The Lakers season started off with a bit of uncertainty. Kobe Bryant said during the summer he wanted to be traded and publicly voiced his displeasure about team's direction. Here he is surrounded by the press during the annual Media Day in El Segundo. Stern will make the official presentation to Lakers star next week. It took 12 seasons, but Kobe Bryant has finally been selected the NBA's most valuable player, The Times has learned. Sources familiar with the outcome who were not authorized to speak publicly about the award until the official announcement from the league said Commissioner David Stern will be in Los Angeles next week to present the trophy to Bryant. FULL ARTICLE: LAT
I don't understand the hold up Stern, just announce it today! lol. Anyways, congradulations Kobe. Words cannot describe the season we have just experienced. Truly magical. Kobe Bryant is the best player in the NBA, best player in the whole world. Now it's time to set his goals on another MVP trophy, the NBA Finals MVP
Step 1: Win the Western Conference regular season Step 2: MVP Step 3: Win the NBA Championship Step 4: Finals MVP Two down, two to go!!!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>LOS ANGELES (AP)—Kobe Bryant has won the NBA’s MVP award for the first time, the Los Angeles Times reported on its Web site Friday night, citing anonymous sources familiar with the outcome of voting by media members. The newspaper reported that commissioner David Stern will be in Los Angeles next week to present the trophy to Bryant. “We have not been told anything by the league,” Lakers spokesman John Black told The Associated Press. Bryant, who entered the season as the league’s two-time defending scoring champion, had third in the MVP voting twice—after the 2002-03 campaign, when he averaged 30 points for the first time, and again last season, when Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki won the award. Bryant averaged 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.84 steals while playing in all 82 games despite tearing a ligament in his right pinkie finger in February. A hand specialist recommended surgery, but Bryant decided to put it off until after the Olympics this summer. He led the Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference and a sweep of Denver in the first round of the playoffs. Bryant, second in the NBA in scoring behind Cleveland’s LeBron James, will be the first Lakers player to win the MVP award since Shaquille O’Neal was a near-unanimous choice in 2000. Other previous Lakers to win the award dating to 1956, when it was first presented, were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson, who each won it three times. Abdul-Jabbar also won three with the Milwaukee Bucks.</div> Story Not a surprise. It's about time Kobe finally got his this year as well. Great season for both him and the Lakers. Now, hopefully he can add his first Finals MVP this year as well.
Congrats to Kobe finally winning an MVP award! Larry Bird said it was unbelievable Kobe didn't have one yet and said he felt like giving his back because he feels Kobe is a better player than he ever was. He also said Kobe is the best closer in the history of the game. Bird doesn't give much praise and I never knew he respected Kobe's game that much.
Grats Kobe! I can't believe this is only the first one. For the past few years, the guy has dominated the game, some would argue even before that. Last year was probably the biggest snub though. He dropped 80 on a team, and kept his team a contender in the toughest conference.
Report: Kobe earns first MVP <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant has won the NBA's MVP award for the first time, the Los Angeles Times reported on its Web site Friday night, citing anonymous sources familiar with the outcome of voting by media members. The newspaper reported that commissioner David Stern will be in Los Angeles next week to present the trophy to Bryant. "We have not been told anything by the league," Lakers spokesman John Black told The Associated Press. Bryant, who entered the season as the league's two-time defending scoring champion, had finished third in the MVP voting twice -- after the 2002-03 campaign, when he averaged 30 points for the first time, and again last season, when Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki won the award. Bryant averaged 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.84 steals while playing in all 82 games despite tearing a ligament in his right pinkie finger in February. A hand specialist recommended surgery, but Bryant decided to put it off until after the Olympics this summer. He led the Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference and a sweep of Denver in the first round of the playoffs. The Lakers open the second round Sunday against Utah at Staples Center. Bryant, second in the NBA in scoring behind Cleveland's LeBron James, will be the first Lakers player to win the MVP award since Shaquille O'Neal was a near-unanimous choice in 2000. Other previous Lakers to win the award dating to 1956, when it was first presented, were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson, who each won it three times. Abdul-Jabbar also won three with the Milwaukee Bucks.</div> Better choice than Paul IMO. Congratulations again.
This should be his third...or at least his second. I'm glad he won it though, people can't knock the best player in the game for not having this award, because he's got it now.
