Houston Rockets star James Harden has been voted the Most Valuable Player in the NBA.
It’s third time lucky for Harden who had previously finished in the runner-up spot on two occasions.
He was named the MVP recipient at the NBA Awards on Monday night ahead of Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James and Anthony Davis of the Pelicans.
Harden earlier became only the second player to average at least 20 points, eight assists, five rebounds and 1.7 steals in a season after Basketball legend Michael Jordan.
He led the league in scoring, 3-pointers and 50-point games with four in addition to leading the Rockets to an NBA-leading 65 wins.
Harden while speaking at the backstage said: “The last four years have been like knocking on the door, knocking on the door. Now the moment is finally here.”
“Just every single year you try to come back and be better than you were the year before, and just to be holding that trophy finally, it means a lot.” He added.
Speaking further, Harden, who collected the award in the company of his mother said: “I’m not going to get emotional.”
“She’s my backbone in good times and bad times.” He concluded.
Harden got a total of 965 points and 86 first-place votes ahead of second-placed James (738 points and 15 first-place votes) and third-placed Davis (445 points and no first-place votes).
“I felt like last year I should have won as well, so I didn’t see a difference between last year and this year,” he continued at the backstage. “If I won it, then I was going to go off the top and try to show my appreciation to everybody helping me along the way.”
