BASKETBALL, NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (picture) put the finishing touch on a magical season by being named the Most Valuable Player of the 2016-17 campaign on Monday at the NBA’s inaugural awards show. Westbrook, who became only the second player and first in 55 years to average a triple-double for an entire season, won the award over Houston Rockets guard James Harden and San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard. Westbrook averaged a mind-boggling 31.6 points, 10.4 assists and 10.7 rebounds over 81 games, making him the first player to average double-digits in three major categories since Oscar Robertson first did it in 1961-62.
TENNIS: Andy Murray has pulled out of his scheduled Wimbledon warm-up match at the Hurlingham Club yesterday. because of a sore hip. The world number one had scheduled two matches at the exhibition Aspall Tennis Classic event following his first-round exit at Queen’s Club last week. He had been due to take on Frenchman Lucas Pouille, but his management announced yesterday morning that he would not take to the court because his hip was “a bit sore”. The decision was described as a precaution, with Murray still planning to contest the second match against an as-yet-unnamed opponent on Friday.
CRICKET: Fast bowler Lasith Malinga will face a disciplinary inquiry by Sri Lanka Cricket for comments he made to the media in breach of his contract, the board announced yesterday. A three-member panel would conduct the inquiry after Malinga twice broke rules by making statements to the media, SLC said. “Malinga has on two occasions since his return from the Champions Trophy acted in contravention of the terms of agreement which specifically bar him from making any statements to the media without the prior written consent of the Chief Executive Officer,” the statement said.
RUGBY UNION: South Africa captain Warren Whiteley faces up to two months on the sidelines with a pelvis injury, ruling him out of the rest of the Super Rugby season and possibly the opening matches of the Rugby Championship. Whiteley was appointed Springbok captain for the three-test tour by France this month and looked an inspired choice as South Africa won the first two tests in convincing fashion. However, he was hurt in the build up to the third test and had to pull out of the team for Saturday’s victory in Johannesburg.
GOLF: Ryu So-yeon of South Korea ascended to number one in the Rolex Women’s Golf Rankings on Monday in another shift at the top following her victory at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship on Sunday. Ryu took over the top spot from Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn, who seized the number one ranking two weeks ago to end the 84-week reign of Lydia Ko of New Zealand atop the rankings.