Mike Conley snubbed in pursuit of fifth sportsmanship award
In what may well end up being the largest snub of the still young NBA awards season, Timberwolves guard Mike Conley wasn’t named one of six finalists for the NBA sportsmanship award on Tuesday.
That honor recognizes “the player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court.”
Conley is the reigning champ, and has won the award four times. He has never won it in back to back years, so maybe the 36-year-old point guard not winning it this season shouldn’t be a surprise. But his omission from even the list of finalists was surprising.
The six finalists are Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey, Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen, Miami’s Kevin Love, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Sacramento’s Harrison Barnes and San Antonio’s Tre Jones (the Apple Valley product).
Every division has a finalist, so really Gilgeous-Alexander was chosen over Conley. The Wolves’ guard has never received a technical foul in his NBA career.
“I should win it every year. to be honest,” Conley said with a smile earlier this year when discussing the award. “I don’t think there’s anybody like me that exists out there anymore.”
The pursuit of one for the thumb will have to wait until next season.
Perhaps the sting of that omission was lessened Tuesday when Conley was named one of 12 finalists for the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award, which goes to the player “deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, on- and off-court leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment and dedication to team.”
Other nominees for that honor are Barnes, Brooklyn’s Mikal Bridges, New York’s Jalen Brunson, Denver’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Orlando’s Markelle Fultz, Boston’s Al Horford, Indiana’s T.J. McConnell, New Orleans’ Larry Nance Jr, Cleveland’s Georges Niang, Dallas’ Dwight Powell and Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams.
POM NOM
For the second straight month, Wolves guard Anthony Edwards was a nominee for the Western Conference Player of the Month award, which went to Dallas’ Luka Doncic.
In March, Edwards averaged 24.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists while shooting 44 percent from the field. He put Minnesota on his shoulders through his explosiveness and also wise decision making to keep the Wolves in the race for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference even after Karl-Anthony Towns went down with a torn meniscus.
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