The NBA is set to announce the winners for many of their major individual honors for the 2016-17 season on Monday night, which will be headlined by the Most Valuable Player award.
It has come down to three finalists in Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook, Houston Rockets point guard James Harden, and San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard. During a recent appearance on Sirius XM NBA Radio, Memphis Grizzlies veteran guard Mike Conley Jr. made it clear who he believes should receive this prestigious award.
"I'm sticking with Westbrook..averaging a triple double is so rare you gotta give it to him" @mconley11 thinks Russell Westbrook is the MVP
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) June 26, 2017
Westbrook put together a historic campaign joining Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to average a triple-double with a league-leading 31.6 points, second with 10.4 assists, and 10.7 rebounds per game. He also broke Robertson NBA single-season record with 42 triple-doubles and is the only player to notch three triple-doubles with at least 50 points scored in a single season.
Along with that, Westbrook is the first player since Karl Malone in the 1989-90 season to average 30 or more points and 10 or rebounds. He also the first player since Tiny Archibald in the 1972-73 season to average 30-plus points and 10-plus assists.
Beyond that, Westbrook was the driving force to the Thunder earning a playoff appearance despite the departure of former league MVP Kevin Durant last summer. Without his play and production, it may have been an entirely different story for Oklahoma City this past season.
Harden and Leonard have each put forth their best statistical seasons of their respective careers, but Westbrook has long been the overwhelming favorite to win the award. His historic performance along with the Thunder' success of reaching the postseason should be more than enough to lift him over his fellow All-Stars for the award.
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