NEW YORK — The man who became the dominant figure of the 2016-17 NBA regular season became the league's MVP on Monday night.
“It’s amazing,” Westbrook said. “Something I never [could’ve] imagined. I remember growing up just being home, playing the video games and stuff with my Pops, and my mom sitting there and my brother and just talking about maybe one day I could be the MVP.
“Obviously I was joking at the time. But now to be standing here with this trophy next to me is a true blessing, man, and it’s an unbelievable feeling.”
Westbrook’s victory was anti-climatic, both because it has been more than two months since the regular season ended and because more than 70 of the voters had made their ballots public between the end of the season and Monday’s announcement, with the tally so overwhelming in Westbrook’s favor over his fellow finalists — Houston Rockets guard James Harden and San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard — that there was no way the remaining ballots could tip the scales against him.
His award was one of several handed out Monday night as the league televised an awards show — red carpet and all — on TNT for the first time, trying to make another event on the calendar to help the television networks maximize the more than $2 billion they are now spending to hold the rights to broadcast NBA games on an annual basis.
The show featured rapper Drake as the host and a performance by Nicki Minaj, complete with the singer being carried onto the stage by four shirtless men and wearing a flowing white fur jacket.
But there were uplifting moments as well. Hall of Famer Bill Russell was given the NBA’s first lifetime achievement award, which was presented to him by five fellow Hall of Fame centers: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, David Robinson, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo and Shaquille O’Neal. Russell, after accepting the award, brought down the house when he pointed to each of them and playfully said, “I would kick your ass.”
Then there was the announcement of the SagerStrong award, given for the first time in honor of TNT broadcaster Craig Sager, who died during this past season after a long bout with cancer. The award was presented to Spurs executive Monty Williams for the way he has persevered through the grief of his wife, Ingrid, dying in a car crash last year.
Former Virginia standout Malcolm Brogdon of the Milwaukee Bucks became the first player picked outside the first round of the NBA draft to win the league’s rookie of the year award since the common draft era began in 1966.
In addition, Brogdon — who averaged 10.2 points and 4.2 assists for the Bucks, who took him with the 36th pick last year — was the first non-lottery pick to win the award since Mark Jackson in 1988 and the first four-year college senior to win it since Brandon Roy in 2007.
"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 after accepting his award. "I just think it's an important message for people to see, and it can be done. It just takes a lot. It takes a lot of hard work and a lot of sacrifice and a lot of good decisions."
Several other awards were handed out, including: Houston Rockets Coach Mike D’Antoni winning coach of the year; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green winning defensive player of the year; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo winning most improved player; Kemba Walker winning the league’s sportsmanship award; Dirk Nowitzki winning the Twyman-Stokes teammate of the year award; and Warriors General Manager Bob Myers being named executive of the year.
