


28.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 5.4 APG, and 57 wins later, Kobe Bryant is your 2008 NBA MVP.
2008 MVP Voting (based on the NBA's MVP voting points system):
1. Kobe Bryant - 1,105 (82 first place votes)
2. Chris Paul - 889 (28 first place votes)
3. Kevin Garnett - 670
4. LeBron James - 439
5. Dwight Howard - 60
Longest-Tenured Winners*
- Kobe Bryant - won following his 12th season
- Karl Malone - 12th season
- Hakeem Olajuwon - 10th season
- Charles Barkley - 9th season
- Kevin Garnett - 9th season
- Steve Nash - 9th season
- Dirk Nowitzki - 9th season
- Magic Johnson - 8th season
- Shaquille O'Neal - 8th season
- Bob Cousy - 7th season
The press conference was terrific. Here are some notable quotes:
"Since you said that you couldn't have won this award without your teammates, are you going to be getting your teammates any sort of gifts?" - Luke Walton
"How do you like the triangle?" - Tex Winter
And this one from Bill Plaschke: "Kobe, would you like to be a Laker for the rest of your career? Can you say that now?" "I would like to. Absolutely."
Here's the full audio of the acceptance speech as well as the press conference, courtesy of myself.