Will Russell Westbrook’s historic season lead to MVP?
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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSBooker on Westbrook’s triple-double search: ‘Just didn’t want it to be here’ | 1:09
Suns guard Devin Booker on why the Suns didn’t want Russell Westbrook to get a triple-double on their home floor.
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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSRussell Westbrook chases history | 2:21
Thunder guard Russell Westbrook entered Phoenix on pace to average a triple-double for the season.
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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSStephen Curry on win over Suns | 0:52
Warriors star Stephen Curry talks about Wednesday’s win over the Suns.
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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCavaliers are struggling in a major way | 1:22
USA TODAY Sports’ Sam Amick discusses the struggles plaguing the defending champions. USA TODAY Sports
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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSDevin Booker on Suns loss to Clippers | 1:05
Suns guard Devin Booker discusses earning respect from officials and his early aggressiveness in a loss to the Clippers on Thursday at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Doug Haller/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSJames Harden for MVP: Pros and Cons | 1:54
The arguments for and against Rockets star James Harden winning the MVP award. USA TODAY Sports
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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSLonzo Ball vs. Markelle Fultz: Tale of the tape | 1:17
Ball and Fultz are two of the top prospects for the 2017 NBA draft. USA TODAY Sports
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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSJared Dudley on Suns loss to Hawks | 1:23
Suns forward Jared Dudley discusses the Suns’ winless road trip after a loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday. Doug Haller/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSHow far NBA players made it in NCAA tournament | 1:42
A look at how far NBA players once made it in the NCAA tournament. USA TODAY Sports
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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSNBA Power Rankings: Warriors surging ahead of playoffs | 0:58
In the latest NBA Power Rankings, the Warriors are rolling, even without Kevin Durant. Meantime, the Clippers are struggling at the wrong time and the Nets are playing their best hoops of the season. Time_Sports
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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSDevin Booker on Suns’ fall to Hornets | 1:05
Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker talks about his team’s loss against the Charlotte Hornets, March 26, 2017. (Doug Haller/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSDevin Booker on his 70-point night | 1:40
Suns guard Devin Booker discusses his 70-point game against the Boston Celtics.
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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSEarl Watson after Suns’ loss to Nets | 2:07
Suns coach Earl Watson discusses his team’s shortage of players and how that is starting to weigh on them after Thursday’s loss to the Nets in Brooklyn. Doug Haller/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSJared Dudley on Suns’ loss to Heat | 1:08
Suns forward Jared Dudley discusses recent team injuries and how that impacts a team resting a few star players, following Tuesday’s loss to the Miami Heat. Doug Haller/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSShot Clock: Would Earl Watson leave the Suns if the UCLA job were to open up? | 2:21
Dan Bickley and Mark Faller discuss the Indiana job opening, which could pull Steve Alford away from UCLA, and whether the Bruins would pursue Suns’ head coach Earl Watson. Video: azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSNBA’s best statistical performances so far in 2016-17 | 0:59
NBA players who have tallied the most points, assists, rebounds, blocks and steals in a single game this season. USA TODAY Sports
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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSNBA Power Rankings: Russell Westbrook continues to carry Thunder | 0:51
In this week’s NBA Power Rankings, Russell Westbrook is leading the Thunder to a strong finish in the regular season. Time_Sports
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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSTyler Ulis on Suns’ loss to Magic | 1:13
Suns point guard Tyler Ulis reacts to Friday’s home loss to the Magic.
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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSShot Clock: Eric Bledsoe is out, maybe UCLA’s Lonzo Ball is in? | 1:55
Kent Somers and Jay Dieffenbach discuss the Suns’ decision to shut down Eric Bledsoe for the season and the possibility of them getting UCLA’s Lonzo Ball? Video: azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSWhy the Spurs desperately need the No. 1 seed | 2:03
USA TODAY Sports’ Sam Amick tells us why the Spurs will be hard-pressed to secure the top seed in the Western Conference. USA TODAY Sports
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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSBig-name free agents this summer | 1:20
HoopsHype writer Alex Kennedy discusses some of the players who will be free agents this summer. USA TODAY Sports
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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSAlan Williams watching his mother’s police chief ceremony | 1:04
Phoenix Suns center Alan Williams watches his mother, Jeri Williams, sworn in as Phoenix police chief in Chesapeake Energy Arena. (Paul Coro/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSuns ’embrace youth’ in WeArePHX ‘Momentum’ video | 2:55
Hosted by head coach Earl Watson, who says the Suns “embrace and celebrate our youth.” Video: Phoenix Suns
Booker on Westbrook’s triple-double search: ‘Just didn’t want it to be here’
Russell Westbrook chases history
Stephen Curry on win over Suns
Cavaliers are struggling in a major way
Devin Booker on Suns loss to Clippers
James Harden for MVP: Pros and Cons
Lonzo Ball vs. Markelle Fultz: Tale of the tape
Jared Dudley on Suns loss to Hawks
How far NBA players made it in NCAA tournament
NBA Power Rankings: Warriors surging ahead of playoffs
Devin Booker on Suns’ fall to Hornets
Devin Booker on his 70-point night
Earl Watson after Suns’ loss to Nets
Jared Dudley on Suns’ loss to Heat
Shot Clock: Would Earl Watson leave the Suns if the UCLA job were to open up?
NBA’s best statistical performances so far in 2016-17
NBA Power Rankings: Russell Westbrook continues to carry Thunder
Tyler Ulis on Suns’ loss to Magic
Shot Clock: Eric Bledsoe is out, maybe UCLA’s Lonzo Ball is in?
Why the Spurs desperately need the No. 1 seed
Big-name free agents this summer
Alan Williams watching his mother’s police chief ceremony
Suns ’embrace youth’ in WeArePHX ‘Momentum’ video
Hours before Friday’s contest, after he finished icing his knees at the morning shootaround, Russell Westbrook was asked for his definition of pro basketball’s highest honor.
“You know what? I’m not sure,’’ the Oklahoma City Thunder guard said at Talking Stick Resort Arena. “ Most Valuable Player – the best player on the best team with the best record? It all depends on how you value it. My job is to go out and play at a high level every night and if that’s MVP level, then that’s what it is.”
As the regular season winds down, one of the NBA’s top questions has transitioned to closing arguments. All season, Westbrook and Houston’s James Harden have placed themselves atop of the MVP conversation. With the postseason nearing, a final Westbrook surge may turn out to be the difference.
The 6-foot-3 guard entered Friday’s contest against the Suns on history’s doorstep. And when Westbrook recorded his sixth assist, he locked up one of the great statistical milestones in sports, joining Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to average a triple-double over an entire season. In addition, Westbrook needed just one more triple-double to break Robertson’s mark of 41 triple-doubles in a season, a mark that once appeared unbreakable.
“Historically, it’s something we might not ever witness again – unless he does it again,’’ Suns coach Earl Watson said.
Harden isn’t far off, which is why this has made for such riveting theater. The Arizona State product this season has thrived in Mike D’Antoni’s open system, averaging 29.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 11.2 assists. Entering Friday, Harden had 20 triple-doubles of his own, seven coming while scoring 40-plus points. Not to be overlooked: the Rockets’ improvement from playoff contender to title contender.
“What James Harden has done has been incredible,’’ Suns veteran Tyson Chandler said. “If they split (the MVP), that would be the best thing that could happen.”
But if he had to pick one?
“Westbrook,” Chandler said. “In the summer, you lose Kevin Durant, a top-three player in this league, and you still take a team to the playoffs with new personnel, averaging a triple-double? There hasn’t been a game where I’ve been like, ‘Oh, he’s tired,’ or, ‘He looks worn out.’ He’s literally put his team on his back, and it’s been crazy to watch.”
USA TODAY Sports polls NBA writers every week on the MVP award. Harden has led most of the season, but this week Westbrook passed him. The main factor in the leapfrog: Westbrook has averaged 37.2 points, 12.6 rebounds and 11.2 assists over his last five games. In a March 29 win over Orlando, he posted an amazing 57, 13 and 11 stat line. Overall, Westbrook entered Friday averaging a league-high 31.8 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists.
“Before this last week or two, I think I would’ve given Harden the edge,’’ Suns veteran Jared Dudley said. “And then you see (Westbrook) had (45) against Memphis. … People keep saying he’s chasing triple-doubles. I don’t know how you chase triple-doubles and lead the league in scoring? How do you do both?”
One answer: with unmatched energy. Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan joked that he never walks into the locker room, thinking “Geez, I hope he’s ready to play tonight.” Likewise, Chandler said he plans to show his son and nephew video of Westbrook over the summer, “just to show them that this is how you’re supposed to approach a game, with this kind of fire and passion.”
Oklahoma City guard Norris Cole knows an MVP when he sees one. He was in Miami when LeBron James won the award in 2012 and 2013. He sees similar qualities with Westbrook.
“LeBron brought it every night regardless of how he was feeling,” Norris said. “Same thing with Russ. He brings it at a high level every night. His focus is there. Those are the similarities that I see. Both guys want to win.”
Close MVP races are not uncommon. In 1990, the Lakers’ Magic Johnson beat Philadelphia’s Charles Barkley, even though Barkley had more first-place votes. In 1997, Utah’s Karl Malone edged Chicago’s Michael Jordan by 29 overall points. In 2005, Phoenix’s Steve Nash edged Miami’s Shaquille O’Neal by 34.
With a strong Harden finish, this race could be just as close. If that’s the case, Watson – who’s known Westbrook since his UCLA days – wonders if the public’s perception of Westbrook, at least the one portrayed by the media, is to blame. The Oklahoma City guard’s aggressiveness on the court often shapes his image off it. Complicating matters: He doesn’t enjoy the media spotlight.
“Russ might rub a lot of (MVP voters) wrong, but you have to put those personal feelings aside and just talk about basketball,’’ Watson said. “James is having a great year. You can’t take away what James is doing, but what Russ is doing, to me, it’s not even close.”