We are only a few weeks away from the NBA’s 71st annual NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland, Ohio. The league has now unveiled their new trophy for the most valuable player of the game, named after one of the most iconic players in NBA history.
The trophy was previously named the Kobe Bryant MVP Award, but now they have created a trophy that is fully customized in honor of the late Los Angeles Lakers legendary shooting guard.
The Kobe Bryant Trophy for the NBA All-Star Game MVP will have an eight-sided base with 24 stars to honor Kobe's jersey numbers
The trophy's levels are also 2, 7, 9 and 11 inches tall, referring to the years Kobe won All-Star MVP 💜💛
(via @NickDePaula) pic.twitter.com/AQlxuQ44bs
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 3, 2022
It has been over two years since Kobe Bryant tragically passed in a helicopter accident back in 2020. Many have taken to social media to express their opinion on the new trophy and what it means to them.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/ScLEGi7QDF
— Timothy Flanders (@TFlanders405) February 3, 2022
This is dope! Well done @NBA. We should also honor #BlackMamba’s greatness & legacy on/off the court by making him the new official logo. Just sayin’… https://t.co/6z41AgTUAS
— Billy Tenenbaum (@KingWillChalton) February 3, 2022
What an incredible tribute https://t.co/BfDiEbqd5L
— Andrés Fuentes (@news_fuentes) February 3, 2022
Among those praising the new trophy is Vanessa Bryant, the widow of the late Kobe Bryant. She had this to say on how she felt the trophy represented her husband in a post on Instagram.
“I love everything this trophy represents, all of my husband’s hard work and dedication ~ Mamba Mentality.”
You can see how detailed the new trophy is, showing some of the accomplishments that it recognizes in Bryant’s playing career.
The first level has 24 stars, which is symbolic of the number 24 Kobe wore in the second half of his career, among many other symbolic meanings within the design of the award.
This new award could add a level of competitiveness that we haven’t seen in quite some time for the upcoming All-Star game.
It is no secret how beloved Bryant is among his peers playing in the NBA, and now that the trophy for the MVP award is more symbolic of Bryant, players could be going all out to get what will now be a much more prestigious award.
