Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant (L) accepts the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award from former Boston Celtics basketball great Bill Russell, himself a five-time winner of the award, after the Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in Game 5 of their NBA Finals basketball series in Orlando, Florida, June 14, 2009. Reuters Pictures 6 months ago

Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant (L) accepts the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award from former Boston Celtics basketball great Bill Russell, himself a five-time winner of the award, after the Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in Game 5 of their NBA Finals basketball series in Orlando, Florida, June 14, 2009.

More Photos of

Explore Photos of Related Topics

  1. EL SEGUNDO, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers during Lakers media day at the Lakers training facility on September 29, 2009 in El Segundo, California.
  2. EL SEGUNDO, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers during Lakers media day at the Lakers training facility on September 29, 2009 in El Segundo, California.
  3. EL SEGUNDO, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Kobe Bryant #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks to reporters during Lakers media day at the Lakers training facility on September 29, 2009 in El Segundo, California.
  4. EL SEGUNDO, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers during Lakers media day at the Lakers training facility on September 29, 2009 in El Segundo, California.
  5. EL SEGUNDO, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers holds a baseball bat as tapes a Los Angeles Dodgers public announcement during Lakers media day at the Lakers training facility on September 29, 2009 in El Segundo, California.
  6. EL SEGUNDO, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers during Lakers media day at the Lakers training facility on September 29, 2009 in El Segundo, California.
  7. Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant goes up for a dunk during the second half of their NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 118-110.
  8. Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest dunks the ball during the second half of their NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 118-110.
  9. Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, below, goes up for a shot as Atlanta Hawks center Zaza Pachulia of Georgia defends during the second half of their NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 118-110.
  10. Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant passes around Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman to teammate Andrew Bynum who scores in the second half of a NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 99-92.
  11. Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest (37) displays his new haircut in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 99-92.
  12. LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: Jack Nicholson (L) and Lakers legend Jerry West (R) share a laugh during the Los Angeles Lakers championship ring ceremony before the season opening game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on October 27, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE.
  13. National Basketball Association (NBA) Commissioner David Stern speaks to media about the visiting exhibition game of the Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers in Taipei, Taiwan, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009.
  14. National Basketball Association (NBA) Commissioner David Stern speaks to media about the visiting exhibition game of the Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers in Taipei, Taiwan, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009.
  15. David Stern, commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA), speaks during a press conference in Taipei on October 8, 2009 shortly before the start of a game. Denver Nuggets were to take on the Indiana Pacers in an NBA friendly here in the first-ever NBA game played in Taiwan.
  16. David Stern (R), commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA) attends a press conference with Taipei Mayor Hau Long-bin in Taipei on October 8, 2009 shortly before the start of a game. Denver Nuggets were to take on the Indiana Pacers in an NBA friendly here in the first-ever NBA game played in Taiwan.

Recent Photos From The Wire

  1. Florida Panthers' Nathan Horton (16),hits the puck past New York Islanders' goalie Dwayne Roloson for his second goal of the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 14, 2009, in Uniondale, N.Y.
  2. New York Islanders' Dwayne Roloson reacts as Florida Panthers' Nathan Horton (16), Michael Frolik of the Czech Republic (67) and Dmitry Kulikov (43) of Russia celebrate the first of two goals by Horton in the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec. 14, 2009, in Uniondale, N.Y.
  3. Montreal Canadiens Maxim Lapierre (C) jostles with Buffalo Sabres Craig Rivet (L) during the first period of NHL hockey play in Montreal, December 14, 2009.
  4. Fans of Monterrey soccer team celebrate their 'Apertura' championship title in Monterrey December 14, 2009. Monterrey won the Mexican 'Apertura' title for just the third time on Sunday with a 2-1 away win over Cruz Azul for a 6-4 victory on aggregate.
  5. Montreal Canadiens Maxim Lapierre (R) collides with Buffalo Sabres Andrej Sekera during the second period of NHL hockey play in Montreal December 14, 2009.
  6. Monterrey soccer team coach Victor Manuel Vucetich (L) waves next to the team's president Jorge Uridales (C holding the cup) as they celebrate their 'Apertura' championship title from the top of a bus in Monterrey December 14, 2009. Monterrey won the Mexican 'Apertura' title for just the third time on Sunday with a 2-1 away win over Cruz Azul for a 6-4 victory on aggregate.
  7. NAPIER, NEW ZEALAND - DECEMBER 15: Daniel Vettori of New Zealand celebrates dismissing Mohammad Amir of Pakistan during day five of the Third Test match between New Zealand and Pakistan at McLean Park on December 15, 2009 in Napier, New Zealand.
  8. NAPIER, NEW ZEALAND - DECEMBER 15: Brendon McCullum of New Zealand celebrates with Ross Taylor after catching Umar Akmal of Pakistan off the bowling of Tim Southee during day five of the Third Test match between New Zealand and Pakistan at McLean Park on December 15, 2009 in Napier, New Zealand.
  9. NAPIER, NEW ZEALAND - DECEMBER 15: Daniel Vettori of New Zealand celebrates the dimissal of Mohammad Amir of Pakistan during day five of the Third Test match between New Zealand and Pakistan at McLean Park on December 15, 2009 in Napier, New Zealand.
  10. NAPIER, NEW ZEALAND - DECEMBER 15: Umar Akmal of Pakistan walks off as Tim Southee of New Zealand is congratulated by team-mates during day five of the Third Test match between New Zealand and Pakistan at McLean Park on December 15, 2009 in Napier, New Zealand.
  11. NAPIER, NEW ZEALAND - DECEMBER 15: Daniel Vettori of New Zealand bowls during day five of the Third Test match between New Zealand and Pakistan at McLean Park on December 15, 2009 in Napier, New Zealand.
  12. NAPIER, NEW ZEALAND - DECEMBER 15: Daniel Vettori of New Zealand celebrates dismissing Mohammad Amir of Pakistan during day five of the Third Test match between New Zealand and Pakistan at McLean Park on December 15, 2009 in Napier, New Zealand.
  13. In this photo released by Greenpeace, three protestors hang a 100 square meter banner over the side of the Sydney Opera House in Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009. With climate negotiations at an impasse as world leaders arrive in Copenhagen, Greenpeace activists attempted to send the message: "Stop The Politics, Climate Treaty Now."
  14. In this photo released by Greenpeace, three protestors hang a 100 square meter banner over the side of the Sydney Opera House in Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009. With climate negotiations at an impasse as world leaders arrive in Copenhagen, Greenpeace activists attempted to send the message: "Stop The Politics, Climate Treaty Now."
  15. Mayon volcano in Legazpi city, Albay province, continues to spew ash Tuesday Dec. 15, 2009 about 500 kilometers (310 miles) south of Manila, Philippines. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, PHIVOLCS, has raised the five-alert level to three following increased activity of the country's most active volcano and residents are prohibited from venturing into the 6-kilometer (4 mile) permanent danger zone. In December 2006 ash deposits from a previous eruption rolled down its slopes at the onslaught of a typhoon killing more than a thousand residents living around the cone-shaped volcano.
  16. Lava cascades down the slopes of Mayon volcano in Legazpi city, Albay province, at dawn Tuesday Dec. 15, 2009 about 500 kilometers (310 miles) south of Manila, Philippines. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, PHIVOLCS, has raised the five-alert level to three following increased activity of the country's most active volcano and residents are prohibited from venturing into the 6-kilometer (4 miles) permanent danger zone. In December 2006 ash deposits from a previous eruption rolled down its slopes at the onslaught of a typhoon killing more than a thousand residents living around the cone-shaped volcano.