Keeping It Heel
Fansided

UNC Basketball: NBA renaming prestigious award after Michael Jordan

By Nick Delahanty

Former NBA great Bill Russell (L) hands Michael Jordan (R) of the Chicago Bulls his fifth Maurice Podoloff Most Valuable Player Trophy for the 1997-98 season 18 May, at a press conference at the Sheraton North Shore Hotel in Northbrook, Illinois. Jordan is trying to lead the Bulls to their sixth NBA title. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo by JEFF HAYNES / AFP) (Photo by JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images)
Former NBA great Bill Russell (L) hands Michael Jordan (R) of the Chicago Bulls his fifth Maurice Podoloff Most Valuable Player Trophy for the 1997-98 season 18 May, at a press conference at the Sheraton North Shore Hotel in Northbrook, Illinois. Jordan is trying to lead the Bulls to their sixth NBA title. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo by JEFF HAYNES / AFP) (Photo by JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The NBA has announced that they are renaming some annual awards, including the honoring UNC basketball legend Michael Jordan.

On Tuesday, the National Basketball Association unveiled a new look for some notable awards.

The new trophy updates are part of the league’s multiyear project to reimagine many of its most important awards. Last season, the NBA started the process by releasing some new-look postseason trophies.

This year, the focus is on the end-of-season awards, as the league announced five re-named awards, including one that honors a UNC basketball legend.

The Michael Jordan Trophy will be given annually to the league’s most valuable player. During his 15-year career in the NBA, Jordan took home five MVP awards, the second-most of any player in league history.

In addition to the Jordan Trophy, here are some of the other awards that have been renamed:

The Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy (Defensive Player of the Year)
The Wilt Chamberlain Trophy (Rookie of the Year)
The John Havlicek Trophy  (Sixth Man of the Year)
The George Mikan Trophy (Most Improved Player)

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver had this to say regarding the renaming of the trophies:

"“Our new collection of trophies celebrates some of the greatest and most impactful players in the history of the NBA. As we recognize the league’s top performers each season, we also pay tribute to the legends who embody these prestigious awards.”"

Having won the MVP award last season, Denver Nuggets standout Nikola Jokic will receive the first version of the Michael Jordan Trophy.

The NBA, with former Nike and Jordan brand designer Mark Smith, put some fine details into the trophy to honor Jordan’s legendary career:

The trophy stands at 23.6 inches tall, which represents his famous No. 23 jersey along with the six NBA titles that he won throughout his career. Its five-sided base was sculpted to recognize Jordan’s five league MVPs, and the crystal basketball that is featured at the top consists of 23 points and measures exactly 1.23 inches in diameter.

Future league MVPs will receive a trophy that honors Jordan, the greatest basketball player of all time. His legacy, which was already well-known and admired, will continue to be honored, as his impact on the sport will never be forgotten.

Next. The anticipated UNC basketball debut of Jalen Washington. dark

Follow us @KeepingItHeel on Twitter and like our fan page on Facebook for continued coverage of UNC basketball news, updates, and recruiting.

Home/UNC Basketball