NBA Sportsmanship Award

National Basketball Association awards and honors
Team awards
Individual awards
Honors

The NBA Sportsmanship Award is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given to a player who most "exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court with ethical behavior, fair play, and integrity."[1] It is directly analogous to the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award, which has been awarded by the NBA's sister league, the WNBA, with neither award demanding excellence of play.

Every year, each of the 30 NBA teams nominates one of its players to compete for this award. From these nominees, one player from each NBA division are selected by a panel as the divisional Sportsmanship Award winners. At the end of the regular season, players in the league cast votes for the award, with eleven points given for each first-place vote, nine for second-place vote, seven points for third, five points for fourth, three points for fifth and one point for each sixth place vote received. The player with the highest point total, regardless of the number of first-place votes, wins the award. Since 2000, winners have been presented with the Joe Dumars Trophy, named after the award's inaugural recipient who played for the Detroit Pistons.[1][2]

Mike Conley has won the award four times; the most in NBA history.[3][4] Grant Hill has won it three times while Kemba Walker and Jason Kidd have both won it twice.[5][6][7]

Winners

Mike Conley with his arms spread
Mike Conley, a four-time holder of the NBA Sportsmanship Award and one of the few multiple time winners
Grant Hill at a pre-game warm up
Grant Hill, three-time NBA Sportsmanship Award winner
Luol Deng chasing after a loose ball
Luol Deng, one of only two foreign NBA players to win the award
Jason Kidd holding the ball
Jason Kidd won the award twice in consecutive years
^ Denotes player who is still active in the NBA
* Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
† Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[a]
§ 1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2024[8]
Player (X) Denotes the number of times the player has received the award
Season Player Position Nationality Team References
1995–96 Joe Dumars* Guard  United States Detroit Pistons [2]
1996–97 Terrell Brandon Guard  United States Cleveland Cavaliers [9]
1997–98 Avery Johnson Guard  United States San Antonio Spurs [10]
1998–99 Hersey Hawkins Guard  United States Seattle SuperSonics [11]
1999–00 Eric Snow Guard  United States Philadelphia 76ers [12]
2000–01 David Robinson* Center  United States San Antonio Spurs (2) [13]
2001–02 Steve Smith Guard  United States San Antonio Spurs (3) [14]
2002–03 Ray Allen* Guard  United States Seattle SuperSonics (2) [15]
2003–04 P. J. Brown Center/forward  United States New Orleans Hornets [16]
2004–05 Grant Hill* Forward  United States Orlando Magic [3]
2005–06 Elton Brand Forward  United States Los Angeles Clippers [17]
2006–07 Luol Deng Forward  United Kingdom[b] Chicago Bulls [1]
2007–08 Grant Hill* (2) Forward  United States Phoenix Suns [3]
2008–09 Chauncey Billups* Guard  United States Denver Nuggets [19]
2009–10 Grant Hill* (3) Forward  United States Phoenix Suns (2) [3]
2010–11 Stephen Curry^ Guard  United States Golden State Warriors [20]
2011–12 Jason Kidd* Guard  United States Dallas Mavericks [21]
2012–13 Jason Kidd* (2) Guard  United States New York Knicks [5]
2013–14 Mike Conley^ Guard  United States Memphis Grizzlies [22]
2014–15 Kyle Korver Guard/forward  United States Atlanta Hawks [23]
2015–16 Mike Conley^ (2) Guard  United States Memphis Grizzlies (2) [24]
2016–17 Kemba Walker† Guard  United States Charlotte Hornets [25]
2017–18 Kemba Walker† (2) Guard  United States Charlotte Hornets (2) [7]
2018–19 Mike Conley^ (3) Guard  United States Memphis Grizzlies (3) [26]
2019–20 Vince Carter* Forward  United States Atlanta Hawks (2) [27]
2020–21 Jrue Holiday^ Guard  United States Milwaukee Bucks [28]
2021–22 Patty Mills^ Guard  Australia Brooklyn Nets [29]
2022–23 Mike Conley^ (4) Guard  United States Minnesota Timberwolves [30]
2023–24 Tyrese Maxey^ Guard  United States Philadelphia 76ers (2) [31]

Multi-time winners

Awards Player Team Years
4 United States Mike Conley Memphis Grizzlies (3), Minnesota Timberwolves 2014, 2016, 2019, 2023
3 United States Grant Hill Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns (2) 2005, 2008, 2010
2 United States Jason Kidd Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks 2012, 2013
United States Kemba Walker Charlotte Hornets 2017, 2018

Teams

Awards Teams Years
3 San Antonio Spurs 1998, 2001, 2002
Memphis Grizzlies 2014, 2016, 2019
2 Seattle SuperSonics 1999, 2003
Phoenix Suns 2008, 2010
Charlotte Hornets 2017, 2018
Atlanta Hawks 2015, 2020
Philadelphia 76ers 2000, 2024
1 Orlando Magic 2005
New York Knicks 2013
New Orleans Pelicans / New Orleans Hornets 2004
Los Angeles Clippers 2006
Golden State Warriors 2011
Detroit Pistons 1996
Denver Nuggets 2009
Dallas Mavericks 2012
Cleveland Cavaliers 1997
Chicago Bulls 2007
Milwaukee Bucks 2021
Brooklyn Nets 2022
Minnesota Timberwolves 2023
0 Utah Jazz None
Indiana Pacers
Sacramento Kings
Los Angeles Lakers
Toronto Raptors
Washington Wizards
Miami Heat
Houston Rockets
Boston Celtics

See also

Notes

  1. ^ A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for three calendar years.
  2. ^ Luol Deng was born in Wau, a city in Sudan (South Sudan since July 9, 2011), but became a naturalized British citizen in 2006.[18]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Chicago's Deng Wins 2006-07 NBA Sportsmanship Award". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. May 3, 2007. Archived from the original on June 15, 2010. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
  2. ^ a b "Divisional Winners Announced for NBA Sportsmanship Award". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on March 17, 2009. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d "Hill first-ever three-time NBA Sportsmanship Award winner". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 26, 2010. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  4. ^ "Utah Jazz Acquire Guard Mike Conley Jr". Utah Jazz. July 6, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "New York's Jason Kidd wins NBA Sportsman Award". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 30, 2013. Archived from the original on December 4, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
  6. ^ "Grizzlies' Conley wins 2015-16 NBA Sportsmanship Award". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 23, 2016. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  7. ^ a b Rochinski, Matt (June 25, 2018). "Walker Wins Second Consecutive NBA Sportsmanship Award". Hornets.com. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  8. ^ "2024 Hall of Fame Candidates". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  9. ^ "Terrell Brandon Bio: 1996-97". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  10. ^ "Avery Johnson Bio: 1997-98". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on 2006-04-27. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  11. ^ "Hersey Hawkins Bio: 1998-99". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  12. ^ "Eric Snow Bio: Personal". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on August 20, 2008. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  13. ^ "Admiral Lands Sportsmanship Award". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. May 7, 2001. Archived from the original on June 15, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  14. ^ "Spurs' Steve Smith Wins Sportsmanship Award". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. June 12, 2002. Archived from the original on June 15, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  15. ^ "Allen's message: Be true to yourself". ESPN.com. May 13, 2003. Retrieved March 8, 2009.
  16. ^ "Hornets' Brown Wins Sportsmanship Award". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 24, 2004. Archived from the original on June 15, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  17. ^ "L.A. Clippers' Elton Brand Wins NBA Sportsmanship Award". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. May 1, 2006. Archived from the original on July 10, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  18. ^ "NBA star Deng ready for GB debut". BBC. October 18, 2006. Retrieved August 14, 2008.
  19. ^ "Nuggets' Billups named Sportsmanship Award winner". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 28, 2009. Archived from the original on April 30, 2009. Retrieved April 28, 2009.
  20. ^ "Warriors' Stephen Curry wins NBA Sportsmanship Award". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. May 5, 2011. Archived from the original on May 8, 2011. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  21. ^ "Mavericks' Jason Kidd wins NBA Sportsmanship Award". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. May 3, 2012. Archived from the original on May 8, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  22. ^ "Grizzlies' Mike Conley wins NBA Sportsmanship Award". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 24, 2014. Archived from the original on April 25, 2014. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  23. ^ "Kyle Korver Wins 2014-15 NBA Sportsmanship Award". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 29, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  24. ^ "Grizzlies' Conley wins 2015-16 NBA Sportsmanship Award". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 23, 2016. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  25. ^ "NBA Awards 2017". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. June 26, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  26. ^ "Mike Conley Wins 2019 Teammate of the Year Award as well as the Sportsmanship Award". NBA.com. June 24, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  27. ^ "Vince Carter wins 2019-20 NBA Sportsmanship Award". NBA.com. October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  28. ^ "Jrue Holiday wins 2020-21 NBA Sportsmanship award". NBA.com. June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  29. ^ "Nets' Patty Mills wins 2021-22 NBA Sportsmanship Award". NBA.com: NBA Communications. 2022-04-22. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  30. ^ "Mike Conley wins 2022-23 NBA Sportsmanship award". NBA.com. July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  31. ^ "Sixers' Tyrese Maxey wins 2023-24 NBA Sportsmanship Award". NBA.com. May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.