After 131 votes, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry became the NBA MVP award winner. Broadcasters and Sportswriters alike agree that Curry has been the most dynamic player in every sense of the word this season.
After winning the Championship last year and the MVP vote, Curry managed to take his game to another level contributing to the Warriors’ record breaking 73-9 season. The reigning MVP broke his own 3-point record of 296 sinking 402 shots this year.
Curry has become the 11th player in league history to win back-to-back MVP awards and could have easily been considered the Most Improved Player (MIP) after increasing his player efficiency over the course of the season.
If nothing else, his incredible 40- point overtime performance against Portland in Game 4 of the 2nd round of playoffs, after springing back from two post-season injuries, should have sealed the deal. Post-game Curry explained, “I love this game and love playing and love competing and really, really missed being out there with my teammates. To help our team get a win tonight in that kind of fashion and whatnot, that was a good feeling in that moment to be back on the floor and be playing.”
Curry has also made league history becoming the first to average 30 points per game while playing under 35 minutes. With 50%+ from the field, Curry shot a career high while leading the league in steals and free-throw percentage.
Marc Stein from ESPN reported, “Curry has been an overwhelming favorite to repeat as league MVP since the Warriors’ record-setting start to the season, when they went 24-0 — passing the previous record for best start to a season by nine wins — en route to a 73-9 mark that eclipsed the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ 72-10 record as the winningest single season in NBA history.”
After winning this honor two years in a row, Curry joins an elite club of guards that include Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Steve Nash.
Teammate Draymond Green said after the win against Portland, “I’ve been telling him congratulations, because I felt like I knew since December.”
Curry talked about being sore after the game and will continue rehabilitation treatment during the playoffs.
Coach Kerr who was pleasantly surprised with Curry’s performance opened his press conference remarks by saying, “Steph will start on Wednesday night, in case anyone was wondering. No? Nobody was wondering?” Kerr also explained, “I expected what I saw early. I expected a lot of rust. I don’t think anybody could have predicted the explosion. I figured he’d find his stroke and make a few shots, but that was crazy.”