Why did DeAndre Jordan win the NBA Teammate of the Year award?

Award Recognition Criteria

The Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award recognizes the player deemed the league's best teammate based on selfless play, leadership on and off the court as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment to the team. The award has been presented annually since the 2012-13 season.

Selection and Voting

A panel of league executives selected 12 finalists, with six from each conference. Current NBA players then voted to select the winner from the group of finalists. DeAndre Jordan received 66 first-place votes, 59 second-place votes, 46 third-place votes, and 25 fifth-place votes for a total of 1,445 voting points.

Jordan's Achievement

This is DeAndre Jordan's first Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award. The 18-year NBA veteran is a three-time Kia All-NBA Team selection, a two-time Kia NBA All-Defensive Team honoree, and a 2017 NBA All-Star. He won an NBA championship with the Denver Nuggets in the 2022-23 season and a gold medal with the USA Men's National Team at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Historic Context

Jordan's win breaks a seven-year streak of the award going to guards. From the 2018-19 season through the 2024-25 season, only Mike Conley, Jrue Holiday, Damian Lillard, and Steph Curry captured the award.

Award Origin

The Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award is named for Jack Twyman and Maurice Stokes, whose storied friendship transcended their Hall of Fame accomplishments. They were teammates on the Rochester/Cincinnati Royals for three seasons from 1955-58. After Stokes sustained a career-ending injury in 1958, Twyman became his legal guardian and lifelong advocate, helping organize the Maurice Stokes Memorial Basketball Game to raise funds for medical care.