Sam Smith

There's been this debate going on, like it does just about every year, about the league's Most Valuable Player.

I'm not sure why since it should be — and will be — without a doubt the Lakers' Kobe Bryant.

It is a bit annoying that so many people have this wrong, the general definition of wrong being if you disagree with me. But in this case, it's not only time for Bryant to receive his first ever MVP. It is wholly justified.

There are usually two ways of looking at this: Giving the reasons why your candidate deserves the award or the reasons why the other top contenders do not. In the fictional presidential spirit of at least appearing to avoid negative campaigning, we'll start with the reasons Bryant deserves the award and quickly seek the low road of eliminating the other contenders.

It's not lifetime achievement, though the player generally regarded by his peers as the best in the game for the last several years has yet to have an MVP award. There are good reasons Bryant should win, though. When Bryant was winning championships, it was with Shaquille O'Neal, who generally didn't win the award because he'd spend half the season getting into shape. Though since O'Neal was the dominant figure on the Lakers, it seemed inconceivable to give Bryant the award ahead of him.

After the Lakers' breakup in 2003, Bryant verged on the unpopular with some players, though more so with media members who vote. The pair essentially pushed media members to pick sides. If you were for Shaq, you were anti-Kobe. And O'Neal was far more popular. Plus, Bryant's Lakers struggled just to make the playoffs. And while there is no specific criterion for the voters, the MVP generally comes from the best team or close to it and certainly a 50-game winner. No MVP has come from a team winning fewer than 50 since Moses Malone's Rockets in 1982.

In recent years, Bryant has had brilliant individual seasons. But his team hasn't been among the elite. It's at least one reason why LeBron James, having a terrific individual season, has no chance to win the award, and shouldn't.

It also shouldn't matter that much that the Lakers made a late move into the top spot in the Western Conference. That's what seemed to fuel this ridiculous notion for a time that the Hornets' Chris Paul should be the MVP. Just because his team was a game or two better than Bryant's. How silly. Granted, Paul has been terrific. But it seems the sentiment toward him was more the surprise at the Hornets' ability to stay atop the Western Conference into April when many had not even picked them to make the playoffs. That miscalculation of predictions seems to drive a lot of postseason award voting. It's the notion that someone must have succeeded beyond expectations because the voter didn't see it coming. Could it be the voter misjudged the team or individual? Nah, not media voters.

No disrespect to Paul, but he's been just somewhat better than the Jazz's Deron Williams. Paul is an MVP candidate, particularly because he's been better defensively than Williams. But Paul's Hornets were downgraded because of the effects many felt the continued relocations would have as well as whether they could return from the injuries of last season.

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The Hornets have been healthy this season and have an All-Star in David West and a top rebounder in Tyson Chandler.

It's also one way of evaluating players in this voting: Who had the best supporting cast? Of course, there's also the Did-You-Make-Teammates Better test.

Kevin Garnett, who looks to me the only other legitimate contender, plays with perennial All-Stars in Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.

Garnett has been exceptional in revitalizing the Celtics in attitude, leadership and defense, though Garnett is not having one of his better statistical seasons. He isn't in the top 10 in any of the major statistical categories, though his presence with the league's most successful team is unmistakable. The Celtics have the best record and are the league's top defensive team because of Garnett and what he demands of his teammates.

Though compared with all the other top contenders, Bryant has had a remarkable season and to me raises questions whether there should even be any debate.

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