Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry admitted that he was surprised to hear his former coach, Mark Jackson, back James Harden for the MVP award.
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Curry is the clear betting favourite to land the award this season and has been tipped by numerous experts and players to beat out the competition.
However, there is no denying that that competition is fierce this year, with Harden, Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, Chris Paul and Anthony Davis all involved in the conversation.
While Curry has led the Warriors to the best record in the league and has played less minutes but been equally as effective and important to his team, Harden has carried the Houston Rockets without Dwight Howard.
Westbrook has turned into a triple-double machine since Kevin Durant was sidelined with injury, while James, Paul and Davis all have continued to have a significant influence on their respective team’s success.
Nevertheless, it still came as a surprise for Curry to hear Jackson back Harden, as he backed up his decision by insisting that the Rockets are the second seed in the Western Conference because of him.
“It’s his opinion obviously,” Curry said, ESPN reports.
“He’s probably been watching the league. People are going to ask what he thinks, especially his ties to the Warriors organization and myself specifically. Surprised me he said that. But, it is what it is.
“Obviously I wasn’t shy about trying to defend him last year when things were rumbling outside of our locker room. But for him to … it’s kind of a different situation, but it is surprising that he didn’t.”
Curry added that he wasn’t hurt by the pick from his former coach, but he found it surprising that he didn’t receive that same level of support that he has offered him in the past.
The Warriors star is averaging 23.8 points, 7.8 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game with Golden State leading the way for the No.1 overall seed with a 62-13 record.
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