Rockets' James Harden wins MVP award

PHOTOS: All-time Houston professional athletes who were named regular season MVP

NBA player James Harden, of the Houston Rockets, poses in the press room with the most valuable player award at the NBA Awards on Monday, June 25, 2018, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Browse through the photos above for a list of all-time Houston professional athletes who were named regular season MVP. less NBA player James Harden, of the Houston Rockets, poses in the press room with the most valuable player award at the NBA Awards on Monday, June 25, 2018, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) PHOTOS: All-time Houston professional athletes who were named regular season MVP

NBA player James Harden, of the Houston Rockets, poses in the press room with the most valuable player award at the NBA Awards on NBA player James Harden, of the Houston Rockets, poses in the press room with the most valuable player award at the NBA Awards on ... more Photo: Richard Shotwell, Associated Press Photo: Richard Shotwell, Associated Press Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close Rockets' James Harden wins MVP award 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

SANTA MONICA, Calif. --James Harden's record season was validated, as if any were needed, when he was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player on Monday.

Harden led the Rockets to a franchise-best 65 wins and averaged 30.4 points, 8.8 assists and 5.4 rebounds. (Voting by a panel of writers and broadcasters) is based on the regular season.

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Harden, who had finished second in MVP voting in two of the past three seasons, led the league in scoring, 3-pointers made and 50-point games.

He also posted the NBA's first 60-point triple double against Orlando.

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Michael Jordan is the only other player to have averaged at least 30 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds and 1.7 steals for a season.

The other finalists this year were LeBron James of Cleveland and Anthony Davis of New Orleans.

"Sixth Man of the Year to MVP. Go chase that dream," said Harden, who won the Sixth Man award when he was at Oklahoma City.

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