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Kawhi Leonard was honored with the first-ever Kobe Bryant MVP Award on Sunday.

The Los Angeles Clippers star helped lead Team LeBron James to victory against Team Giannis Antetokounmpo during Sunday’s 2020 NBA All-Star Game, which capped off the league’s All-Star weekend.


“Means a lot to me, words can’t even explain,” Leonard said of receiving the top honor renamed after Bryant. “I want to thank Kobe for everything he’d done for me, all the long talks and workouts. Thank you, this one is for him.”

The athlete later added, “Towards later on in my career, I started to talk to him a lot. Got some advice from him, Kobe’s name is on [the award], it’s the first one. Means a lot to me.”

Leonard also spoke with reporters after the game, sharing his admiration for Bryant.

“It’s very special. Like I said, I had a relationship with him. Words can’t explain how happy I am for it. Able to put that trophy in my room, in my trophy room, and just be able to see Kobe’s name on there, it just means a lot to me. He’s a big inspiration in my life. He did a lot for me,” he said.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced on Saturday that the coveted award would permanently be renamed for the late NBA legend, who died alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26.