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Bryant Will Receive First MVP Award
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The NBA has scheduled a news conference for today at a Los Angeles hotel, where Kobe Bryant is expected to be announced as the winner of his first most valuable player award.
Neither NBA spokesman Mark Broussard nor the Lakers would discuss the subject of the news conference, although the league did refer to it as an NBA awards announcement.
The Los Angeles Times reported Friday that the 29-year-old Bryant had won the award.
"I didn't know if it was going to come in my career, but to have the moment come now is special, especially to share it with the group of guys we have here," Bryant said Saturday. "We talked about [how] winning this MVP is extremely special because that means I'm doing good. I'm making my teammates better, putting them in a position to win."
Bryant averaged 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.84 steals while playing in all 82 games despite tearing a ligament in his right pinkie finger in February.
· D'ANTONI CAN TALK: The Phoenix Suns granted permission for Coach Mike D'Antoni to talk to other teams, with the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks apparently the leading suitors.
GM Steve Kerr confirmed yesterday that D'Antoni can speak with other NBA teams about coaching vacancies but indicated he still wants to persuade the coach to stay with the Suns.
The coach met Friday with Kerr and team owner Robert Sarver for two hours and there reportedly were more conversations over the weekend. Kerr has acknowledged some differences with D'Antoni but has repeatedly said he wants to resolve the issues between them.
· GOOD SPORT: The Pistons' Chauncey Billups was presented with the NBA's Walter J. Kennedy sportsmanship award before Detroit's playoff game against the Magic.
-- From News Services
