NBA commissioner Adam Silver, from left, presents the most valuable player award to James Harden, of the Houston Rockets, as Harden’s mother Monja Willis looks on at the NBA Awards on Monday, June 25, 2018, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Adam Devine, left, and Lou Williams, of the Los Angeles Clippers, winner of the 6th Man award, pose in the press room at the NBA Awards on Monday, June 25, 2018, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Sound
The gallery will resume inseconds
NBA player James Harden, of the Houston Rockets, poses in the press room with the most valuable player award at the NBA Awards on Monday, June 25, 2018, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Lou Williams, of the Los Angeles Clippers, accepts the 6th Man award at the NBA Awards on Monday, June 25, 2018, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
NBA player James Harden, of the Houston Rockets, left, winner of the most valuable player award, appears in the press room with his teammate P.J. Tucker at the NBA Awards on Monday, June 25, 2018, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Lou Williams, of the Los Angeles Clippers, poses in the press room with the 6th Man award at the NBA Awards on Monday, June 25, 2018, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
NBA player James Harden, of the Houston Rockets, arrives at the NBA Awards on Monday, June 25, 2018, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
NBA commissioner Adam Silver, left, presents the most valuable player award to James Harden, of the Houston Rockets, at the NBA Awards on Monday, June 25, 2018, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
NBA player James Harden, of the Houston Rockets, left, winner of the most valuable player award, poses in the press room with his mother Monja Willis at the NBA Awards on Monday, June 25, 2018, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
NBA player James Harden, of the Houston Rockets, poses in the press room with the most valuable player award at the NBA Awards on Monday, June 25, 2018, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Lou Williams, of the Los Angeles Clippers, accepts the 6th Man award at the NBA Awards on Monday, June 25, 2018, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Lou Williams, of the Los Angeles Clippers, accepts the 6th Man award at the NBA Awards on Monday, June 25, 2018, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Lou Williams, of the Los Angeles Clippers, poses in the press room with the 6th Man award at the NBA Awards on Monday, June 25, 2018, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Lou Williams, of the Los Angeles Clippers, poses in the press room with the 6th Man award at the NBA Awards on Monday, June 25, 2018, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
NBA Player Lou Williams, of the Los Angeles Clippers, arrives at the NBA Awards on Monday, June 25, 2018, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
It was only fitting for James Harden to win the first NBA MVP award of his career in the Los Angeles. The Houston Rockets guard was born in Bellflower, Calif. and played basketball at Artesia High School in Lakewood.
The MVP award put a bow on a season in which Harden led the Rockets to the league’s best record in the regular season. He averaged 30.4 points per game and finished as the league’s scoring champion.
Harden had 86 first place MVP votes. LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers was the only other player to receive first place votes (15 total).
Point guard Lou Williams was named the Sixth Man of the Year for his efforts off the bench for the Los Angeles Clippers.
