Shane Battier named 2012-13 Magic Johnson Award winner

Forward Shane Battier of the Miami Heat has been selected as the 2012-13 winner of the Magic Johnson Award, which recognizes a player annually for his cooperation with the media and fans, as well as for his excellence on the court, the Pro Basketball Writers Association announced today.

PBWA members nominated 12 players for the award this season, including Battier’s Heat teammates Ray Allen and LeBron James.

Others nominated were Tyson Chandler of the New York Knicks, Jamal Crawford and Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers, Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs, Al Horford of the Atlanta Hawks, Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks and Zach Randolph of the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Magic Johnson Award was created in 2001 to recognize the player who most displayed excellence on the basketball court with cooperation and dignity in dealing with the media and the public, the so-called “perfect player” in the eyes of the media.

PBWA members thought Earvin “Magic” Johnson of the Lakers was the player who most exhibited those characteristics during his career and cited him as an ideal model for the award in an era in which NBA expansion brought additional media pressure and attention.

The PBWA comprises approximately 125 writers who cover the NBA on a regular basis for newspapers, Internet services and magazines.

Magic Johnson Award winners
2000-01 Ray Allen, Milwaukee Bucks
2001-02 Elton Brand, L.A. Clippers
2002-03 Jalen Rose, Chicago Bulls
2003-04 Jermaine O’Neal, Indiana Pacers
2004-05 Antawn Jamison, Washington Wizards
2005-06 Grant Hill, Orlando Magic
2006-07 Shane Battier, Houston Rockets
2007-08 Derek Fisher, Los Angeles Lakers
2008-09 Brandon Roy, Portland Trail Blazers
2009-10 Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors
2010-11 Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
2011-12 Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
2012-13 Shane Battier, Miami Heat