I dont think that was the question ZB. It's the way they voted and the lifetime achievement crap.
Saying you should've gotten it 3 years ago doesn't mean jack compared to this year. I don't think LA would be a playoff team with no Kobe but you could say that about alot of teams and their respective star players.
How about NO with no Chris Paul?
What I do think though is that Pau Gasol saved LA some heartache and put them over the top, that's for sure.
This all of course takes nothing from Kobe, I saw him change this year, even if he did act like a whiny baby this summer, but give him the award based on his play, and cut the crap out about years ago and how he couldn't beat other players out. Give me a break.