LOS ANGELES — Regarded as the NBA’s best player for several years but never its most valuable, Kobe Bryant earned his first MVP honors Tuesday after leading the Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference.
Bryant entered the season as the league’s two-time defending scoring champion. He had finished as high as third in the MVP voting twice — after the 2002-03 season and last year when Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki won. Bryant averaged 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.84 steals.
Footnotes.
The NBA said Chauncey Billups’ 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter of Monday’s Detroit-Orlando game should not have counted, but said referees weren’t allowed to review instant replay to determine that. League president Joel Litvin also said the shot, which gave Detroit a 78-76 lead in its 100-93 win, could not have been replayed after the clock malfunction was discovered.
• Rockets guard Tracy McGrady had arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder and left knee. An immediate prognosis was unavailable.
• The Mavericks and Rick Carlisle are nearing an agreement that would make him the team’s new coach.
• Mike D’Antoni has met with the Knicks and Bulls about their coaching vacancies.
Denver Post wire services
