Jamison Selected as a Divisional Winner for NBA Sportsmanship Award

The Washington Wizards' Antawn Jamison along with Detroit’s Antonio McDyess, Houston’s Shane Battier, Phoenix’s Grant Hill, Portland’s Brandon Roy and Toronto’s Chris Bosh have been selected by a five-member panel of former players as divisional winners for the 2007-08 NBA Sportsmanship Award.

The NBA Sportsmanship Award, designed to honor a player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court, is voted on by NBA players. The winner will be announced after the regular season.

The 2007-08 NBA Sportsmanship Award winner will be presented with the Joe Dumars Trophy, named after the Hall of Famer and former Detroit Pistons great who played 14 seasons in the NBA and was the recipient of the inaugural NBA Sportsmanship Award in 1996. The six-time All-Star was selected in honor of his distinguished and dignified career and for symbolizing the tradition the NBA wants to recognize with this award.

Former NBA players Mike Bantom, Eddie Johnson, Tom "Satch" Sanders, Kenny Smith and Steve Smith, the 2000-2001 Sportsmanship Award recipient, selected the six divisional winners from a pool of 30 team nominees. Each team nominated one of its own players for this award.

The annual award reflects the ideals of sportsmanship -- ethical behavior, fair play and integrity -- in amateur and professional basketball, a key focus of the league’s Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA grassroots youth basketball program.

Following is a list of the all-time winners of the NBA Sportsmanship award:

ALL-TIME NBA SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD WINNERS

  • Inaugural: Joe Dumars (1996)
  • 1996-1997: Terrell Brandon, Cleveland
  • 1997-1998: Avery Johnson, San Antonio
  • 1998-1999: Hersey Hawkins, Seattle
  • 1999-2000: Eric Snow, Philadelphia
  • 2000-2001: David Robinson, San Antonio
  • 2001-2002: Steve Smith, San Antonio
  • 2002-2003: Ray Allen, Seattle
  • 2003-2004: P.J. Brown, New Orleans
  • 2004-2005: Grant Hill, Orlando
  • 2005-2006: Elton Brand, Los Angeles Clippers
  • 2006-2007: Luol Deng, Chicago