Spurs forward Tim Duncan voted 2014–15 Teammate of the Year
San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan was voted the 2014–15 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year by his fellow NBA players, the Spurs announced Wednesday.
Duncan, an 18-year Spurs veteran, was one of six players from each conference nominated for the award by a panel of former NBA greats. Following the nominations, close to 300 NBA players participated in confidential balloting conducted by the league.
Players were not permitted to vote for a current teammate, and voted on the nominees based on their leadership skills, selfless play and dedication to their team.
The 15-time NBA All-Star, All-NBA and All-Defensive Team selection won the annual award by a landslide, receiving 1,494 points, including 72 first-place votes. Grizzlies guard Vince Carter finished second behind Duncan with 818 points and 28 first-place votes, and Elton Brand of the Atlanta Hawks came in third place with 707 points and 21 first-place votes.
• Tim Duncan re-signs with Spurs on sweetheart deal
The award is named after Jack Twyman and Maurice Stokes, who were teammates on the Rochester/Cincinnati Royals from 1955 to 1958. Stokes supported Twyman for the rest of his life after he endured a traumatic brain injury in the last game of the 1957–58 regular season.
In support of the award, the NBA will donate $25,000 to five charities of Duncan's choice. The donation will be split among My Brother's Workshop, American Cancer Society, Ten Thousand Helpers, St. Croix Interscholastic Athletic Association and St. Croix Foundation.
The previous winners of the Twyman-Stokes award, which was first established following the 2012–13 season, were Shane Battier of the Miami Heat and Chauncey Billups of the L.A. Clippers.
- Kayla Lombardo
