NBA Social Media Awards 2013: Date, Time, TV Info, Nominees & Predictions
Last year, the NBA invented and hosted the inaugural Social Media Awards, a successful ceremony honoring players around the league for various feats and tweets over the 2011-12 campaign.
In 2013, the Social Media Awards will be making their triumphant return, with a number of redesigned categories.
Athletes will be honored for not only performing actions that set Twitter, Facebook and the rest of the various platforms abuzz, but also rewarded for participating with the medium and interacting with fans and supporters in creative ways.
This year, the league insured that most of the fat was cut and the more unexciting rewards were either cut or given out prior to the televised special—such as the Los Angeles Clippers receiving the “Fan Nation” award.
Let’s take a look at where you can watch this exciting ceremony, what time it takes place, who the nominees are in each category, predict some winners and more in our Social Media Awards preview.
When: Wednesday, June 12 at 5 p.m. ET
Watch: NBA TV
Hosts: Chris Webber (@realchriswebber), with Rocsi Diaz (@rocsidiaz) and Stephen Curry (@stephencurry30)
*Nominees and descriptions courtesy of NBA.com
Snap Shot Award
Drama, what drama? Dwight Howard "fights" with Kobe Bryant in front of head coach Mike D'Antoni
Kevin Love
Kevin Love snaps a pic of comedian Zach Galifinakis and his biggest (literally) fan Nikola Pekovic.
Dwyane Wade poses with legendary NBA superfan Jimmy Goldstein.
Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry makes amends for accidentally dissing Draymond Green's high-five attempt during his 54-point game at Madison Square Garden.
Amar'e Stoudemire
Amar'e Stoudemire's truck gets flooded out during Superstorm Sandy.
Predicted Winner: Dwight Howard
The Epic Award
Heat vs Celtics, March 18
LeBron scores 37 and adds the game-winner as the Heat edge the Celtics to extend their winning streak to 23 games.
Heat vs Bulls, March 27
The never-say-die Chicago Bulls stun the Heat and put an end to the second-longest winning streak in NBA history.
Raptors vs Lakers, March 8
With the playoff race heating up, Kobe leads by example and pours in 42 to beat the Raptors in overtime.
Warriors vs Knicks, Feb. 27
Stephen Curry puts on a show in the Big Apple with 54 points but Melo and Amar'e combine to lift the Knicks to victory.
Thunder vs Nuggets, March 1
Ty Lawson hits a 23-foot jumper with 0.2 on the clock as the Nuggets beat the Thunder for their 10th straight home win.
Predicted Winner: Heat vs. Bulls, March 27
The LOL Award
JaVale McGee
JaVale McGee trips himself and then fires an erratic pass (or was it a shot?) into the stands.
Bulls inbounds pass
The Bulls forget a key part of inbounding the ball—the actual "inbound" part.
Greg Smith
Houston's Greg Smith earns himself an unorthodox three-second violation for tying his shoes in the lane.
Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook brings the "D" and rejects the Nuggets' mascot's half-court shot.
Marc Gasol
The Grizzlies' Marc Gasol employs the little-used "shoe defense."
Predicted Winner:JaVale McGee
Social Slam Award
DeAndre Jordan
Lob City comes to play as DeAndre Jordan throws down an epic one-handed slam.
LeBron James puts Jason Terry on a poster with this vicious dunk.
Blake Griffin
The Clippers know how to entertain as Jamal Crawford flips a nifty through-the-legs pass for Blake Griffin to finish.
Harrison Barnes
Harrison Barnes announces his NBA presence with a big slam over Nikola Pekovic.
J.R. Smith
New York's J.R. Smith pulls off the acrobatic reverse jam on the Spurs.
Predicted Winner: DeAndre Jordan
FTW Award
Joe Johnson
Joe Johnson drains a step back shot at the buzzer to sink the Pistons in overtime.
Monta Ellis
Monta Ellis silences the Rockets' crowd with this off-balance shot that gets the shooter's roll for the win.
J.R. Smith
J.R. Smith does it again with this near impossible fadeaway shot from the corner to beat the Suns.
Damian Lillard
The NBA's top rookie get his first career NBA buzzer-beater with this shot to beat New Orleans.
Tony Parker
Tony Parker and the Spurs execute a last-second inbounds play to perfection to take down OKC.
Prediction: Monta Ellis
The OMG Award
Miami Heat
Miami Heat Harlem Shake
Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves' Spread Love for Breast Health Awareness Month campaign
Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers dancing kid
Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons' Kyle Singler's trick shots in London
Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn Nets players get ready for an evening of Russian culture
Prediction: Miami Heat
Trendsetter Award
Russell Westbrook
LeBron James
Dwyane Wade
James Harden
Prediction: Russell Westbrook
The 140 Award
Kobe Bryant
"Amnesty THAT
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) February 24, 2013"
Brandon Knight
"It wasn't in the scouting reports that the clippers threw lobs lol
— Brandon E Knight (@BrandonKnight07) March 11, 2013"
Phil Jackson
"11 champ;ipnsikp[ ringhs
— Phil Jackson (@PhilJackson11) March 27, 2013"
Jeff Green
"A year ago my life changed...#1-9-12 #blessed to see another day and thankful for my family and friends. LOVE Y'ALL!!! twitter.com/unclejeffgreen…
— Jeff Green (@unclejeffgreen) January 9, 2013"
Blake Griffin
"Alright everybody I'm gonna try for the scoring title tonight. Can somebody do the math on how many points I need?
— Blake Griffin (@blakegriffin32) April 17, 2013"
Predicted Winner: Kobe Bryant
The Social MVP
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Blake Griffin
Stephen Curry
Prediction: Kobe Bryant
