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Last year, the NBA introduced a fresh set of trophies that will be awarded annually to the top players and teams during each playoff run.
The league revealed that the Eastern and Western Conference trophies for the winning teams would be named after Bob Cousy and Oscar Robertson. It also redesigned the Larry O’Brien Trophy and Bill Russell Trophy, which are given to the NBA champions and Finals MVP.
But the NBA didn’t stop there. There are a couple of new trophies that will be handed out at the conclusion of the Conference Finals.
MORE: Which NBA teams have never made the Finals?
What is the Magic Johnson Trophy?
The Magic Johnson Trophy is awarded annually to the MVP of the Western Conference Finals. It is a fitting tribute to the Lakers legend, who reached that stage of the postseason 10 times in his career.
“Thank you to the NBA for naming the new Western Conference Finals MVP trophy after me,” Johnson tweeted at the time of the announcement. “I am extremely honored, and the trophy is beautiful.”
Larry Bird and Earvin “Magic” Johnson helped define the modern NBA with their individual brilliance and team success in the 1980s. The two legends are honored as the namesakes for the trophies that will now be awarded each year to the Eastern and Western Conference Finals MVPs. pic.twitter.com/XW5ptAVtYX
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 12, 2022
As for the Eastern Conference Finals, that MVP trophy was named after Hall of Famer Larry Bird, who advanced to that series eight times as a member of the Celtics.
MORE: What is the Larry Bird Trophy?
Magic Johnson Trophy winners
Nikola Jokic took home the trophy in 2023 after leading the Nuggets to a resounding sweep of the Lakers. The two-time NBA MVP averaged an astonishing 27.8 points, 14.5 rebounds and 11.8 assists throughout the conference finals.
The Serbian star also made history by breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s record for most triple-doubles in a single postseason. Jokic now has eight, surpassing Chamberlain’s seven during the 1967 playoffs.
In 2022, Stephen Curry became the first recipient of the Magic Johnson Trophy. He led the Warriors to a 4-1 series win over the Mavericks, averaging 23.8 points, 7.4 assists and 6.6 rebounds per game. He shot 44.4 percent from the field and 43.9 percent from 3-point range.
Celtics forward Jayson Tatum won the Larry Bird Trophy last season after posting 25.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists in a thrilling seven-game series against the Heat.
Curry and the Warriors went on to defeat Tatum and the Celtics in the 2022 NBA Finals.
Magic Johnson career stats in Western Conference Finals
- 18.4 points per game
- 13.2 assists per game
- 7.9 rebounds per game
- 2.1 steals per game
- 0.4 blocks per game
- 40.3 minutes per game
- 49.8 percent shooting
- 28.6 percent 3-point shooting
- 82.4 percent free throw shooting