Magic Johnson and Larry Bird Comment on the NBA’s New Awards That Bear Their Names

Magic Johnson and Larry Bird Comment on the NBA’s New Awards That Bear Their Names

The Eastern and Western Conference Finals MVP trophies will be named after NBA icons starting this year.

The NBA just unveiled the two trophies that will be handed to postseason MVPs in remembrance of Earvin “Magic” Johnson and NBA star Larry Bird.

The trophies, which will be awarded to the MVPs of the Eastern and Western Conference Finals, were designed by the NBA in collaboration with Tiffany & Co. The NBA only awarded most valuable players for the regular season and the NBA Finals prior to this year.

The Magic Johnson trophy will go to the MVP of the Western Conference Finals, while the Larry Bird trophy will go to the MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals.

In a video posted on the NBA Twitter account, NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum broke the good news to iconic Boston Celtics star Larry Bird.

“All I want is to take home a Magic Johnson trophy.” That would be my career’s high point, Bird jokingly said.

According to Johnson, “the NBA Conference Finals represent the last hurdle a team must face for an opportunity to make it to the big stage, the NBA Finals,” a statement was provided to Yahoo Sports. “I’m truly honored to have my name memorialized on the Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Trophy.”

The five-time NBA champion shared his excitement with his 5.2 million Twitter followers. “Thank you to the @NBA for naming the new Western Conference Finals MVP trophy after me,” he wrote. “I am extremely honored and the trophy is beautiful!”

According to Tiffany & Co., NBA artist Victor Solomon created the designs for the trophies, which were then manufactured in the Hollowware store in Rhode Island. According to a news release, Solomon stated, “It may be ‘inside’ to know that Tiffany & Co. had been producing the Larry O’Brien trophy.” “But the real surprise was the openness and ambition Tiffany & Co. shared in pushing against expectation and our shared appetite for innovating these honors for a new era.”