The Twyman–Stokes Teammate of the Year is an annual award in the National Basketball Association (NBA) that recognizes the league's "ideal teammate" who exemplifies "selfless play and commitment and dedication to his team." The award is named after Jack Twyman and Maurice Stokes. The two played together on the Rochester/Cincinnati Royals from 1955 to 1958 until Stokes' career was cut short after he suffered a head injury from a fall during a game against the Minneapolis Lakers. Stokes later became paralyzed due to post-traumatic encephalopathy, a brain injury that damages the motor-control center. Twyman then became Stokes' legal guardian and advocate until Stokes died in 1970.
Every year, 12 players, six from each conference, are nominated by a panel of NBA executives. NBA players then cast votes for the award, with ten points given for each first-place vote, seven for a second-place vote, five points for third, three points for fourth, and one point for each fifth-place vote received. The player with the highest point total, regardless of the number of first-place votes, wins the award. The NBA presents the winner with the Twyman–Stokes Trophy and gives a $25,000 donation to a charity of the recipient's choice.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Chauncey Billups was the inaugural winner of the award in 2013. That year, Miami Heat forward Shane Battier finished second and New York Knicks guard Jason Kidd placed third.
Battier then won the award for the 2013–14 season. Al Jefferson came in second and Dirk Nowitzki finished third, who won in the 2016–17 season and was the only non-American and European awardee.
Tim Duncan won the award for the 2014–15 season. Vince Carter came in second and Elton Brand finished third. After coming in at second the previous year, Carter won the award for the 2015–16 season. Nowitzki is the only international player to win the award. The most recent winner is New Orleans Pelicans center DeAndre Jordan.
Winners
^Denotes player who is still active in the NBA*Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of FamePlayer (#)Denotes the number of times the player has received the awardTeam (#)Denotes the number of times a player from this team has won
Season Player Position Nationality Team * Guard Los Angeles Clippers Forward Miami Heat * Forward/center San Antonio Spurs * Guard/forward Memphis Grizzlies * Forward Dallas Mavericks Guard/forward Minnesota Timberwolves ^ Guard Memphis Grizzlies (2) ^ Guard New Orleans Pelicans ^ Guard Portland Trail Blazers ^ (2)GuardMilwaukee Bucks ^ (3)GuardMilwaukee Bucks (2) ^ (2) Guard Minnesota Timberwolves (2) ^ Guard Golden State Warriors ^ Center New Orleans Pelicans (2)
Multi-time winners AwardsPlayerTeamYears3 Jrue HolidayNew Orleans Pelicans, Milwaukee Bucks (2)2020, 2022, 20232 Mike ConleyMemphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves2019, 2024
See also NBA records
References
External sources