Damian Lillard wins PBWA’s 2019-20 Magic Johnson Award

Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers has won the 2019-20 Magic Johnson Award, which honors the player who best combines excellence on the basketball court with cooperation and dignity in dealing with the media and the public, the Professional Basketball Writers Association announced today.

Lillard averaged 30.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game during the 2019-20 season.

Off the court, Lillard helped build an atmosphere of mutual respect and openness with the working media.

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers, Khris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks, Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz and Kemba Walker of the Boston Celtics also were finalists for the award.

Professional Basketball Writers Association members selected the winner through a vote. Lillard also won the award for the 2016-17 season.

The PBWA created the Magic Johnson Award in 2001. The association’s members continue to regard Earvin “Magic” Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers as the ideal paradigm for the award.

The PBWA is composed of more than 200 writers and editors who cover the NBA regularly for newspapers, magazines and online news outlets.

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
2013-14 Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
2014-15 Pau Gasol, Chicago Bulls
2015-16 Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
2016-17 Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
2017-18 DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors
2018-19 Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
2019-20 Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

(Photo of Damian Lillard: Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images))