USA: Kawhi Leonard named MVP as Team LeBron sweeps 2020 NBA All-Star Game

W/S Players warming up at the All-Star Game, Chicago
M/S Kawhi Leonard warming up
W/S Team LeBron warming up
M/S James Harden warming up
W/S Russell Westbrook warming up
W/S Kawhi Leonard arriving to press conference after match
SOT, Kawhi Leonard, 2020 NBA All-Star MVP: "It was very special, like I said, I had a relationship with him [Kobe Bryant]. You know words can’t explain how happy I am for it, you know. [Being] 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, you know. He did a lot for me."
W/S Press conference *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Kawhi Leonard, 2020 NBA All-Star MVP: "Winning, you know, is a plus. I didn't come in the game saying 'I'm going to take that trophy home'. I think I came in and made my first two shots and I kept shooting and made shots. That's when I told myself 'I'm going to go try to get it'."
C/U All-Star MVP Award
W/S Press conference with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kemba Walker
SOT, Kemba Walker, Boston Celtic and player on Team Giannis (English): "Growing up, watching Kobe in those games, I felt like he was always competitive. He was kind of the one who got the game going. I think we kept that going tonight. I think he definitely would have loved to watch the way we went out there and competed tonight. Over the years, the All-Star Game has been a game where it just hasn't been as competitive as probably the fans would like, but tonight it definitely was, and we got to keep that going."
W/S End of press conference
SCRIPT
Los Angeles Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard took home the NBA-All-Star MVP award after the clash pitting team captains LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo at the United Center in Chicago, on Sunday.
Team LeBron took home the trophy for the third straight year, after beating Team Giannis 157-155.
Kawhi Leonard became the first player to lift the new Kobe Bryant MVP Award, renamed in Kobe's honour after his tragic passing three weeks ago.
Leonard shared some emotional words about Kobe Bryant upon receiving the award.
"It was very special, like I said, I had a relationship with him [Kobe Bryant]. Words can’t explain how happy I am for [the award]."
"He’s a big inspiration in my life, you know. He did a lot for me," he added.
It has been a career-defining 12 months for Leonard. Last June, whilst still playing for the Toronto Raptors, he became an NBA champion and was also awarded the NBA Finals MVP. This was the second time he had achieved this feat, after winning the same double in 2014 as a San Antonio Spurs player.
Players now have a few days to recover from the All-Star break before the most intense portion of the season kicks off again on Thursday night.