Kobe Bryant Wins 1st Most Valuable Player Award

Finally, an MVP award for Kobe Bryant. Regarded as the NBA's best player for several years but never its most valuable, Kobe earned the honor at last on Tuesday after leading the L.A. Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference. He called the award a blessing and an honor and emphasized that he wants another trophy this year. "It's Hollywood, it's a movie script. The perfect ending would be for us to hold a championship trophy at the end of it," Bryant said. He said it wasn't an award he could have won on his own. He can't thank his teammates enough, club officials, his wife and two daughters. The Lakers try to take a 2-0 lead against Utah in their conference semifinal tonight. Bryant will receive the MVP trophy from commissioner David Stern before the game.