NEW YORK – Russell Westbrook has won the NBA's MVP award after setting a record with 42 triple-doubles last season.
The Oklahoma City All-Star joined Oscar Robertson as the only players to average a triple-double for an entire season, leading the Thunder into the playoffs after Kevin Durant left for Golden State.
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Westbrook beat out Houston's James Harden and San Antonio forward Kawhi Leonard for the league's top honor.
He ended the two-year reign of Stephen Curry, who last season was the league's first unanimous MVP.
It capped off Monday night's NBA Awards show, which included stirring tributes to Monty Williams, Craig Sager and Bill Russell.
In other NBA awards:
Draymond Green won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, ending Kawhi Leonard's two-year reign. Green was rewarded for his do-everything role with the NBA champion Golden State Warriors. He led the league in steals and on Feb. 10 had the league's first triple-double ever that didn't include points, finishing with 11 rebounds, 10 steals and 10 assists.
The Milwaukee Bucks and Houston Rockets have become double winners. Giannis Antetokounmpo won the Most Improved Player Award, following Malcolm Brogdon's victory as Rookie of the Year, which opened the show Monday night.
Houston's Mike D'Antoni was voted Coach of the Year. It was the second time he has won the award. He led the Rockets to 55 victories and a league record for 3-pointers this season. D'Antoni, who last won the award while coaching Phoenix, followed Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon's win for Sixth Man of the Year.
Gordon has won the award in his first year as a reserve. He beat out Rockets teammate Lou Williams and former NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala for the award, which is given to the league's top player off the bench. Gordon set an NBA single-season record for most 3-pointers off the bench, helping the high-scoring Rockets make more shots behind the arc than any team in history.
Brogdon won the first award Monday night during the first NBA Awards show that was hosted by Drake. Brogdon beat out finalists Joel Embiid and Dario Saric, both of the Philadelphia 76ers.