One of the few accolades Kobe Bryant had yet to secure after winning the 2008 NBA MVP was the NBA Finals MVP. Over his storied career with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bryant appeared in seven Finals, claiming the prestigious award twice—in 2009 and 2010. Yet even his second Finals MVP remains a subject of debate, especially in the eyes of one Miami Heat legend.
Following the Lakers’ gritty championship win over the Boston Celtics in 2010, some critics questioned whether Bryant truly deserved the award. Many pointed to Pau Gasol’s consistent impact on both ends of the floor as justification for an alternative pick. Among those voicing that sentiment was Heat icon Dwyane Wade, who revisited the topic during a recent episode of his podcast.
While breaking down what Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could learn from Bryant’s legacy, Wade reflected on that 2010 Finals series. In trying to teach a lesson, he reignited a long-standing debate. “A lot of people don’t know that, in that Finals—the last Finals that they won—Kobe didn’t play well,” Wade said. “Kobe didn’t shoot the ball well; actually, everybody thought Pau Gasol should have been the MVP. That’s how well Pau was playing, and Kobe was playing awful.”
Wade followed with a nuanced perspective on Bryant’s leadership. “But you never could tell when you turned the TV on that he was struggling. Because his leadership is always there, his intensity is always— that fire is always there. So, because he’s 8 for 24 from the field or something like that, you could never tell with a player like Kobe.”
Bryant’s 2010 NBA finals performance
Despite the critiques, Bryant delivered a memorable and resilient showing in the 2010 NBA Finals, leading the Lakers to a hard-fought, seven-game series win over the Celtics. The rematch of the 2008 Finals carried personal weight for Bryant, who was determined to avenge that loss. Over the series, he averaged 28.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 2.1 steals—numbers that earned him a second straight Finals MVP and his fifth NBA title overall.
Bryant anchored the Lakers on both ends of the floor throughout the series. He posted at least 25 points in five of the seven games, including a 38-point effort in Game 5 in Boston. While the Lakers fell short that night, Bryant’s relentless attack, rebounding, and defensive pressure on key Celtics scorers such as Paul Pierce and Ray Allen were vital to Los Angeles staying competitive.
In Game 7, Bryant struggled from the field—shooting just 6-of-24—but still made a profound impact. He hauled in 15 rebounds and poured in 10 fourth-quarter points to help erase a double-digit deficit. Most importantly, he leaned on his teammates—trusting Gasol, Metta World Peace, and Derek Fisher in critical moments—to seal an 83–79 victory in front of the home crowd at Staples Center.
Winning the 2010 title marked a defining chapter in Bryant’s career. It was his NBA fifth championship, his second without Shaquille O’Neal, and it came against the Lakers’ fiercest rivals. While the box score didn’t reflect a flawless performance, the Finals MVP recognized Bryant’s intangibles: his leadership, his mental toughness, and his will to win—qualities that solidified his legacy among the NBA’s all-time greats.