Grizzlies’ Vince Carter wins 2015-16 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award

An eight-time NBA All-Star and two-time All-NBA Team selection, Carter has spent the last two Curry's disappearing act has Warriors scratching heads seasons of his 18-year career with Memphis. Jack Twyman and Maurice Stokes, whose storied friendship transcended their Hall of Fame accomplishments, are honored with an annual NBA award in their names that recognizes the ideal teammate. Twyman and Stokes were teammates on the Rochester/Cincinnati Royals from 1955-58. In the last game of the 1957-58 regular season, Stokes suffered an injury that led to his falling into a coma days later and becoming permanently paralyzed. He was diagnosed with post-traumatic encephalopathy, a brain injury that damaged his motor-control center. Stokes was supported for the rest of his life by Twyman, who became his legal guardian and advocate.

Twyman helped organize the NBA’s Maurice Stokes Memorial Basketball Game, which raised funds for Stokes’ medical care and, after Stokes’ death in 1970 at age 36, for other players in need. In 2004, after years of lobbying by Twyman, Stokes was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Twyman, who was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1983, died in 2012.

Along with Carter, Garnett and Bosh, the other finalists for the 2015-16 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award were Ryan Anderson (New Orleans Pelicans), Caron Butler (Sacramento Kings), Jose Calderon (New York Knicks), Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons), Festus Ezeli (Golden State), James Jones (Cleveland), Andre Miller (San Antonio), Luis Scola (Toronto Raptors) and Marvin Williams (Charlotte Hornets).

Below is the list of voting totals for the 2015-16 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award:

2015-16 TWYMAN-STOKES TEAMMATE OF THE YEAR AWARD VOTING TOTALS

Player, Team                              1st        2nd       3rd       4th        5th        Points

Vince Carter, Memphis              65        61        45        39        29        1,448

Kevin Garnett, Minnesota           39        34        27        44        21        916

Chris Bosh, Miami                      18        49        31        29        34        799

Marvin Williams, Charlotte           33        12        17        21        50        612

Luis Scola, Toronto                     28        15        20        11        10        528

James Jones, Cleveland               15        17        22        22        17        462

Festus Ezeli, Golden State          22        9          11        19        24        419

Andre Drummond, Detroit          12        11        24        16        29        394

Below is the list of winners of the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award:

ALL-TIME TWYMAN-STOKES TEAMMATE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS

2012-13: Chauncey Billups, L.A. Clippers 2013-14: Shane Battier, Miami 2014-15: Tim Duncan, San Antonio 2015-16: Vince Carter, Memphis

ABOUT JACK TWYMAN: A Pittsburgh native, Twyman’s NBA career included six All-Star Game selections and two All-NBA Second Team nods. A prolific scorer, Twyman was runner-up in the scoring race twice, including in 1959-60, when he averaged a career-high 31.2 points. He retired in 1966 as the 20th all-time leading scorer. After his playing career, he worked as an NBA analyst for ABC. Twyman starred at the University of Cincinnati, where he averaged 17.8 points and 13.8 rebounds.

ABOUT MAURICE STOKES: Also a Pittsburgh native, Stokes was one of the first African-American players to star at the collegiate and professional levels. At 6-7, 250 pounds, he possessed the talent and athleticism to play every position on the court.