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NBA Awards: Award Categories, History and Winners

Contributors
Updated November 4, 2022
20 min read
  • Since the NBA’s inception, awards have been presented to exceptional performers throughout the regular and postseason
  • Awards are also presented to NBA players/staff who show exemplary character and commitment to the community
  • NBA Awards are how basketball fans recognize the sport’s greatest athletes

The NBA Awards, in partnership with Turner Sports, was created to recognize the top performers of the NBA season.

The nominees for each award are announced during NBA on TNT broadcasts. The winners of each award are announced at the ceremony, as decided upon by a panel of sports broadcasters across Canada and the USA.

In addition, certain fan-voted categories are decided through the NBA website or via social media.

The ceremony occurs following the NBA Finals but before the NBA Draft. Broadcast occurs live on TNT, with a designated host sharing duties with the Inside the NBA team. Let’s take a look at the major NBA Awards!

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Nba Awards Categories

Team Trophies

Award Established Criteria Last Winner
Larry O’Brien Trophy 1977 Awarded to the NBA Finals winner. Milwaukee Bucks (2021)
Walter A. Brown Trophy 1947 Awarded to the NBA Finals winner. Replaced with the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 1977. N/A
Bob Cousy Trophy 2022 Awarded to the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals. TBD
Oscar Robertson Trophy 2022 Awarded to the winner of the Western Conference Finals. TBD
Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton Trophy 2022 Awarded to the Atlantic Division’s first-placed team. Boston Celtics (2022)
Wayne Embry Trophy 2022 Awarded to the Central Division’s first-placed team. Milwaukee Bucks (2022)
Earl Lloyd Trophy 2022 Awarded to the Southeast Division’s first-placed team. Miami Heat (2022)
Willis Reed Trophy 2022 Awarded to the Southwest Division’s first-placed team. Memphis Grizzlies (2022)
Sam Jones Trophy 2022 Awarded to the Northwest Division’s first-placed team. Utah Jazz (2022)
Chuck Cooper Trophy 2022 Awarded to the Pacific Division’s first-placed team. Phoenix Suns (2022)

All-League Honors

Honor Established Description
All-NBA Team 1947 Three five-player teams (first, second, and third) composed of the season’s best players as voted upon by a panel of Canadian and American sportswriters and broadcasters.
All-Rookie Team 1963 Two five-player teams (first and second) composed of the season’s top rookies as voted upon by active NBA head coaches. The voting Head Coaches are unable to vote for players from their own team.
All-Defensive Team 1969 Two five-player teams (first and second) composed of the season’s top defensive players as voted upon by a panel of Canadian and American sportswriters and broadcasters.

Individual Awards

Award Established Trophy Name Description Most Recent Winner(s) Year Awarded
All-Star Game MVP 1951 NBA All-Star Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player Award Awarded to the best performer at the annual NBA All-Star Game. Voted upon by a panel of media members. Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors) 2022
Rookie of the Year 1953 Eddie Gottlieb Trophy Awarded to the year’s top performing rookie. Voted upon by a panel of American and Canadian sportswriters and media members. Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors) 2022
Most Valuable Player 1956 Maurice Podoloff Trophy Awarded to the top-performing player of the NBA regular season. Voted upon by a panel of sportswriters and media members. Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets) 2022
Coach of the year 1963 Red Auerbach Trophy Awarded to the best coach of the NBA regular season. Voted upon by a panel of sportswriters and media members. Monty Williams (Phoenix Suns) 2022
NBA Finals MVP 1969 Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award Awarded to the best performing player of the NBA Finals. Voted upon by a panel of nine media members. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) 2021
NBA Eastern Conference Finals MVP 2022 Larry Bird Trophy Awarded to the best performing player of the Eastern Conference Finals. Voted upon by a panel of media members. TBD N/A
NBA Western Conference Finals MVP 2022 Magic Johnson Trophy Awarded to the best performing player of the Western Conference Finals. Voted upon by a panel of media members. TBD N/A
Executive of the Year 1973 n/a Awarded to the NBA’s top front office executive. Voted upon by executives from the league’s 30 teams. Zach Kleiman (Memphis Grizzlies) 2022
Citizenship Award 1975 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award Awarded to a player who “showed great service and dedication to the community”. Voted upon by the PBWA. Malcolm Brogdon (Indiana Pacers) 2020
Defensive Player of the Year 1983 n/a Awarded to the top defensive player of the regular season. Voted upon by a panel of media members. Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics) 2022
Sixth Man of the Year 1983 n/a Awarded to the best performing substitute of the regular season. Voted upon by a panel of media members. Tyler Herro (Miami Heat) 2022
Most Improved Player 1986 n/a Awarded to the most improved player in the NBA. Voted upon by a panel of media members. Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies) 2022
Sportsmanship Award 1996 Joe Dumars Trophy Awarded to a player who displays “the ideals of sportsmanship on the court with ethical behavior, fair play, and integrity”. Voted upon by NBA players. Patty Mills (Brooklyn Nets) 2022
Teammate of the Year 2013 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award Awarded to the “ideal teammate” who exemplifies “selfless play, commitment, and dedication to this team.” Voted upon by NBA players. Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee Bucks) 2022
Lifetime Achievement Award 2017 n/a Awarded to a player who has achieved a lifetime achievement in the NBA. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson 2019
Social Justice Champion Award 2021 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Awarded to a player who has made strides in the fight for social justice. Reggie Bullock (Dallas Mavericks) 2022

NBA Most Valuable Player Award


Since 1956 the NBA has awarded the most outstanding player of the season the Maurice Podoloff Trophy, named in honour of the first commissioner of the NBA. Until 1980, the MVP was chosen by a vote of NBA players. From 1981 and on, the MVP Award has been decided upon by a panel of sportswriters.

The choice is made via a points system. Members of the voting panel cast votes for first through fifth place selections: first-place is worth 10 points, second-place is worth seven points, third-place is worth five points, fourth-place is worth three points, and fifth-place is worth one point. In 2010, one ballot is cast by fans via online voting.

The MVP Award has been won by some of the greatest players to grace the basketball court. Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, and LeBron James top the list. Every player that has won the MVP Award has been nominated to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Multiple Time MVP Winners

Awards Player Position Team Years
6 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center Milwaukee Bucks(3)/Los Angeles Lakers (3) 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980
5 Bill Russell Center Boston Celtics 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965
Michael Jordan Shooting Guard Chicago Bulls 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998
4 Wilt Chamberlain Center Philadelphia Warriors (1)/Philadelphia 76ers (3) 1960, 1966, 1967, 1968
LeBron James Small Forward Cleveland Cavaliers (2)/Miami Heat (2) 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013
3 Moses Malone Center Houston Rockets (2)/Philadelphia 76ers (1) 1979, 1982, 1983
Larry Bird Small Forward Boston Celtics 1984, 1985, 1986
Magic Johnson Point Guard Los Angeles Lakers 1987, 1989, 1990
2 Bob Pettit Power Forward/Center St. Louis Hawks 1956, 1959
Karl Malone Power Forward Utah Jazz 1997, 1999
Tim Duncan Power Forward San Antonio Spurs 2002, 2003
Steve Nash Point Guard Phoenix Suns 2005, 2006
Stephen Curry Point Guard Golden State Warriors 2015, 2016
Giannis Antetokounmpo Power Forward Milwaukee Bucks 2019, 2020
Nikola Jokic Center Denver Nuggets 2021. 2022

International Winners

Season Player Position Nationality Team School/Former Club
1993-94 Hakeem Olajuwon Center Nigeria Houston Rockets Houston
2004-05 Steve Nash Point Guard Canada Phoenix Suns Santa Clara
2005-06 Steve Nash (2) Point Guard Canada Phoenix Suns Santa Clara
2006-07 Dirk Nowitzki Power Forward Germany Dallas Mavericks DJK Würzburg (GER)
2018-19 Giannis Antetokounmpo Power Forward Greece Milwaukee Bucks Filathlitikos (GRE)
2019-20 Giannis Antetokounmpo (2) Power Forward Greece Milwaukee Bucks Filathlitikos (GRE)
2020-21 Nikola Jokic Center Serbia Denver Nuggets Mega Basket (SRB)
2021-22 Nikola Jokic Center Serbia Denver Nuggets Mega Basket (SRB)

NBA Rookie of the Year


The NBA Rookie of the Year award is given to the top rookie of the regular season. Winners are awarded the Eddie Gottlieb trophy, as selected by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters from the United States and Canada.

Of Rookie of the Year Winners, 21 of those winners have been the first overall pick in the NBA Draft. There have also been 16 eventual MVP winners out of the Rookie of the Year class. Two Rookies of the Year, Wes Unseld and Wilt Chamberlain won the honor simultaneously with the Most Valuable Player award.

International Presence

American players have dominated the Rookie of the Year Award and every winner has been selected in the NBA Draft.

As the NBA has expanded its reach, a number of international prospects have made their name by winning the trophy themselves. Legendary forward Pau Gasol broke the seal for international players, being the first non-American to win the award.

Season Player Position Nationality Team School/Former Club
2001-02 Pau Gasol Power Forward Spain Memphis Grizzlies FC Barcelona (ESP)
2014-15 Andrew Wiggins Small Forward Canada Minnesota Timberwolves Kansas
2015-16 Karl-Anthony Towns Center Dominican Republic Minnesota Timberwolves Kentucky
2017-18 Ben Simmons Point Guard Australia Philadelphia 76ers LSU
2018-19 Luka Doncic Point Guard Slovenia Dallas Mavericks Real Madrid (ESP)

Co-Rookies of the Year

Expectations on rookies are rarely high. Due to the jump in competition level, teams are modest in their expectations, foreseeing only a singular stellar performance.

However sometimes, multiple players are given the honour:

Season Player Position Nationality Team School/Former Club
1970-71 Dave Cowens Forward/Center USA Boston Celtics Florida State
Geoff Petrie Guard USA Portland Trail Blazers Princeton
1994-95 Grant Hill Forward USA Detroit Pistons Duke
Jason Kidd Guard USA Dallas Mavericks California
1999-20 Elton Brand Forward USA Chicago Bulls Duke
Steve Francis Guard USA Houston Rockets Maryland

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NBA Defensive Player of the Year


Awarded annually since 1982-1983, the Defensive Player of the Year is given to the standout defensive performer of the season. Dominant defensive players are hard to come by and the award has been mostly won by centers.

Some of the leagues best shot-blockers, pickpockets, and man-to-man defenders are former NBA Defensive Players of the Year. Other notable defensive players have found themselves on the NBA All-Defensive Team.

Multiple Time Defensive Player of the Year Winners

Awards Player Position Team Years
4 Dikembe Mutombo Center Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks (2), Philadelphia 76ers 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001
Ben Wallace Center Detroit Pistons 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006
3 Dwight Howard Center Orlando Magic 2009, 2010, 2011
Rudy Gobert Center Utah Jazz 2018, 2019, 2021
2 Sidney Moncrief Guard Milwaukee Bucks 1983, 1984
Mark Eaton Center Utah Jazz 1985, 1989
Dennis Rodman Forward Detroit Pistons 1990, 1991
Hakeem Olajuwon Center Houston Rockets 1993, 1994
Alonzo Mourning Center Miami Heat 1999, 2000
Kawhi Leonard Forward San Antonio Spurs 2015, 2016

NBA Sixth Man of the Year


The NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award is an annual award that has been given out since the 1982-1983 season. It celebrates the leagues top performing player whose contributions are earned as a member of the bench. To win this award, a player does not have to exclusively be a member of their teams bench unit, but must have a majority of his appearances as a substitute.

Out of 30 players to win the award, scoring-adept guards have been dominant. On occasion, big men have been winners of the award as well.

Multiple Time Sixth Man of the Year Winners

Awards Player Position Team Years
3 Lou Williams Guard Toronto Raptors/LA Clippers (2) 2015, 2018, 2019
Jamal Crawford Guard Atlanta Hawks/LA Clippers (2) 2010, 2014, 2016
2 Kevin McHale Forward Boston Celtics 1984, 1985
Ricky Pierce Guard Milwaukee Bucks 1987, 1990
Detlef Schrempf Forward Indiana Pacers 1991, 1992

NBA Most Improved Player


The NBA Most Improved Player of the Year Award is given to a player that has shown the most personal progress during the regular season, as compared to their previous years. This is not limited to scoring, but all categories. Jumps in role with a team have bolstered players’ chances for the award, while one-off seasons of fantastic production have been found as well.

This award tends to reward players whose leaps in production also denote a leap in expectation. A player has never won the Most Improved Player Award more than once, seeing as expectations are raised after winning. Only a single player who has won the Most Improved Player Award has been inducted to the NBA Hall of Fame – Tracy McGrady. Winners of the award tend to go on to achieve further accolades:

Most Improved Player Award Winners Who Became NBA All-Stars

  • Alvin Robertson (’86)
  • Dale Ellis (’87)
  • Kevin Johnson (’89)
  • Dana Barros (’95)
  • Tracy McGrady (’01)
  • Jermaine O’Neal (’02)
  • Gilbert Arenas (’03)
  • Zach Randolph (’04)
  • Danny Granger (’09)
  • Kevin Love (’11)
  • Paul George (’13)
  • Goran Dragic (’14)
  • Jimmy Butler (’15)
  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (’17)
  • Victor Oladipo (’18)
  • Pascal Siakam (’19)
  • Julius Randle (’21)

NBA Coach of the Year


The NBA Coach of the Year Award rewards the Red Auerbach Trophy, named after the head coach who led the Boston Celtics to nine of its NBA Championships. The winner is selected from a panel of sportswriters from the USA and Canada. The award isn’t given to the coach with the best record on the season, but to a coach who has shown to have a massive impact on the success of their team compared to previous years.

Attached to this award are some of the greatest basketball minds in the history of the sport. For some former players and other basketball academics, their impact on the game and its players will be forever felt.

Multiple Time Coach of the Year Winners

Awards Coach Team Years
3 Don Nelson Milwaukee Bucks (2), Golden State Warriors 1983, 1985, 1992
Pat Riley Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Miami Heat 1990, 1993, 1997
Gregg Popovich San Antonio Spurs 2003, 2012, 2014
2 Gene Shue Baltimore Bullets, Washington Bullets 1969, 1982
Bill Fitch Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics 1976, 1980
Hubie Brown Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies 1978, 2004
Cotton Fitzsimmons Kansas City Kings, Phoenix Suns 1979, 1989
Mike D’Antoni Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets 2005, 2017
Mike Budenholzer Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks 2015, 2019
Tom Thibodeau Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks 2011, 2021

Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year


Established in 2012, the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year trophy is awarded to the player that exemplifies the ideal teammate and selfless play, commitment, and dedication to the team. The award is named after Jack Twyman and Maurice Stokes. The two were teammates on the Royals from 1955-to 1958, until a head injury ended the career of Maurice Stokes. As a result of the injury, Stokes became paralyzed – at that point Twyman became the legal guardian of his former teammate Stokes until his passing in 1970.

Each year six players from each conference are selected by a panel of “NBA Legends” as nominees for the award. The winner is then voted upon by NBA players via a weighted point system. As a part of the reward, the NBA makes a $25,000 donation to the charity of the winner’s choice.

Winners

  • (G) Chauncey Billups – LA Clippers – 2013
  • (F) Shane Battier – Miami Heat – 2014
  • (F) Tim Duncan – San Antonio Spurs – 2015
  • (G) Vince Carter – Memphis Grizzlies – 2016
  • (F) Dirk Nowitzki – Dallas Mavericks – 2017
  • (G) Jamal Crawford – Minnesota Timberwolves – 2018
  • (G) Mike Conley Jr. – Memphis Grizzlies – 2019

NBA Cares Community Assist Award


The NBA Cares Community Assist Award is internally voted upon, rewarding players for community engagement, philanthropic activity, and charity work. The award has been given out both during and after the season in a cumulative and monthly format. The winner is presented the David Robinson Plaque, inscribed on it “Following the standard set by NBA Legend David Robinson, who improved the community piece by piece.”

NBA Sportsmanship Award


The NBA Sportsmanship Award has been given out since the 1995-1996 season. It is awarded to the player who “exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court with ethical behaviour, fair play, and integrity.” Named after its inaugural winner Joe Dumars, it is equivalent to its sister league the WNBA’s Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award.

Each year all 30 NBA teams nominate a single player from their team for the award. From the nominees, one player from each division is selected by a panel as the divisional winners of the Sportsmanship Award. At the conclusion of the regular season, players in the NBA vote upon the nominees via a weighted points system.

Multiple-Time NBA Sportsmanship Award Winners

  • (F) Grant Hill – Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns (2) – 2005, 2008, 2010
  • (G) Mike Conley Jr. – Memphis Grizzlies (3) – 2014, 2016, 2019
  • (G) Kemba Walker – Charlotte Hornets (2) – 2017, 2018
  • (G) Jason Kidd – Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks – 2012, 2013

NBA Lifetime Achievement Award


The NBA Lifetime Achievement Award is given to a former NBA Player who has achieved exemplary success both on and off the basketball court. Via a fantastic NBA career and impactful work as a member of society, recipients of the NBA’s Lifetime Achievement Award are some of the best to ever call the NBA home.

NBA Lifetime Achievement Award Winners

  • Bill Russell (Boston Celtics) (2017)
  • Oscar Robertson (Cincinnati Royals, Milwaukee Bucks) (2018)
  • Larry Bird (Boston Celtics) and Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers) (2019)

NBA Hustle Award


The NBA Hustle Award is the newest of NBA Awards. It is awarded to the player with the highest aggregate hustle score each year. It is calculated by: Minimum of 50 games played, minimum average of 15 minutes per game, accumulated hustle stats including screen assists, deflections, loose balls recovered, charges drawn, and shots contested.

The winner of the inaugural NBA Hustle Award was Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics.

NBA Executive of the Year Award


The NBA Executive of the Year Award recognizes notable achievements by an NBA teams General Manager. Before 2009, the Executive of the Year Award was presented by Sporting News, but was later recognized officially by the NBA. Voting is conducted by executives of each of the NBA’s 30 teams. The GM with the most votes wins the award.

Sager Strong Award


The Sager Strong Award was established in 2017 in honour of long-time NBA reporter Craig Sager (1951-2016). It is presented to an individual who “Has been a trailblazer while exemplifying courage, faith, compassion, and grace.” Rather than receiving a trophy, the winner receives a replica blazer, which mimics the flamboyant style of Craig Sager.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NBA’s Highest Individual Award?

What is the NBA’s Highest Team Award?

Who Won the Most MVP’s in NBA History?

How Many International Players Have Won the NBA MVP Award?

What is the NBA’s Oldest Award?


What is the NBA’s Newest Award?

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Christian Jope WSN Contributors

Christian Jope

NBA Betting Analyst

Expertise:
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Christian Jope is a writer, social media strategist, and data analyst. A Queen’s University Alumni, Christian is an author and social media strategist with Raptors Cage, while also working closely with MLSE and Canada Basketball through community-driven events.
Email: [email protected]
Nationality: Canadian
Education: Bachelor of Arts (Applied Economics)
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