Suns' Kevin Durant wins Magic Johnson Award for on-court excellence, media availability
Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant won the Professional Basketball Writers Association's Magic Johnson Award for the 2024-25 season.
The award honors the NBA player who best displays on-court excellence as well as embraces media interviews and engages with fans.
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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell finished second in this year's balloting. Miami Heat big Bam Adebayo, Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green were finalists based on nominations from PBWA members.
A vote of the full PBWA membership determined the winner.
Warriors guard Stephen Curry won the award last season. Durant also received the honor for the 2010-11 season while playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Durant is the second Suns player to receive the award. Steve Nash won it in 2011-12.
Created in 2001, the award is named in honor of Earvin 'Magic' Johnson, a five-time NBA champion, all with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Hall of Famer was consistently engaging, thoughtful and gracious with the media throughout his career.
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Durant led Phoenix in scoring this season at 26.6 points a game, shooting 52.7% from the field overall, 43% from 3.
Curry and Durant also made the 2024-25 PBWA's All-Interview first team.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kevin Durant wins PBWA's Magic Johnson Award for second time
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