NBA Social Media Awards 2012 Winners: League Surprisingly Gets Things Right
Huh? The NBA got something right?
Knowing how many times the NBA dunk contest, All-Defensive teams, All-NBA teams and so on have been botched, I wasn't expecting much from the NBA Social Media Awards.
Blake Griffin wins every award, Linsanity, which was created by social media, doesn't win a social media award, blah blah blah. Same old, same old.
But that wasn't the case. With the exception of Shaquille O'Neal beating out Kenny Smith and Chris Webber, everything pretty much went how it was supposed to. Let's take a look.
Note: For a complete look at all of the awards and winners, check out NBA.com
Jeremy Lin Goes 2-for-2
Linsanity was easily the most compelling story in the NBA this season. Heck, it was arguably the most compelling story of the past 20 seasons.
He absolutely captivated the world and something like this probably won't happen again for a very long time. He was Tim Tebow times, like, six for a full two months, and that's just not easy to do.
That's why he deserves the two awards he won, he even though the competition was stiff.
Lin's 38-point effort against the Lakers won him the EPIC Award, beating out plenty of worthy nominees, including OKC vs. Minnesota in an absolute instant-classic shootout.
His second award was the Snap Shot Award. The famous picture of the couch he was sleeping on during his 10-day contract with the Knicks beat out Kevin Love's tremendously dirty (and awesome) mustache.
Not easy wins, but Lin deserved them.
Gerald Green Wins the Social Slam Award
Anything involving "Blake Griffin" and "Slam" is usually no contest, and since Griffin was nominated twice (put-back over Pau Gasol and throw down over Kendrick Perkins), I figured it was over.
But rightfully so, Gerald Green won with this dunk, which would have won most dunk contests.
Not only is it a silky smooth windmill, it's an alley-oop and he gets his chin somewhere right around the rim. Oh, and he points at his forearm afterwards for some reason.
Words really don't express how amazing this dunk was. Just know that he deserved the award. Besides, Griffin was still able to grab an award for one of his dunks when he won the "Got Game" Award.
JaVale McGee Wins the LOL Award
If you gave me Blake Griffin, Vince Carter, Nick Young, JaVale McGee and Corey Brewer, the only one I would truly "lough out loud" at is Pierre McGee.
He is truly one of the biggest boneheads in the league, and plays like this prove that.
There were certainly some other funny plays nominated, but none that will make me laugh literally every single time I watch it—and believe me, I've watched McGee's terrible jump hook, I've watched him wrongly sprint to the other end and I've watched John Wall get pissed at him about 4,000 times.
And it never. Gets. Old.
Good job, NBA, for recognizing this.
