The NBA to award the Maurice Podoloff Trophy to the team with the best regular season record
A new motive for NBA teams to take the regular season seriously.
The NBA has evolved under Adam Silver’s tenure as commissioner. During his time, the league has instituted things as big as the Play-In Tournament and in-game coach’s challenges while introducing more subtle things like the NBA Conference Finals MVP awards and loosening restrictions on coaches’ sideline attire.
On Tuesday morning, it was announced that another change is on the way, albeit another subtle one.
Beginning this year, the NBA is introducing a piece of hardware for the team who finishes the regular season with the league’s best record. Officially, the trophy will be named The Maurice Podoloff Trophy, which was the name of the league’s first commissioner.
Here’s a look:
The NBA is introducing a new award for the team with the best regular season record:
The Maurice Podoloff Trophy, named after the league's first commissioner. pic.twitter.com/DcPPADWxGA
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) December 6, 2022
As of now, there isn’t any word on if the award is simply a trophy or if there are some financial gains for the team members who earn the league’s best record.
In the meantime, it’ll be interesting to see if the new reward changes how organizations approach the regular season going forward.
The Boston Celtics currently have the NBA’s best record (20-5) and shortest odds (+380) to win the 2022-23 title, via Tipico Sportsbook,
Who are the betting favorites to win the #NBA Championship?
Odds via @tipico #Celtics (+380) #Bucks (+480) #Warriors (+650) #Suns (+750) #Clippers (+750)#NBATwitter pic.twitter.com/Quqf4cU4dd
— BetFTW (@Bet_ForTheWin) December 6, 2022