On This Day in Lakers History: Kobe Bryant Crowned MVP of 2007 NBA All-Star Game in Las Vegas

On Aug. 5, 2005, then-NBA commissioner David Stern announced the All-Star Game would be held in a city that did not house one of the leagueโ€™s teams. And so, for the first time in NBA history, Las Vegas served as the backdrop for All-Star Weekend.

While some now look back on the event with mixed emotions because of off-the-court issues, the NBAโ€™s brightest stars did their part to deliver another entertaining game on Feb. 18, 2007. Per usual, a driving force for that was Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.

Behind 39 points in the first quarter and 40 points in the second, the Western Conference All-Stars held a 79-59 lead over the East at halftime. While the East attempted to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter, it proved futile.

The West set a record with 69 field goals and 52 assists in their 153-132 blowout victory. Bryant scored a game-high 31 points, to go along with five rebounds, six assists and six steals.

The performance earned him MVP honors, which he previously won at the 2002 All-Star Game. While Bryant was unceremoniously booed in his hometown of Philadelphia, fans in Las Vegas were much more delighted at him taking home the gameโ€™s top award.

En route to being named MVP, Bryant moved from 11th to 10th place on the all-time All-Star scoring list.

Kobe Bryant ranks second in All-Star Game scoring

By the end of his career, Kobe Bryant would wind up with the most points scoring in an All-Star Game at 290 although he was eventually passed by LeBron James to top the list.