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The NBA MVP race has been one of the closest in recent memory. Rockets guard James Harden and Thunder guard Russell Westbrook has gone back and forth in taking the Maurice Podoloff Trophy.
Westbrook on Sunday put his strongest foot forward by setting the single-season NBA triple double record (42), passing Oscar Robertson’s mark from the 1961-62 season.
Also on Sunday, James Harden put his strongest foot forward to the media, winning. Harden stated that he felt the most important about the MVP award should be winning.
Harden: "I thought winning was what this is about. I’m not going to get into depths, but I thought winning is the most important thing."
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) April 10, 2017
Harden has led the Rockets to the NBA' third-best record (54-26), scoring 29.2 points, 11.2 assists, and 8.1 rebounds. Westbrook on the other hand, have averaged a triple-double (31.7 points, 10.4 assists, and 10.7 rebounds). The Thunder are in sixth place (46-34) and will face Rockets in the first round of the Western Conference.
Rockets general manager supported his player on Twitter with historical precedent:
More context: '62 MVP #1 Bill Russell (60 Wins-20 Losses),#2 Wilt Chamberlain (49 W-31 L), #3 Oscar Robertson (43 W-37 L, avg triple double) https://t.co/2wRKI4JfFT
— Daryl Morey (@dmorey) April 9, 2017
Every MVP for 35 years has come from a 50+ win top 4 seed. To change those standards this year when 2 great candidates meet them seems odd.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) April 8, 2017
Voters have until the end of this week to decide who should take home the honor.