Giannis Antetokounmpo wins PBWA's Magic Johnson Award for media cooperation
Giannis Antetokounmpo has earned another award, as the Professional Basketball Writers Association voted him as the 2022-23 Magic Johnson Award winner on Tuesday.
The award “honors the player who best combines excellence on the basketball court with cooperation and dignity in dealing with the media and the public.”
On the court, Antetokounmpo finished third in the Most Valuable Player voting this past season after averaging a career-high 31.1 points per game along with 11.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists. He was the only unanimous first-team all-NBA selection as well.
Beyond his postgame media commitments, the 28-year-old often makes extra time to speak to the traveling beat writers that cover the team daily. Beyond that, he also would spend additional time with local and national columnists for stories.
The Magic Johnson Award was founded in the 2000-01 season and Milwaukee’s Ray Allen was its inaugural winner. It is Antetokounmpo’s first PBWA award.
Portland’s Damian Lillard won the award last year and the Bucks’ Khris Middleton was a finalist.
The PBWA consists of more than 200 writers and editors who cover the NBA regularly for a variety of outlets and the association’s members "continue to regard Earvin 'Magic' Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers as the ideal paradigm for the award."
Earlier this offseason, Golden State’s Stephen Curry won the PBWA’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, which is awarded to a player, coach or athletic trainer “who shows outstanding service and dedication to the community.”
The Warriors’ media relations staff won the Brian McIntyre Media Relations Award, which recognizes a staff that “consistently foster an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation with both local and national journalists who cover the league.”
More: Why is Giannis Antetokounmpo scoring at a historic level? It's simple to him: 'I'm just better.'
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Giannis Antetokounmpo wins Magic Johnson Award for media cooperation
