We’re through with the first week of March, and are now just five weeks away from the start of the playoffs. This means the NBA MVP award is up for grabs, and soon the winner will be declared. It’s a tough race between Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid. However, Kyle Kuzma chose this time to bring up Kobe Bryant.
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Kyle Kuzma could have been influenced by the end of the season approaching. It may have been because of Kendrick Perkins and his recent stance about the MVP voting being racist.
Either way, this forced Kuz to bring back the age-old debate: How does Kobe Bryant have just 1 MVP!?!
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Kyle Kumza brings up Kobe Bryant being snubbed for MVP
In his 20 years in the NBA, Kobe Bryant was considered the greatest player on the planet for at least 10-12 years. While there was always an abundance of talent in the league, there were a few years when Kobe was the best player. Despite all that, Kobe only won one MVP honor in his 20 seasons.
There were four clear seasons when Kobe should have won the MVP over the person selected. They were as follows:
- 2002-03 season:
Tim Duncan: 23.3 points, 12.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.7 steals, 2.9 blocks: Shooting Splits: 51/27/71: Team Record: 60-22
Kobe Bryant: 30.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 2.2 steals, 0.8 blocks: Shooting Splits: 45/38/84: Team Record: 50-32
While Tim Duncan took his team further in the playoffs that year, the MVP honors are for the regular season, and Kobe had a more spectacular showing, clearly.
- 2004-05 season:
Steve Nash: 15.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 11.5 assists, 1.0 steals: Shooting Splits: 50/40/88: Team Record: 62-20
Kobe Bryant: 27.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.3 steals: Shooting Splits: 43/83/31: Team Record: 34-48
This season, Kobe played out of his mind, while trying to carry a whole new team of guys to the playoffs. While he failed at doing so, his season deserved an MVP over Nash for sure.
- 2005-06 season:
Steve Nash: 18.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 0.8 steals: Shooting Splits: 51/43/91: Team Record: 54-28
Kobe Bryant: 35.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.8 steals: Shooting Splits: 45/48/85: Team Record: 45-37
In 2005, Steve Nash was yet again picked as the MVP, despite a stellar season by Kobe. Despite getting All-NBA 1st team, and 1st Team All-NBA Defense, Kobe was snubbed by 50-40-90 club inductee Nash
- 2006-07 season:
Dirk Nowitzki: 24.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.7 steals: Shooting Splits: 50/41/90: Team Record: 67-15
Kobe Bryant: 31.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.4 steals: Shooting Splits: 46/34/86: Team Record: 42-40
Once again, Kobe’s team not being able to perform severed his chances to win the MVP honors. The team ended as the 7th seed again, Kobe got into the NBA 1st team, and 1st team defense, but couldn’t secure the MVP honors.
Kyle Kuzma brought up the same today via a tweet.
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NBA Twitter agreed with Kuzma
Kobe Bryant should have won more MVP honors in his career, and NBA Twitter agreed with Kuz.
As fans said, the whole system makes no sense. Kobe not having multiple MVPs will be the greatest mystery in the NBA.
