NBA: James Harden of Houston Rockets named MVP

By Ovunc Kutlu

NEW YORK

James Harden of the Houston Rockets won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award Monday in the second-annual NBA Awards ceremony held in Los Angeles, California.

Harden averaged 30.4 points during the regular season to top other NBA players in scoring. He also carried the Rockets to a franchise-record of 65 wins out of 82 regular season games before being eliminated by the defending champions Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals.

"Sixth man of the year to the MVP," Harden said during his acceptance speech when he took the podium with his mother.

During his tenure with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Harden had won the Sixth Man Award after the 2011-12 season.

While ex-Thunder Kevin Durant won the MVP award after the 2013–14 season, current Thunder player Russell Westbrook was awarded that trophy last year.

Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers received the Rookie of the Year award Monday night while Rudy Gobert of Utah Jazz took home the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Dwane Casey, who led the Toronto Raptors to a franchise-record of 59 victories this season but was fired after his team was swept in the playoffs was awarded the Coach of the Year. Casey will become the head coach of the Detroit Pistons next year.

Dikembe Mutombo, who spent 18 seasons in the NBA and opened a hospital in his home country Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2007 was given the Sager Strong award.

12-time NBA All-Star selection Oscar Robertson, who pioneered free agency and higher salaries for professional players during the 1970s, was given the Lifetime Achievement award.