The Brooklyn Nets have had a rough 2023-24 season as they have seen themselves go from a 13-10 start to probably being eliminated from playoff contention within the next day or so. While this campaign has been a disappointment for Brooklyn and its fanbase, there is one player that has something to be positive about.
The NBA announced its finalists for the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award on Tuesday and Nets guard Mikal Bridges was one of the players named. Bridges is one of 12 players who made the finalist cut and current NBA players will be able to vote for who they believe deserves the award.
The criteria for the award, as described by the NBA, is that the “annual honor recognizes 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.”
The finalists along with Bridges are: Harrison Barnes (Sacramento Kings), Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Denver Nuggets), Mike Conley (Minnesota Timberwolves), Markelle Fultz (Orlando Magic), Al Horford (Boston Celtics), T.J. McConnell (Indiana Pacers), Larry Nance Jr. (New Orleans Pelicans), Georges Niang (Cleveland Cavaliers), Dwight Powell (Dallas Mavericks), and Jalen Williams (Oklahoma City Thunder).
The Twyman-Stokes award is named after two former NBA players, Jack Twyman and Maurice Stokes, who played together on the Rochester/Cincinnati Royals (now known as the Sacramento Kings) from 1955 to 1958 until Stokes suffered a head injury in a game that led to him being paralyzed.
The significance of the award comes from the fact that after Stokes suffered his traumatic injury, Twyman became his legal guardian until Stokes passed away in 1970.
Congrats to Brooklyn Nets guard Mikal Bridges for being named as a finalist for the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award https://t.co/cJzJTP3Y69
— Sharif Phillips-Keaton (@SharifKeaton) April 2, 2024
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