Mike Brown says Kobe Bryant should be in MVP discussion; he isn’t?

We missed the part where he wasn’t, but Lakers coach Mike Brown feels that Kobe Bryant should be part of this season’s MVP conversation.

Sure, LeBron James is having what many characterize as an historically great season and is the odds-on favorite to win the MVP award, but Bryant is getting noticed, too.

"My TV was on ESPN as I was heading out (to the Pistons-Lakers game Tuesday) and I heard, and I don't know who said it, but I heard (MVP talk about) Kevin Love because he has the team at .500," Brown said, "Now Kevin Love is a very good basketball player and he's putting up extraordinary numbers, but if you're going to say Kevin Love is fourth or fifth, then Kobe Bryant needs to be in the top two."

Brown added Kobe “definitely should be involved in the MVP talks. I think it's hilarious that he's not. You talk about everything new in a shortened season and everybody saying he's 85 years old or whatever they're saying and he's leading the league in scoring.”

James was named MVP twice when he played for Brown in Cleveland, and when asked to compare Bryant’s season with James’ MVP seasons, Brown replied, "You talk about two major injuries that (Bryant) has had, that he's playing through, that would've sidelined guys for multiple games, if not most of the season or the whole season. Then you're talking about LeBron at 24 or 25 when people think he should be running and jumping and playing 47 minutes a game.

"There are a lot of different circumstances that Kobe is dealing with that LeBron did not have to deal with when we were together. For me that's what makes this year, knock on wood, so far a very special year for a guy like Kobe Bryant."