Image Source: AP
At the inaugural post-season NBA Awards hosted by Drake, do-it-all point guard Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder was named Most Valuable Player of the league. It was a very stacked field this season in the MVP race, with Westbrook garnering more votes than James Harden of the Houston Rockets, and Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs.
A BIG thank you from the 2016-17 KIA NBA Most Valuable Player, @russwest44. #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/KggYigHChu
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 27, 2017
Despite losing his teammate of eight years in Kevin Durant to eventual NBA Champions, the Golden State Warriors, Westbrook embraced his new solo dolo role, averaging 31.6 points, 10.4 assists and 10.7 rebounds per game, breaking Oscar Robertson’s legendary triple-doubles record with 42. Westbrook would go on to carry his team to the post season, where they would fall to the Rockets in the first round.
Other winners and moments from the NBA Awards:
Drake coming out with jokes!
.@Drake coming out 💪 with the jokes! 😂 #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/9FCUFG0JIb
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 27, 2017
Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors) – Defensive Player of the Year
Draymond Green is the 2016-17 KIA NBA Defensive Player of the Year! #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/nq7rv1VmQy
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 27, 2017
Eric Gordon (Houston Rockets) – Sixth Man of the Year
Eric Gordon is the 2016-17 KIA NBA Sixth Man of the Year! #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/qAKXywMtn1
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 27, 2017
If @Drake held a press conference… #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/kZzRcTonX9
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 27, 2017
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) – Most Improved Player
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the 2016-17 KIA NBA Most Improved Player of the Year! #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/8QHUDPEUBI
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 27, 2017
Malcolm Brogdon (Milwaukee Bucks) – Rookie of the Year
Malcolm Brogdon is the 2016-17 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year! #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/Ru0LzQd0rZ
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 27, 2017
Mike D’Antoni (Houston Rockets) – Coach of the Year
The man with the plan! 📝@HoustonRockets Mike D'Antoni is the 2016-17 NBA Coach of the Year! #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/Cht6sWUwVq
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 27, 2017
Dallas’ own Dirk Dirk Nowitzki won the Teammate of the Year Award
"This is a great award and… I'm pretty sure none of my teammates voted for me." – @swish41 on his Teammate of the Year Award 😂#NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/qmHzinCqUZ
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 27, 2017