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Nash becomes first non-American to claim MVP honors
Canadian Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player for the 2004-05 season on Sunday, edging out Miami Heats Shaquille O'Neal.
The 6-foot 3-inch point guard, who returned this season to Phoenix where he spent the first two years of his career, became the first non-American to earn the league's most prestigious individual honor. He also became the first point guard to win the award since Magic Johnson in 1990. In one of the closest votes for MVP honors, Nash received 65 first place votes and 1,066 points in balloting carried out by sportswriters in the United States and Canada while O'Neal totaled 58 first place and 1,032 points. Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks was a distant third with 349 points. "I understand the people of Canada are fired up and that's great," said Nash. "I'm happy they're excited. "There's no better feeling to make your whole country proud." After six seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, Nash signed a five-year, $65-million deal with Phoenix and transformed the Suns into a championship contender and the NBA's most explosive and entertaining team, averaging over 110 points a game. DIRECTING OFFENSE With the mop-topped 31-year-old Canadian directing the offense, Phoenix went from just 29 wins last year to a league best 62-20 record this season. The Suns swept the Memphis Grizzlies 4-0 in their Western conference best-of-seven quarter-final and will now face Nash's former team, the Mavericks, in the next round starting Monday in Phoenix. A gifted playmaker and the NBA's best pure passer, Nash averaged 15.5 points per game while dishing out a league-leading 11.5 assists and helping team mates Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and Quentin Richardson to improved seasons. While delighted with the honor, the typically humble Nash said he would have voted for O'Neal. O'Neal, who moved from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Miami in a blockbuster off-season deal, had a similar impact on the Heat, taking the south Florida team on his massive shoulders and lifting them to 59 wins and the Eastern conference title. Energised by the move, O'Neal lost 60 pounds and averaged 22.9 points a game and 10-4 rebounds in the regular season and guided the Heat into the second round of the playoffs where they will take on the Washington Wizards starting Sunday in Miami. "Steve's a great guy," said a gracious O'Neal, who already has an MVP award from the 1999-2000 season. "It's been a good year for Steve. He had twins, he just got married, he's playing great basketball, so congratulations to Steve, congratulations to the Canadian people. GREAT HONOUR "It's a great honor." News of Nash's selection received unprecedented coverage in Canada, knocking the country's bid for a third consecutive gold medal at the ice hockey world championships out of the spotlight. His honor was compared to golfer Mike Weir's victory at the 2003 U.S. Masters and Jacques Villeneuve capturing the Formula One drivers' title. With no NHL this season because of an ongoing labor dispute, Nash has become this hockey-mad country's hottest sporting property. Leaked news of his selection made the front pages while the official announcement was broadcast live on national sports channels and radio. Soft-spoken and thoughtful, Nash is not afraid to express his opinion and wore an anti-war T-shirt to a news conference during the 2003 NBA all-star weekend. Born and raised in Victoria, British Columbian Nash seemed destined for a
soccer career before turning his attention to basketball in grade eight.
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