Jan Hubbard 
NBA INSIDER
League has so many stars, it's difficult to pick an MVP
Star-Telegram staff writer
The debate on Most Valuable Player is in overdrive, and the discussion has been civil for the most part, although I heard a guy on the radio the other day ask in an irritable sort of way: "How could you not vote for LeBron James?"
A few minutes later, he said: "How could you not vote for Kevin Garnett?"
Before he got around to Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul, I went ahead and changed the dial.
Here is the state of the MVP discussion:
Steve Nash is not part of it. Neither is Dirk Nowitzki. And Tim Duncan is an afterthought.
Three of the top players in the league, all of whom will lead their teams into the playoffs, each with MVP heritage and none will finish in the top four.
Why is that? It's simple, but the explanation is part historical.
Basketball is like all other sports that are proud of their history and cling to the past. The keepers of the historical flame are loyal and stubborn people who like to remember the good old days.
But the fact is this: The skill level of players increases every year. At this moment, there are more great players in the NBA than ever. Perhaps there is no one as good as Michael Jordan, but Kobe Bryant and LeBron James own property in the neighborhood.
Forget the MVP. The skill level is so extraordinarily high that it is impossible to select the All-NBA teams and not leave someone out. I've seen several lists with Nowitzki not on one of the top three teams. Go ahead and insult the voters if you must, but it's not like they voted for lousy players.
Despite all the distractions at NBA games, like the unsportsmanlike habit of playing music to disrupt teams when they have the ball, and PA announcers who figure fans are so dumb that they don't know when to chant something as elementary as "DEE-FENSE," the pure game on the court is at its most entertaining.
Perhaps the league-wide fundamentals aren't what they once were because the infusion of youth makes the league younger, but the athletes are better, stronger, they jump higher, are more creative and clever as a group, and they shoot straighter.
One example. Bob Cousy is one of the greatest point guards ever. He never made even 40 percent of his field goal attempts in any season. Steve Nash, one of the greatest point guards of the current era, is currently making 48 percent of his 3-point attempts. And there are many more examples of how players are better than ever.
When the subject is the MVP, the discussion centers on an elite field of candidates who have a collective skill level as impressive as any group in the history of the league. The league asks voters to select the fave five. Here's mine for MVP, as well the rest of my selections for league honors.
Most Valuable Player
1. Kobe Bryant, Lakers
No doubt he is the worst GM in the league for wanting to be traded before the season, but he is transcendent as a player -- the very best in the world -- and could very well lead his team to a title.
2. Chris Paul, Hornets
The guy is 22 years old? Are you kidding? Is this guy a mini-Oscar Robertson or what?
3. Kevin Garnett, Celtics
Should he win for leading a team to the biggest turnaround in team sports history? Absolutely. But, hey, he's a team guy, so he'll understand.
4. LeBron James, Cavaliers
Do I feel guilty about putting him fourth? Absolutely. In this group, however, it's not a diss.
5. Tim Duncan, Spurs
The Big Fundamental is merely the greatest power forward in the history of the game. In this group, however, it's like finishing fifth in an acting competition to De Niro, Nicholson, DiCaprio and Denzel.
Rookie of the Year
Kevin Durant, Sonics
Atlanta's Al Horford will get some support because he helped the Hawks in their playoff run, but Durant carried a greater load with less veteran help. Durant needs to get bigger and stronger, but despite his lanky frame, he was durable and a consistent scorer. Besides, if the Hawks had played in the West, they would be in a battle for 11th place. One complaint on this category: Houston's Luis Scola and Memphis' Juan Carlos Navarro will get support, but both of them are veterans of European basketball. Scola was MVP twice in the Spanish League. They might be in their first year in the NBA, but they're not rookies.
Runner-up: Al Horford, Hawks
Coach of the Year
Jerry Sloan, Jazz
In one of the great oversights in the history of awards, Sloan has never been selected Coach of the Year. No doubt he has had help in assembling talent from a variety of people in charge of personnel for the Jazz, but he went from Stockton-Malone to Boozer-Williams with only a minor blip. Perhaps this vote could be labeled lifetime achievement, but as long as this guy continues to win 50-plus games a year, I'm going to keep voting for him until he wins.
Runners-up: Byron Scott, Hornets; Rick Adelman, Rockets; Phil Jackson, Lakers; Doc Rivers, Celtics.
Most Improved Player
Hedo Turkoglu, Magic
The Magic shelled out $118 million for Rashard Lewis, but Turkoglu was the steadiest forward on the team. The eight-year veteran from Turkey has always been a decent offensive player, but he turned in some monster games this season. Plus, he fits the true spirit of what this award should be. Players such as LaMarcus Aldridge of Portland will be getting support for this award, but Aldridge was the No. 2 pick in the draft. He is supposed to be good. Turkoglu was the 16th pick in the 2000 draft, was never considered a franchise player, yet he took a major step forward this season. If the Clippers' Chris Kaman had played a full season, he would win the award easily. But injuries kept him out of more than a quarter of the schedule and that reduced his impact.
Runners-up: Ronnie Brewer, Jazz; Rajon Rondo, Celtics.
Defensive Player of the Year
Bruce Bowen, Spurs
He might be 36 and the end of his career might be in sight. But in every game, on one of the NBA's best defensive teams, he takes the main scorer. He guards offensive machines such as Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady, but he also guards point guards and power forwards. He is the league's No. 1 pest and pushes the rules to the limit to try and stop opponents. But all that means is that home fans love him and road fans hate him, and that's probably the greatest tribute he receives.
Runners-up: Kobe Bryant, Lakers; Kevin Garnett, Celtics; Marcus Camby, Nuggets; Josh Howard, Mavericks; Shane Battier, Rockets; Dwight Howard, Magic; Tim Duncan, Spurs.
Sixth Man Award
Manu Ginobili, Spurs
The most impressive facet of Ginobili as sixth man is that he never complains about it. He will get some mention for the All-NBA second team this season and he might even get some fifth-place votes for MVP. He is the best shooting guard on the Spurs and plays starters minutes. But Spurs coach Gregg Popovich likes Ginobili's impact and offense off the bench, and Ginobili has bought into the system. At times this year, he has carried the Spurs. This is one award that should be unanimous. No one else is even close.
Runners-up: Leandro Barbosa, Suns; Jason Terry, Mavericks; James Posey, Celtics; Linas Kleiza, Nuggets.
All-NBA
First Team
G: Kobe Bryant, Lakers
G: Chris Paul, Hornets
C: Dwight Howard, Magic
F: LeBron James, Cavaliers
F: Kevin Garnett, Celtics
Second team
G: Steve Nash, Suns
G: Deron Williams, Jazz
C: Amare Stoudemire, Suns
F: Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
F: Tim Duncan, Spurs
Third team
G: Chauncey Billups, Pistons
G: Rip Hamilton, Pistons
C: Rasheed Wallace, Pistons
F: Tayshaun Prince, Pistons
F: David West, Hornets
Comment: How about a fourth team, or a fifth? Tracy McGrady, Ray Allen, Manu Ginobili, Baron Davis and Allen Iverson at guard; Al Jefferson, Samuel Dalembert and Zydrunas Ilgauskas at center; Paul Pierce, Carlos Boozer, Carmelo Anthony, Brandon Roy, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison and Stephen Jackson at forward. And why are four Pistons selected for the third team? The explanation can be found at www.star-telegram.com/nbainsider/story/569737.html
Final note
Writers and broadcasters do not vote on Executive of the Year, but it's a one-horse race with Danny Ainge of the Celtics winning easily. How he turned the No. 5 pick in the last draft, Al Jefferson and a bunch of role players into Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen was Auerbachian. It's still one of the great feats in NBA trading history. If there is a second place, it would be Mitch Kupchak of the Lakers, who had the good sense to ignore Kobe Bryant's demands and refused to trade him.
