Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry will be named the NBA’s 2014-15 Most Valuable Player, according to CSN Bay Area’s Monte Poole.
Poole also notes the award is expected to be announced as early as Monday.
Curry is the second MVP in Warriors franchise history, and the first since the team moved to California 53 years ago. Wilt Chamberlain won the award with the Philadelphia Warriors in 1960. Curry finished ahead of Houston Rockets guard James Harden, who finished second, sources told Poole.
While Curry’s reported victory might be well deserved, it does not come without it’s own bit of controversy. Curry did not lead the league in any major category save for free-throw percentage (91.4 percent). He finished sixth in points per game (23.8) and assists per game (7.7), fourth in steals (2.04), and he shot 44.3 percent from 3-point range, also good for fourth.
He finished just shy of joining the elusive 40-50-90 Club, and his astounding 28.0 PER was third among eligible players. He also broke his own record for most 3-point field goals made in a single season in NBA history with 286. He set the previous record of 272 in the 2012-13 season.
Harden finished with more points (27.4, second in the league) and rebounds (5.7) per game, but fewer assists (7.0) and steals (1.9). He shot 44 percent from the field, just 37.5 percent from three, and 86.8 percent from the charity stripe, and his 26.7 PER was also lower than Curry’s.
Criticized for his defense last offseason, Harden finished with 4.2 defensive win shares, 10th in the league and highest among guards. Curry finished just behind with 4.1 DWS. His overall win shares (16.4) were first in the league and greater than Curry’s (15.7), who finished third.
Harden and Curry were both selected in the 2009 NBA Draft, with Harden going third overall to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Curry seventh to the Warriors.
UPDATE (Monday, 11:53 a.m.): Curry was officially announced as the league’s MVP on Monday, beating out Houston Rockets guard James Harden, Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, among others.
Complete voting results are below, with first-place votes in parentheses.
Stephen Curry, Golden State: 1,198 (100)
James Harden, Houston: 936 (25)
LeBron James, Cleveland: 552 (5)
Russell Westbrook, OKC: 352
Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans: 203
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers: 124
LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers: 6
Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies: 3
Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers: 3
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs: 1
Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio: 1
Klay Thompson, Golden State: 1
Thumbnail image via Kelley L Cox/USA TODAY Sports Images
