Celtics guard Jrue Vacation has gained the NBA’s Sportsmanship Award for the 2024-25 season, the league introduced in a press launch. It’s the second time the 34-year-old has claimed the award, having beforehand gained with Milwaukee again in 2020-21.
The Sportsmanship Award has been introduced yearly since 1995-96 and “honors a participant who finest represents the beliefs of sportsmanship on the courtroom.”
Every of the league’s 30 groups nominated certainly one of its gamers for the award, then a panel of league executives narrows that group to six finalists (one from every division) and present gamers voted for the winner.
As the total voting outcomes present, Vacation obtained probably the most first-place votes and most complete factors. Cavaliers middle Jarrett Allen completed in second place, adopted carefully by Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving. Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lakers ahead Dorian Finney-Smith, and Magic ahead Franz Wagner rounded out the highest six (in that order).
The trophy for the Sportsmanship Award is called after Joe Dumars, the Corridor of Fame guard who gained the inaugural award again in 1995-96. Dumars was not too long ago named the Pelicans’ head of basketball operations after working for the NBA the previous few years.
Vacation has earned quite a few crew and particular person accolades all through his profession. The combo guard has gained two NBA championships, two Olympic gold medals with Staff USA, is a two-time All-Star, and has earned six All-Defensive nods. He has additionally been named Teammate of the Yr thrice. Now he has added a second Sportsmanship Award to his spectacular trophy case.
