"Honest Answer", I hope for LA's sake that Kobe is MVP because that is all you have. Yea your 3-Peat and Shaq are the PAST, keep living there and Lakers will be lottery or 1st round LOSERS for a long time!

I think if there was an award for being the most selfish selfcentered egotistical loner who only thinks of himself and what he can do....and plays that way every single time he plays.....YES, then Kobe would deserve the award. MVP? Not a chance in 7734. He's so harmed the TEAM he plays on it's ridiculous....he has no concept of TEAM and what a TEAM could do when they play as one. And it would only be on a TEAM you would find a Most Valuable Player. You see that's what Most Valuable Player means.....Most Valuable Player to the team.....Not Most Valuable "Playa" There's a huge difference....and anyone that would consider Kobe The Most Valuable Player to his team is either smokin something or is on the same egotistical ride Kobe is on...

Let me give y'all a scnario: Put Kobe in place of Nash with the Suns and Nash in place of Kobe with Lakers. Kobe will do a lot better because he has players that can produce so he will be more trusting; while Nash will still be Nash but cannot produce. He may have five assists per game and that's on a ggod night. Kobe for MVP!!!!!

I think Kobe is the MVP last season and this year too. It's easy to flourish in a good team so Dirk and Nash look good night in and night out. It's easy to say the right thing like "Trust your teammates". I guess it is easy to trust Amare Stoudamire and not quite as easy to trust Kwame Brown. It is easy to trust Barbosa and not so easy to trust Shasha, Marion, easier than Walton, etc.
What Kobe did the last 2 years are incredible. The records he broke or set were special. Everyone keeps saying he is the best but not the most valuable. Define Valuable. Was Karl Malone more valuable than Jordan when he won the MVP just because the Jazz has a better record than the Bulls? Was Barkley more valuable because the Suns has the best record in his 1st year there than he was to the pitiful sixers the year before?

Do you think Nash or Dirk will win as much if they play for the Lakers instead of Kobe, with all the injuries? Be honest to yourself.

As a Laker fan I would like to see Kobe win the MVP but, as a basketball fan it should go to Steve Nash. Nash is the general for the Phoenix Suns. From his point guard position he is the one that makes the Suns go. He dishes out assists, drives the lane, has the ability to score and can create his own shot. He can even shoot the long range bombs. He can do it all.

I wish he were a Laker.

Kobe is the best player in the league and he carried his not so talented and injury-burdened team to the playoffs.

i agree with nate! he is real right!!.. he is an NBA player and played againts the L.A..thats why he think that way.. lets get in to the point.. if you will trade swap kobe to nash.. will the lakers can make it to the playoffs?? or even swap kobe and put dirk onto the lakers. will the lakers go to the playoffs??.. "nash made other team mates better??" look at this.. amare,shawn,barbosa,bell this guys can finish the play.. thats why nash passes the ball to them.. thats why they think he made others better.. thats why nash can get many assist as he wants..

becoz of kobe's greatness.. even he got a very young and always injured teamates. he push'ed up! the lakers into the playoffs!!..

thats why he is the best player in the planet right now!!

and last.. even without nash phoenix can win.. bcoz of amare,shawn,bell and barbosa..

but lakers wont win with out Kobe..

and the lakers didnt win just bcoz of phil jackson's being a candidate on coach of the year award.. its bcoz Kobe pull his team in winning games... by his own self and no other than his self!!!..

1) That comment about the Knicks up there is completely irrelevant and unnecessary.
2) Let us all be logical and stop hating on Kobe for just one minute, shall we? I agree with Nate that Kobe is the MVP. This is not to take anything away from Dirk and Steve who are also great players. But logically, the Lakers should not be in the playoffs, especially not in the Western Conference - the conference where every other team in the playoffs other than Golden State has at least two all stars, one of which is a BIG MAN. Some of those teams have three (phoenix, San Antonio, Utah). Kobe has kept the Lakers in the playoffs single-handedly, especially this year with all the injuries. Nash, as great as he is, has people that he knows can knock down shots when he passes. Dirk knows that if he is having an off night, he has terry, howard, and stack to back him up. Kobe has...Lamar (sometimes). Not taking anything from Lamar, but his has been hounded by injury all year, limiting his ability to produce. And all these comments about past Lakers situations - Shaq, etc. are completely based on what the media decides to portray. They forgot to tell you that Kupchak and Buss wanted to get rid of Shaq way before they sent him off to Miami because of his weight issues and blatent disrespect for the game of basketball when he got injured and decided that he could take his own sweet time and come back when he felt like it. And clearly, Kobe isn't as uncoachable as Phil first said, cause he's back now and they seem to be getting along just fine, don't they? And all the comments about Kobe not impacting his teammates - maybe that says something about his teammates...ever think about that?...take for instance Kwame - he has been on teams with two of the greatest players in history, arguably the two best players in history (Jordan and Kobe) and has the best coach in Phil. And yet, he still hasn't produced anything. Smush - undrafted point guard, complains not about Kobe, but rather about Phil. Now listen to what Jordan Farmar has to say "...we have the best player in the league in the locker room with us and we should start acting like it." Enough said.

Addressing "Dana, Columbus, OH"

What you are forgetting is that the MVP doesn't stand for "best player in the league". Mostly everyone agrees that Kobe is the best individual talent. The key word is individual. In the three years that Shaq has been gone, his overall record is just about .500. I'm sorry, but a record like that just doesn't cut it.

kobe has plenty of talent and is most likely the best player in the NBA. He probably deserves MVP too. But I hate him and am happy to confidently say that he is disliked by so many, he won't win it.

Kobe is only valuable to his agent. Who won the title after Shaq left? Not Kobe! Nash is a much better and smarter baller than K could dream of. High flying escapades look good on ESPN , along with highlight shots but he leads his team to mediocracy.

It really does not matter what Kobe or Dirk did, because the MVP will stay at home in Phoenix with Steve Nash.

Addressing Rob:

Have you forgotten that "MVP" stands for Most Valuable PLAYER? I can't seem to recall the criteria stating the TEAM has to have an outstanding record. Please refresh my memory. You made my case when you stated most agree Kobe is the best talent in the NBA. You, obviously, have allowed your dislike of him to cloud your judgement. If MVP doesn't stand for best player in the league then what, may I ask, does it stand for? The awards, by name and definiton, reward best INDIVIDUALS i.e Most Improved PLAYER, Sixth-MAN, etc.. Not teams. Not team records. The team is rewarded by receiving rings for winning the Championship, which Nash has NEVER, EVER done. I'm sorry but your posting made no sense.

Its all about what happens in the clutch for me to say who the MVP... while Kobe has had many games over the 50 point mark, it hasnt helped team be in contention. Dirk.... well the playoffs speak for themselves. Mamy a time has the Phoenix Suns needed Steve Nash and his value was felt. Just look at the second round, first game.... not saying the Steve Nash could have made a difference in the last 45 seconds, but it is apparent to me who should get the MVP for third time....

Don't get me wrong, I would love for Dirk to get the MVP award this year, but after watching Dallas get eliminated in the first round and seeing Dirk completely shut down and not do his thing is unbelievable to me....My choice is Steve Nash...He is consistent and gets the job done and nobody does it better than him...STEVE NASH FOR MVP...NUFF SAID

Kobe is the MVP for the past 3 years cuz lets face it: neither Nash or Dirk is the best player/MVP in their own teams (Marion or Amare for Suns, Josh H for Mavs).

Ha!

Kobe for MVP! he is the best and people should know better not to judge him from his past. Do not hate him for who he is,but for who he is trying to be.It takes a man to learn from his mistakes and change.Go Kbobe!!!! be all you can be,because them h aters will still lie.

This is to all the Kobe Haters, Thank You Thank You. When you compare him to Jordan, I love it. When you say Kobe is not, Jordan, I love it. Who cares about the MVP, cause its not the Ultimate Goal for Kobe. Why do I say thank you for comparing Kobe? Jordan was the best of his time and probrably many more, But to even put Kobe name with Jordan is the Greatest thing. I have never heard, "Kobe is not a Tracy, Iverson, and Garnett, only by team fans. Some of you will hate that you hated on him because time would have past and you would have missed greatness probrably for the second time because u are a pure Hater of MAN. We are human we maked mistakes. Kobe is human + Basketball Player x Great = Champion.

I think kobe should be MVP, i agreed with the comparison someone made between the level of players on each team and also the coaching. some of you guys seem to forget that coaches make the plays for the team.
Lets also look at the fact steve nash plays no defense and his offense is limited to mid to perimeter jump shooting and assisting teammates. Whereas Kobe bryant has jumpshooting, making adjusted shots and just generally being a leader by example, and in the end he's forced to be that ballhog because none of his teammates step up.
In the end basketball is a team game, and if the lakers want to succeed they need to have an excellent all round team that extends to bench players and coaching staff, and in comparison between the lakers and suns, the suns have the clear advantage.

Now I really know why the NBA is going down the drain. It's cuz of all these people who think Nash should get 3 straight MVPs. He didn't even deserve the second. Maybe all you kiddies should take a look at the list of players who have won 2 MVPs, it's a joke to put Nash up there, when he isn't even the best PG in the NBA rite now. Have you heard of a man named Jason Kidd? Putting up triple doubles like it's nothing, for chrissakes, averaging a triple double in the first round, not to mention, he actually plays defense. For those who say Kobe is selfish and not good for the game, I guess we should encourage all the kids to not play defense. I mean, PLEASE MR NASH, GET YOUR ALL STAR TEAM TO THE FINALS AT LEAST if you're gonna win a MVP award. As you all will soon see, the Suns won't be making it this year either. See what happens when a decent PG like Tony Parker tears Nash up on the other side of the ball. I mean, Nash had it easy the first round, he had to defend Shammond Williams (EURO LEAGUE PLAYER), Smush Parker (Probably a 4th string player on any decent team), and Jordan Farmar (a rookie). It's so sad that all these people let hate blind them, when only if they would open their eyes, they would see that we may never ever see a great player such as Kobe playing before our eyes. It's no wonder that every NBA player says Kobe is by far, hands down, the best player in the world, while writers, who have never played a game of basketball in their life continue to hand out these false awards. Seriously, just stop all this jabberin and hatin, and enjoy the history that is being made.

it comes down to this like so many other people have stated if you swap kobe with nash nash's numbers would be way down if while kobe would have to same numbers with a better record if you swap dirk and kobe dirks numbers would be decent but not like they are now and kobe would still have his numbers and a better record not to take any thing from nash but if u put jason kidd in his spot I see the same out come neither nask or dirk guards the other teams best player nite in and nite out like kobe does and if dirk and nash are such great MVP's how come they couldn't win a title when they played together and for those who say kobe is selfish he averaged 7 less shots per game this year and still was second in the league in scoring from 27 shots per game to 20 his attempts only went up as did his average when phil asked him to score more and he went on that incredible run and might I add the lakers were a fourth seed befor all the injuries let's not hate on the best player on the planet he deserves the mvp hands down he does at both ends of the floor night in and nite out with out him the lakers couldn't spell playoffs take dirk and nash of their teams both teams would easily make the playoffs and let me also add that barbosa could start on any team in the league and dirk has a former league leader in scoring coming off the bench in stackhouse dre cash!

KOBE IS NOT THE MVP, THE LAKERS ARE A .500 TEAM WITH AND WITHOUT HIM IN THE LINEUP. OF COURSE THEY ARE MORE TALENTED WITH HIM, BUT THEY WOULD BE A BETTER TEAM IF THEY HAD A COUPE OF GOOD PLAYERS INSTEAD OF HIM. HE IS ALWAYS NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE LEAGUE IN 4TH QTR FG%, JUST LIKE THE SUNS SERIES, SOMETHING LIKE 10-35 IN THE 4TH. HE HAS BEEN IN 4 NBA FINALS AND ONLY ONCE SHOT OVER 41%. HE IS THE MOST TALENTED PLAYER IN THE NBA, BUT THAT DOESN'T MATTER IF HE DPESN'T PERFORM LIKE IT. YOU GUYS WANNA GIVE HIM ALL OF THE CREDIT WHEN THE LAKERS PLAY WELL, THEN BUTCH UP AND GIVE HIM THE BLAME WHEN THEY DON'T. THE AWARD IS MOST VALUABLE, NOT MOST OUTSTANDING OR BEST SCORER. THE SUNS ARE MUCH WORSE WITHOUT NASH, EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT A NASH FAN. KOBE HASN'T WON A PLAYOFF SERIES WITHOUTH SHAQ AND HE MAY NEVER WIN ONE.

What is wrong with you all you people? Are you all blind? No one is even mentioning Lebron James, who had an amazing season, who would beat any of these players one-on-one, whose team would surely lose without him, yet is probably going to go deeper in the playoffs than any candidates mentioned above. C'mon people!

Finally someone realizes what Kobe had to go through to get the Lakers into the Playoffs. Steve Nash has 5 potential all stars, Dirk has 3, and Kobe has Radmonovich. Thats my point. Take out steve nash and replace him with Kobe and they win the last 3 championships. Take out Dirk and they win the last 3 championships. Take out Kobe and replace him with ethier guy and they dont make the playoffs. How many championships has steve nash won. NONE. He and the suns are underachievers. They have basically an allstar team and cant even win a championship. Not even one. The run and gun style can get you into the playoffs, but it wont win you a ring.