Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award

Since 2008, Kia has served as the “Official Automotive Partner of the NBA” and Kia has relationships with 13 NBA teams. Kia is also the “Official Automotive Partner of NBA All-Star,” an “Official Automative Partner of NBA Cares,” and is title partner of the Kia NBA All-Star Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, as well as Kia NBA Tip-Off, and the Kia NBA Performance Awards. The MVP award trophy has been named the Kobe Bryant Trophy after the late player.

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In February 2023, Russell Wager, Vice President of Marketing for Kia America, presented the Kobe Bryant Trophy MVP award to Jason Tatum of the Boston Celtics who became the youngest player in the team’s history to score 8,000 points. Tatum is also the best scorer in the league, with 55 points in the NBA All-Star-Game. It’s impressive that he averages 30.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.

Kia sponsors several awards, such as Rookie of the Year, the Kia NBA Sixth Man Award, Most Improved Player of the Year, and the Defensive Player of the Year. The newest award is the Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year, and the Jerry West Trophy is based on nominations from head coaches to honor a player who comes through for his teammates in the “clutch.”

During Tatum’s first few years, he trained with Kobe Bryant. So when receiving the trophy in Kobe’s name, Tatum replied, “It means the world to me. I mean, he meant so much to me.” His first All-Star appearance was in 2020, a month after Kobe’s death. Tatum still honors Kobe.

Kia America also has a marketing partnership with the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the NBA G League, and expects that relationship to continue to grow, with Kia being the official vehicle of the NBA. View Cowboy Kia’s new vehicles!