The first ever NBA Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award goes to....Chauncey Billups of the Los Angeles Clippers, according to reports.
Billups, a five-time All-Star, NBA champion and 2004 NBA Finals MVP said "I pride myself in being a good human being and a good teammate, and obviously this is a Teammate of the Year Award, but I think more importantly, it's about just being a good person."
Billups had a very limited impact on the court this season, suiting up for just 22 games thanks to various injuries. He averaged 8.4 points per game and just 2.2 assists, a very low number for any point guard, let alone one of Billups' stature.
Billups did play out of position often this year, though, with youngster Eric Bledsoe emerging as a fast and physical backup to starting point guard Chris Paul. Bledsoe's quickness and strength made him an ideal change-of-pace option off the bench; also, Bledsoe's poor shooting made him a bad fit as a backup shooting guard, a role Billups helped fill along with Jamal Crawford.
NBA commissioner David Stern, speaking of Billups said, "I can't think of a player who is more deserving and who embodies the virtues of this award than our first-ever recipient. He is a leader, a selfless player who has rightfully earned the trust and respect of his teammates throughout his career."
Each conference has six finalists, selected by a "panel of NBA legends," according to Yahoo! Sports. The finalists are then voted on by NBA players, who are barred from voting for their own teammates. Billups received 1,543 points and 64 first-place votes. Miami Heat forward Shane Battier actually received more first-place votes (79) but had a lower total score than Billups.
Jason Kidd rounded out the top three, garnering 1,048 points and 42 first-place nods.
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