All-star weekend Mvp Kobe Bryant #24 Western All-Stars

Kobe Bryant Mvp for All-Star Game

He had 21 points, six rebounds and three steals to go with two high-flying reverse dunks in the first two quarters.




"You could tell … he wanted to get the MVP. He was not passing the ball at all," New York Knicks forward Amar'e Stoudemire jokingly said.



By the middle of the third quarter, Bryant had 32 points, surpassing his career high in an All-Star Game by a point.



L.A. STORY: Bryant sparks West to 148-143 win


Playing on his home court in front of many Lakers fans who watch him regularly, Bryant finished with 37 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and three steals Sunday as the West hung on for a 148-143 victory against the East at Staples Center.



The All-Star MVP award was Bryant's fourth, tying him with Hall of Famer Bob Pettit for the most.



Bryant has won an All-Star MVP award in his high school hometown (Philadelphia in 2002) and his adult hometown. He also was MVP in 2007 and in 2009, when he shared the honor with former Lakers teammate Shaquille O'Neal.



In 12 All-Star Games, Bryant is averaging 20.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists.



Before the game he said he would avoid drives to the basket and acrobatic plays to save his legs for getting the Lakers ahead of the Dallas Mavericks into second place in the Western Conference standings behind the San Antonio Spurs. But Bryant never has known how to turn off his competitive fire, even in his 15th season, at 32, with a body beginning to betray him.



For a while, Lakers teammate Pau Gasol and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant were in the MVP discussion. But if his West teammates weren't intent on helping Bryant win the award in his building, he took it upon himself in the third quarter.



In one sequence he dunked two-handed with East All-Star and famed chase-down artist LeBron James of the Miami Heat hot on his trail. "I kind of snuck it by him," Bryant said.



Bryant followed the dunk with a three-pointer, giving the West a 92-81 lead. A minute later, he dunked again.



He scored 13 points in the first seven minutes of the third quarter and then rested until 8:03 remained in the fourth. "The fourth quarter, man, I had nothing left," Bryant said. "I exceeded my dunk quota for the night."

Durant carried the West with 14 points in the quarter and finished with 34. Gasol had 17 points and seven rebounds for the game.

Bryant said he was energized by the youth in the game and even had fun words for Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love and Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, who top the league in double-doubles.

"I told them, 'I'm the double-double king,' " Bryant said.