The NBA has officially unveiled six redesigned and renamed trophies and added a new award for the 2022-23 season, all honoring NBA Legends Wilt Chamberlain, John Havlicek, Michael Jordan, George Mikan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Jerry West, all designed by Victor Solomon.
The Kia NBA Most Valuable Player will receive The Michael Jordan Trophy. It stands 23.6“ tall and weighs 23.6 lbs, representing Jordan’s jersey number (23) and a number of NBA championships. It features a six-sided badge, representing his six NBA championships, on a 15-degree angled base representing his 15-season career, and topped with a 1.23” 23-point crystal basketball.
The other five trophies all feature figures embedded inside a 15-inch crystal net structure with a flat front with the award and recipient details etched on the bottom.
The Defensive Player of the Year, now known as The Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy, honors the two-time DPOY winner, the league’s all-time leader in blocked shots, and ninth-ranked in steals and features Olajuwon in his classic defensive stance.
The Rookie of the Year award receives The Wilt Chamberlain Trophy in honor of his spectacular rookie year during the 1959-1960 season. Chamberlain averaged 37.6 points and 27 rebounds in 46.4 minutes per game for the Philadelphia Warriors, winning both the Rookie of the Year and MVP awards.
The Sixth Man of the Year will be awarded The John Havlicek Trophy. Havlicek’s Hall of Fame career started when he came off the bench for the first seven seasons of his career and was an All-Star in four of those seasons. The trophy features a player in a running jumper pose, symbolizing the boost provided by the player to his team.
The Most Improved Player of the Year will be getting The George Mikan Trophy. Named for Hall of Famer George Mikan, whose layup and footwork exercise known as the “Mikan Drill” has been used for decades.
Finally, the NBA will be introducing a new Kia Performance award at the end of the 2022-23 season, the Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year. The recipient will receive The Jerry West Trophy, featuring Jerry West’s perfect jump shot shooting form. The recipient will be voted on by a media panel based on nominations from NBA head coaches.
