Steve Nash Named MVP for Second Time

Steve Nash did it again.

The NBA's Canadian Phenom ran away with his second consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player award. The maestro of the fast and furious Phoenix Suns, beat runner-up LeBron James of Cleveland by a comfortable margin in results announced Sunday.

He is the ninth player to win consecutive MVP trophies and joins Magic Johnson as the only point guards to win the award more than once.

''I have to pinch myself,'' Nash said.

''I can't believe that I'm standing here today. I couldn't believe it last year, and to do it again is even more difficult to understand, but I'm not going to give it back,'' he added.

The Suns point guard received 57 first-place votes and 924 points overall from a panel of 125 sports writers and broadcasters in the United States and Canada.

James had 16 first-place votes and 688 points overall. But at 21, though, James knows he will have many more opportunities.

''It would have been nice of course to put another trophy in my house, in my showcase,'' LeBron James said from Auburn Hills before the Cavaliers were dominated by the Detroit Pistons in Game 1.

''But it's something I'm going to keep working hard for. I can't dwell on not being named MVP,'' he added.

Nash's close friend Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas was third with 14 first-place ballots and 544 overall. Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers had the second-most votes for first place (22), but was fourth overall with 483 points.

The 32-year-old Nash is the 11th player to win the MVP award more than once.

Nash praised his teammates and coaching staff for a perfect environment for him to succeed and for their team to succeed, and for him to stand there that day.

Last season, he directed the Suns to an NBA-best 62 victories. This year, the Suns lost Amare Stoudemire to injury and traded Joe Johnson and Quentin Richardson. Yet they still won 54 games and a second straight Pacific Division title.

This season, Nash had career highs in scoring (18.8 points), rebounding (4.2), field goal percentage (.512) and free throw percentage (a league-leading .921). He led the league in assists at 10.5 a game and finished sixth in 3-point percentage at 43.9.

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