LeBron James has heard his name in the MVP conversation, but he said on Monday that he thinks Kobe Bryant deserves to win the award, according to the Akron Beacon Journal.

"I'd give it to Kobe," James said. "What he's done this whole year, to carry that team to the No. 1 team in the West right now. He's playing his best basketball all around. I've watched him the whole year. I saw it last summer when I played with him with USA Basketball, and the sacrifices he's made for the team and he's done that with the Lakers."

"I've been quoted millions of times saying Kobe is the best player in our league for the last five years," James added. "He hasn't received the MVP. This is his year, I think."