Trophies Flashcards
Larry O’Brien Trophy
Overall champion
Named for NBA Commissioner 1975-84
Named for Walter A. Brown - founder and original owner of the Celtics - until 1977
Bob Cousy Trophy
Eastern Conference champion
Oscar Robertson Trophy
Western Conference champion
Maurice Podoloff Trophy
Team with best overall record in regular season
Named for NBA Commissioner 1946-63
(previous trophy with this name was awarded to regular season MVP until 2021)
Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton Trophy
Atlantic Division champion
Named for first black player signed
Wayne Embry Trophy
Central Division champion
Named for first black NBA general manager and team president
Earl Lloyd Trophy
Southeast Division champion
Named for first black player to play
Willis Reed Trophy
Southwest Division champion
Named for player (Knicks), coach, and general manager/VP of basketball operation (Nets)
Sam Jones Trophy
Northwest Division champion
Named for Celtics shooting guard
Chuck Cooper Trophy
Pacific Division champion
Named for first black player to be drafted
All-NBA Team
Three five-player teams composed of the best players in the regular season
(chosen by panel of sportswriters and broadcasters)
All-Rookie Team
Two five-player teams composed of the top rookies in the regular season
(chosen by NBA head coaches, each coach cannot vote for players on their own team)
All-Defensive Team
Two five-player teams composed of the best defensive players in the regular season
(chosen by panel of sportswriters and broadcasters)
All-Star Game Kobe Bryant MVP Award
Best performing player in the All-Star Game
Renamed after Kobe Bryant in 2020
Wilt Chamberlain Trophy
Rookie of the Year
Formerly Eddie Gottlieb Trophy (renamed 2022)
Michael Jordan Trophy
Regular season MVP
Formerly Maurice Podoloff Trophy (renamed 2022)
Red Auerbach Trophy
Coach of the Year
Bill Russell Trophy
Finals MVP
Larry Bird Trophy
Eastern Conference Finals MVP
Magic Johnson Trophy
Western Conference Finals MVP
Executive of the Year
Top front office executive
J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award
Team member who showed “great service and dedication to the community” as voted by the PBWA
Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy
Defensive Player of the Year
John Havlicek Trophy
Sixth Man of the Year (best performing substitute)
George Mikan Trophy
Most Improved Player Award
Joe Dumars Trophy
Sportsmanship Award
Player who most displays “the ideals of sportsmanship on the court with ethical behavior, fair play and integrity” as voted by NBA players
Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award
Awarded to the “ideal teammate” who exemplifies “selfless play and commitment and dedication to his team” as voted by NBA players
Named after Rochester Royals teammates Jack Twyman and Maurice Stokes
Lifetime Achievement Award
Player who exemplified extraordinary success on and off the court
Winners: Bill Russell (2017), Oscar Robertson (2018), Larry Bird and Magic Johnson (2019)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award
Player who is making strides in the fight for social justice
Jerry West Trophy
Clutch Player of the Year
Hustle Award
Player who “best utilizes hustle to help his team win on a nightly basis”
Decided using “hustle stats” (diving for balls, deflecting, taking charges, etc.)
