NBA All-Star Game MVP Award Has Officially Been Changed to The Kobe Bryant MVP Award

Feb 17, 2020

According to an announcement made by Adam Silver on February 15th, the MVP award for the NBA All-Star Game has changed its title to the Kobe Bryant MVP Award. 

Silver said in his announcement, "Kobe Bryant is synonymous with NBA All-Star and embodies the spirit of this global celebration of our game." 

"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."

Kobe Bryant was an 18-time All-Star and played for the Los Angeles Lakers. According to the NBA, he won a record-tying four All-Star Game MVP awards in the years 2002, 2007, 2009, and 2011. 

In 1998, Kobe Bryant was the youngest player to have ever played in an All-Star Game, at age 19. 

At the end of the 2020 All-Star Game in Chicago on Sunday, the winner, Kawhi Leonard, was presented with the newly named Kobe Bryant MVP award.

Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna were among the nine victims taken from the helicopter crash on January 26th. The helicopter was on the way to a youth basketball game when it crashed. 

Before the player introductions on Sunday, Jennifer Hudson performed in tribute to Bryant and the rest of the victims. 

What do you think of the NBA renaming the award after Kobe? Do you think it's a good way for the NBA to honor Kobe? Let us know your thoughts below and tell others to let us know theirs as well!