There is no one tougher than Kobe Bryant in the NBA today. That is a strong statement considering some of the other tough players around the league, but after his performance against the Detroit Pistons I believe Kobe has proven his toughness.

Not only has Kobe proven his toughness and drive to win another title to his Los Angeles Lakers teammates, but he has also shown the league time and time again and tonight was just another example of his ability to play through pain.

The Lakers have struggled as of late and there recent troubles have been mostly been contributed to their injury problems. Pau Gasol has still yet to play a game this season with a hamstring injury that is just not healing as expected. The injury has been so problematic that the forward and last season’s second leading scorer on the Lakers might sit out all the way up to Christmas when the Lakers take on Shaq and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Along with Gasol’s hamstring injury, Andrew Bynum (elbow), Luke Walton (pinched nerve) and now Kobe Bryant (groin) have all been battling injuries this season. Bynum’s injury to his elbow didn’t seem to be too serious as he only missed two games recently, but the injury to Walton will keep him out up to six weeks and Kobe’s groin injury has effected his play up until this game against the Detroit Pistons.

Kobe was asked recently whether or not his groin injury was going to keep him off the floor and the first thing he said was, “Absolutely not.”

All the great players that have played in this league like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird love to play this game and hate to watch from the bench nursing an injury or illness. Kobe Bryant is no different as he rarely misses a minute on the floor for any reason. He may have struggled in the previous two games against the Denver Nuggets and the Houston Rockets, but the former NBA MVP came out against the Pistons to prove a point that he wasn’t going to let anything hold him back from contending for another title this season as he lit up the Pistons for 40 points.

Not only did Kobe have his fourth 40 point game of the season, but he was also able to get it done of the defensive side of the floor with three steals. Kobe has been lighting up the scoreboards this season with his improved post play, but he is also getting it done on defense this season and getting even more comparisons to Michael Jordan with the way he has been playing.

The Lakers were able to get back on track being led by Kobe as they ended their two game skid with a 106-93 over the Detroit Pistons at home.

There is still a long way to go this season, but Kobe Bryant is already in the running for this season’s MVP as he continues to impress after altering his game with more a post presence in the absence of forward Pau Gasol.