[Kevin] Garnett wins [NBA] MVP Award by landslide

ESPN online ^ | 5/3/04 | AP

[TheBigB]

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Kid can be called "MVP," too.

Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves won his first Most Valuable Player award Monday, easily beating two-time winner Tim Duncan and Jermaine O'Neal.

Garnett received 120 of 123 possible first-place votes in balloting by the Pro Basketball Writer's Association for a total of 1,219 points. San Antonio's Duncan got 716 votes, while Indiana's O'Neal had 523.

The Associated Press reported Sunday, citing sources, that Garnett would win the honor.

Garnett led Minnesota to a 58-24 record and the top playoff seed in the Western Conference, averaging 24.2 points and a league-leading 13.9 rebounds.

"The teammates that I have, they made things so simple and they made things to easy at times," Garnett said after receiving the trophy.

Garnett was an overwhelming choice for his first MVP honor.

He joined Larry Bird as the only players to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for five consecutive years.

Garnett credited team vice president Kevin McHale, who played with Bird for the Boston Celtics.

"This is best situation I could ever think of, or dream of," Garnett said. "I had to believe I could get there, because of him and his belief in me."

Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said Monday Garnett has wanted to win the award since the team drafted him out of high school in 1995.

"When he came in the league nine years ago the No. 1 thing he said to myself and [team vice president] Kevin McHale is he wanted to be the best player in the league," Saunders said.

The success of players such as Garnett, nicknamed "The Kid," and Kobe Bryant helped usher in a generation of preps-to-pros players who skipped college.

McHale said he told the skinny kid fresh from Chicago's Farragut Academy to work hard and see what happens.

"That young man turned into a bigger man and a hell of a basketball player," McHale said. "He reminds me of how basketball should be played, with passion, hard work and discipline."

Garnett, in turn, gave some of the credit for his own success to McHale, whose career with the Boston Celtics earned him a spot in the Hall of Fame.

"This is best situation I could ever think of, or dream of," Garnett said. "I had to believe I could get there, because of him and his belief in me."

The Timberwolves host the Sacramento Kings in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series on Tuesday night.

Minnesota beat the Denver Nuggets in five games to end a league-record streak of seven straight first-round exits.

[gswilder]

KG and Duncan are two of the good guys in the NBA, and definitely top 5 players. I like the fact that KG will NOT wear any tatoos. Always, says something to his mom after each interview. I have to say it, but I think the most valuable player TO HIS TEAM, is Kobe. (and don't start the flame wars on the rape issue) I am willing to let the justice system work on Kobe, and hopefully the truth will prevail either way. But when the game is on the line, if I could pick any player with the ball, it would be Kobe. Just like I would have wanted MJ to take it all those years.

[Mr.Clark]

KG and Duncan are both absolutely great players. Duncan is just a great player to watch, he lives up to Shaq's characterization of him, "the Big Fundamental". His board use is just amazing.

[mcspur]

Well congratulations to KG. I don't mind this at all. Just as long as Tim get the MVP for the playoffs and another ring I have no problem :)

[TheBigB]

The only team...the ONLY team...that the Lakers show respect for is the Spurs. They're one of those "the whole is greater than the sum of the parts" groups.

Did you know that either Steve Kerr or Robert Horry has been on the last -ten- NBA Champions? :)

[Akira]

I've got no real arguments against KG, I'm happy for him. But the Wolves added Sprewell and Cassell this year and were marginally better (record-wise) than last. The Spurs don't have anybody else even close to all-star quality. Without Duncan, they're a 25 win team. Without KG, Minnesota still probably wins 35-40.

No, I'm not a Spurs fan.

[TheBigB]

AFAIC, there was no single player...not one...who -meant- more to his team than LeBron. The kid comes into the NBA with the highest expectations in history...anointed "King James" before he's played even -one- NBA game. An he does it...all of it. He averages 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists, joining Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan as the only NBA rookies to average at least 20-5-5. He became the youngest player in league history to score 40 in a game. He scored more than 30 points 13 times. He leads the Cavs to doubling their win total from last year and helped keep them in playoff contention for most of the year. Their home average attendance rose from 11,497 to 18,288...the highest increase ever for a team that didn't move into a new building. Lots, and I mean LOTS of folks were waiting to see him fall flat on his face.

And he does it all at 18 years old. Damn. I can't even fathom it. LeBron really could have been MVP and I wouldn't have even blinked at it.

[Akira]

Cuban was married a couple of years ago but keeps his private life very private. There was a big stink with a local magazine (a rag called "D") ran a picture of his wife. I'm not sure she attends many games. If she does, she doesn't sit down courtside with him often.

[rdb3]

And he does it all at 18 years old. Damn. I can't even fathom it. LeBron really could have been MVP and I wouldn't have even blinked at it.

Yes, yes. So true. But we'll settle for Rookie of the Year 2004.

And you know what I think is the best part about the whole LeBron thing?

He plays in CLEVELAND!

Yeah, baby! We've been waiting a long time for a bonafide b-ball superstar to play in the Big Mistake By the Lake. We got one now!

<-- Click!

A.K.A. Sleepy Brown

[TheBigB]

Chick, you're a bball fan, ain'tcha? Jump in here. :)

[mcspur]

Yes, And another fact, In 1999 Kersey hit a buzzer beating three at the half of game 1. Spurs beat Lakers. Last year Kevin Willis hits a half time buzzer beater. Spurs win game one. Both times the Spurs are World Champs. And yesterday :) Tony parker hits a buzzer beater at half time!! Spurs win game 1. History could repeat it's self for the third time.

[TheBigB]

Meanwhile, the Pistons are beating the Nets 63-46 with 6:00 left in the FOURTH quarter. If the finals end up as Spurs-Pistons, you'll see final scores of 44-41.

[The South Texan]

That's the only award Garnett is going to win this year as he will not win an NBA title.

The Spurs are on a roll and geared to win their second title in a row.

Go Spurs GO!!!!

[E Rocc]

And you know what I think is the best part about the whole LeBron thing?

He plays in CLEVELAND!

As it should be. He's from here, more or less.

-Eric