Latest news with #MagicJohnsonAward
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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@ or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin. Support local journalism. Start your online subscription. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kevin Durant wins PBWA's Magic Johnson Award for second time
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kevin Durant Wins Prestigious NBA Award
Kevin Durant has been a superstar in the NBA since he was drafted by the Seattle Supersonics No. 2 overall after being a dominant force for the Texas Longhorns. Now on the Phoenix Suns after stints with the Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, and Oklahoma City Thunder, Durant has been in the mix of trade talks after a disappointing 2025 campaign. Advertisement His personal season, statistically was still very good, averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game in route to an All-Star appearance for the 15th time. The Professional Basketball Writers Association announced that Durant has been named the 2024-25 Magic Johnson Award winner, which honors the player with combined excellence on and off the court. Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35).Getty Images The PBWA says the cooperation and grace with dealing with media and fans off the court is what stands out when they award a winner. This is the second time Durant has won the award, as he won it in the 2010-11 season. He is the fourth player to earn the award twice, joining Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, and Shane Battier. Advertisement The president of the PBWA Howard Beck was excited to announce Durant as the winner again, saying great things about him. 'Kevin has long been one of the NBA's most thoughtful and accessible stars. He always makes time for reporters, whether for on-the-record interviews or just informal chit-chat, and he never shies away from any topic. He's as eager to dive into the minutiae of a single play as he is to discuss broader issues facing the league. His passion for the game always comes through. Our members were also really appreciative of Kevin's public advocacy for reopening locker rooms after the pandemic, recognizing how critical that access is for building trust and rapport between players and journalists.' As Durant's future team may be uncertain, it is undeniable to admit he is still one of the league's biggest stars, even at 36 years old. This award all but backs up his excellence on and off the court, and is a player any team would do anything to acquire. Related: Fans Are Loving Amazon's Dwyane Wade, Udonis Haslem Announcement Related: Bam Adebayo Reacts to Girlfriend A'ja Wilson's Big Change in Physical Appearance Related: Four-Star Athlete Announces Commitment to Texas
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
The real reason Magic Johnson praised Kevin Durant amid trade rumors
It was recently announced that Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns was awarded the NBA's ' Magic Johnson Award,' which honors a player who interacts with the media, fans, and off-court personnel in a courteous and respectful manner. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The 15-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP has now received this honour for the second time in his distinguished career, with his first win coming during the 2010-11 season while playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Shortly after, Magic Johnson himself, whose name the award bears took to social media to admire Durant on his achievement once again. In his heartfelt message, the former Los Angeles Lakers star and five-time NBA champion expressed his hope that Durant will continue to contribute significantly to the renowned Lakers organization. Why did Magic Johnson praise Kevin Durant? "Congratulations to the 2-time Magic Johnson Award winner Kevin Durant," Johnson posted on X Wednesday night. "I'm so excited Kevin Durant won this award because is he always so gracious to the media and fans, I love his game, who he is as a man, and all the great community work that he's doing in the DMV area with the youth." "Kevin is an outstanding entrepreneur and a big Commanders fans. I wish he was a Laker! lol" Although Johnson's final comment is not to be overanalyzed, the idea of Durant possibly joining the Lakers to team up with LeBron James and Luka Dončić is an incredibly intimidating prospect. At 36 years old, Durant recently completed his 17th NBA season with the Suns. The 6-foot-11 forward posted impressive averages of 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists on an extremely efficient 64.2% true shooting percentage over 62 games. Following a disappointing 36-46 record and missing out on the Play-In Tournament as the No. 11 seed in the Western Conference for 2024-25, Durant's immediate future has become uncertain. Recent reports suggest he will likely be traded from the Suns to a contender this summer, giving him a chance to contend for his third NBA championship by the start of the 2025-26 season.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"I Wish He Was A Laker" - Magic Johnson Shares True Feelings About Kevin Durant That Purple And Gold Fans Will Like
Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson recently showed love to Kevin Durant and congratulated him for winning the Magic Johnson Award. In the process of praising Durant on X, Johnson also tweeted about how he wished to see the Phoenix Suns star don the Purple and Gold. "Congratulations to the 2-time Magic Johnson Award winner Kevin Durant. I'm so excited Kevin Durant won this award because is he always so gracious to the media and fans, I love his game, who he is as a man, and all the great community work that he's doing in the DMV area with the youth. Kevin is an outstanding entrepreneur and a big Commanders fans. I wish he was a Laker! lol." Advertisement The Magic Johnson Award is handed out to players who not only excel on the court, but also graciously carry themselves with media and fans. Durant's work off the court with the community certainly caught the eye of the Lakers legend. However, the idea that Johnson presented of seeing Durant step on the court while wearing the Lakers' purple and gold is truly an interesting one for the fans. The Phoenix Suns forward has been one of the most interesting players to follow over the last few years. Having skipped across the league in an attempt to be a part of a contending side, the forward is expected to be on the lookout for another place to call home in the summer. Among the trade rumors linking Durant with different teams, the Houston Rockets are the team that has presented the most viable package to acquire. But it wouldn't be out of the question for the Lakers to make Johnson's wish come true. Landing Kevin Durant Presents An Impossible Challenge For The Lakers The notion of the Los Angeles Lakers landing Kevin Durant seems borderline ridiculous at first glance. Given the current state of the team's salary cap since acquiring Luka Doncic, it is clear that the team is in need of offloading salaries rather than taking on a bigger one. Advertisement However, a team featuring LeBron James, Doncic, and Durant as the big three is certainly a fantasy for some fans. In light of this, we aimed to formulate a trade package that could bring the Suns forward over to the sunny beaches of Los Angeles. Proposed Trade Details Phoenix Suns Receive: Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht, Rui Hachimura, Dorian Finney-Smith, 2026 First-Round Pick Swap, 2031 First-Round Pick Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Kevin Durant While such a trade could work on paper, the Lakers would face devastating consequences throughout their season. With effectively no backup power forwards, playmakers, or wing defenders, the Purple and Gold would be spiraling to the bottom of the West. Advertisement Additionally, considering the shortage of draft capital the Lakers have, giving up more would simply force the team to rely on expiring contracts and free agents to build their roster for future campaigns. Meanwhile, the Suns would benefit from acquiring a blend of young and veteran talent. This trade would effectively reset the Suns' rebuild and turn them into a competitive side again. Related: Lakers Might Land 'Shot-Blocker And Lob-Threat' Center In New Trade Idea
Newsweek
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Magic Johnson Wants Former MVP to Join Lakers
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Los Angeles Lakers fell very short of their title goals this season, being eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Despite entering the postseason as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, the Lakers were taken down by the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games. More NBA news: Timberwolves Epically Troll Warriors, Steph Curry After Playoff Win As the team enters the offseason, Los Angeles has a lot of questions to answer. The front office will be tasked with trying to put together a title-contending team around stars Luka Doncic and LeBron James. This will be easier said than done, but the Lakers' brand does tend to attract big-time stars to the team. Former Lakers star Magic Johnson knows this all too well and has made a pitch for a former league MVP to come to Los Angeles. Johnson made his wishes known on social media for star Kevin Durant to come to the Lakers. Congratulations to the 2-time Magic Johnson Award winner Kevin Durant. I'm so excited Kevin Durant won this award because is he always so gracious to the media and fans, I love his game, who he is as a man, and all the great community work that he's doing in the DMV area with the youth. Kevin is an outstanding entrepreneur and a big Commanders fans. I wish he was a Laker! lol 😂 Congratulations to the 2-time Magic Johnson Award winner Kevin Durant. I'm so excited Kevin Durant won this award because is he always so gracious to the media and fans, I love his game, who he is as a man, and all the great community work that he's doing in the DMV area with the... — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 14, 2025 Entering the offseason, there have been many rumors around Durant potentially leaving the Phoenix Suns. After another tough year in Phoenix, many are expecting the two sides to move on from one another. While the Lakers likely aren't a realistic landing spot for Durant, it hasn't stopped Johnson from mentioning it. Putting Durant alongside Doncic and James would give the Lakers a lethal big-three, but the team would also have major depth issues. PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 24: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks and Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns look on during the second half of the NBA game at PHX Arena on March... PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 24: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks and Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns look on during the second half of the NBA game at PHX Arena on March 24, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. More Photo byThe Lakers will likely look elsewhere to solve the roster problems, but Durant could give them an extra scoring punch. The veteran star is still one of the better scorers around the NBA, and his addition could add more firepower to this roster. But in the end, Durant is expected to go to a team that needs a star to round things out, rather than a team with more depth problems. More NBA news: Steve Kerr Says Losing Stephen Curry Sealed the Warriors' Fate Charles Barkley Suggests Bucks Deal Giannis Antetokounmpo to Draft Cooper Flagg Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo Reportedly Considering Future Outside of Milwaukee For more on the Lakers and NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
