As the NBA season was nearing its end the one name running neck and neck with Russell Westbrook as the favorite for the league's Most Valuable Player award was James Harden. Most sports writers gravitated towards Westbrook, despite Harden's phenomenal run, as did most players, but there were quite a few notables who shockingly voiced their liking for Harden to win it in 2017, as did 2016 MVP Steph Curry. To Westbrook's good fortune, those haters proved to be the minority this week.

On Friday, August 18, the NBA announced the winners of its third annual Players Voice Awards. What set's the PVA's apart from the official performance awards is that writers and fans don't get to vote. The Players Voice Awards are completely determined by input provided by the nominees' peers of the NBPA [National Basketball Players Association]. Westbrook's 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists proved to be enough to win him the highest honor on the ballot. His fellow pros named him MVP.

Westbrook was also named Hardest to Guard and Best Dressed. Scroll down to find out what other players were honored on Friday.

2017 Players Voice Awards Winners:

Best Rookie- Malcolm Brogdon

Comeback Player of the Year- Joel Embiid

Best Off the Bench- Lou Williams

Best Defender- Kawhi Leonard

Hardest to Guard- Russell Westbrook

Player You Secretly Wish Was On Your Team- LeBron James

Best Dressed- Russell Westbrook

Home Court Advantage- Golden State Warriors

Coach You’d Most Like to Play For- Gregg Popovich

Clutch Performer- Isaiah Thomas

Best Social Media Follow- Joel Embiid

Most Influential Veteran- Vince Carter

Global Impact- LeBron James

Most Valuable Player- Russell Westbrook

Source: nba.com