The NBA's Lost Awards
Many moons ago I started a series called “The Lost Awards” for a little ole blog called Hardwood Paroxysm. Since the NBA did not hand out many awards back in the day—even awards that we now consider major—I decided to fill in the gaps. For example in the 1954 season, the NBA had Rookie of the Year, but no Most Valuable Player. So I’m kinda sure I chose Neil Johnston as the NBA’s “Lost” MVP for that season.
I have to say “kinda sure” because, in a fit of irony, that series on lost awards is itself largely lost. Hardwood Paroxysm done gone belly up including much of me archive from there.
Well all these years later (approximately eight, by my hazy estimation), I’m back to finish what I started! Or redo what has been lost! Over the next [indeterminate amount of time] I will be filling in the gaps of the NBA’s award book based purely on my unimpeachable judgment.
Below are the awards to be filled in as time goes on. Not sure which of these awards I’ll tackle first, but this’ll be my spring and summer ProHoopsHistory project.
Y’know, along with defending my dissertation…
Most Valuable Player (“lost” from 1950 to 1955)
The intelligent NBL handed out MVPs every one of its seasons, but the BAA and the NBA didn’t until 1956 when Bob Pettit took home the award for the first time. This is why George Mikan doesn’t have a fistful of MVPs to challenge the likes of Kareem, Wilt, Russell, and Jordan.
CLICK HERE to see the players I selected
Finals MVP (“lost” from 1950 to 1968)
Once again, our dear friend Mikan gets shafted historically from the lack of Finals MVPs. Same goes for Bill Russell in this case, but the NBA did eventually name the award after him as a mea culpa.
CLICK HERE to see the players I selected
Defensive Player of the Year (“lost” from 1950 to 1982)
Oh look, another award the NBA could have named after Russell since he never actually got to win one.
Sixth Man of the Year (“lost” from 1950 to 1982)
Frank Ramsey’s award to win year after year.
All-NBA Third Team (“lost” from 1950 to 1988)
Not an individual award, but a good barometer of the NBA’s elite year-by-year. Its absence wasn’t that much of a crime prior to the late 1960s. Once the NBA began massive expansion it was ridiculous to not have an All-NBA 3rd Team for another two decades, though. Freaking Bob Lanier has no All-NBA appearance because of this nonsense.
What about the BAA seasons?