NEW YORK (AP) — Russell Westbrook has been voted NBA MVP after setting a record with 42 triple-doubles last season.
Westbrook’s victory ended the first NBA Awards show, which included two wins apiece for the Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks. Drake hosted the show, which featured a performance by Nicki Minaj.
The NBA formerly gave out its individual awards at various points throughout the postseason before switching to the awards show this season and presenting them all at once in front of the league’s top players and stars from the entertainment world.
Westbrook joined Oscar Robertson as the only players to average a triple-double for the season, and he broke Robertson’s single-season record set when he had 41 triple-doubles in 1961-62.
The point guard beat out Houston’s James Harden and San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard to succeed Stephen Curry, who had won the past two MVP awards.
Earlier, Milwaukee’s Malcolm Brogdon became the first player not picked in the first round to win NBA Rookie of the Year in the common draft era.
Brogdon was the No. 36 overall selection out of Virginia. The common draft era began in 1966.
“I think it’s an example for guys that are told they are too short, they are not athletic enough, they are not real point guards, they are not real shooting guards,” Brogdon said. “I just think it’s an important message for people to see, and it can be done. It just takes a lot.”
Teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo won the Most Improved Player award.
The dunk of the year belongs to @VicOladipo! #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/a9lwOYquvN
— NBA (@NBA) June 27, 2017
Houston coach Mike D’Antoni won his second Coach of the Year award, and Eric Gordon was Sixth Man of the Year after setting a record for most 3-pointers off the bench in his first season as a reserve. Golden State Warrior Draymond Green (pictured below) was named the Defensive Player of the Year.
Nicki Minaj performing a medley at #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/3wYrwba8d8
— Rap-Up (@RapUp) June 27, 2017
PHOTOS: AP
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