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Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, foreground left, grabs a loose ball as Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer stumbles in the first quarter of Game 1 of their second-round basketball playoff series in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 4, 2008. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian) |
Kobe Bryant receives MVP trophy prior to Game 2 against Jazz
LOS ANGELES—Lakers star Kobe Bryant received his MVP trophy from NBA commissioner David Stern in a brief ceremony before Los Angeles faced Utah in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals Wednesday night.
"I'm at a loss for words, I don't know what to say," Bryant said as the Staples Center crowd of 18,997 roared its approval and chanted M-V-P. "I love you guys so much. We're going to play until June. Let's get this party started."
The 29-year-old Bryant was a runaway winner of his first MVP award, receiving 82 first-place votes and 1,100 points to far outdistance New Orleans' Chris Paul in the voting of 126 media members. The results were announced Tuesday
Following the presentation, Bryant's wife and two young daughters presented him with a bouquet of flowers at center court.
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