Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, seen after the team swept Denver earlier this week, has never won the NBA's MVP award. (Jack Dempsey/Associated Press)Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant will be named the NBA's most valuable player next week, according to a report.
The Los Angeles Times reported late Friday that sources familiar with the process said league commissioner David Stern could be in Los Angeles next week to present Bryant the trophy, which would be the first of his illustrious career.
Bryant averaged 28.3 points, second only to LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, to go along with 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists during the regular season. Just as importantly, Bryant helped make his teammates better, with 57 wins, 15 more than last season.
James and Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets were considered among basketball observers to also be strong MVP candidates.
Bryant, 29, led the league in scoring and was named to the league's all-defensive team in the previous two seasons but did not win the award.
He put up more than 35 points per game in 2006, the highest average in over 20 years, but saw the award go to Victoria's Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns.
Last year, he averaged more than 31 points and finished third in voting behind Nash and winner Dirk Nowtizki of the Dallas Mavericks.
Bryant has been named to the league's all-defensive team in seven of the last eight seasons and has played on three championship teams with the Lakers in his 12-year career.
Los Angeles, the top seed in the Western Conference, swept Denver to advance to the second round of the playoffs, where they will face either Utah or Houston.
