NBA
Commissioner Adam Silver announced today that the Kia NBA All-Star Game
MVP Award has been permanently named for the late Kobe Bryant, an
18-time All-Star who won a record-tying four All-Star Game MVP awards.
The
Kia NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant MVP Award will be presented on
Sunday, Feb. 16 at the conclusion of the 2020 NBA All-Star
Game in Chicago, where the league is celebrating the lives of Bryant,
his daughter Gianna and seven other people who tragically passed away in
a helicopter crash on Jan. 26.
“Kobe
Bryant is synonymous with NBA All-Star and embodies the spirit of this
global celebration of our game,” said Silver.
“He always relished the opportunity to compete with the best of the
best and perform at the highest level for millions of fans around the
world.”
Bryant
made his NBA All-Star Game debut in 1998 at age 19 – the youngest
player to ever play in an All-Star Game. That appearance
marked the first of his 18 All-Star selections, second most in NBA
history behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (19). Bryant holds the NBA record
for consecutive All-Star selections as he was honored 18 straight times
from 1998-2016.
Bryant was named the NBA All-Star Game MVP in 2002, 2007, 2009 (co-winner with Shaquille O’Neal) and 2011. The only other
player to win four NBA All-Star Game MVP awards is Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Pettit.
A
five-time NBA champion, Bryant played his entire 20-year career with
the Los Angeles Lakers. He earned the 2007-08 Kia NBA
MVP Award, two Bill Russell Finals MVP awards and 15 All-NBA Team
selections. Bryant ranks fourth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with
33,643 points.
The winner of the 2020 Kia NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant MVP Award will be determined by NBA fans (who account for 25% of the vote) and a media panel (75% of the vote). This is the 10th straight year that Kia will serve as the title partner of the NBA All-Star Game MVP Award.
Release via NBA
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