There is no doubt that the NBA All-Star Competition held in Chicago in 2020 has been destined to become the most classic All-Star main competition in history!
The special time node, the unprecedented competition system, and the attention of fans around the world have jointly created this classic. In the first half of the regular season, the third quarter of the playoffs, and the fourth quarter of the finals, some people hold their breath and concentrate, some people or their blood rushing last moments - everything is unprecedented, and there may be no one in the future.
Although it was a free throw game by Brother Davis, although Paul, who returned to the All-Star after four years, made a wonderful performance and contributed an all-received dunk. Although James once again broke the record of All-Star times and All-Star Game score record that he had already maintained, the final player of the All-Star MVP trophy was Los Angeles Another team player - Leonard of the Clippers, won the honor of representing the "King of Stars" with 30 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. In this game, Xiao Ka felt a lot, making 11 of 18 shots and 8 of 14 three-pointers, of which 7 of them were scored in the first 8 three-pointers!
What is more historically significant is that Xiaoka won the first named All-Star MVP trophy in history. Starting this year, the name of this trophy is the Kobe Bryant MVP Award.
On January 27, 2020, at 4 a.m. Beijing time, the basketball idol of countless fans and the basketball god in the minds of generations of fans, Kobe Bryant passed away in an air crash! With him, his daughter GIGI was also gone. When the news came, no matter whether it was the fans or not, countless people were sorry, sad and sad for it. In order to commemorate Kobe, NBA has confirmed that the All-Star MVP Award will be permanently named "Kobe Bryant MVP Award".
Leonard became the second player in the history of the Clippers to win the All-Star MVP trophy, the last one was Paul in 2013; but Leonard was the first player in NBA history to win the "Bryant Bryant MVP Award". He said emotionally in an interview: "For me, this means too much, and no words can express my feelings about winning this trophy. I want to thank Kobe for everything he has done for me. We have trained together and had a long talk together. Thank you, this trophy is dedicated to you."
So, in addition to the All-Star MVP trophy named after Kobe, which other trophys in the NBA are named after someone?
Champion Trophy - O'Brien Cup
Speaking of the NBA championship trophy, I believe many fans are not unfamiliar with it. This is a 6.5kg trophy made in sterling silver. It has a layer of 24K gold on the outside and is about 60 cm in height. Its appearance is very vivid, just like a basketball is about to enter the Nets.
The name of the championship trophy is "O'Brien Cup", which is to commemorate former NBA president Mr. Larry O'Brien . He served as NBA president from 1975 to 1983. During his tenure, the NBA completed the merger of the ABA, which also made the NBA the best basketball league in the world. Not only that, O'Brien also introduced the three-point line in 1979, which is also regarded as the beginning of modern basketball. Moreover, he also reached a new labor-management agreement with the NBA Players' Union in 1983, which is also the blueprint and foundation for the development of the NBA league. Starting from 1984, the championship trophy began to be named after O'Brien, in recognition and commemoration of his outstanding contributions. From 1977 to 1983, the name of this trophy was called the Walter A. Brown Trophy, which was named after the Celtic Honorary Chairman.
Maybe what fans don’t know is that O’Brien is also a political figure! In 1968 and 1970, O'Brien was elected as chairman twice by the Democratic National Convention. He also served as the postal chief of the United States. In 1972, O'Brien was secretly installed with a wiretap in the president's office of Watergate Building, causing the famous "Watergate Incident." In 1992, the Democratic National Convention also specially established the O'Brien Award to commemorate O'Brien's great contribution to the Democratic Party.
On September 28, 1990, O'Brien died. In 1991, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Regular Season MVP Trophy - Morris -Podolov Cup
NBA Regular Season MVP Trophy is called the "Morris Podolov Cup". This is named after the first NBA president, Mr. Morris Podolov. Podolov founded the NBA and introduced the "24-second rule" to basketball, which is also one of the greatest rules in basketball history. Interestingly speaking, Podolov is not only the first president in NBA history, he has also served as president of the Hockey League. During his 95 years of his life, he was the first president of two sports leagues. It is precisely because of his organizational management that the NBA and the Hockey League survive. In order to commend his achievements, the NBA named the regular season MVP after him.
Finals MVP Trophy - Bill Russell Cup
There is no doubt that Lord of the Rings Bill Russell is one of the greatest players in NBA history. As a player, he is already full of honors - leading the Boston Celtics to win 11 championship trophys, including an unprecedented eight consecutive championships, and establishing the Green Dynasty belonging to the Celtics. Let's put it this way, Russell's ring alone can't take with him ten fingers, which is more than all teams in the NBA except the Celtics and Lakers and ! On June 16, 2017, the NBA officially announced that NBA legendary superstar Bill Russell won the first NBA Lifetime Achievement Award - the old man also became the first player in history to win this award.
NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award (FMVP), was established in the 1968-69 season to commend the best players on the finals stage. At the beginning of its establishment, the winner will receive a trophy with a golden basketball-shaped sphere and black base decorated with a trophy similar to the "Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy" and was not replaced with a small trophy until 2005. On February 14, 2009, NBA President David Stern announced that in order to recognize Russell's outstanding contribution and immortal legend, the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award was officially renamed the "Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award", and Russell himself awarded the trophy. In 2019, the Lakers won the championship, and Kobe became the first player to win the Bill Russell trophy!
However, since Russell is old and the finals are held between the two teams in the east and west, this requires the old man in his 80s to run back and forth between the east and west. In recent seasons, there have been cases where the MVP trophy in the finals was not awarded by the old man himself.
Best Coach Trophy - Auerbach Cup
Although it is not the head coach who leads the team to win the most championships, with nine championship trophys and an unprecedented eight consecutive championships, plus the classic "Victory Cigar", Reed Auerbach has become the Cardinal , which symbolizes victory!
After becoming the third head coach in the team's history in 1950, Auerbach led the team to win the first championship in team history in 1957 and achieved an incredible eight consecutive championships from 1959-1966! In honor of the Cardinal, the NBA will award a prize for the head coach who coached the best in the regular season - the "Reed Auerbach Trophy" since the 1962-1963 season.
In fact, there are some trophys in the NBA official, such as best defense, fastest progress, etc., but these awards are not named after someone. To take a look, there are only five NBA trophys named after people.
Among them, two former presidents, one coach, and two players. And among these two players, there is no basketball god Michael Jordan !
Of course, we would rather not be named the All-Star MVP trophy as the Kobe Bryant Cup...
