SPOTLIGHT ON
The All-Star Game MVP
Not that the down decades helped, but the Nuggets’ franchise has had only one All-Star Game MVP, David Thompson in 1979. In fact, the past 12 MVP awards have gone to just six guys: Shaquille O’Neal (three), Kobe Bryant (three), Allen Iverson (two, both with the 76ers), LeBron James (two), Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan.
This season, Nuggets (and Western Conference) coach George Karl wants his guy to make a run at it.
“I would hope Melo takes the All-Star Game a little more serious,” Karl said of Carmelo Anthony, elected to his first starting position. “I think some great players try to go and win the MVP, and that’s not by scoring (necessarily), but by playing serious, hard basketball — more than everyone else does.
“You never know how the game’s going to unfold. I’ve seen Kobe, LeBron and Michael (Jordan) go after the MVP, I’ve seen it. And you don’t have to — it’s a showcase of fun and skills and entertainment. To go after it, you might have to be more serious than the other guy, and then there might be competition. I would hope Melo would make that move.”
Benjamin Hochman, The Denver Post
