Pro Basketball Writers Association

The Pro Basketball Writers Association (PBWA) is a professional nonprofit organization for sportswriters and editors who write about professional basketball—including the National Basketball Association (NBA)—for newspapers, magazines and websites.^[1]

History

The idea of a professional organization like the PBWA began to be discussed in the early 1970s.^[1] One of the rationales was to improve working conditions.^[1] For NBA beat writers, the league did not have a specific policy regarding access to locker rooms, team practices, players, coaches, general managers, and other executives.^[1]

On January 18, 1972, interested sportswriters gathered formally for the first time, to begin organizing what was to become the Pro Basketball Writers Association of America (PBWAA).^[1] The meeting occurred at the Century Plaza Hotel, in Los Angeles, California, during the NBA All-Star Game weekend.^[1] The PBWAA organized formally one year later, on January 23, 1973, at a meeting in the O'Hare Hyatt Regency Hotel, in Chicago, Illinois.^[1]

Presidents

See footnote^[1]

See also

• United States Basketball Writers Association (college)
• Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA)
• National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association
• Pro Football Writers Association
• Football Writers Association of America (college)
• Professional Hockey Writers Association
• National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association

Awards Held by PBWAA

• Best Writing Contest PBWA Blumenthal Memorial Writing Contest, which honors the best work by members of the Professional Basketball Writers. Chris Ballard, Kevin Ding, Jason Quick and Marc J. Spears have been named first-place winners in the 2015.
• Brian McIntyre Award this Media Relations Award which is presented each season to an NBA media relations staff that best exemplifies the standards of professionalism and excellence worthy of acclaim. And the media relations staff of Toronto Raptors has won this award in the 2014-15 season. The public relations staff of the Golden State Warriors has been named the 2013-14 winner and The public relations staff of the Indiana Pacers has been named the winner of year 2012-13.
• J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given since 1975 to a player, coach, or staff member who shows "outstanding service and dedication to the community." Season of 2015–16 Wayne Ellington of Brooklyn Nets won this award. And the winner in the past are Samuel Dalembert(2009-2010), Ron Artest(2010–11), Pau Gasol(2011–12), Kenneth Faried(2012–13), Luol Deng(2013–14) and Joakim Noah(2014–15)
• Magic Johnson Award is an annual award for a NBA player who recognizes excellence on the court and cooperation and dignity with the media and public. In currently year of 2016 Stephen Curry named the winner. The award, which was created in 2001, has been given to some of the league's most prominent players over the years, including Pau Gasol (2014–15), Dirk Nowitzki (2013–14), Kevin Durant (2010–11), Chris Bosh (2009–10), Grant Hill (2005–06), and Ray Allen (2000-01).^[2]
• Rudy Tomjanovich Award presented annually to recognizes a coach for his cooperation with the media and fans, as well as his excellence on the court. The winner in currently year of 2016 is Dwane Casey of the Toronto Raptors. Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors has won the season of 2014-15 and Frank Vogel of the Indiana Pacers has been voted for the season of 2013-14.

Footnotes

External links

• "Pro Basketball Writers Association: PBWA Info". InsideHoops.com. February 21, 2008. Retrieved 2011-02-18. 
• Abbott, Henry. "Award-winning basketball writing". TrueHoop (ESPN NBA). ESPN.com. Retrieved 2011-02-18. 
• Association for Professional Basketball Research (APBR)