NBA Sportsmanship Award
The NBA Sportsmanship Award began in 1995 as a league-wide honor. It was created to recognize players who exemplified ethical behavior and fair play on the court. The award does not demand excellence of play, distinguishing it from performance-based trophies. In 2000, the trophy received a new name: the Joe Dumars Trophy. This change honored the inaugural recipient who played for the Detroit Pistons during his career. Before that renaming, the award existed simply as the Sportsmanship Award without a specific namesake.
Every year each of the thirty NBA teams nominates one player to compete for this distinction. A panel selects one winner from each division among those nominees. At the end of the regular season, all league players cast votes for the final winner. Eleven points are given for each first-place vote while nine points go to second-place votes. Seven points follow for third place, five for fourth, three for fifth, and one point for sixth place. The player with the highest total wins regardless of how many first-place votes they received.
Mike Conley stands alone in history with four awards to his name. He won titles in 2014, 2016, 2019, and 2023 across different franchises including Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves. No other player has matched this frequency of recognition within the league. His victories span nearly a decade showing consistent performance over time. The four-time win record remains unbroken by any active or retired guard in the sport.
Grant Hill secured three awards during his career spanning Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns stints. Jason Kidd claimed back-to-back honors in 2012 and 2013 while playing for Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks. Kemba Walker took home two trophies consecutively in 2017 and 2018 with Charlotte Hornets. Jrue Holiday also earned two awards split between Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics years. These players represent the only group besides Mike Conley to win multiple times since the award's inception.
San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies have produced the most recipients with three wins each. Several teams like Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns, and Atlanta Hawks have generated two winners. A significant number of franchises including Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers have never had a recipient. Other organizations such as Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors remain without an award winner. This uneven distribution highlights how specific team cultures influence player selection for sportsmanship recognition.
Foreign-born players have occasionally received this honor despite not holding American citizenship. Luol Deng stands out as one of only two international athletes to win the award. His victory demonstrates that sportsmanship values extend beyond domestic borders within professional basketball. The league recognizes ethical behavior regardless of where a player was born or raised. International representation remains limited but meaningful among the total pool of winners.
Common questions
When did the NBA Sportsmanship Award begin and what was its original name?
The NBA Sportsmanship Award began in 1995 as a league-wide honor. It existed simply as the Sportsmanship Award without a specific namesake before receiving a new name in 2000.
How is the winner of the NBA Sportsmanship Award selected each year?
Every year each of the thirty NBA teams nominates one player to compete for this distinction. A panel selects one winner from each division among those nominees while all league players cast votes for the final winner using a point system where eleven points are given for each first-place vote.
Who holds the record for the most NBA Sportsmanship Awards won by a single player?
Mike Conley stands alone in history with four awards to his name. He won titles in 2014, 2016, 2019, and 2023 across different franchises including Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Which NBA teams have produced the most recipients of the NBA Sportsmanship Award?
San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies have produced the most recipients with three wins each. Several teams like Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns, and Atlanta Hawks have generated two winners while other organizations such as Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors remain without an award winner.
Has any foreign-born player ever received the NBA Sportsmanship Award?
Foreign-born players have occasionally received this honor despite not holding American citizenship. Luol Deng stands out as one of only two international athletes to win the award.