzky | May 04, 2009 at 08:35 AM
Good morning Mamba24 & Laker morning CRUE!!!!
GAME DAY BABY!!!! FINALLY!!!!!!!
First up - LakerTom - OUTSTANDING!!!! Deserving of a Fatty award IMHO. Why don't you do this professionaly is beyond me.
2nd up - Blitz - another outstanding post. I'm scared of you LOL!! Soooo glad I'm not a bandwagoner....
3rd - Fatty - you, sir are a comic genius. How many of your own awards can you win before cries of "FIXED" are all over the blog? Just curious....
4th up - I have to confess - I am a Lakerholic. I've been jonesing for a week now, and today I'm so geeked out I'm not sure I'll be able to focus on my job today. What - only 11 more hours.... I can do it..... yes I can....
5th, last, not least - Mamba24 - where in the world are you????
GO LAKERS!!!!! WE GOT THIS!!!!!!!! (in 4 or 5)
Posted by: justanothermambafan | May 04, 2009 at 08:36 AM
THE WORLD IS ENDING!
The Kobe Hate! How can the media do this to Kobe again?!!!
ahahahaha...
If that's your reaction, chill out.
LBJ deserved it, and his career path looks like he'll definitely be one of the greatest ever.
Simply put, he's phenomenal.
Let's just hope that Kobe & Crew can delay his "reign" for a few years while Kobe adds to his championship resume.
Posted by: Korey | May 04, 2009 at 08:36 AM
I can't wait to hear about this from my lucky barstool tonight. {Note: Extreme Sarcasm.}
Urgh.
Despite all this, the only thing I care about is a Championship. Let The Crab King get his personal accolades, that's what he's all about anyways. We have a higher calling.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | May 04, 2009 at 08:39 AM
AK
u r right. no one improved this year, yet.
Posted by: ouchhhhh | May 04, 2009 at 08:42 AM
James is just as deserving as Kobe, Wade, or perhaps Howard would be. No doubt, a great year.
My theory is, that Lebron sold his soul to the Devil to get his talent. He's not quite human with the stuff he is capable of doing.
No human is that strong, that big, that quick, can leap like him, and has uncanny basketball skills.
I do like Yao Mings take. Kobe is the MVP. James stats are inflated because of his teams style, and weak competition. If you were to put the Lakers in the East, Lakers would have 4-5 more wins.
Fatty's take says do the opposite, put the Cavs in the stronger West and they would have 4-5 more losses.
Lakers would have 68-70 wins vs Cavs 61-63 wins.
Who would win the MVP then?
I like how Bill Walton used to ridicule the MVP vote as politcial. He would say in the past, "Now Shaq is having the best year, and is clearly the best and most dominant in the NBA, so we can rule him out. Let's take a look at the others"
My only negative on James is he is more likely to have a off game against the NBA's elite, with his team having a worse record against the best than Kobe's team.
I also feel, most of the voters see the East guys more because of the time zone differences.
But who cares, right? Maybe, Houston. Because Kobe plays a little more intense ball?
Posted by: Fatty | May 04, 2009 at 08:43 AM
Kobe Bryant Finals MVP.
4 rings to Lebron's 0.
Posted by: Tom | May 04, 2009 at 08:48 AM
Kobe went several years as "the best player in the world" but could not win a title (without Shaq). Is this the start of LeBron's run? Will he ever do anything that will turn the media against him or is his marketing machine so strong that it will protect his image? Interesting times, huh?
Posted by: bruzer | May 04, 2009 at 08:49 AM
If LeBron should win the Finals, he will be the first star SF to win a title without the help of SHACK. Which would put him in a class with MJ.
Steve Nash's two straight MVPs looks more and more impressive with the passing of each year.
Posted by: BUTLER | May 04, 2009 at 08:51 AM
LeBron is deserving. No complaint here. Kobe is also deserving but they only give out one.
So much fort he meaningless award. On to the hunt for the big trophy.
So glad round 2 is finally here. I suspect we will see a very ready Laker team tonight. Pau rested. Drew having a another week to get ready phsyically and mentally. If Drew can just add a solid 20 minutes to what teh Lakers already had going without him, it will make them tough to beat.
A home game one is sort of a must win thing, and the Lakers will have to come out and take this one.
Posted by: Tom Daniels | May 04, 2009 at 08:54 AM
Shannon Brown = Most Improved Player.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | May 04, 2009 at 08:56 AM
Mamba24, Were are you?!!
The Blog needs a dose of the Mamba, its gameday!
Fatty - Who is warning everybody. Turn down the volume on your computer if you don't want the speakers blown out when Mamba does the Roll Call.
Hint: Fatty has to cover his ears when he reads Roll Call, its that loud.
Posted by: Fatty | May 04, 2009 at 08:58 AM
LETS GO ROCKETS....lets upset the Laker fans, can't wait to see those tears again...
ALL HAIL KING JAMES!
Posted by: Spanky Jones | May 04, 2009 at 09:05 AM
Kobe is MVP. But, LBJ is such a safe choice that everyone seems to just have knee-jerked it to LBJ. His stats are not only impressive, but inhuman.
I agree with Fatty:
"My theory is, that Lebron sold his soul to the Devil to get his talent. He's not quite human with the stuff he is capable of doing."
There is no other possible way. But, in my opinion, playing in the LEast AND stinking it up against the League's elite teams should have disqualified him.
He is a Cyborg, though.
--Fearless
Posted by: Fearless | May 04, 2009 at 09:08 AM
New post.
And I guess I did forget MIP, which to my knowledge hasn't been awarded...
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | May 04, 2009 at 09:09 AM
Kobe would NEVER plan a game around a statement he may or may not wish to make. Ever. Tonight's +50 just happened within the flow of the Lakers going 1-0. It had nothing to do with his little buddy getting most VP'd. Just sayin'....
GO LAKERS ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Posted by: Stockton Showtime | May 04, 2009 at 09:10 AM
I don't hate LeBron but as they say the king still ain't got no ring.
Let's keep it that way.
Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: olf | May 04, 2009 at 09:17 AM
Lebron is deserving, but a more salient point might be how Kobe "won" the MVP by playing CP3 late in the season.
Had those 2 wins against the Crabs come late in the year, I would believe the frame of reference would be different, i.e., Lebron might be better statsitcally, but Kobe is better than Lebron.
As it seems though, the MVP recently doesn't win championship in their MVP year, so congrats Lebron!
Posted by: #4 | May 04, 2009 at 09:45 AM
I'll take the Kia.
Posted by: Jesterguru | May 04, 2009 at 09:56 AM
Deserving ... but HO HUM.
And AK: It will be one tricked out Kia that he will donate to his high school to raise $$$.
LGL!
Posted by: PsychedLakerGirl | May 04, 2009 at 10:03 AM
When was the last time the MVP won a Championship on the year he was awarded the MVP?
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | May 04, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Le Bron in a Kia...naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw!
Posted by: Jamie Sweet | May 04, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Even with the media having decided who to give the MVP to before the season, LBJ is clearly the most deserving of the award. In addition to Kobe, I think Pau should have gotten some consideration for the award - he's been the most consistent Laker all year long.
Perhaps this year will be a repeat of the year David Robinson won the MVP over Hakeem, but Hakeem absolutely schooled Robinson in the playoffs.
Posted by: EJK | May 04, 2009 at 10:25 AM
Whatever about LeBron and the MVP that was handed to him way before he even came into the league...They are already planning on giving him the DPOY and MVP for next year also so don't get surprised.
GO LAKERS! its been a minute...
Posted by: lakersrydeordie | May 04, 2009 at 10:43 AM
I have a Lebron-question that I'm unwilling to research: why is he referred to as "King" and why does everyone go along with that? It's so conceited and obnoxious. A hockey-loving friend of mine mentioned that several hockey fans were cracking up because Lebron gave Ovechkin an autographed jersey which HE SIGNED as "King James". The arrogance! God, I can't STAND it. It's one thing to have the media refer to him as such, but for him to refer to HIMSELF as King? Gah! I need to stop thinking about this.
Guess I know I can't watch ESPN tonight, unless I want to watch everyone slobbering all over him and sacrificing virgins in his honor.
Posted by: Eli | May 04, 2009 at 01:05 PM
Eli,
This is like the easiest nick name the media could come up with. You know the best "leader" in the NBA (King) and the King James version of the Bible (because he's so anointed by the same media).
A no-brainer, actually.
I hope this helps.
--Fearless
Posted by: Fearless | May 04, 2009 at 03:48 PM
His nickname came from his high school of St Vincent/St Mary in Akron OH. The school won 3 straight championships and he was name Mr Ohio Basketball and football three straight years. The media did not give him his nickname. The school did and it just followed him from there.
Posted by: anniey | May 07, 2009 at 02:08 AM
The nickname, King James, came from his high school, St Vincent/St Mary in Akron, OH. The school won three straight championships and he was named Mr Ohio Basketball and football for three straight years. The media did not give him his nickname. His school did and it just followed him from there.
Posted by: big-albubba | May 07, 2009 at 02:25 AM