Kevin Durant, the Oklahoma City Thunder star, was awarded the most prestigious award in the NBA on Tuesday. After receiving 119 first-place votes, Kevin was named the NBA MVP of the year.

Durant averaged 32 points per game, winning his fourth scoring crown. He helped his team make a strong finish with a 59-23, the second best in the league.

The team played most of the season without their All Star Russell Westbrook, after he suffered a serious knee injury. While Durant didn’t want to see Westbrook out of the game, his injury did give Durant a chance to work on his skills as a playmaker.

Westbrook took the time to acknowledge Durant’s hard work and dedication. “He’s been the most consistent guy all season long,” Westbrook said. “He’s done a great job of leading us to where we are now. He’s basically put himself in front of everybody else in the league and shown that he’s the best player in the world.”

While accepting his award, Durant made sure to thank everyone from the coaching staff to each individual player. However, most of his gratitude was directed towards his mother Wanda Pratt.

“We weren’t supposed to be here,” Durant said, speaking to Pratt. “You made us believe. You kept us off the street. You put clothes on our backs. You put food on the table. When you didn’t eat, you made sure we ate and [you] went to sleep hungry. You sacrificed for us. You’re the real MVP.”

Of course, Pratt was emotional and said: “I’m just kind of emotional about this day because he just worked so hard. He started working at this early, when he was 9 years old. To see it all come together for him, I’m just excited for him.”

“It really goes back to what Kevin puts in,” Pratt continued. “I’m sure there are so many guys in the league that work extremely hard every day. But I know how hard he works, I know his heart, I know what he gave early on in the early days, and how many sacrifices he made through the years to even prepare for this moment.”

Image via Wikimedia Commons