James Harden on MVP award, scoring title: 'I don't want to hear it'
SAN ANTONIO -- James Harden didn't say a word when asked if he cares whether he wins the scoring title or the MVP award.
Harden, the Houston Rockets shooting guard who leads the league in scoring at 27.7 points and is one of the candidates for the MVP award, shook his head. When he finally spoke, Harden was pretty clear on what's important to him.
"I don't want to hear it, don't want to hear it," Harden said Thursday. "The most important thing right now is winning. I've said it plenty of times; it's winning and getting a rhythm going into the postseason. We haven't had a great rhythm all year just because guys have been in and out of the lineup. For me, personally, I think for our team as well, is getting a rhythm and making sure everybody is on the same page. These five games will be important for us to catch our rhythm."
The Rockets hold the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, which, if it holds, could set up a matchup with the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the postseason.
Change could occur with the seedings as the San Antonio Spurs, the Rockets' opponent on Thursday, are on an eight-game winning streak to inch closer to first place in the Southwest Division.
With the regular season ending next week, Harden's play will be magnified given his scoring battles with Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook (second in scoring by percentage points) and the MVP race with Golden State's Stephen Curry.
Harden doesn't care to hear it from anybody around him about scoring titles and awards.
"My teammates and coaches, my family and friends, do a good job of just letting me focus on what I need to do out there and [that's] be the best to my ability every single night," Harden said. "That's what's it's about."
Harden has improved his game so much from last season, and he's taken on more of a scoring load in 2014-15 due to the injuries of key players, including center Dwight Howard.
Harden is a three-time All Star who also was the 2011-12 Sixth Man of the Year when he played for Oklahoma City and last season he finished fifth in MVP votes and was named first-team All-NBA.
"Yeah, especially where I came from," Harden said when asked if it's flattering to have his name mentioned for awards. "Coming off the bench, sixth man and having to work my way up to where I am now, I'm definitely honored and it goes to the hard work and dedication that I put in every single day."
