Los Angeles Lakers: Ranking all 20 seasons of Kobe Bryant’s illustrious career

LOS ANGELES - JANUARY 22: Kobe Bryant #8 of the Los Angeles Lakers points in the air in a game he scored 81 points in against the Toronto Raptors on January 22, 2006 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2006 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - JANUARY 22: Kobe Bryant #8 of the Los Angeles Lakers points in the air in a game he scored 81 points in against the Toronto Raptors on January 22, 2006 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2006 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) /

Ranking every Kobe Bryant season with the Lakers: 6. 2007-08

You’re probably thinking to yourself, Kobe won the MVP of the league this season how could this be number six on the list? You’re correct he did win MVP and was dominant on both ends of the floor but statistically speaking it wasn’t his greatest season. Not to say it wasn’t elite, but he won the MVP because the voters finally figured it out it was time for him to get his first MVP.

Bryant was good all year long, he put up averages of 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists per night. His shooting splits were very good at 45.9/36.1/84 and he was well-deserved of his first MVP award. Which should’ve been his third straight but that’s something we will discuss very shortly in this story.

Leading the Lakers to a 57-25 record on the season, they would eventually advance to the NBA Finals where they would lose to the Boston Celtics. The team that was infamously known for starting the “big three” phenomenon in the league.

Bryant was right in the middle of his prime and was proving to the league, that he was still the best shooting guard in basketball. His sideline fade-away jumpers to clutch shots, he provided it all.

On the season to go along with his MVP award, Kobe also finished All-NBA first team and All-Defensive first team again. He played in his 10th All-Star game as well. What is amazing is Bryant played all 82 regular-season games and the playoffs on his finger that needed surgery, it again displayed how tough of a competitor he was.

The league and it’s fans wanted a Kobe vs. LeBron Finals that they never received. Had the Cavaliers beaten the Celtics in the second round of this season, we may have gotten that wish.