Kobe Bryant returned home to Philadelphia a few days ago, feeling proud of his basketball roots and anxious to create some memories in the NBA All-Star Game. He left Sunday with more than he bargained for.

The 31 points, a most valuable player award and a 135-120 West runaway victory over the East should have been enough, but it wasn't all Bryant got for his early evening of work at the First Union Center. He was treated as more of a traitor than anything else by the Philadelphia fans in the capacity crowd of 19,581.

Charlotte point guard Baron Davis, in his first All-Star appearance, played 13 minutes for the East and shared the team high in assists with five.

Bryant, the son of a former Sixer, Joe Bryant, and a prep All-American at Lower Merion High who bypassed college for the NBA, was booed during introductions. And, as his points piled up and the game wore on, the boos intensified.

His Sunday coach, Don Nelson of Dallas, and his fellow All-Stars tried to soothe him afterward, reminding him that as a Laker he's now the enemy in Philadelphia and the boos are a sign of respect. It didn't help.

"I was pretty upset," Bryant said. "I just wanted to go out there and play hard. But they booed. And you know, I still like coming home. I still enjoy playing in Philly nonetheless.

"Coming into the game I was a little worried about it. I don't know. ... I don't know what to say. It was not something I can really describe, the feelings that I had when it happened.

"I'm happy. I'm happy I played well. I'm happy to win MVP in Philadelphia. And the booing was just hurtful. But it's not going to ruin this day for me."

He wasn't very convincing, appearing to take the crowd's response to heart.

"He cares about the way people perceive his attitude about the game of basketball," said Michael Jordan. "I'm definitely supportive of the way he goes out and is aggressive. I feel bad that he's embarrassed by it."

Philadelphia fans, known for impatience and harsh criticism of their own teams when they are not playing well, apparently cut their ties with Bryant late last season. Bryant, asked about his frame of mind as the Lakers prepared to face the Sixers in the NBA Finals, said, "I'm coming to Philly to cut their hearts out."

The Lakers' victory in the series did nothing to endear Bryant to his hometown either.

Orlando's Tracy McGrady topped the East scoring with 24. One Philadelphia player, center Dikembe Mutombo, played well, scoring eight with 10 rebounds. But favorite son Allen Iverson, the MVP of last year's All-Star Game, made 2-of-9 shots and scored five.