2008 NBA MVP Top Contenders

[Shame About Ray]

For 12 years he has graced our television sets, magazine covers, tabloids and hearts. Loved by many, hated by others and shrouded in controversy and squabble for much of his career… Could this be the year that Kobe is finally crowned the top dawg in the NBA? Or is there another more deserving player?

Top Dawg

Black Mamba, The Assassin, Killer Kobe, one-man team, best player on the planet, selfish, rapist… Kobe Bryant’s name has been associated with each of these monikers. Strangely, the one phrase that is missing from his resume since being drafted in 1996 is the NBA’s Most Valuable Player. To Kobe’s credit, after showing the world in the summer that he was the best player on Team USA, he has followed up with a phenomenal 2008 NBA season. It’s just that this year happens to feature a number of other players who have been simply amazing as well. Just because Kobe is considered the best player in the league and his team is in position to take top spot in the Western Conference, we’ll go ahead and put him as the frontrunner. But history has shown that being the frontrunner doesn’t mean a whole heck of a lot when it comes to MVP voting (more on that later). For now, let’s take a look at the other top contenders for the 2008 NBA MVP award.

Top Contenders

If you love basketball, then you love Kevin Garnett and everything he stands for. After joining Boston in the offseason, K.G. has changed the entire identity of the Celtics and has bolstered them to the top overall record in the NBA. If you look at the contrast in the turnaround from last year’s Celtics, who were among the worst teams in the league, to this year’s championship caliber Celtics team, and then combine that with the MVP numbers K.G. is throwing up, you have to like his chances at taking home the Top Dawg award. Playing with two other superstars, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, always helps as well.

Continued at BodogLife.com...