The biggest debate in the world of basketball has nothing to do with which team will win the NBA finals this year, it is all about individual success. Kobe or LeBron? What about Durant? Is Derrick Rose not the reigning league MVP? Are Wade and Nowitski not Finals MVPs? The questions are endless, but the debate can be solved with an in-depth look inside the numbers.
Kevin Durant & Derrick Rose
The first thing you have to figure out is: What does it mean to be the best player in the NBA? For me, to be the best player in the league, you must have proven success over a long period of time, up to date dominance, and stats to back you up. Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose are great players, but the best player in the NBA will always be a seasoned veteran. Everyone knew that Michael Jordan was great when he averaged 28 points per game in 1984, but he did not truly become the best in the game until 1991 when he won his first championship. Neither Durant nor Rose have led their team to the finals, and they are yet to accomplish many of the things that other players in the league have been able to do.
Dwyane Wade
& Dirk Nowitski
In
my opinion, the Finals MVP is the most satisfying award that a basketball player
can receive. It is a testament to the fact that you have proven yourself on the
NBA's biggest stage. Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitski have both done that, and will
be inducted
into the Hall of Fame after they retire. 3 years ago, I would have put Wade at
the top of this list. Now, however, it is a totally different story. Neither of
these players are able to dominate the league over the span of
a 90-100 game regular and postseason the way they did earlier in their
careers.
Kobe Bryant &
LeBron James
Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are undoubtedly the two best players in the game today. Bryant has 5 championships, while James is only a month away from winning his third league MVP. Both players have their pros and cons, as Bryant does not dominate in every aspect of the game the way that James does, but LeBron is yet to prove to the world that he can perform at his highest level in the NBA Finals.
The Best Player, in
the the NBA
The deciding factor is this: Kobe's advancing age has allowed LeBron to become that most impactful player in the game year in and year out. According to ESPN's advanced stat calculator, LeBron James' Player Efficiency Rating (PER) has been the highest in the NBA each of the past 5 years. In addition to that, his postseason numbers are rated higher than Kobe's for each of the past 3 years. People may not like LeBron for many reasons, but there is no way that you can dispute his amazing talent and consistent production.
Sometimes James' shortcomings have overshadowed his dominance, but we must never forget he makes plays like this. Or this. And most of all, the fact that he has no regard for human life.
