OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — After finishing second in the MVP voting for the second time in his career, Kevin Durant says he doesn’t get any extra motivation from coming so close to winning the NBA’s top individual honor.
Miami’s LeBron James was named the winner of the award on Saturday, earning 85 out of 121 possible first-place votes. Durant got 24 first-place votes, was second on 83 ballots and was no worse than fourth on anyone’s ballot after becoming the seventh player in league history to win at least three straight scoring titles.
Durant says he’s been finishing second since high school, ending up as the No. 2 draft pick in 2007 and now twice in the MVP voting.
He says he’s “over” being second and is more motivated to win an NBA championship.
