Calipari Players Dominate NBA Postseason Awards
FAYETTEVILLE – Razorback head coach John Calipari saw his former players dominate the NBA postseason awards for the 2023-24 season as eight players either earned or were finalists for a combined 15 honors.
Highlighting the list were Tyrese Maxey and Karl-Anthony Towns. Maxey was named KIA NBA Most Improved and recipient of the NBA Sportsmanship Award. He additionally was a finalist for the Most Valuable Player, NBA Clutch Player of the Year and NBA Sportsmanship Award. Towns was named NBA Social Justice Champion.
Three of Calipari’s players were named to the All-NBA Team, including first team selection Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, second team pick Anthony Davis and third teamer Devin Booker.
Davis was also named to the NBA All-Defensive first team, making him the only player in the league making both the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams. Bam Adebayo joined Davis on the All-Defensive first team and he was a finalist for both the Defensive Player of the Year and NBA Social Justice Champion.
Malik Monk was a finalist for KIA NBA Sixth Man of the Year and Cason Wallace earned KIA NBA All-Rookie second team honors.
In addition to the postseason recognition, Calipari had an NBA-best seven players make the All-Star team including Adebayo, Devin Booker, Davis, Gilgeous-Alexander, Maxey, Julius Randle and Towns.
The following is a complete breakdown of Calipari’s players’ 2023-24 success.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
• KIA All-NBA (1st team)
• 1 of 3 Finalists: KIA NBA Most Valuable Player
• 1 of 3 Finalists: Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year
• 1 of 6 Finalists: NBA Sportsmanship Award
Bam Adebayo
• KIA All-Defensive Team (1st team)
• 1 of 3 Finalists: Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year
• 1 of 5 Finalists: NBA Social Justice Champion
Devin Booker
• 3rd Team All-NBA
Anthony Davis
• KIA All-NBA (2nd team)
• KIA All-Defensive Team (1st team)
Tyrese Maxey
• Winner: Kia NBA Most Improved Player
• Winner: NBA Sportsmanship Award
Malik Monk
• 1 of 3 Finalists: Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year
Karl-Anthony Towns
• Winner: NBA Social Justice Champion
Cason Wallace
• KIA NBA All-Rookie Team (2nd team)
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