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The Untold Story: Why Kobe Deserved More MVPs
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Why did Kobe Bryant, one of the most legendary figures in basketball history, walk away with only a single MVP award? Many fans and analysts have been baffled by this, and we're here to unravel the mystery. Could his brilliant performances during the 2005 and 2006-07 seasons have been overshadowed by media narratives favoring others like Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki? We’re tackling the controversies and providing a fresh perspective on Kobe's MVP snubs. By analyzing his statistics, his undeniable two-way prowess, and his monumental role with the Lakers, we'll make a compelling case for why Kobe deserved more of those coveted MVP titles.
Adding another layer to our discussion, I challenge the notion that Kobe was just a sidekick to Shaquille O'Neal. Was their dynamic more of an equal partnership than the media let on? I also highlight specific seasons where Kobe's MVP potential was eclipsed by bias and past controversies. Considering how his legacy might have changed with multiple MVP awards, we conclude with a thought-provoking proposal: should players and coaches have a say in award voting?
Kobe Bryant's MVP Snubs
Speaker 1Hey , hey , before we start the show , I want to welcome you to the Third Down Conversation , your place for sports and entertainment . Please remember to like , subscribe , follow , drop a comment , leave a review . Five stars , please Remember . Shows will drop every Tuesday and I want you guys along for the ride and also follow me on social media Instagram , twitter , youtube at the Third Down Conversation .
Speaker 2All right , let's jump into the game , To be the best , you have to win , and that's who drives . Who drives who ?
Speaker 1drives , he's the best player in the game . It's just that simple . There's nothing that Kobe Bryant can't do . He will defend your best player . He will shoot from the perimeter . He will get all in your mug . He will do whatever it takes . He is the most complete basketball player in the game today bar none . He has an assassin's mentality . I said this week , I said this when the tree went down .
Speaker 1Welcome in . Welcome in to the Third Down Conversation , your place for sports and entertainment . I am your host , d Turnip Seed , and on today's episode , why does Kobe Bryant have only one regular season MVP ? Kobe's one of the greatest , but one MVP . That's odd . Well , we're going to break that down and remember . I keep it real , I keep it authentic and I put it in proper context . Let's jump in .
Speaker 1Kobe Easley is one of the best basketball players ever . To me , kobe Bryant is a top two player , so it does bother me that he's not here anymore , and it seems like people have forgotten just how great he was and speak about him in a way that , in my opinion , diminishes who he was . As a player . He's clearly one of the best to ever play the game . You're talking about a five-time champion , a two-time finals MVP . He was ranked number 10 in the top 75 list , but somehow in the regular season he only has one MVP . I believe he should have at least three MVPs , but , like Chris Broussard , I wave the pom-poms for no one . Based on Kobe's body of work , he's easily top two . All time Sports media downplays my guy . I think that level of hate has a lot to do with the fact that he doesn't have the MVPs . When you look at Magic Bird Braun , mj Kareem Wilt , all those guys have multiple MVPs . When you look at Magic Bird Braun , mj Kareem Wilt , all those guys have multiple MVPs . And you got my guy with just one . Why is that ? How is that ? It doesn't make sense . But we're going to break all that down and then we're going to put it in context . So Kobe won his first MVP the 2008 season . For that season he averaged 28 points , six rebounds and five assists on 45% shooting . He was first team all NBA and first team defense . So that's our baseline as far as what Kobe needs to be an MVP contention .
Speaker 1So we're going to start with the 2005 season and that season is significant because many people believe sports , media people , casual fans . They believe that Kobe should have won either both or one of Steve Nash's MVPs both or one of Steve Nash's MVPs . The one that really comes under fire is the 2005 season . Steve Nash wins his second MVP . He's going back to back the 05 season . Steve Nash averaged 18 points , 10 assists , four rebounds on 43% shooting . He's first team all NBA and the Suns finished with the number six correction with the number three seed in the Western Conference . Kobe , for that season , averages 35 points , 4 assists , 5 rebounds on 45% shooting . He's first team all NBA , he's first team all defense and the Lakers finished with the number six seed in the Western Conference .
Speaker 1Now , if you just look at the raw numbers , steve Nash led the league in assists that year . Kobe Bryant led the league in scoring that year . Both made first team all NBA . But Kobe was first team all defense . Kobe's putting in work on offense and defense .
Speaker 1So in my opinion , the meter moved towards Kobe . The Suns won 52 games . The Lakers won 45 games . So we're talking about a nine game difference , 45 games . So we're talking about a nine game difference . And winning doesn't matter , but a small portion of this conversation . So if you just look at it on its face , kobe had the better season .
Speaker 1But if that's not good enough , let's dive a little deeper . If you look at the Suns roster , they had Leonardo I can't say his name , but his last name is Barbosa . So they had Barbosa . They had Sean Marion , they had Amari Stoudemire . They had Rajah Bell . Like that's a quality team . That team can still make the playoffs without Steve Nash , lamar Odom , smush , parker , devin George . That team is drafting Cooper Flagg with the number one overall pick . It's going nowhere without Kobe . So if you look at the numbers , if you look at team record , supporting Kaz 05 should have been the first season that Kobe won the MVP .
Speaker 1He's clearly more valuable to his team than Steve Nash . Steve Nash might have been more deserving , but that's not the name of the award . It's most valuable it was Kobe Bryant . The following season , 2006-07 , dirk Nowitzki won the MVP that season . Dirk averages 24 points , 8 rebounds , 3 assists on 50% shooting . He's a power forward . So 50% shooting , you know that sounds about right . He's first team all NBA .
Speaker 1The Mavs finished number one in the Western Conference . Kobe averages 31 points , five assists , five rebounds on 46% shooting . He's first team all NBA . He's first team all defense again . So he leads the league in scoring again . He's first team defense again . So we still have a guy in Kobe Bryant that's giving in on the offensive end and the defensive end At this point , clearly the best two-way player in the game .
Speaker 1How does he not win that MVP ? Oh , that's right . I guess it comes down to team wins . The Mavs are first in the west . Kobe is eighth . That particular season the Lakers win 42 games . The Mavs won 67 . There's a bigger gap there . I get that , I get that . But again , look at the supporting cast . Kobe's got his same team Lamar Devin , george , smush Parker I don't know why I keep throwing Smush under the bus , but it is what it is but that's his team while Dirk has Josh Howard , jason Terry , jerry Stackhouse another team that can make the playoffs without him , while the Lakers they backdraft in top five , probably top three this time . Know , back-to-back losing seasons without Kobe . So , like , how is Kobe not getting that MVP ? He's clearly more valuable Now .
Speaker 1This next season it's the 2010-2011 season . Derrick Rose wins it . I like Derrick Rose . He came into the league on fire . But that particular year Derrick Rose averaged 25 points , 7-6 , four rebounds on 44% shooting . He's first team all NBA . The Bulls win 62 games that year , number one in the East . Kobe averages 25 , 4 assists , 5 rebounds on 45% shooting . He's first team all NBA . He's first team , all defense . The Lakers finished number one in the West . So again you have a player in Kobe Bryant that is dominating on offense and defense .
Speaker 1I don't think people understand just how hard that is . How is that guy not winning the MVP ? I get it , derrick Rose was 22 during that season , but Kobe has shown a level of consistency and he's coming off of winning a MVP . I get it , derrick Rose was 22 during that season , but Kobe has shown a level of consistency and he's coming off of winning a championship , but isn't getting any love when it comes to the MVP . That's just odd to me . That particular season Kobe only got one first place vote , yet him and Rose their numbers very , very similar and Kobe was performing well offensively and defensively but gets only one vote for the MVP , as far as you know , first place votes .
Speaker 1So just to recap 05-06 , I think Kobe should have beat Nash for the MVP . 06-07 , I think Kobe should have beat Dirk Nowinski for the MVP . 2010-2011 , I think Kobe should have beat Dirk Nowinski for the MVP . 2010 to 2011, . I think Kobe should have beat Derrick Rose for the MVP . I believe Kobe should have won the MVP those three years because his numbers were better or , in D Rose's case , just as good . He was the focal point on offense , yet still very , very disruptive on defense . So he was the more complete player and he was able to make the playoffs with far , far lesser teams . If that's not most valuable , then I don't know what is . But what about those years with Shaq ? Shouldn't Kobe have a chance to win some of those as well ? Or did he have a chance to win some of those as well ? Or did he have a chance to win some of those as well ? When I come back we'll look at two seasons where I felt like Kobe could have won the MVP .
Speaker 1But first , I hope you guys enjoyed that first segment and if you haven't had a chance , go ahead and hit that like button . Go ahead and hit that subscribe button , and a five-star review will sure help a brother out . Remember , shows will drop every Tuesday and follow me on socials at the Third Down Conversation . Now let's continue the show and jump into segment number two . So for this second segment , we're gonna look at a couple of seasons where kobe and shaq were playing together . But before I jump into that , there's something I need to address
Kobe Bryant's MVP Controversy
Speaker 1.
Speaker 1This narrative that kobe was shaq's sidekick is flat out just ridiculous . He wasn't shaq's sidekick . They had a clear 1A , 1b situation , no sidekick . If you want an example of a sidekick , look at Scottie Pippen . Scottie never averaged more than 21 points while playing with Michael Jordan . Another good example would be Paul Gazal . Gazal never averaged 20 points while playing with Kobe Ever . Those guys are sidekicks . Kobe , for sure , averaged more than 20 playing with Shaq A lot of their seasons together . Kobe's numbers were either equal or his numbers were better Doesn't sound like a sidekick to me , or his numbers were better .
Speaker 1Doesn't sound like a sidekick to me . So that narrative is just . It's ridiculous . And I'm trying to use good words . I'm trying to use good words but it's so frustrating Because sports media will make you think that , oh , he was just alone for the ride . No , no , the Lakers didn't win until Kobe became Kobe , he had to do what he did for them to win championships . It's not a sidekick . It's not a sidekick . Okay , woosah . So the two seasons I'm going to point to and I don't really have a good argument for these these are just a maybe . Just a maybe .
Speaker 1The 2000-2001 season my guy , allen Iverson , wins it that year . But him and Kobe's numbers are similar , very , very similar . Iverson , that season averaged 31 points , four assists , two rebounds on 41% shooting . First team , all NBA . The Sixers are first in the conference . Kobe 28 points , five rebounds , five assists on 46% shooting . He's second team all NBA . He's second team all defense . The Lakers are first in the Western Conference . I mean you can make an argument , but Iverson should win that one . I mean you can make an argument , but Iverson should win that one .
Speaker 1The next season would be the 2002-2003 season that Tim Duncan won the MVP . Duncan averaged 23 points and 12 rebounds on 51% shooting . Again , he's a big man , played around the rim but he was first team all NBA and first team all defense . The Spurs were first in the league , first in the conference . Kobe averaged 36 boards , five assists on 45% shooting , but he was 38% from three . He was first team all NBA , first team all defense . They were second in the Western Conference .
Speaker 1So those two years it's kind of tight , kind of tight , but I don't feel Kobe's argument is as strong as those later years . But you can make an argument . I guess I just wanted to highlight those seasons because it shows that Kobe's not a sidekick , that's for sure . I mean the guy's in the MVP running . He's averaging 28 points and 30 points , but he a sidekick , anyway , whatever , that brings us back to the question how does Kobe only have one regular season MVP ? In my opinion it's due to sports media . Why is it their fault ? Because they vote on who wins the award . They vote on who wins the award .
Speaker 1And this is important because Scoop Jackson , who was a writer for ESPN , inspired me to look into the topic of why Kobe only has one regular season MVP , wrote an article pretty much asking the same thing and , in my opinion , came to a pretty solid conclusion as to why . In Scoop Jackson's article he writes the truth is Kobe Bryant might never win the MVP of the league . He is too hated hated by those who cast votes . As one writer said to me when the subject was brought up in conversation , kobe's electability quotient is zero . Now , now , what they're talking about here is what happened in Colorado with Kobe and a female person . I'm not going to get into all that , but if you want to know , you can , you can Google it .
Speaker 1Scoop continues by saying a man averages 35 points per game . He gets five rebounds , four assists , almost two steals a game . He has 27 games of 40-plus points , has one month where he averages 43 points per game . He's on an all-defensive first team something not one of the other players in the MVP running is included on and leads his team to the playoffs . How does that guy not win the MVP ? Scoop Jackson continues by saying that same man , the very next year averages 31 , five rebounds , five assists , almost two steals a game , has 10 games of 50 plus points . He makes the all defensive first team again and his team makes the playoffs .
Speaker 1Now , the two seasons that scoop is highlighting are the 2005-06 season and the 2006-07 season , the very two seasons that I mentioned that Kobe should have won the MVP . Scoop , then , highlights that it is so bad for Kobe that in the 2004-05 season , kobe averaged 27 points , 5 rebounds , six assists and PJ Brown . Pj Brown Most of y'all don't know who PJ Brown is , but but PJ Brown received a first place vote for MVP and Kobe received none . Let that sink in . And PJ Brown , who played for the Charlotte Hornets , his team won 18 games . 18 games , 18 games .
Speaker 1Scoop concludes his article by saying in sports , in the end , whether we want to acknowledge it honestly or not , athletes put their legacies in the hands of those who have the power to hate them . Scoop Jackson is correct . I personally believe the players and the coaches should be voting for league awards . It shouldn't be sports talking heads or writers . Why should they have so much control over a player's legacy or , in some cases , a player's salary ? Now this leads to a bigger conversation , because I believe if Kobe had more regular season MVPs , he'd firmly be in the GOAT debate . I think Kobe's already there .
Speaker 1Many others believe that as well . Sports media don't , and the main reason why they do not is because of the regular season MVPs . Not is because of the regular season MVPs . For instance , chandler Parsons , who is a former player but now he's a part of the media , mentioned that he's got Kevin Durant ahead of Kobe . He's got Steph Curry ahead of Kobe . I like both of those players , especially Steph Again light-skinned brothers . Neither one of those guys are above Kobe and it's not even close . It's not even close .
Speaker 1Stephen A doesn't have Kobe as number two and Kobe should be number two , but he doesn't have Kobe number two because he states that LeBron averaged more points for his career , averaged more assists , averaged more rebounds and is more durable . Then he continues to say that Kobe does have the rings , but Kobe played with Shaq and downplays the teammates that LeBron has had made it seem like those guys were not that great . And this is just again , I'm trying to use good words . This is just so asinine because if that's your criteria points per game , assists per game , rebounds per game and durability if that's your criteria , then LeBron has MJ beat in three of those categories . But then you would turn around and say , well , mj got the better awards and accolades and championships , but Kobe can't say that because the media they ain't want to vote for him . They saw him as some arrogant guy and just didn't look at the player . I get what happened in Colorado . I get that .
Speaker 1However , kobe's body of work on the court , his performance on the court , was clearly MVP worthy and Scoops Jackson's article backs that up completely and just . Furthermore , on what Stephen A was talking about , lebron does average more points than Kobe for his career . A lot of that is due to the fact that early in Kobe's career he didn't play . His coach didn't give him the opportunity . Kobe spoke about that on a interview with Matt Barnes and Steven Jackson . He went in depth about that . As far as like rebounds and assists , the only thing that LeBron does better than Kobe is pass period , nothing else .
Speaker 1The belief that since Kobe wasn't asked to rebound the ball , that means that he wouldn't have been good at it is a lazy opinion , especially when we know after he got done playing basketball , that whole mama mentality . Do we really believe if the coach was like Kobe . I need you to get 10 rebounds . That he couldn't do it . Come on , man and durability . Lebron is a low manager . He rested , he sat games out . That wasn't who Kobe was , and fans like myself appreciate that . So , yeah , he broke down faster , but that's because he played , he didn't sit games out .
Speaker 1And then to hold against Kobe for playing with Shaq just doesn't really make sense to me . It doesn't make sense Because LeBron had a prime D-Wade , a prime Bosh , a prime Kyrie , a prime Kevin Love , prime AD . He had all these guys in their prime . None of them equal Shaq by themselves , but together they're like two Shaqs , like he had them in their prime . And if you just go back and look at the rosters that Kobe played with , compared to what LeBron played with for Kobe's career , his teammates made 20 All-Star games . For LeBron's career , his teammates made 46 All-Star games . But you don't hold that against LeBron . You don't hold it against LeBron for teaming up with D-Wade and Bosh . You don't hold against LeBron that . Okay . Then he went and joined up with Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving . You don't hold against LeBron that he works something out to where AD can come to the Lakers . None of that gets hold against LeBron , but you're gonna downplay Kobe because Kobe played with Shaq .
Speaker 1I mean , one guy was drafted to the Lakers , he was drafted into the situation , another guy out there picking and choosing . I want to go here , I want to go here , I want to go here , I want to go here , I want to go here . And , ironically , he seemed to always leave when things were starting to fall apart for that organization . Things were going bad with Miami . Oh , time for me to go . I want to go home , I want to go home . Nah , fam , if the Cavs didn't have Kyrie , I don't believe he goes back to Cleveland and then that situation start to fall apart . Okay , well , I'm gonna go to la . And now look at la . I'll make it real simple . My guy didn't need to run to miami to beat boston .
Speaker 1He stood 10 toes and beat him in la my guy didn't need d way to teach him how to win . He learned through failure . My guy didn't need to join up with other superstars because he believed he was better than MJ Mamba mentality . But these are just
Kobe Bryant's MVP Legacy
Speaker 1my thoughts . Y'all let me know what y'all think . Leave a review . Drop a comment . Let me know something . Y'all know Kobe should have at least three MVPs . Y'all know it . But all right , peeps , Thank y'all for joining me today . Again , this is the Third Down . Conversation Shows will drop every Tuesday . Please remember to like , subscribe and leave a review .
Speaker 2I'm D Turnip Seed . Jesus loves you and I'm out . Peace , peace . Think about game winning shots or game winning free throws .
Speaker 2People go to the free throw line and they're nervous about it . But what are you really nervous about If you unpack that ? Okay , you're nervous that you're going to miss the shot . All right , so you missed the shot . Then what happens ? People are going to be embarrassed . You're going to be embarrassed because thousands of people , millions of people , see you miss the shot , all right . And then what ? People are going to talk bad about you . Okay , so you're looking at it and you go . Are those things even important ? You know what I mean . If that is my fear , what is ? You're worried about letting your teammates down . Okay , have you let them down before ? Oh , I'm sure . And practice and things of that nature right , they're still there , yeah , you know . And so when you're able to unpack it , you kind of look at it for what it is , which is really nothing , don't hide from it . You know you got to be able to look at it and you know , and and and deal with it head on .
