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Reportedly, word has leaked out that Steve Nash will be a repeat winner of the Most Valuable Player Award. Amazingly, that word touched off a number of columns from folks who continue to see Nash as receiving favoritism, often in the form of racial prejudice.

A year ago, cries emerged regarding the point guard's receiving the award over Shaquille O'Neal of the Miami Heat. Those complaints seemed absurd when considering the fact that Nash became the glue as well the catalyst in leading one of the league's youngest teams to earn the league's best record even though the youthful Suns were playing in the NBA's most difficult conference.

The recognition of a point guard as the league's Most Valuable Player was indeed a surprise to many. The NBA's Most Valuable Player seldom goes to a guard unless that player is a dominant scorer. And Nash is a consummate team player who is more willing to dish out the assist and leave the scoring to his teammates.

The claims a year ago seemed particularly absurd when considering that Shaq had actually become the Heat's second best player behind rising superstar Dwayne Wade. Moreover, Nash had joined a team that had a losing record prior to his arrival, a team that was thought to be on the verge of being a playoff contender, but no one thought the Suns capable of taking home the NBA's top spot.

This year the complaints center around Kobe Bryant. The arguments are that Nash is indeed great, but people just don't like Kobe any more, not after his off court problems, so voters have overlooked the NBA's best all around player.

Those folks state that Kobe could not have done anymore for his team than he did this year. That the slick shooting forward put up the best numbers and led a weak Laker team to the playoffs in the difficult Western Conference.

Indeed, Kobe had exceptional seasonal numbers. There was of course the 81 points in a single game and an average of 35.4 per game for the season. He scored 40 or more points in four straight games twice and also went for 62 points against the Mavericks while playing just three quarters. That 35 plus point per game average was eight best in NBA history and the most since 1987 when a man nicknamed Mike went for 37.1 points per game.

Many call Kobe Bryant the best basketball player in the world and under his leadership the Lakers managed 45 wins and the seventh playoff spot in the conference. Without a doubt, the Lakers would be on the outside of the second season looking in if not for Bryant.

Those same critics state the Nash has one of the league's most-underrated players in Shawn Marion and the NBA's most improved in Boris Diaw. That Nash simply knows how to fit in on a more talented team.

The Marion comments seem ludicrous, especially given Kobe has a player by the name of Lamar Odom playing alongside him. In fact, check out the improvement in Marion's numbers once the high octane Nash joined the Suns. Marion's scoring numbers represent two of his best three years in the league and his rebounding the best two years of his career. Nash allows Marion the opportunity to be the player he has become.

And with Diaw making most improved, it should perhaps be noted that maybe Nash indeed made him a better player. That perhaps the athletic youngster learned that if he ran the floor like Amare Stoudamire, he had a talented passer able to get him the ball.

But the best indication of Nash's overall effectiveness is that the Suns played their season without their number one scorer in Stoudamire. In addition, the team lost the up coming and talented Joe Johnson in the off season, so the Suns were a team in full transition, tweaking their line up even as they lost their incredibly talented center. Yet the team won 54 games, a full nine more than LA, also while playing in the toughest conference.

Kobe is no doubt an outstanding player. But watching him, one has to wonder what it is like to play alongside the Lakers' star. What it must be like to make so many trips up and down the floor without touching the ball while Bryant launches yet another shot. The fact that the forward took roughly one out of three Laker shots on the season, while shooting a modest 45% from the floor and 35% from beyond the three point arc, is most notable.

However, what is most telling is the playoff series between the Suns and Lakers, a series the Lakers were up 2-1 going into Sunday. Instead of being the focus, Bryant has been intent on getting his teammates the ball, and the Lakers have risen to the occasion. It leads one to wonder if he had been more of a team player in the regular season if in fact he might have made his team even better.

Because of that question, critics of Nash winning another MVP award should rethink their case for Kobe at least. Now if the talk moves to Lebron James, we have another story.