Let's take a look at the candidates:

1. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks (64-13)
24.7 ppg
9.1 rpg
3.4 apg
FG: 647-1,297 (49.9%)
3PFG: 70-170 (41.2%)
FT%: 488-541 (90.2%)

2. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns (58-19)
18.9 ppg
3.5 rpg
11.5 apg
FG: 490-917 (53.4%)
3PFG: 153-327 (46.8%)
FT%: 208-233 (89.3%)

3. Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers (46-32)
27.5 ppg
6.8 rpg
6.0 apg
FG: 733-1,545 (47.4%)
3PFG: 95-297 (32%)
FT%: 471-670 (70.3%)

4. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers (40-38)
31.2 ppg
5.6 rpg
5.5 apg
FG: 759-1,654 (45.9%)
3PFG: 132-380 (34.7%)
FT%: 629-726 (86.6%)

5. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs (56-21)
20.1 ppg
10.6 rpg
3.4 apg
FG: 596-1,099 (54.2%)
2.4 bpg
FT%: 352-550 (64%)

6. Ben Gordon, Chicago Bulls (47-32)
21.3 ppg
3.2 rpg
3.6 apg
FG: 578-1,274 (45.4%)
3PFG: 143-353 (40.5%)
FT%: 366-423 (86.5%)

7. Carlos Boozer, Utah Jazz (48-29)
20.9 ppg
11.8 rpg
2.9 apg
FG: 603-1,078 (55.9%)
0.3 bpg
FT%: 239-439 (68.5%)

8. Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets (41-36)
29.0 ppg
6.1 rpg
3.9 apg
FG: 655-1,377 (47.6%)
3PFG: 31-129 (24%)
FT%: 428-533 (80.3%)

I think that about covers everyone... the bottom people really have no shot... but It really comes down to Dirk or Nash it looks like.

What about Peyton?

Kobe Bryant, the Brett Favre of the NBA

I would have to side with Kobe. I know that the NBA, more than likely, will only ever give it to a championship contender team.

They have lost site on what it is to be "most valuable." I cringe at the thought of the Lakers minus Bryant.

If LBJ wasn't such a bitch and actually gave it 100% night in night out he'd be MVP hands down.

The lakers are about a .500 team.. no way should Kobe get MVP. And you shouldn't "cringe" at what they would be, because they have some great role players. Lamar Odom is all-star caliber, Bynum and Brown are big bodies inside, Walton is a great role player, as is smush parker and farmar, who both hit the open jumper. I swear there is so much sympathy for Kobe and him jacking up 35 shots and only making 10. The other night his line was 9-30. People say "well he doesn't have anybody else!!" bullshit.. an NBA player is a good basketball player. However, if they never touch the ball, they lose confidence. And there is only Kobe to blame for other players not having the confidence to make a shot.

Its hands down either dirk or nash.. and yea LBJ woulda-coulda-shoulda but his year has been above average, not great.

The lakers are about a .500 team.. no way should Kobe get MVP. And you shouldn't "cringe" at what they would be, because they have some great role players. Lamar Odom is all-star caliber, Bynum and Brown are big bodies inside, Walton is a great role player, as is smush parker and farmar, who both hit the open jumper. I swear there is so much sympathy for Kobe and him jacking up 35 shots and only making 10. The other night his line was 9-30. People say "well he doesn't have anybody else!!" bullshit.. an NBA player is a good basketball player. However, if they never touch the ball, they lose confidence. And there is only Kobe to blame for other players not having the confidence to make a shot.

Its hands down either dirk or nash.. and yea LBJ woulda-coulda-shoulda but his year has been above average, not great.

Nash should not be the mvp.

He just proves that all you have to do is be on a winning team in order to get the mvp. He makes a few open shots and some passes and he is the mvp. I would like to see he and Kobe play one on one. That would be a riot.

Nash should not be the mvp.

He just proves that all you have to do is be on a winning team in order to get the mvp. He makes a few open shots and some passes and he is the mvp. I would like to see he and Kobe play one on one. That would be a riot.


Too bad there's a team involved. And it's team play that makes Nash a better player than Kobe; You don't get 11+ assists a game by accident. His percentage numbers are very, very impressive as well. It's guys like Nash that enable European teams to beat down American all-stars in the Olympics.

I think Dirk is MVP w/ Nash at #2. And he deserves the credit...the supporting cast is not all that impressive.

Yea the whole "Nash vs. Kobe 1 on 1" idea is pretty short-sided.

First off, Kobe is 6'6", Nash is about 6 feet. All Kobe would have to do is post up.

Second, Leper is absolutely correct, it's the team factor. Steve Nash makes the players around him better. When the Suns DONT have steve nash, they are not NEARLY as good of a team. Kobe COULD make people around him better, but obviously he feels a fade-away 22 foot jumper with a hand in his face is the best shot his team can get besides a wide open smush parker jumper in rythym. Kobe has become a better team player this year compared to last, but still has a long way to go. I acknowledge Kobe is the best scorer in the NBA, but scoring aint everything, and he surely isn't the best in the NBA overall.

As for 1 on 1... Lebron, Garnett, Tmac, Vince Carter, Carmelo, Dwight Howard.. they could all probably beat, or have the ability to beat, Kobe in a 1 on 1 match up.

Dirk #1 Nash # 2 for me.

If you watch a lot of games you will see how amazing Nash and Dirk are--you can't just look at the stats. It's the little things--they break down the defense, attract double team, make everyone else better, pace the tempo, make key plays. Their overall accuracy (with range too) is unbelievable for players who touch the ball and make key shots that often. FG% + 3P% + FT% for both are over 180. No other player scoring 15+ pts per game has this accuracy, and overall only about 5 players come close. Nash and Dirk are the only players with 50+ FG%, 40+ 3P%, 90+ FT%.

For comparison:

Nash: 18.5 ppg 190(!!)
Dirk: 24.5 ppg 182

Kobe: 31.5 ppg 168
Ray Allen: 26.4 ppg 171

Interestingly, some of the other NBA players having the highest accuracy this season happen to play on Dirk's and Nash's teams. Perhaps even more evidence of how much easier they make it for the their teammates?

Kobe would be my #3. I'd consider Duncan and T-Mac. I would not consider LBJ or Carmelo (come on). Wade would normally merit consideration, but not this season.