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
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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