The NBA has unveiled a redesigned All-Star most valuable player trophy to honor the late great Kobe Bryant. The League previously named the award after the Black Mamba after he passed away in a helicopter crash in January 2020.
The new Kobe Bryant Trophy awarded to the Kia NBA All-Star MVP further celebrates its namesake, with intricate details holding dual meanings, both for NBA All-Star and Bryant’s legendary career, which include the following: pic.twitter.com/kOXXywo8yX
— NBA (@NBA) February 3, 2022
As a player, Bryant won All-Star Game MVP a record-tying four times.
The Kobe Bryant Trophy was designed in partnership with artist Victor Solomon and will be presented for the first time during the All-Star game in Cleveland. Solomon also developed the other All-Star weekend trophies to celebrate the League’s 75th anniversary season.
“For the past few years, the NBA and I have proudly and tirelessly worked to reconsider what a trophy is, has been, and could be,” said Victor Solomon. “Redesigning the All-Star trophies gave us a special opportunity to create event awards worthy of the energy and excitement the moment creates while introducing the full collection’s visual, aesthetic language. The occasion also gave us the privilege and responsibility to develop an entirely new silhouette worthy of being named ‘The Kobe Bryant Trophy’ for the Kia NBA All-Star MVP for which, in the spirit of its namesake, we threw out all conventions and challenged ourselves to reorient how we thought about ‘the game.’”
The Kobe Bryant Trophy weighs 15 pounds and has four levels to celebrate its namesakes’ numerous accolades with intricate details, reportedly honoring dual meaning in the All-Star weekend and Bryant’s legendary career. The trophy Solomon created has an eight-sided base that celebrates his original no.8 jersey and is a tribute to Bryant’s initial All-Star appearances before changing to 24. The award also has a level for Bryant’s five championships and two Finals MVPs.
The NBA’s new Kobe Bryant Trophy for the All-Star Game MVP features an 8-sided base with 24 stars, and 4 levels of 2, 7, 9 & 11 inches in height — a nod to the 2002, 2007, 2009 & 2011 years in which Kobe won his record-tying 4 All-Star MVPs. pic.twitter.com/tHQIPa7Fu6
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) February 3, 2022
On Thursday, the NBA will announce the All-Star Game reserves.
