By Paul Levine May 7, 2006, 22:27 GMT
Los Angeles - Steve Nash continues to pinch himself in amazement.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Smush Parker (R) fouls Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash (L) during the first half of Game 7 of the first round of the NBA playoffs in Phoenix, Arizona, Saturday, 06 May, 2006. EPA/TOM HOOD
Nash of the Phoenix Suns was named the NBA's most valuable player Sunday for the second straight season.
'I'm a little bit uncomfortable being singled out among all these great players two years in a row. I have to pinch myself,' Nash said.
'I can't believe I'm standing here today. I couldn't believe it last year, and to do it again is even more difficult to understand. I guess some of me tries to find the comedy in it. But it's thrilling, it's comedic, and it's unbelievable. But I'm not going to give it back. I'm going to try to enjoy it as much as possible.'
Nash etched his name into the record books as the ninth player to win the award in consecutive season, joining Tim Duncan, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Moses Malone and Kareem Abdul- Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. He joined Johnson as the only point guards to win back to back trophies.
As a Canadian, Nash is the first non-US citizen to win consecutive MVPs, though Duncan is from the US Virgin Islands.
'Just to win it twice, the incredible company that I'm in,' Nash said. 'These are guys that built the foundation of this league. It's extremely difficult to comprehend.'
Nash received 924 points in voting by 125 sportswriters and broadcasters from across the United States and Canada, to easily outdistance Cleveland Cavaliers phenom LeBron James, who collected 688 points.
Rounding out the top five were Germany's Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks (544 points), league scoring champion Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers (483 points) and Detroit Pistons' Chauncey Billups (430 points).
'There were some really incredible candidates who I would have been extremely supportive of any one of them had they won it this year,' said Nash, who admitted he could have cast his vote for former teammate and close friend Nowitzki. 'I feel really honoured to be appreciated again this year, especially in the great company.'
This season, the 6-foot-3 Nash guided the high-powered Suns to their second straight Pacific Division title with a 54-28 record and a league-high 108.4 points per game. All this despite the loss of injured all-star forward Amare Stoudemire and key components Quentin Richard and Joe Johnson, both of whom were traded in the off-season.
Nash averaged career highs in points (18.8 per game), field-goal percentage (.512), free-throw percentage (.921) and handed out a league-best 10.5 assists per game. The unselfish floor leader also helped six of his teammates to career highs in scoring average.
'A lot has been made of me making my teammates better, but I really believe that my teammates make a lot better, too,' he explained.
'I feel fortunate after having such a great group last year to kind of reshuffle and bring in these new guys, who are committed, talented, are great people to be around and terrific players. You can't ask for more, and that's a big part why I am in this position.'
Nash had little thought of repeating as MVP, but the 32-year-old began to listen to the whispers.
'At the start of the season I truly believed there would be no way I would be back here again,' he said. 'After a month or two, people started bringing it up and asking about it every day, and it strangely became a possibility. It's so funny about how things change. I feel silly being up here because I can't put it into words no matter how hard I try.'
Asked if he could conceive of a three-peat next season, Nash smiled and said, 'I'm in a can't win position no matter what I say. But I'll leave it at, 'No.''
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