Los Angeles, CA (My Sportsbook) - Lakers guard Kobe Bryant was selected as the 2007-08 NBA's Most Valuable Player on Tuesday.
Bryant, the fourth Laker to win the award, finished second in the NBA in scoring (28.3 ppg) in addition to recording 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game, leading the Lakers to the best record (57-25) in the ultra- competitive Western Conference.
The 11-year NBA veteran totaled 1,105 points, including 82 first place votes, from a panel of 126 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada.
Bryant beat out a number of deserving candidates for the prestigious award, namely New Orleans point guard Chris Paul, who dished out a league- best 11.6 assists per game to go with 21.1 points and 4.0 rebounds an outing.
"I don't know what to say. This is such a blessing to receive this award," Bryant said. "This is a very special day. I couldn't have won this award without the help of my teammates. This is not an individual award, it's a team award. These guys (his teammates) make me look better than I am. I couldn't have done it without them."
Paul finished in second with 889 points, while Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics finished in third with 670 points. Last year's winner, Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks, came in 11th place with five points.
The 29-year-old Bryant spent the offseason in a multitude of trade rumors often brought on by his own comments, but emerged as a team player following a mid-season trade for the Memphis Grizzlies' Pau Gasol that ultimately sparked the Lakers' and Bryant's turnaround.
"It's been one hell of a year," Bryant added. "To watch the development of our younger players and see the development of this team has been amazing. There is nothing like winning a championship, but this is special."
Bryant's highest finish in the MVP race before now occurred last season when he finished third behind Nowitzki and Phoenix's Steve Nash.
The 12-year veteran carried the Lakers past the Denver Nuggets with a sweep in the first round of the playoffs, averaging a dominant 35.5 points per game.
Shaquille O'Neal, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are the other Lakers to have been bestowed with MVP honors.
