commissioner david stern

Lakers star Kobe Bryant received his MVP trophy from NBA commissioner David Stern in a brief ceremony before Los Angeles faced Utah in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals Wednesday night.

"I'm at a loss for words, I don't know what to say," Bryant said as the Staples Center crowd of 18,997 roared its approval and chanted M-V-P.

Kobe Bryant has won his first MVP award after leading the Los Angeles Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference.

He will receive the trophy Wednesday night from commissioner David Stern before the Lakers face Utah in Game 2 of their conference semifinal.

Bryant was followed in the voting Tuesday by Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett and LeBron James. Bryant entered the season as the league's two-time defending scoring champion but had finished only as high as third in MVP voting.

Kobe Bryant has won the NBA's MVP award for the first time, the Los Angeles Times reported on its Web site Friday night, citing anonymous sources familiar with the outcome of voting by media members.

The newspaper reported that commissioner David Stern will be in Los Angeles next week to present the trophy to Bryant.

Washington's two U.S. senators are asking the NBA to delay its scheduled vote on whether the Seattle SuperSonics can move to Oklahoma City.

In a letter to NBA commissioner David Stern, Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell say the Sonics' Oklahoma City owners apparently weren't acting in good faith while trying to get a deal for a new arena in Seattle.

Washington's governor is asking the NBA to delay its scheduled vote on whether the Seattle SuperSonics can move to Oklahoma City.

In a letter to NBA Commissioner David Stern and team owners, Gov. Chris Gregoire said the Sonics' Oklahoma City owners apparently weren't acting in good faith while trying to get a stadium deal in Seattle.

E-mail messages between SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett and team co-owners appear to show Bennett misled NBA commissioner David Stern on the group's intentions to move the team to Oklahoma City before all avenues for a new arena in Seattle were closed.

The messages have become part of the team's dispute with the city of Seattle over the two years remaining on its KeyArena lease.

NBA commissioner David Stern and NCAA president Myles Brand are expected to make an announcement on Monday afternoon in San Antonio that they have reached an agreement that would make certain that players are in college for at least two years before leaving early for the NBA.

Oklahoma City officials will try to convince NBA commissioner David Stern and representatives of four teams that the city is ready to permanently host a franchise.

On Tuesday, City Council members unanimously approved a preliminary lease agreement with the Seattle SuperSonics, contingent on the team's proposed relocation.

Oklahoma City officials will try to convince NBA commissioner David Stern and representatives of four teams that the city is ready to permanently host a franchise.

On Tuesday, City Council members unanimously approved a preliminary lease agreement with the Seattle SuperSonics, contingent on the team's proposed relocation.

Shaquille O'Neal is no longer around, but Mike Bibby and Shawn Marion will be able to suit up for the NBA's first replay since 1982.

The league set guidelines for Saturday's do-over between the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat, who must complete the final 51.9 seconds of their Dec. 19 overtime game.

The Hawks left the court that night with a 117-111 victory, but commissioner David Stern struck it from...