Ranking a player when it comes to all-time greats takes into consideration the accolades that they have accomplished throughout their respective career and getting the MVP or Most Valuable Player award is one of them. It is like a validation of how really a player affects the team success and the league as a whole. Although this award has the key word "most valuable" in it, it doesn't really mean that he is the best player in the league although we can argue that the best player should always won them but it really is not the case in the NBA sometimes.
In this particular subject we were going to discuss how Kobe Bryant "The Black Mamba", the closest thing to Michael Jordan got robbed of a MVP award in the 2005-2006 season. I know many of you was and is still wondering how Kobe got only one MVP in his resume considering he is considered the best player in the planet for his tenure and quite a long time in the NBA. How could a guy like him that is in the conversation of one of the best to ever lace up in the NBA court, arguably a Mount Rushmore type of player and a surefire first ballot hall of famer awarded only once. Oh about the Mount Rushmore if you didn't know what I mean, it means a top four player in the history of basketball which is pretty much used by NBA players and analysts. So now let's get into details and talk more about Kobe's performance during the 2005-06 NBA season and is he worth to have the prestigious award instead of the awardee Steve Nash.
81 point historical performance
Who would ever forget the historic numbers that the Black Mamba put up against the Toronto Raptors in 22nd of January 2006? Kobe's 81 points is second only to Wilt Chamberlain's 100 and is considered comparable if not just as great by many NBA analysts and NBA players as well. Did you know that during the 2005-2006 season the teams failed 206 times to accomplished an 81 points total according to some sources which is pretty crazy right? According to Stephen Curry it is his Wilt moment considering he didn't witnessed the 100 point performance of Chamberlain.
Scored 40 or more 27 times
Did you know the term "in the zone" its when a player is in his peak performance mode like in an adrenaline rush where everything you shot seems clicking and its only happen in some games during a season stretch but the Mamba did it 27 times can you imagine how good he is during this season. Kobe had a previous career record of scoring 40 plus 30 times prior to this season which means he accomplished a 9 season worth in just a single season. I think now you're wondering why he didn't won the MVP that year and seems impossible right. It is also the highest since 1986-87 season of Michael Jordan in which MJ dropped 40 plus points 37 times, 10 more than Kobe.
35.4 scoring average
Kobe's 35.4 scoring average during this season is the highest since Jordan's 37 point season and he also won the scoring title that very same year. He is a beast during that season it is also Kobe's highest scoring average considering the Mamba is just in his prime at age of 27. Bean also recorded a 41.6 points in the month of April 2006 with efficient percentages of 51 percent shooting in the field to go along with a 41.3 percent beyond the arc, he is the only player along with Wilt Chamberlain to logged those feat.
If Westbrook won the award last 2017 why not Kobe in 2006?
Russell Westbrook is the only player since forever or atleast multiple decades ago to win an MVP award whose team is under 50 wins. Russ did it after recording a historic season performance of dropping triple double regular season stats since Oscar Robertson or the Big O. Coincidentally the Oklahoma City Thunder 2017 win record is just two more than Kobe's squad which consists of Smush Parker, Kwabe Brown, Chris Mihm a Lakers squad who doesn't have a business in the NBA playoffs but Kobe carried them with only one legitimate starter in Lamar Odom.
As we know Kobe is one of the most hated guys during his prime being mean to players and media which somehow affects his shot for the award. Due to the fact that media votes is one of the counting measures to get it, well just as I mentioned earlier it is not the best player who always won the award if that is the case then MJ should get it every year right considering he is the G.O.A.T. Back to Russ case he won the award after a historic season performance then I think Kobe should have won it too right?
2006 MVP | Nash or Kobe?
Ofcourse it would pretty be one-sided if I only made a case for Kobe right? I am not a Steve Nash hater if I may clear, I am actually a fan both players. They are both belong in the same draft class in 1996, they have different style of play but both entertaining to watch. Nash also recorded a great season of 90-50-40 which only few player have the record, to elaborate it more 90 percent in free throws,50 percent field goal and 40 percent from the three point line. Nash carry as well a Stoudemire-less Phoenix Suns team to be the third best in the western conference.
Taking all the necessary measures and arguments into account still Nash have quality and solid players in Shawn Marion, Raja Bell, Leandro Barbosa and Boris Diaw who all recorded double digits during that season. Without a doubt Steve Nash is an amazing player and just recently inducted in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, but Kobe is the much deserving one considering he translates his talent to two more championship rings without the help of a Shaquille O'neal. Before I end this article no disrespect to Steve Nash or any canadian nationals, It is just my own opinion let me know your's too in the comment section down below.
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