It's `The Michael Jordan Trophy'
There’s been an evolution of the NBA’s Most Valuable Player trophy in the 70 or so years since it was first dreamed up.
It used to be called the President’s Trophy. Players used to do the voting. In time, it all changed; the trophy was known as the Maurice Podoloff Trophy, and a media panel of 100 writers and broadcasters now handles the voting.
As of Tuesday, there’s a new trophy and a new name — The Michael Jordan Trophy. It’s loaded with tributes to his career, foremost among them that it weighs 23.6 pounds and stands 23.6 inches tall; the 23 for his jersey, the 6 for his six championships. That took some serious work on the design end, but in the end, it was exactly what Jordan and his team wanted.
It is the biggest move in a long line of trophy tweaks and twists by the NBA in recent years.
JAZZ 121, PELICANS 100 >> Malik Beasley made five 3-pointers and scored 21 points and host Utah cooled off Zion Williamson and New Orleans. Williamson scored 26 points in 26 minutes and Jonas Valanciunas scored 15, but the Pelicans’ seven-game winning streak was snapped. Lauri Markkanen and Nickeil Alexander-Walker each scored 19 for the Jazz.
76ERS 123, KINGS 103 >> Joel Embiid scored 31 points, James Harden had 21 points and 15 assists and host Philadelphia scored 80 points in the first half against Sacramento. Tobias Harris also scored 21 points for the Sixers. Domantas Sabonis led the Kings with 22 points.
BUCKS 128, WARRIORS 111 >> Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points while Bobby Portis finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds to lead host Milwaukee. Stephen Curry scored 20 points despite missing seven of 10 3-point attempts. Jordan Poole added 18 and Klay Thompson 14 for Golden State.
ROCKETS 111, SUNS 97 >> Jalen Green had 26 points and Kevin Porter Jr. added 18 as host Houston never trailed. The Rockets led by as many as 23 and held a comfortable lead for most of the night. Mikal Bridges led Phoenix with 18 points, but shot a horrific 4 of 24 from the field and 2 of 10 from deep.