The Most Valuable Player award for the NBA All-Star Game has been permanently named for Kobe Bryant, the basketball legend who died last month in a helicopter crash, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced on Saturday. Kobe Bryant is synonymous with NBA All-Star and embodies the spirit of this global celebration of our game," Silver said. He always relished the opportunity to compete with the best of the best and perform at the highest level for millions of fans around the world.