Paul latest of NBA's tiny feats

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If Chris Paul is named NBA Most Valuable Player, he just might thank all the little people.Allen Iverson and Bob Cousy would be quite happy to hear that.At 6-foot, Iverson is the shortest player ever to win an MVP, while the 6-1 Cousy is second on the Lilliputian list. Both are rooting for Paul, a 6-foot point guard for New Orleans, to pull into a tie with Iverson."He's my little man," said Iverson, the Denver Nuggets guard who was named MVP with Philadelphia in 2000-01.Little guys have a fraternity. Iverson said he's always had an appreciation for the likes of 5-9 Calvin Murphy and 6-1 Tiny Archibald, who became the only player to lead the NBA in scoring and assists in the same season -- 1972-73 -- but didn't win the MVP because of Kansas City-Omaha staggering through a 36-46 season.When 6-3 Phoenix guard Steve Nash won the first of consecutive MVPs in 2004-05, Cousy sent him a congratulatory note. Nash is one of only three players shorter than 6-5 to have won the award in its 50-plus year history."The MVP has always been a big man's award," Cousy said. "Every now and then, though, we fool them."Cousy fooled them in 1956-57, when the point guard won the second MVP presented and led Boston to its first NBA title. Cousy got his trophy just in time, considering centers Bill Russell, a rookie that season, and Wilt Chamberlain, who entered the league in 1959, would go on to win nine of the next 11 MVPs.Cousy was the only little guy to hoist the trophy until Iverson came along. Iverson averaged 31.1 points during a season in which he led the 76ers to the Finals.Iverson said it was a "good feeling" entering the record books as the shortest MVP. But now he doesn't mind if Paul, rapidly gaining support as the Hornets continue to have the West's best record, joins him."I like his overall game, everything about it," Iverson said. "His team has the best record, so I'd give (the MVP) to him. He can handle the ball. He can shoot it. He can finish. He has the ball in his hands pretty much 99 percent of the time, every possession. He's starting the offense, so it's tough to deal with."Coming from Iverson, that's saying something. Paul did average 22.7 points and 13.3 points in three games this season against Denver.While Paul, averaging 21.2 points, 11.5 assists and 2.7 steals, is an MVP threat because of his all-around game, Iverson won the trophy because of his scoring.He averaged 31.1 points to win his second of four scoring titles.Iverson's MVP trophy today sits on a dresser at the Virginia home of his mother, Ann Iverson.As for Cousy's trophy, who knows where it is?About five years ago, seeking to raise money for his two daughters, Cousy sold nearly all his memorabilia. He raised $550,000 (with each daughter, after taxes and auction fees, getting $160,000), with his MVP trophy fetching $55,000."It was 4 or 5 feet tall, and I had it in a case in my office," Cousy said of the trophy, which he earned by averaging 20.6 points and 7.5 assists. "But I'm the type of person who would rather look forward than look backward, and I didn't have any regrets (selling it) since it was for my daughters. But I do remember thinking that, being the MVP, that meant that I was the best basketball player on the planet that year."Now, Paul could earn the distinction of best player on the planet. If he does, he figures to receive a congratulatory note from the guy whose Bob Cousy Award goes annually to the best college point guard, an honor Paul was considered for at Wake Forest in 2004-05."If you see him, tell him I'm rooting for him," Cousy said.It might not be difficult for Iverson to tell Paul he's in his corner. The Nuggets are in line to meet the Hornets in the first round of the playoffs.(Contact Chris Tomasson of the Rocky Mountain News at tomassonc(at)rockymountainnews.com.)