Kobe Bryant won the MVP on Tuesday, and he couldn't be happier being a member of the Lakers, which is the opposite of how he felt this time last year.

"I would like to, absolutely," Bryant said when asked if he'd like to finish his career with the Lakers.

Kobe also had praise for Mitch Kupchak, who orchestrated the Pau Gasol trade.

"It's nice to hear he's happy with the group of players that's surrounding him," Kupchak said. "It's even more (pleasing) to see that we have the best record in the West. And it's most profound to hear that he wants to be a Laker for the rest of his career."

Bryant also made a surprising admission.

"To be perfectly honest with you, I'm nervous," he said. "I usually don't get nervous, but I'm nervous. It's been one hell of a year, starting with the summer, coming into training camp and us being able to make improvements and to watch the development of our young players and watch us step into that elite level and then, ultimately, winning the Western Conference."

"It's been an emotional roller coaster. It's been a heck of a journey."