Cheering On the NBA

This is an update to my interview with Kobe Bryant. If you did not see it, please take a look at the link below. Click here for Part 1 | Part 2

I recently blogged about my Feb. 5 interview with Kobe Bryant. I was surprised by how nervous he was, and yet at the same time, how confident he was about his place in the NBA and his future! I told him that the best thing for the NBA would be to see him and the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Boston Celtics in the finals. He chuckled, saying the team has a long way to go before it gets there.

Well, check these stats out. Since I interviewed him, the Lakers have gone 12-2. He averaged 27.2 points per game in the month of February. The Lakers only had 2 losses in the entire month – one loss to the Atlanta Hawks and the other to the Portland Trail Blazers. Last night, Bryant scored 52 points on 15-of-27 (two three-pointers) shooting from the field and 20-of-27 from the free-throw line in an overtime victory over Dallas.

Bryant’s 2007 earnings: Salary/winnings – $17.7M; Endorsements – $16M; Total – $33.7M!

My colleague Melissa was just checking out articles about last night’s win, and Kobe’s 52-point game is even highlighted in the Bangkok Post!

Kobe Bryant's 20,989 career points move him past Walt Bellamy (20,941) and into 25th on the NBA's all-time list. Bryant hit the 50-point mark for the 22nd time in his career and first time this season.

Interestingly, Melissa pointed out that he has NEVER been MVP. Here is an excerpt from Sam Smith at the Chicago Tribune about Kobe's MVP status this year:

So how can you generally be acknowledged as the best player in the NBA and, after 12 years in the league, never be named most valuable player? That all will change this season for Kobe Bryant. Yes, Kevin Garnett has transformed the Celtics and Chris Paul has been a wizard for the Hornets. The Cavs might win only 25 games without LeBron James. But Bryant has been terrific and deserving, surpassing career averages in field goal and three-point shooting, steals, assists and rebounds. He's taking fewer shots than at any time in his previous six seasons but is second in the league in scoring (to James), averaging 28.2 points per game. His rebounding (6.0) is his best in five years (6.9 in 2002-03), his field-goal shooting (46 percent) is his highest in six years (47 in 2001-02), steals (2.0) second most in his career (2.2 in '02-03). And he's doing much of this with a finger on his shooting hand that doctors say needs surgery.

The season is far from over, and the Lakers have a lot of work cut out for them!

I must admit this is the great part of my job – meeting some of the most fascinating people and some of the most famous people in their respective fields. I'm a sports fanatic and yet, over the past three or four years, I have become somewhat disenchanted with the NBA. Perhaps, because I once was a Knicks fan, or perhaps, because I remember the days when Pete Vescey would commentate and the NBA games appeared on network television. A lot has changed, but meeting Kobe and seeing how down to earth and engaged he was has given me a reason to cheer him on and give the NBA another look.

As a former All-City Basketball player in New York City, I have one thing to say to the NBA. Get these guys, these players, out there! Remind us what makes the game great!!!