By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Russell Westbrook, after becoming the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1961-62 to average a triple-double, was awarded the NBA’s MVP award, garnering 69 of 101 first-place votes.
Still the suprise of the night was Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon who beat out the Philadelphia 76ers duo of Joel Embiid and Dario Saric to win Rookie of the Year, while the Rockets‘ Mike D’Antoni won the Coach of the Year award.
Brogdon — taken with the 36th overall pick in the second round of last year’s draft — became the only non-first round winner in the common draft era (since 1966), according to Elias Sports Bureau.
The Bucks weren’t done collecting accolades on the evening, with Giannis Antetokounmpo winning the Most Improved Player award.
Under D’Antoni’s leadership, the Rockets made 1,181 3-pointers this season, breaking the Warriors‘ record of 1,077 a season ago. He beat out Miami coach Erik Spoelstra and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.
“I never thought I would be in New York and have to thank the sports writers for winning Coach of the Year,” cracked D’Antoni, a former New York Knicks coach.
D’Antoni was named Coach of the Year in 2004-05 with the Phoenix Suns. He is the eighth coach to win the award multiple times.
Eric Gordon beat out fellow Houston teammate Lou Williams and Golden State Warriors swingman Andre Iguodala to with the Sixth Man award.
Draymond Green, sporting a teal blazer paired with shorts, became the first Warrior to win Defensive Player of the Year.
Bill Russell was honored with the first Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to him by league legends Abdul-Jabbar, Dikembe Mutombo, Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O’Neal and David Robinson.
Russell engaged in some good-natured trash talk, pointing to his fellow greats and adding “I would kick your a–,” much to the raucous delight of the audience.
Russell won 11 championships as a player with the Boston Celtics and went on to become the NBA’s first black coach.
Spurs vice president Monty Williams received the first ever Sager Strong Award for the courage he has displayed after his wife died following a car accident in 2016.He was given a colorful jacket like the ones worn by Craig Sager, the longtime Turner Sports reporter who died of cancer this past season.
Other winners included: the Warriors’ Bob Myers for Executive of the Year, Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas for the Community Assist award, Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker for the Sportsmanship award, and Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki for Teammate of the Year.