The NBA announced Tuesday that it is naming the regular season MVP award to Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest player of all time. The renaming comes six decades after the MVP was named after the league’s first commissioner, Maurice Podoloff.
The NBA MVP trophy is known as The Michael Jordan Trophy. It feels right. pic.twitter.com/baVlwnwOZf
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 13, 2022
Jordan’s bonafide streak includes winning five MVPs, going six-for-six in the NBA Finals with six Finals MVPs and 10 scoring titles. He is a 14-time All-Star and three-time All-Star Game MVP. He is also the Defensive Player of the Year, a nine-time All-Defensive Team member and an 11-time All-NBA member. MJ had his iconic number 23 retired by the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat.
Michael Jordan’s trophy stands 23.6 inches tall and weighs 23.6 pounds, nods to his famous jersey number and six titles with the Bulls. The MVP trophy has a pentagonal base, honoring the five MVPs, and a hexagonal name badge honoring each of the champions. The base was shaped at a 15-degree angle for the 15 seasons Jordan played in the NBA.
Although Jordan approved the design and was involved every step of the way, the Michael Jordan trophy does not feature him. The Michael Jordan Trophy is a bronze trophy that represents a player in the league for reaching the “Ultimate Rock-Crystal Basketball.” The MVP award shows how hard work leads to something bright and ultimately, something great when you reach the top of the trophy.
“Anybody should be able to see this and see for themselves,” said Jordan Brand designer Mark Smith, who oversaw the trophy’s design. “They should feel the goodness of Michael Jordan and his pursuit. It has his name on it, but it’s not him. Everyone is. He might be a shipbuilder, or he might be a teacher or a lawyer or a writer, and he looks at it and says, ‘That’s what I’m trying to do.’
New names and trophies for NBA’s top individual awards:
– MVP: Michael Jordan trophy
– DPOY: Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy
– ROY: Wilt Chamberlain Cup
Sixth Man of the Year: John Havlikek Trophy
– Most Improved: George Mikan Trophy
– New Clutch Player of the Year: Jerry West Trophy— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 13, 2022
The league has decided to rebrand and add a pair of trophies to its last two trophies. The NBA has introduced the Jerry West Award for Clutch Player of the Year. As with most NBA awards, a media panel decides the winner, and coaches nominate players for the clutch award. DPOY now receives the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy, ROY receives the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy, Sixth Man of the Year receives the John Havlikek Trophy, and Most Improved Player receives the George Mikan Trophy.
“Our new collection of trophies honors the greatest and most influential players in NBA history,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “As we recognize the league’s top performers each season, we also honor the legends who made these prestigious awards possible.”
“I always go to numbers and symbolism as the key to making something unique and authentic to that person,” Smith said. “When you start putting all these things together, there’s only one person, and it becomes very special. It’s not unique, but it’s very unique. “
Other trophies that have been redesigned or redesigned include some for Joe Dumar (Sportsmanship), Red Auerbach (Coach of the Year), the Kobe Bryant All-Star MP Award, and the Larry O’Brien Trophy for NBA Championships and Bill Russell’s NBA Finals. MVP trophy.
The Eastern and Western Conference Finals winners receive the Bob Cousy and Oscar Robertson Trophies, the Eastern Finals MVP receives the Larry Bird Trophy, and the Western Finals MVP receives the Magic Johnson Trophy. Division winners will receive trophies named after Nat “Sweet Water” Clifton (Atlantic), Wayne Embry (Central), Earl Lloyd (Southeast), Willis Reed (Southwest), Sam Jones (Northwest) and Chick Cooper (Pacific).
