Report: Shane Battier to receive NBA's Teammate of the Year award
Forget the MVP award. Shane Battier is set to receive the most prestigious honor that can be bestowed on an NBA player.
Miami's Shane Battier has won NBA's Teammate of the Year award. Official announcement tomorrow. Chauncey Billups won in 2013.
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) May 23, 2014
How exactly is the Teammate of the Year determined?
According to NBA.com, ballots feature 12 nominees that are selected based off "selfless play, on- and off-court leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players and his commitment and dedication to his team." The winner is then chosen from a vote by players.
Battier is undoubtedly a role model. But this is probably just a nice send-off for a player who recently admitted "it would take an act of God" for him not to retire at season's end.
The trophy for the award features former teammates Jack Twyman and Maurice Stokes. In 1958, Stokes lost consciousness after hitting his head on the floor during a game. He lapsed into a coma days later and was permanently paralyzed. Twyman took over as Stokes' legal guardian since Stokes' family couldn't provide the care or money that was required.
[Courtesy: NBA.com]