NBA analyst suggests one more award to be added to NBA after new Michael Jordan trophy is unveiled: “The NBA needs to add one new award”

2022 NBA All-Star Game
2022 NBA All-Star Game; Michael Jordan reacts to being inducted into NBA 75

The NBA unveiled the new Michael Jordan trophy today in what was a celebration for most.

The league has inducted six new trophies:

  • The Michael Jordan trophy for the Most Valuable Player.
  • The Jerry West trophy for Clutch Player of the Year.
  • The Hakeem Olajuwon trophy for Defensive Player of the Year.
  • The Wilt Chamberlain trophy for Rookie of the Year.
  • The John Havlicek trophy for Sixth Man of the Year.
  • The George Mikan trophy for Most Improved Player of the Year.

However, analyst Justin Termine explained his frustration with the league for missing an award for what he thinks is a crucial component of the game.

Termine argues that with the NBA unfolding into a load management system, where teams are restricting a star's minutes and keeping players safe, there should be an acknowledgement for players who have to hold the entire load.

The analyst stated that the NBA should create a trophy for the player who has played the most minutes in the season.

Though there are still teams with only one or two superstars, super team entities are becoming bigger as the years progress. With that, comes a possibility for load management.

A team like the Golden State Warriors, the reigning champions, have one of the biggest stars in the NBA — Steph Curry. Yet, they also have a fully reliable unit built around him so Curry does not need to exhaust his minutes on the floor.

Justin believes that players who have to exhaust themselves should be awarded for doing so.

It really is not a bad idea, for when you think of a team like the Wizards and their situation with Bradley Beal. After Russell Westbrook left, and Beal was left alone, the increase in his load could have been acknowledged. That is not to say Beal should have won the award if there were to be one, it’s just an example.

Termine outlines what he means:

“The NBA needs to add one new award for the guy who ends up playing the most minutes each season. Name it after someone like Karl Malone or John Stockton who took pride in playing as much as possible, instead of this load management nonsense … Let’s start awarding guys who are playing minutes”

Michael Jordan trophy unveiled by NBA as MVP race tightens

The new trophy for Most Valuable Player of the year was unveiled today, and this year's race to hold up the new trophy is as close as ever.

As per the latest report from the KIA MVP Ladder (updated on December 11th), Jayson Tatum is first in the running to be the Most Valuable Player this season. Tatum brought his team into the Finals last year and missed his chance to hold up the gold.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, no stranger to the MVP list, is currently in second place. He is currently tied for the second-longest 30-point game scoring streak in franchise history with 8. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar stands in first with 16 games.

Luka Doncic, the holder of the Mavericks' triple-double record, is in third place.

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