Garza Named ESPN National POY, Naismith Finalist

[RobHowe]

Two more honors coming in on Tuesday:

LINK

 

[SteveGarvey1]

I'm thinking Obie Juan Kanobi Toppin or whatever his name is wins but still what a great honor for Luka.

 

[homes]

With all of these national player of the year awards, is the Wooden Award the equivalent to the Heisman Trophy, or is it another?

 

[tksirius]

I'm thinking Obie Juan Kanobi Toppin or whatever his name is wins but still what a great honor for Luka.

So, basically Garza wins all the Player of Year awards except the one that really matters? I sure hope that doesn't happen.

 

[RobHowe]

I think the Wooden and the Naismith are the two biggies.

 

[homes]

Thanks. A little research shows the Naismith Award has been around since 1969, the first recipient was Kareem. It is awarded by the Atlanta TipOff Club, which sounds like an organization for whistleblowers.

The Wooden Award has been around since 1977, the first recipient was Marques Johnson. It is awarded by The Los Angeles Athletic Club.

Since their mutual existence, there have been 7 years where they didn't name the same player. Every year from 1996 to the present, they've named the same player. Interesting.

78 - Wooden - Phil Ford - Naismith - Butch Lee
80 - W - Darrell Griffith - N - Mark Aguirre
81 - W - Danny Ainge - N - Ralph Sampson
85 - W - Chris Mullen - N - Patrick Ewing
86 - W - Walter Berry - N - Johnny Dawkins
89 - W - Sean Elliott - N - Danny Ferry
95 - W - Ed O'Bannon - N - Joe Smith

In the past, there appears to be a little East coast / West coast bias going on when the choice was between a West coast guy and an East coast guy. But they seemed to have squared any differences.

 

[RobHowe]

Interesting.

I would have thought they'd be split more than that. This year seems like an especially tight race but that's probably because I usually don't pay that much attention to it.

 

[The Big LeHAWKski]

Thanks. A little research shows the Naismith Award has been around since 1969, the first recipient was Kareem. It is awarded by the Atlanta TipOff Club, which sounds like an organization for whistleblowers.

The Wooden Award has been around since 1977, the first recipient was Marques Johnson. It is awarded by The Los Angeles Athletic Club.

Since their mutual existence, there have been 7 years where they didn't name the same player. Every year from 1996 to the present, they've named the same player. Interesting.

78 - Wooden - Phil Ford - Naismith - Butch Lee
80 - W - Darrell Griffith - N - Mark Aguirre
81 - W - Danny Ainge - N - Ralph Sampson
85 - W - Chris Mullen - N - Patrick Ewing
86 - W - Walter Berry - N - Johnny Dawkins
89 - W - Sean Elliott - N - Danny Ferry
95 - W - Ed O'Bannon - N - Joe Smith

In the past, there appears to be a little East coast / West coast bias going on when the choice was between a West coast guy and an East coast guy. But they seemed to have squared any differences.

Great info!

 

[tksirius]

 

[NorthKCHawk]

Big 10 refs seeing that? Play on!!!!

 

[RobHowe]

 

[PCHawk]

There's also a video of him doing the same thing with his left hand. If he starts pulling out those shots next year, the whole country is gunna go nuts over him.

 

[RobHowe]

 

[RobHowe]