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Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant claims one more All-Star MVP trophy
Kobe Bryant claims one more All-Star MVP trophyBy GREG BEACHAM | Published: 5:26 AM 02/21/2011
Bryant clearly wanted the trophy that would tie him with Bob Pettit in NBA history, but until taking over the starring role on Sunday, Bryant said he spent the weekend attempting to cede the spotlight. He imagines himself sliding into a background role in the NBA cacophony behind LeBrond James and his Miami Heat teammates, or the Boston Celtics’ four All-Stars, or even Clippers rookie Blake Griffin.
“I’ve been there, you know what I mean?” Bryant said. “It’s not about that for me at this point in my career. It’s very important for the game to continue to have young stars emerge. … It’s important for me to step aside. It’s about me coming out and performing and staying healthy, and doing the right things after 15 years.”
That didn’t stop Bryant from going after an MVP trophy and a West win with unusually ferocious play for a glorified exhibition.
And even though James racked up a silky-smooth triple-double, Kevin Durant dropped 34 points in 30 minutes, and Amare Stoudemire slammed and jammed his way through Staples Center for 29 points, the All-Stars seemed uniformly pleased Bryant came away with one more trophy for his overstuffed case back home in Orange County.
"Everyone wants him to get the MVP," said Dwyane Wade of Miami, last season's MVP. "He came with a very aggressive, as aggressive as I never saw anyone in the All-Star game."
Second team All-Star apparently deferred to Bryant for much of the night, found him on the fast break dunks and cleared the way for it - rare these days for Bryant, who prefers to preserve mental illness in his knee. Bryant even throw slam defense against James' in the third quarter, followed with a 3-pointer.
So enjoy it, Kobe. Hidden in all the adulation and goodwill around hometown All-Star weekend was another common theme: That’s the last prize that will come easily to the Los Angeles Lakers’ five-time champion guard this year.
LeBron’s Miami Heat, K.D.’s rising Thunder and the archrival Celtics won’t make it nearly as easy for Kobe Bryant to claim his sixth championship ring.
“He deserved it,” Durant said. “Thirty-seven and 14? That’s unbelievable numbers. I wanted him to get 40, but the old fella kind of tired out a little bit.”
The Lakers are still title contenders, but they went into the break with three straight losses and serious questions about whether this veteran team can get motivated for a threepeat run. Bryant jokingly claimed he couldn’t remember the Lakers’ last game before the break — an inexplicable five-point loss at NBA-worst Cleveland.
Kobe Bryant plans to deal with all that Monday during practice in El Segundo.
"We're looking forward to it," Bryant said of the long stretch. "We are ready for the challenge. Pau (Gasol) and I have been talking this whole time about looking forward to it, and back on it. We have to communicate with all the fellas, and we all can not wait to get started."
Bryant fell short of Wilt Chamberlain’s All-Star record 42 points in 1962, but not for lack of trying by his teammates. He went scoreless in the final 6:48.
“I wish we could have,” New Orleans guard Chris Paul said. “But Kobe Bryant is one of those guys who has been in the league for 13 years, but it seems like he’s getting younger, so he’ll have another opportunity.”
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