Kobe or Dirk - last year's NBA MVP?

[soccer10k]

I've been debating this with my editor for the past few days after I made a crack about Dirk not deserving the MVP last year. I maintained that Dirk didn't deserve it and that Kobe was much more valuable to the Lakers than Dirk was to the Mavericks. Obviously these weren't the only two candidates (LeBron being having a case as well and I would have been fine with him winning it) but strictly between Kobe and Dirk, who was more worthy of the NBA MVP last season?

[rawaction]

If it wasn't for Lebron James, Kobe would be as far better than the rest of the league than Jordan was in his prime. One could make an argument that Kobe now is better than MJ in his prime. The big argument about Kobe was that he couldn't make his team better the way Jordan did. The last 2 years, have shown otherwise. Kobe can score w/ Jordan. He's a better rebounder (2" taller), better passer, and a better shooter than Jordan was. I think Jordan was a step quicker, and a tad more explosive.

 

So, yeah, Kobe should have been the MVP over Dirk last year. But I probably would have voted for Lebron.

[imb]

wait, Kobe is two inches taller than jordan?

 

I always thought Jordan was 6'6", but I was a dumb kid when he was playing. Was he one of those 6-foot-6 (wink wink nudge nudge say no more say no more) guys?

[XZero771679666304]

wait, Kobe is two inches taller than jordan?

 

I always thought Jordan was 6'6", but I was a dumb kid when he was playing. Was he one of those 6-foot-6 (wink wink nudge nudge say no more say no more) guys?

 

 

No, Jordan is indeed 6'6".

[mcgoobs]

If it wasn't for Lebron James, Kobe would be as far better than the rest of the league than Jordan was in his prime. One could make an argument that Kobe now is better than MJ in his prime. The big argument about Kobe was that he couldn't make his team better the way Jordan did. The last 2 years, have shown otherwise. Kobe can score w/ Jordan. He's a better rebounder (2" taller), better passer, and a better shooter than Jordan was. I think Jordan was a step quicker, and a tad more explosive.

 

So, yeah, Kobe should have been the MVP over Dirk last year. But I probably would have voted for Lebron.

 

I would like to see anything that could back up this statement. Statistical breakdowns of each player's performance show Kobe's best seasons roughly approach the level of play that MJ averaged over the course of his career.

[RedFlash]

If it wasn't for Lebron James, Kobe would be as far better than the rest of the league than Jordan was in his prime. One could make an argument that Kobe now is better than MJ in his prime. The big argument about Kobe was that he couldn't make his team better the way Jordan did. The last 2 years, have shown otherwise. Kobe can score w/ Jordan. He's a better rebounder (2" taller), better passer, and a better shooter than Jordan was. I think Jordan was a step quicker, and a tad more explosive.

 

So, yeah, Kobe should have been the MVP over Dirk last year. But I probably would have voted for Lebron.

 

I would like to see anything that could back up this statement. Statistical breakdowns of each player's performance show Kobe's best seasons roughly approach the level of play that MJ averaged over the course of his career.

 

Seconded.

[Guest]

Also, while Kobe is one of the best defenders of the current crop of nba stars, MJ was a better defensive player.