The Maurice Podoloff trophy is the Most Valuable Player award for the National Basketball Association. It was named after the president of the NBA from 1946 through 1963.
most valuable player
Most Improved
Maurice Podoloff was born in 1890.
Maurice Podoloff died in 1985.
Basketball. In his honor, the NBA named its annual league Most Valuable Player trophy the Maurice Podoloff Trophy.Maurice Podoloff (August 18, 1890 - November 24, 1985) was a U.S. lawyer and basketball and ice hockey administrator. He was the first president of the National Basketball Association. He served from the league's founding as the Basketball Association of America in 1946 until 1963.
Maurice Podoloff TrophyMaurice Podoloff (August 18, 1890 - November 24, 1985) was a U.S. lawyer and basketball and ice hockey administrator. He was the first president of the National Basketball Association. He served from the league's founding as the Basketball Association of America in 1946 until 1963.Maurice Podoloff was born to a Jewish family in Elizabethgrad, Russian Empire (now in Ukraine) on August 18, 1890. When he was a young boy his family emigrated to the United States, where he graduated Hillhouse High School in New Haven, Connecticut in 1909. From there Podoloff went on to Yale University where he got his law degree in 1915.A distinguished lawyer, Maurice Podoloff was a man of impeccable character and was instrumental in the development and success of professional basketball. On June 6, 1946, Podoloff, who was already serving as president of the American Hockey League, was appointed president of the newly formed Basketball Association of America (BAA), becoming the first person to simultaneously lead two professional leagues.After the BAA signed several of the top names in the National Basketball League into the league, Maurice Podoloff negotiated a merger between the two groups to form the National Basketball Association in 1949. As a lawyer with no previous experience, Podoloff's great organizational and administrative skills were later regarded as the key factor that kept the league alive in its often stormy, formative years.He was a president who was fair to all teams and owners, regardless of their power. In 17 years as president, Podoloff expanded the NBA to as many as 17 teams, and briefly formed three divisions and scheduled 557 games.During his tenure Maurice introduced the collegiate draft in 1947, and in 1954 instituted the 24 second clock created by Dan Biasone, owner of the Syracuse Nationals which quickened the pace of games, and took the NBA from a slow plotting game to a fast paced sport. In 1954, Podoloff also increased national recognition of the game immensely by securing its first television contract.Maurice Podoloff stepped down as NBA president in 1963. However, during the formative years of the NBA he was able to increase fan interest and improved the overall welfare of the sport of basketball through his foresight, wisdom and leadership. In his honor, the NBA would name its annual league Most Valuable Player trophy the Podoloff Cup.
1947
Yes.
After the 1946-1947 season.
MVP. Most Valuable Player.
The Richard trophy was introduced to the National Hockey League in 1999, and is awarded to the League's top goal scorer each season. This is not the same as the Ross trophy which is awarded to the League's top point scorer (points being the total of a player's goals and assists).
25: Stanley Cup Prince of Wales Trophy Clarence S. Campbell Bowl Presidents' Trophy O'Brien Trophy Hart Memorial Trophy Lady Byng Memorial Trophy Vezina Trophy Calder Memorial Trophy Art Ross Trophy James Norris Memorial Trophy Conn Smythe Trophy Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy Lester B. Pearson Award Jack Adams Award Frank J. Selke Trophy William M. Jennings Trophy NHL Plus-Minus Award King Clancy Memorial Trophy NHL Foundation Player Award Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award Mark Messier Leadership Award NHL Lifetime Achievement Award Scotiabank Fan Fav Award