Derrick Rose is NBA's youngest MVP

[JonLP24]

CHICAGO -- Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose is the youngest Most Valuable Player award-winner in the history of the NBA.

The 22-year-old Rose was officially announced as MVP on Tuesday after leading the Bulls to a 62-20 record and No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

Rose got 1,182 points and 113 first-place votes from a panel of media voters, supplanting Wes Unseld as the youngest to win the award with a runaway win. Orlando's Dwight Howard (643 points) finished second, Miami's LeBron James was third, the Lakers' Kobe Bryant was fourth and Oklahoma City star Kevin Durant finished fifth.

The Chicago-born point guard had a breakout third season, averaging 25 points, 7.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds. After a summer with the U.S. National team, Rose made a significant leap.

During the Bulls' media day in September, Rose wondered aloud in front of the media why he couldn't win the MVP award. Eight months later, Rose answered his own question.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nba/news/story?id=6471174

[joeybee12]

1. I swear, this award is getting like the Oscar...you need the right "buzz" to win...

No one in particular was favored until King Michael Jordan said Rose was the MVP, and then it took on a life of his own.

Anyway, looks like he'll go the way of MVP's of recent years...not getting an NBA Championship ring to go with this trophy.

[JonLP24]

2. I'm not sure

but he was on the top of virtually everyone's list back in January. I think maybe Jordan was jumping on the bandwagon but you could be right. I just remember him being the virtual favorite as far back as the winter.

[joeybee12]

3. Maybe Jordan did jump in at the right time, maybe to make him seem...

like a kingmaker.

[ProfessorGAC]

4. As A Bulls Fan, I Can Tell You You're Wrong About That

On ESPN, national talk shows, in SI and ESPN the mag, etc. he was a consistently discussed contender for MVP since before Christmas. Sometime around mid-January when the Bulls pulled up to the 3rd best record in the east, the "favorite" status became a point of discussion.

Then by the all-star game, he, Dirk, and Dwight Howard were the only seriously considered candidates who were the lone all-stars on their team, and Dirk and Derrick were on teams pushing for a 60 win season. Howard wasn't.

The "buzz" started early in the season and just got louder as the team became so successful despite what could be termed a good, but not great, roster. The main guy on such a team, that ultimately won 62 games, is always going to be a leading candidate for MVP.
GAC