OAKLAND, Calif. — LeBron James never did it. Neither did Magic Johnson or Larry Bird, or Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell. Even Michael Jordan never did it.
But on Tuesday, Stephen Curry did. After a record-breaking season, he became the first player in the NBA to be elected Most Valuable Player by a unanimous vote.
“I never really set out to change the game. I never thought that would happen in my career,” Curry said. “What I wanted to do was just be myself. … I know it inspires a lot of the next generation, a lot of people who love the game of basketball to value the skill of it, value the fact that you can work every single day to get better. You’ve got to be able to put in the time and the work. That’s how I got here, that’s how I continue to get better every single day.”
Curry, who just turned 28, is the 11th player to be voted MVP in consecutive seasons and the first guard since Steve Nash in 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. Curry received 1,310 points from the 130 media voters from the U.S. and Canada.
“I couldn’t imagine anybody not voting him first, and yet there always seems to be somebody who has to stand out,” Coach of the Year Steve Kerr said.
Curry was followed in the vote by Kawhi Leonard of San Antonio, LeBron James of Cleveland and Oklahoma City teammates Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. Curry’s teammate Draymond Green was seventh.
Nash, Golden State’s player development consultant, was on hand to congratulate Curry.
“It’s been weird, I haven’t had to say a word to him. It’s been the easiest job,” Nash said.
Curry is the first two-time winner in franchise history, and Wilt Chamberlain (1959-60) is the only other Warriors winner. After guiding Golden State to its first championship in 40 years, Curry & Co. took that success even further to finish with 73 regular-season victories to top the mark set by the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls team that went 72-10.
In a stunning overtime performance Monday night, Curry showed exactly how he can take over a game in a matter of seconds. He returned from a sprained right knee to score 40 points — and 17 in overtime — in a 132-125 victory at Portland to put his team up 3-1 in the Western Conference semifinals.
Curry was sore and fatigued but ready to go again.
“He wants it,” Kerr said. “There’s no ulterior motive. He just wants to be better. That’s who he is.”
Curry, now one of the most recognizable and popular athletes worldwide, was presented with his MVP trophy at Oracle Arena on Tuesday. His teammates were on stage to cheer the latest accomplishment in a long list of them.
“He’s become one of the most popular athletes on the planet,” Kerr said. “People relate to him. They genuinely enjoy watching him play and admire his humility and just the way he carries himself. The impact he’s had on the game is really dramatic.”
Curry averaged an NBAbest 30.1 points per game to go with 6.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds. He also led the NBA with 2.1 steals a game while shooting 50.4 percent from the field, 45.4 percent from threepoint range and 90.8 percent from the foul line.
From the start of the season, Curry vowed to take his game to another level. Now, all that matters to him is staying healthy and leading the Warriors to another title.
Curry understands, and even embraces, the constant scrutiny that comes with being an MVP and playing on a championship team.
His pregame ballhandling routine alone draws huge crowds in every city, but it has been his long-range touch that has forced defenses to extend — and has kids and adults alike throwing the ball up from anywhere. He made a record 402 three-pointers after no player had previously even hit 300 in a season.
“I want to be remembered as somebody that worked hard, that got the most out of my potential and talent and pushed the envelope,” Curry said. “I never really expected to change the game or spark a new way to play the game. That’s the way that I learned how to play. That was what was the NBA when I started back when I was 5.”
NBA MVPs
2016 *Stephen Curry, Golden State
2015 Stephen Curry, Golden State
2014 Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City
2013 LeBron James, Miami
2012 LeBron James, Miami
2011 Derrick Rose, Chicago
2010 LeBron James, Cleveland
2009 LeBron James, Cleveland
2008 Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers
2007 Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas
2006 Steve Nash, Phoenix
2005 Steve Nash, Phoenix
2004 Kevin Garnett, Minnesota
2003 Tim Duncan, San Antonio
2002 Tim Duncan, San Antonio
2001 Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers
2000 Shaquille O’Neal, LA Lakers
1999 Karl Malone, Utah
1998 Michael Jordan, Chicago
1997 Karl Malone, Utah
1996 Michael Jordan, Chicago
1995 David Robinson, San Antonio
1994 Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston
1993 Charles Barkley, Phoenix
1992 Michael Jordan, Chicago
1991 Michael Jordan, Chicago
1990 Magic Johnson, LA Lakers
1989 Magic Johnson, LA Lakers
1988 Michael Jordan, Chicago
1987 Magic Johnson, LA Lakers
1986 Larry Bird, Boston
1985 Larry Bird, Boston
1984 Larry Bird, Boston
1983 Moses Malone, Philadelphia 76ers
1982 Moses Malone, Houston
1981 Julius Erving, Philadelphia 76ers
1980 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LA Lakers
1979 Moses Malone, Houston
1978 Bill Walton, Portland
1977 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LA Lakers
1976 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LA Lakers
1975 Bob McAdoo, Buffalo
1974 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee
1973 Dave Cowens, Boston
1972 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee
1971 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee
1970 Willis Reed, New York
1969 Wes Unseld, Baltimore
1968 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia 76ers
1967 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia 76ers
1966 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia 76ers
1965 Bill Russell, Boston
1964 Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati
1963 Bill Russell, Boston
1962 Bill Russell, Boston
1961 Bill Russell, Boston
1960 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Warriors
1959 Bob Pettit, St. Louis
1958 Bill Russell, Boston
1957 Bob Cousy, Boston
1956 Bob Pettit, St. Louis
*unanimous selection