Dirk slam dunks MVP
Champaign-Urbana, ILLINOIS
Sports by Ian Murrin
AP Images
Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki was voted
the
Most Valuable Player in the NBA.
On May 15, the NBA gave out its annual awards to the
players who performed the best throughout the 2006-2007 season.
This year’s NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) is Dirk Nowitzki, 28,
of the Dallas Mavericks. The MVP award is given out to the NBA’s
top all-around player.
Nowitzki led the Mavericks to the best regular-season record
in the
NBA. Nowitzki averaged nearly 25 points and nine rebounds
per game. The 7-foot giant is from Germany. This is the first time a
player from Europe has won MVP.
“I just kept on working, kept learning, kept my confidence up as
much as I could,” Nowiztki said.
Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns finished second in the MVP voting.
Nash was hoping to make three straight MVP awards, but fell to his
former teammate. “I’m extremely proud of him and happy for him.
I think it’s really well-deserved,” said Nash about Nowiztki.
Nowitzki comes from a family full of athletes. His mother and
sister
play basketball, and he stepped onto the basketball
court when he
was 13.
All-NBA teams
The NBA also has what it calls the All-NBA first team, second team,
and third team. The All-NBA teams consist of two guards, two
forwards, and one center. The guards on the first team are Steve
Nash of the Phoenix Suns and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles
Lakers. Bryant led the NBA in scoring this year.
The two forwards are Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks and
Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs. At center is Amare Stoudamire,
who also plays for the Phoenix Suns. Nash and Stoudamire became
the first teammates to make the All-NBA team since Kobe Bryant
and Shaquille O’Neal made it in 2003-2004.
The players on the second All-NBA team are Lebron James of the
Cleveland Cavaliers, Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards,
Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, both from the Houston Rockets,
and Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors.
These teams don’t really play each other. They’re just used as
bragging rights, but what a game it would be if the first and second
teams really faced each other. I’d like to see that!
Back to today's Real News Online Headlines
|
