The NBA is honoring some of its biggest legends with six newly designed trophies named after the former players who defined the standard of excellence in the league. Here’s what you need to know:
The NBA honors some of its greatest legends with six newly designed trophies named after players who define the league's standard of excellence. Here's what you need to know:
- The awards list features the Michael Jordan Trophy, given to the league’s MVP.
- The NBA added the Clutch Player of the Year award, named the Jerry West Trophy.
- The NBA renamed the Rookie of the Year award to the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy.
- The George Mikan Trophy will be awarded to the Most Improved Player of the Year.
- The Defensive Player of the Year will be called the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy.
- The Sixth Man of the Year is renamed the John Havlicek Trophy.
- The list of awards has the Michael Jordan Trophy, which is awarded to the league's MVP.
- The NBA added the Key Player of the Year award, named the Jerry West Trophy.
- The NBA renamed the Rookie of the Year award to the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy.
- The George McCann Trophy will be presented to the most improved player of the year.
- Defensive Player of the Year will be known as the Hakim Olajuwon Trophy.
- The Sixth Man of the Year was renamed the John Havlicek Trophy.
How are trophies designed?
The Michael Jordan Trophy stands 23.6 inches tall and weighs 23.6 pounds, representing Jordan’s No. 23 jersey and the number of NBA championships (six) he won. Its five-sided base is a nod to Jordan’s five league MVPs.
The Michael Jordan Trophy is 23.6 inches tall and weighs 23.6 pounds, representing Jordan's No. 23 jersey and the number of NBA championships he won (6). Its pentagonal base is a nod to Jordan's five league MVPs.
The rest of the trophies feature an embedment inside a 15-inch crystal net structure. The front of the award is flat to allow you to see the icon depicted inside, and the etching of the award and recipient is detailed at the bottom.
The rest of the trophy is embedded in a 15-inch crystal mesh structure. The front of the prize is flat, allowing you to see the icons depicted inside, etched details of the prize and winners at the bottom.
The Jerry West Trophy features a player shooting a jump shot, modeled after West’s form. The Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy shows a player in a defensive stance with one hand up and one down and his knees bent.
The Jerry West Trophy features a player jumper that mimics West's form. The Hakim Olajuwon trophy shows a player in a defensive position, one hand raised, the other lowered, knees bent.
Since Chamberlain won the Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in his first NBA season (1959-60), the NBA renamed ROY after him. The trophy features a player palming two basketballs at once.
Since Chamberlain won Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in his first NBA season (1959–60), the NBA changed its name to ROY under his name. The trophy features a player in charge of two basketballs at the same time.
For the John Havlicek Trophy, the design features a player elevated and shooting a running jumper, representing the boost provided by a player off the bench to his team. Meanwhile, the George Mikan Trophy resembles a figure doing the “Mikan Drill,” a layup and footwork exercise commonly used around the league. Mikan mastered the fundamentals as the NBA’s first dominant big man.
For the John Havlicek Award, the design features a player lifting and throwing a running jump shot to represent the assist provided to the team by the substitute player. At the same time, George McCann is like a man doing training, which is commonly used in the league for layups and footsteps. McCan mastered the fundamentals and became the NBA's first dominant big man.
What are they talking about
West and Olajuwon said they are honored to have the newly designed trophies named after them.
“There are few greater thrills as a basketball player than coming through for your teammates and fans when they need it most,” West said in a statement. “This new trophy will be awarded to the player who best delivers in those moments.”
West and Olajuwon said they were honored to have the newly designed trophy named after them.
West said in a statement: "As a basketball player, there is nothing more exciting than stepping up when your teammates and fans need it most. "This new trophy will be awarded to the player who performs best in key moments."
Olajuwon said: “I am honored to have the opportunity to celebrate the league’s best defensive player each year. Great basketball teams are defined by their ability to defend, with every great team connected by an elite defensive anchor.”
Olajuwon said: "I am honored to have the opportunity to present the league's best defensive player every year. Great basketball teams are defined by their defensive abilities, and every great team is guided by a good defensive workhorse. ”