Four new NBA awards created as Conference Finals begin

Magic Johnson (Neon Tommy, Wikimedia Commons)

According to Matt Vautour of masslive.com, four new National Basketball Association awards have been created, with the Eastern Conference Finals set to start on Tuesday between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics. The winner of the Eastern Conference Final will win the Bob Cousy Award. The winner to the Western Conference Final will win the Oscar Robertson Award. The most valuable player of the Eastern Conference Final will win the Larry Bird Award, and the most valuable player of the Western Conference Final will win the Magic Johnson Award.

Cousy won six NBA Finals with the Celtics from 1950 to 1963, and was the NBA MVP in 1957. Eight straight seasons from 1953 to 1960, he led the NBA in assists.

Robertson played with the Cincinnati Royals from 1960 to 1970, and the Milwaukee Bucks from 1970 to 1974. He was the NBA rookie of the year in 1961, MVP in 1964, and won the NBA Finals with the Bucks in 1971. Known for his triple doubles, he is second all-time with 181, only behind Russell Westbrook (194).

Bird played with the Celtics from 1979 to 1992. He was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1980, won three NBA Finals with the Celtics (1981, 1984, 1986), was the NBA MVP (1984, 1985, 1986), and was the NBA Finals MVP in 1984 and 1986.

Johnson played with the Lakers from 1979 to 1991 and again in 1996. He won five NBA Finals with Los Angeles (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988), and three NBA Finals MVP awards (1987, 1989, and 1990). Johnson led the NBA four times in assists and twice in steals. He was also known globally for being diagnosed with HIV in 1991. Despite the diagnosis, Johnson remains active in the Los Angeles sports community, and is even a part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.   

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