--Hornets point guard Chris Paul was named first-team All-NBA on Thursday, two days after he finished second to the Lakers' Kobe Bryant in voting for the Most Valuable Player award. Paul is the first Hornet in the franchise's 20 years to be named to the first team.

"It is a true honor to be selected to the All-NBA First Team and to be recognized in the same company as the other four players who made the first team," Paul said. "I have to give a lot of credit to my teammates and coaches who have helped me along the way."

Paul was joined by Bryant, the Celtics' Kevin Garnett, the Magic's Dwight Howard, and the Cavaliers' LeBron James. Hornets coach Byron Scott praised Paul for "having one of the best regular seasons for a point guard in NBA history."

--Paul was characteristically humble in reacting to finishing second to Bryant as MVP. "Kobe deserves it," Paul said. "He had an outstanding year. His team finished with the best record in the Western Conference. He's a great player. The reason I was being mentioned was because our team was doing well. So as long as our team is doing well year in and year out, I'm satisfied with that."

--Paul played Thursday's game with the name "Brian" written on his shoes, a tribute to an 8-year-old fan who died Monday, the day he was scheduled to meet Paul. Brian, who had cancer, was scheduled to attend his first Hornets game Monday and meet Paul, his hero, as part of "A Child's Wish of Greater New Orleans" program that helps critically ill children realize their dreams. On Monday, Brian was scheduled to attend Game 2 against the Spurs, but developed a fever, was rushed to a hospital, and later died.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"I have great respect for them. They're a championship team and they're experienced and from (players) one through 15 they have a great organization." -- Forward Peja Stojakovic, on the Spurs.

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