Houston Rockets guard James Harden said that team wins should matter when it comes to the Most Valuable Player award.
Harden has been in a battle with Oklahoma City Thunder guard and former teammate Russell Westbrook for the majority of the season as a frontrunner to the award.
"I think that's the most important thing. I thought winning is what this is about -- period," Harden said. "I'm not going to get in-depth with all that, but I thought winning was the most important thing. If you set your team up in a position to have a chance, at the ultimate goal, that's the most important thing."
Harden has had an outstanding season, averaging 29.3 points, a league-leading 11.3 assists and 8.1 rebounds per game in leading the Rockets to the third-best record in the NBA.
Westbrook will average a triple-double for a season and set an NBA record with his 42nd triple-double this season in a victory Sunday over the Denver Nuggets.
"It's a huge accomplishment," Harden said of Westbrook, whom he's close friends with. "He's been playing extremely well all season long, it's never been done before, it's a great individual accomplishment, and it's great."
The Rockets and Thunder will meet in a first-round playoff series starting this weekend.
- Scooby Axson
