Are you kidding me?

There had to be a debate over who was the MVP in the NBA this year? Sure there were some fine, fine performances out there but tell me, who can top what Kobe Bryant did with the Lakers.

Do you realize in the history of the NBA only five players have averaged 35 points or more per game? Do you realize what those points meant to his team? And they had to have a debate? OK, so they are not the powerhouse team that won all those championships when Shaq rumbled up and down the court in a yellow uniform. But they're in the postseason.

As for my No. 2 pick, I have to say it's LeBron James. Not because of his records or numbers but more because what he meant to the team when he was in the game. Like Kobe, when LeBron came onto the court something magical happened.

And it's that very magic that put underdogs like the Lakers in the postseason. Call it Kobe's award and be done with it.