The NBA is rebranding its end-of-season awards to recognize the game’s top players. They want to honor Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Jerry West, and others as part of a multi-year endeavor to reinvent many of the NBA’s most prestigious awards. Wilt Chamberlain, the Philadelphia 76ers star, will receive some honor in these awards, and the Rookie of the Year award will be named after him. Chamberlain spent four seasons with the Sixers, averaging 27.6 points, 23.9 rebounds, and 6.8 assists while leading the team to a championship in 1967.
The NBA is revamping and rebranding several of its individual awards. The MVP was named after Jordan. The DPOY was named after Olajuwon. The ROY was named for Wilt. The MIP was named for Mikan. The Sixth Man is named after Havlicek. And there’s a new Clutch Award named after Jerry West.
Chamberlain won four MVP titles in his career, was a 13-time All-Star, and won finals MVP in 1972 with the Los Angeles Lakers. He is also the only player to ever score 100 points in a single game despite being a man among boys on the court. If anyone deserves this accolade, it’s him. List Joel Embiid’s 53-point performance against the Hornets has left many Sixers speechless.
