Tue 6 May 2008
It was the worst kept secret. The NBA league MVP is finally Kobe Bryant’s.
The 29 year-old Los Angeles Laker superstar had a terrific season finishing second in the league to Cleveland’s LeBron James in scoring averaging 28.3 points-per-game (PPG) along with 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists to lead his team to the West’s best record finishing 57-25. The Philadelphia native shot 45.9 percent from the field including 36.1 from three-point range- his highest percentage in five seasons.
“This is an award I couldn’t have won on my own. I can’t thank these guys (his teammates) enough. These are my guys, these are my brothers. Let’s get ready for tomorrow,” the very ecstatic Laker star told reporters at a press conference as his team prepared for Game Two of their seven-game Western Conference Semi series against Utah. Bryant lit up the Jazz for 38 points, six boards and seven assists in a 109-98 Game One win at Staples Center Sunday.
Keeping things in perspective, he made a valid observation of finally winning his first ever league MVP:
“It’s Hollywood, it’s a movie script. The perfect ending would be for us to hold a championship trophy at the end of it.”
Well stated. Bryant received 82 first place votes and 1,105 points beating out the Hornets’ Chris Paul, who finished second with 28 first place tallies and 889 points. Boston’s Kevin Garnett (15 and 670) and the league’s leading scorer James (1 and 438) rounded out the top four.
Blogger’s reaction: Bryant was very deserving and really sacrificed his offense to get other teammates involved which is the biggest reason the Lakers finished where they did and are a legit championship contender. Paul was a good choice for runner-up who had a fantastic third season averaging 21.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG and a league best 11.6 assists, leading the Hornets to 56 wins and back to the postseason.
I’m not crazy about KG finishing ahead of LeBron cause he had a much better cast with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. The Celtics did finish with a league best 66 wins which might explain it. For the most part, they got it right and that’s all that counts.