PHOTOS: How each of the NBA trophies looks like
Each year, the National Basketball Association presents several individual and team awards. The most relevant are the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, the Bill Russell Finals MVP award, and the Michael Jordan Award, formerly known as the Maurice Podoloff Award, for the best-performing player of the NBA regular season.
Check out all the NBA awards below:
Larry O'Brien Championship
DUBLIN, OHIO - MAY 31: A detailed view of the NBA Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy during…
DUBLIN, OHIO - MAY 31: A detailed view of the NBA Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy during the Golden Bear Pro-Am prior to the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday at Muirfield Village Golf Club on May 31, 2023 in Dublin, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Larry O'Brien Championship
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 21: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics hoists the Larry O'Brien…
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 21: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics hoists the Larry O'Brien trophy as he is introduced during the Boston Celtics Victory Event following their 2024 NBA Finals win at TD Garden on June 21, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)
NBA Cup
Dec 9, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; The NBA Cup on a podium before the NBA…
Dec 9, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; The NBA Cup on a podium before the NBA In-Season Tournament Championship game at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
NBA Cup
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 09: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers lifts the…
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 09: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers lifts the trophy after the team's 123-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers to win the championship game of the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament at T-Mobile Arena on December 09, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Western and Eastern Conference Finals
The NBA named its conference champion trophies after two NBA legends, Oscar Robertson and Bob Cousy.
Maurice Podoloff Trophy
The trophy for the team with the best regular-season record in the league.
Atlantic Division Trophy
The Nat 'Sweetwater' Clifton Trophy. Clifton was the first African-American to sign a contract in the…
The Nat 'Sweetwater' Clifton Trophy. Clifton was the first African-American to sign a contract in the NBA. He played for the New York Knicks from 1950 til 1957 and became an NBA All-Star in 1957.
Central Division Trophy
The Wayne Embry Trophy. Embry became the first African-American NBA general manager with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Southeast Division Trophy
The Earl Lloyd Trophy. Lloyd was the first African-American to play a game in the NBA.…
The Earl Lloyd Trophy. Lloyd was the first African-American to play a game in the NBA. Lloyd played for the Washington Capitols, Syracuse Nationals and Detroit Pistons and became an NBA champion in 1955.
Southwest Division Trophy
The Willis Reed Trophy. Reed, who attended Grambling State in Louisiana, played his entire career with…
The Willis Reed Trophy. Reed, who attended Grambling State in Louisiana, played his entire career with the New York Knicks winning two titles.
Northwest Division Trophy
The Sam Jones Trophy. Five-time All-Star Jones won 10 NBA championships as a member of the…
The Sam Jones Trophy. Five-time All-Star Jones won 10 NBA championships as a member of the Boston Celtics from 1957 til 1969.
Pacific Division Trophy
The Chuck Cooper Trophy. Cooper was the first African-American player to be drafted in the NBA…
The Chuck Cooper Trophy. Cooper was the first African-American player to be drafted in the NBA (No. 14 in 1950). Cooper played six seasons with Boston, Atlanta and Detroit.
MVP Finals Trophy
The Bill Russell Trophy is awarded to the best performing player of the NBA Finals as…
The Bill Russell Trophy is awarded to the best performing player of the NBA Finals as voted by a panel of nine media members.
MVP Finals Trophy
Jun 21, 2024; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics player Jaylen Brown holds the MVP trophy during…
Jun 21, 2024; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics player Jaylen Brown holds the MVP trophy during the Boston Celtics Championship parade. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
NBA Western and Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player
The Magic Johnson Trophy is awarded to the best performing players of the Western Conference Finals…
The Magic Johnson Trophy is awarded to the best performing players of the Western Conference Finals as voted by a panel of media members. The Larry Bird Trophy is awarded to the best performing players of the Western Conference Finals as voted by a panel of media members.
NBA Western and Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player
May 30, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) celebrates after winning the…
May 30, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) celebrates after winning the Western Conference Championship series most valuable player award against the Minnesota Timberwolves in game five of the western conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Regular Season MVP
The Michael Jordan Trophy is awarded to the best performing player of the NBA regular season…
The Michael Jordan Trophy is awarded to the best performing player of the NBA regular season as voted by a panel of sportswriters and media members.
Regular Season MVP
DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 14: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets poses with the Michael…
DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 14: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets poses with the Michael Jordan MVP trophy prior to Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round Playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena on May 14, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
NBA Cup MVP
The NBA Cup MVP Trophy is awarded to the best performing player of the NBA Cup…
The NBA Cup MVP Trophy is awarded to the best performing player of the NBA Cup tournament as voted by a panel of media members.
NBA Cup MVP
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 09: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with…
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 09: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with the MVP trophy after winning the championship game of the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament at T-Mobile Arena on December 09, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
All-Star Game MVP
The Kobe Bryant Trophy is awarded to the best performing player of the annual NBA All-Star…
The Kobe Bryant Trophy is awarded to the best performing player of the annual NBA All-Star Game as voted by a panel of media members.
All-Star Game MVP
CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 20: Stephen Curry #30 of Team LeBron holds the Kobe Bryant Trophy…
CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 20: Stephen Curry #30 of Team LeBron holds the Kobe Bryant Trophy after being named MVP during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 20, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Rookie of the Year
The Wilt Chamberlain Trophy is awarded to the top rookie of the NBA regular season as…
The Wilt Chamberlain Trophy is awarded to the top rookie of the NBA regular season as voted by a panel of sportswriters.
Defensive Player of the Year
The Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy is awarded to the top defensive player of the NBA regular season.
Sixth Man of the Year
The John Havlicek Trophy is awarded to the best performing player as a substitute during the…
The John Havlicek Trophy is awarded to the best performing player as a substitute during the NBA regular season.
Most Improved Player
The George Mikan Trophy is awarded to the most improved player in the NBA.
Clutch Player of the Year
The Jerry West Trophy is awarded to the NBA player who best comes through for his…
The Jerry West Trophy is awarded to the NBA player who best comes through for his teammates in the clutch.
Sportsmanship
The Joe Dumars Trophy is awarded to the player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship…
The Joe Dumars Trophy is awarded to the player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court.
Teammate of the Year
The Twyman-Stokes Trophy honors Jack Twyman and teammate Maurice Stokes. It is awarded to the NBA…
The Twyman-Stokes Trophy honors Jack Twyman and teammate Maurice Stokes. It is awarded to the NBA Teammate of the Year.
Social Justice Champion
The Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Trophy is awarded to the NBA player who are making strides in the…
The Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Trophy is awarded to the NBA player who are making strides in the fight for social justice.
Coach of the Year
The Red Auerbach Trophy is awarded to the NBA Coach of the Year winner.
Executive of the Year
NBA Executive of the Year Award is awarded to the top front office executive.
Citizenship
The J. Walter Kennedy Trophy is awarded to a team member who showed "great service and…
The J. Walter Kennedy Trophy is awarded to a team member who showed "great service and dedication to the community" as voted by the PBWA.
Hustle
Awarded to the NBA player who makes the effort plays that don’t often appear in the…
Awarded to the NBA player who makes the effort plays that don’t often appear in the traditional box score but impact winning on a nightly basis.
Lifetime Achievement
Awarded to the NBA player who has had a lifetime of achievement in the NBA.
Rising Stars Game
Awarded to the MVP of the Rising Stars Game during the All-Star Weekend.
Slam Dunk Contest
The Julius “'Dr. J' Erving Trophy is awarded to the winner the Slam Dunk contest during…
The Julius “'Dr. J' Erving Trophy is awarded to the winner the Slam Dunk contest during the All-Star Weekend.
3-point Contest
Awarded to the winner of the 3-point contest during the All-Star Weekend.
Skills Challenge
Awarded to the winners of the Skills Challenge during the All-Star Weekend.
Celebrity
Awarded to the MVP of the Celebrity Game during the All-Star Weekend.