babysham
Apr 26th, 2006, 09:29 AM
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060426.wnash26/BNStory/Sports
Report: Nash to keep NBA MVP award
Canadian Press
Phoenix — Canadian Steve Nash is headed for a second straight NBA MVP award, according to the Arizona Republic.
The newspaper, citing a league source familiar with the voting, said the Suns point guard will become the 10th player to repeat as MVP. Magic Johnson is currently the only point guard to have won the award twice.
The Republic said the official announcement may not come for two weeks. But the votes have been tabulated in what was expected to be a close race with Nash, LeBron James, Dirk Nowitzki, Chauncey Billups and Kobe Bryant.
Nash, who would be the first international and the first Suns player to capture the award twice, won the fourth-closest MVP vote last year when he edged Shaquille O'Neal.
The 32-year-old from Victoria posted career highs this season in scoring (18.8 points per game), rebounding (4.2 per game), field goal percentage (.512) and free-throw percentage (NBA-best .921). He led the league in assists again with 10.5 per game and finished sixth in three-point shooting (43.9 per cent).
Nash, winner of the Lionel Conacher Award as The Canadian Press male athlete of the year in 2005, led the 54-28 Suns to their first repeat division title.
Report: Nash to keep NBA MVP award
Canadian Press
Phoenix — Canadian Steve Nash is headed for a second straight NBA MVP award, according to the Arizona Republic.
The newspaper, citing a league source familiar with the voting, said the Suns point guard will become the 10th player to repeat as MVP. Magic Johnson is currently the only point guard to have won the award twice.
The Republic said the official announcement may not come for two weeks. But the votes have been tabulated in what was expected to be a close race with Nash, LeBron James, Dirk Nowitzki, Chauncey Billups and Kobe Bryant.
Nash, who would be the first international and the first Suns player to capture the award twice, won the fourth-closest MVP vote last year when he edged Shaquille O'Neal.
The 32-year-old from Victoria posted career highs this season in scoring (18.8 points per game), rebounding (4.2 per game), field goal percentage (.512) and free-throw percentage (NBA-best .921). He led the league in assists again with 10.5 per game and finished sixth in three-point shooting (43.9 per cent).
Nash, winner of the Lionel Conacher Award as The Canadian Press male athlete of the year in 2005, led the 54-28 Suns to their first repeat division title.