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While I’m not a fan of the man known as the Black Mamba, the fact is, he is damn good at basketball. As a man who has scored over 30,000 baskets, been named an NBA All-Star 15 times, has five NBA championships, and has scored the fourth most points in the entire game, he has definitely left his mark on the NBA. With that being said, at 35, and having logged an unimaginable amount of minutes, you would expect at least a subtle decline in his play. Kobe seems to disagree.

Though he did go down with an Achilles injury this past week, Kobe Bryant has had a hell of a 2012-2013 season. In the tumultuous season the Lakers' squad has seen, Kobe has been the face of consistency. Though many didn't think it was possible, Kobe pulled a Dark Knight and became not the person Gotham…I mean los Angeles, wanted, but the guy they needed. His season started out very Mamba-esque, with Kobe having multiple 40-point games, becoming the youngest player to score 30,000 points, flirting with the overall NBA scoring leader for the season; you know, Kobe Bryant stuff. What made him impressive this season, though, was with the Lakers needing a PG, Kobe Bryant became a facilitator. 

Not known for his assists, Kobe filled in for an injured Steve Nash and began dropping dimes like he had a pocketful. Bryant had a three-game stretch of 10 assists or more with Nash out, leading to three Laker wins. While this didn't last all season, the true debate behind Kobe being an MVP is that the only reason the Lakers are even in the playoff hunt is because of his effort.

While most players around Bryant’s age, disregarding his mileage on top of that, would definitely begin to decline, Bryant is not. Kobe played inspired basketball all season long, and looked like the Bryant of younger days. He scored, he stole, he assisted and he did everything anyone could ask for to take a very underachieving Los Angeles squad, and make an unheralded run at the playoffs. Bryant’s name will definitely be in the MVP mix.

Photo courtesy of ESPN