The NBA announced this Tuesday that the winner of the MVP of the regular season will receive the Michael Jordan Trophy, a novelty among the names of league legends that will accompany its most important recognitions.
“Our new collection of trophies celebrates some of the greatest and most impactful players in NBA history,” league commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.
Silver said that this is how they hope to “pay tribute” to the legends of the league when the best players of each season are recognized.
In addition to linking Michael Jordan’s name to MVP, the NBA revealed that the winner of the Defensive Player of the Year award will get the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy.
Another myth like Wilt Chamberlain will be the protagonist of the trophy that the winner of the Rookie of the Year takes.
John Havlicek and George Mikan will name the trophy for Best Sixth Man and Most Progressed Player, respectively.
Finally, the Jerry West Trophy will be presented to the winner of a new award: the “Clutch Player of the Year”, which will be awarded to the player who performs best in close finishes and decisive moments.
These new names for the awards follow the idea of the last few months of the NBA to associate its recognitions with historical figures of the league.
For example, in May the NBA announced the creation of the Western Conference Finals MVP and Eastern Conference Finals MVP awards tied, respectively, to the names ‘Magic’ Johnson and Larry Bird.