NEW YORK _ Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook won one of the biggest prizes of the NBA's first annual prime-time awards show Monday night by taking home the MVP award after joining Oscar Robertson as the only other player to average a triple-double for a season. Westbrook received 69 first-place votes from the panel of 100 media members.
His historic season came after former MVP Kevin Durant left Oklahoma City for Golden State, where he won a championship. Westbrook, who beat out Houston's James Harden and San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard, got very emotional on stage when he thanked his family.
"That's who I play for," Westbrook said. "Every night you see me scream, bang on my chest, everything I do is for my family because they sacrificed so much for me. I'm overwhelmed with joy right now."
Mike D'Antoni never accomplished what he wanted as Knicks coach, but he did get a modicum of redemption in New York.
The former Knicks coach captured the NBA Coach of the Year Award after guiding the Rockets to a 55-27 record in his first season on the bench in Houston. D'Antoni was 121-167 in 3 { seasons with the Knicks
"I never thought I would be in New York and have to thank the sports writers for Coach of the Year," D'Antoni said when he accepted his award at Basketball City.
Other winners included Golden State's Draymond Green for Defensive Player of the Year, Houston's Eric Gordon for Sixth Man of the Year, Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo for Most Improved Player, Golden State's Bob Myers for Executive of the Year and Milwaukee guard Malcolm Brogdon for Rookie of the Year. Brogdon, the No. 36 pick in last year's draft, is the first non-first round pick to win the award in the common-draft era since 1966.
The event was hosted by Drake and with a performance by Nicki Minaj and 2 Chainz. But the most decorated player in the room who stole the show.
NBA legend Bill Russell, who won 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons, won the Lifetime Achievement Award. After he took the stage, Russell pointed at each of the five big men on the stage _ Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, David Robinson, Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo _ and said, "I would kick your (expletive)."
D'Antoni was considered someone who revolutionized the game by playing fast, and going small. It didn't work with the Knicks. But it worked very well with the Rockets. The Golden State Warriors, winners of two championships in three years, also have benefitted from playing that style
"We tried some things and we tried to build it, and then it just didn't work out, and for a lot of reasons, not just one," said D'Antoni, who resigned in 2012. "What Golden State has done the last three years that validated and got me back in the game.
"I wish we had won more, a little bit more stable. If we knew now probably the way we need to play, people would be a little bit more patient. But that's not New York's way. But hey, it was great."
The lone Knick nominated for an award was Kristaps Porzingis' for Block of the Year for his swat-and-snatch in one motion of Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie's shot. But Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard won the award for his game-saving block on James Harden as voted on by the fans.
Dirk Nowitzki won Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year, and Charlotte's Kemba Walker's the NBA Sportsmanship Award as voted by his peers.
