The National Basketball Players’ Association Players Awards will be revealed via social media this year, rather than by television. From ESPN’s Marc Stein:
The National Basketball Players’ Association Players Awards will not be revealed in a television show this offseason, the union told The Undefeated.
The NBPA chose not to have an awards show this year primarily due to the focus on the Rio Olympics, the organization said. This year’s awards will be announced in mid-July via social media channels, with videos of players revealing the winners.
The first annual NBPA Players Award show under then first-year executive director Michele Roberts took place the previous July at the Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
The NBPA said it hopes to have a televised awards show again next offseason. According to the NBPA, all players turned in votes for this year’s awards by early April. Houston Rockets guard James Harden was named MVP in last year’s voting.
The 2016 NBPA Awards include:
Most Valuable Player
Rookie Of The Year
Comeback Player Of The Year
Best Player Off The Bench
Defensive Player Of The Year
Players You Secretly Wish Were On Your Team
Defensive Player Of The Year
Coach You’d Most Like To Play For
Toughest To Guard
Best Dressed
Clutch Performer
Best Social Media Follow
Global Impact
Most Influential Veteran
Best Home-Court Advantage
Best Teammate For All 30 teams
The player awards are different from the official NBA awards in that they are voted on by the players. The biggest story in last year’s awards was James Harden beating out Stephen Curry for MVP.
