NBA Honors Bird, Magic, Cousy, Big O With Conference Champion Team, MVP Trophies

By Barry Janoff

May 12, 2022: Larry Bird, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Bob Cousy and Oscar “Big O” Robertson won numerous trophies during their basketball careers.

Now, players and teams will get to earn trophies named after the four Hall of Famers and members of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.

As part of its on-going 75th Anniversary season, the NBA has added four more honors to its roster.

Beginning this post-season, the Eastern Conference Finals MVP will receive the Larry Bird Trophy, the Western Conference Finals MVP will receive the "Magic" Johnson Trophy.

The Bob Cousy Trophy will be awarded to the Eastern Conference champion and the Oscar Robertson Western Conference champ.

The NBA said the Cousy and Robertson trophies were being named after the two icons “for their outstanding contributions on the court and the impact they made as early presidents of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA)."

The NBA has also updated the Larry O’Brien Trophy, awarded annually to the NBA champions; and the NBA Finals MVP award, named after Bill Russell since 2005.

Akin to the NHL putting the name of Stanley Cup winning players on the trophy, starting this year, the name of each NBA champion will be etched on the bottom disc of each new Larry O’Brien trophy.

All the trophies are from Tiffany & Co.

Last month, the NBA unveiled six other trophies, one for each of the league’s division winners, and each named after an NBA legend and African-American pioneer.

These trophies, which will now be awarded to the division winners at the end of every season, “celebrate the teams’ season success and honor the pioneers who helped pave the way for the NBA players who have followed.”

The six legends being honored include Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, Chuck Cooper, Wayne Embry, Sam Jones, Earl Lloyd and Willis Reed.

“The NBA Conference Finals represent the last hurdle a team must face for an opportunity to make it to the big stage, the NBA Finals,” Johnson said via the league.

“I’m truly honored to have my name memorialized on the Western Conference Finals Most Larry O'Brien TrophyValuable Player Trophy.  This player excels on both ends of the court, makes his teammates better and leads his team to the greatest stage in basketball.”

“I know how tough it is to get to this great milestone of the Eastern Conference Finals,” Bird said via the NBA, “and to be named the Most Valuable Player makes it even more special.”
 
Cousy said, “I have been part of the NBA family since 1950 and among the greatest joys of my post-playing career has been watching the game continue to evolve into what it is today.

“There are few greater achievements in sports than representing your conference in the NBA Finals, and I’m moved that the NBA has granted me the honor of being connected to the Eastern Conference champions for years to come.”

“I am thrilled to have the NBA Western Conference Champions Trophy named in my honor,” said Robertson via the NBA.

“Several decades ago, I played in an emerging and highly competitive league with tremendous talent. This trophy represents to me not only my hard work to make the league better, but all the efforts of the future Oscar Robertson Trophy winners who make the NBA great.”

NBA Trophies Honor Division Winners, Legends, African-American Pioneers

Back to Home Page