For the second consecutive season, Victoria's Steve Nash is the NBA's most valuable player.
The Phoenix Suns guard was presented the MVP award at a Sunday afternoon news conference, fewer than 24 hours after he led his team to a 121-90 thrashing of the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 7 of the Western Conference quarter-finals.
The Suns won three consecutive games to eliminate the Lakers after trailing 3-1 in the series.
Steve Nash poses with the Maurice Podoloff Trophy on Sunday afternoon.
(Paul Connors/Associated Press)
Nash earned 924 points, including 57 first-place votes, from a panel of 125 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada in balloting for the award. The Canadian superstar easily outdistanced Cleveland's LeBron James (688 points) and Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki (544 points).
"There were some incredible candidates, and I would have been supportive of any one of them if they had won it," said Nash.
"I have to admit, it's a little bit uncomfortable to be singled out amongst all these great players two years in a row. I have to pinch myself."
He joins Magic Johnson as the only point guard in NBA history to win back-to-back MVP awards.
Nash, 32, is also the first Canadian to be named league MVP and the ninth player overall to win the honour in back-to-back seasons.
Nash guided the Suns to a franchise record-tying 62 victories last season, winning plaudits and acclaim for his unselfish play and fantastic vision on the court to win his first MVP award
He followed that up with career highs in scoring (18.8 points per game), rebounding (4.2) and field goal percentage (.512) during the 2005-06 NBA regular season. He also topped the league in free throw percentage (.921), assists (10.5 per game) and finished sixth in three-point percentage at 43.9.
Nash helped the Suns win a second straight Pacific Division crown, a feat that's all the more impressive considering Phoenix lost key forward Amare Stoudemire (knee injury) early in the season and traded away Joe Johnson and Quentin Richardson last summer.
"A lot is made about me making my teammates better, and I really believe that my teammates make me a lot better, too," said Nash. "I'm fortunate enough to play with great players and great players. I owe a lot to them, a lot to the organization, and a lot to the city."
Nash's repeat victory immediately drew criticism from fans and journalists who questioned his defensive prowess, and whether he was the product of a top-notch coaching system.
Those claims were quickly dismissed by Canadian national team coach Leo Rautins.
"I don't know if people really realize how good Steve is," said Rautins. "The United States could have put him on their Olympic team in Greece [in 2004], and they would have won a gold medal [instead of bronze]. That's how good he is.
"I think he's one of those once-in-a-lifetime players that doesn't come by very often."
James was disappointed at his second-place finish.
"It would have been nice of course to put another trophy in my house, in my showcase," he said from Auburn Hills, Mich., before Sunday's game against the Detroit Pistons. "But it's something I'm going to keep working hard for. I can't dwell on not being named MVP."
with files from Canadian Press
