After 12 seasons, three championships, over 20,000 career points, two scoring titles and 10 All-Star appearances, Kobe Bryant finally got the the piece of hardware he has long deserved - league MVP.

In my mind, Bryant has been the NBA’s best player for years, and it’s about time he got the recognition he deserves. Bryant averaged 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.8 steals, while leading the Lakers to a 57-25 record and No. 1 seed in the West. Only LeBron James, who finished fourth in the MVP voting, had a higher scoring average than Bryant this season.

Bryant had one of his best seasons yet this year. He surpassed his career averages in field goal and three-point shooting, steals, assists and rebounds. Also, Bryant is an outstanding defensive player, and has been named to the NBA All-Defensive team in seven of the last eight years.

It’s an injustice that this is only Bryant’s first MVP. In the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons, he not only led the league in scoring, but was named to the league’s All-Defensive team. Those years he saw the award go to the likes of Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash. No offense to either one of those players, but Bryant is the superior player - always has been, and always will be.

This year’s MVP race was one of the most compelling in recent memory. LeBron took fourth, but legitimate cases could have been made for Boston’s Kevin Garnett and New Orleans’ Chris Paul as well. Bryant was the deserving candidate, however, and received 82 first-place votes. Paul came in second with 28 first-place votes, and Garnett came in third with 15.

The MVP award is the culmination of a career transformation for Bryant. As recently as this summer, his image was still damaged as a result of his rape allegations, the Shaq feud and his wavering trade demands. Now, he is applauded for being a consummate team player, not just a tremendous scorer. He recently even said that he wants to be a Laker for life. He has reformed his image off the court, and any good press for Bryant is well-deserved and long overdue.

Currently, Los Angeles has a 2-0 series lead over Utah in the second round of the playoffs, and is 6-0 in the postseason. Bryant has showed off his MVP form by averaging 34.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.3 steals, while shooting 53.8 percent from the field.

Everything is falling into place in Los Angeles, and Bryant may have the opportunity to not only be league MVP, but possibly NBA Finals MVP as well.

But for now he’ll settle for being league MVP - finally.

Other Opinions..

Troy’s Thoughts on Sports questions whether Kobe deserves the award.

Dancing Barry says that Kobe is legend.

Wow My Life recaps Kobe’s first MVP award.