Presented by Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), the winners of PVA NextGen will be featured on @theNBPA social channels and will be celebrated in an exclusive virtual award ceremony hosted by NBPA member Taj Gibson

NEW YORK, NY, September 2, 2021 - The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) is pleased to announce today the winners of its first-ever NBPA Players’ Voice Awards (PVA) NextGen. Presented by HSS, the Official Hospital of the NBPA, PVA NextGen is a platform for middle school and high school-aged basketball players to recognize and honor their peers for skills and achievements both on and off the court. PVA NextGen is designed to emulate the annual NBPA Players’ Voice Awards, a platform first created in 2015 that provides current NBA players the opportunity to vote and recognize each other for their individual accomplishments both on and off the court.

Nominations for the PVA NextGen opened on July 28 and closed on August 13 and the finalists of each category were announced on August 20 via the NBPA and SLAM’s social channels. Fans then had the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalists and the NBPA is pleased to announce the following top vote-getters as the 2021 NBPA PVA NextGen Winners:

• The Locksmith Award - Bryce Cash, NC
  • This award is dedicated to the lockdown defender who anchors the team defensively with his or her presence and energy
• The Mr. / Ms. Clutch Award - Dylan Andrews, CA
  • This award is designed for the go-to player who is ready to step up and hit the big shot when the clock is winding down and the game is on the line
• The Best Signature Move, Presented by HSS - Sebastian Reed, GA 
  • This award is for the player whose signature move dominates the league's defenders over and over again
• The People’s Champ Award - Chris Peoples, OH
  • This award is dedicated to the player who gives as much off the court as they do on it, always striving to make his or her community better through service and advocacy
• The Sneaker Champ Award - Jalynn Robinson, NY
  • This award is dedicated to the player with the best sneaker style on and off the court

In addition to being recognized on the NBPA and SLAM’s social channels, the winners of PVA NextGen are invited to attend an exclusive virtual award ceremony with NBPA member Taj Gibson and will receive special NBPA gift bags filled with NBPA merch, including a tee, mini ball, and signed player card.

For more information about PVA NextGen, please visit www.nbpa.com/pvanextgen.

About the NBPA

The National Basketball Players Association is the union for current professional basketball players in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Established in 1954, the NBPA’s mission is to protect and support the rights and talents of our players, magnify the power of their collective will, and amplify their voices as leaders who will transcend sport and society globally.

The NBPA advocates on behalf of the best interests of all NBA players, including the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, the filing of grievances on behalf of the players, or counseling players on benefits, educational and post-NBA career opportunities. Business opportunities are generated by THINK450, the subsidiary of the NBPA charged with managing the players’ group licensing rights.

Dedicated to preserving the legacy of its members, the NBPA Foundation provides support and assistance to persons, communities and organizations around the world that seek to improve the lives of those in need.

About THINK450

THINK450 is the innovation and partnership engine of the NBPA, dedicated to uncovering shared interests between the 450 players and leading brands to build more engaging partnerships. Together with its partners, THINK450 creates original ideas that engage fans, stir them to action, and earn brands the right to participate in cultural conversations. For more information, visit THINK450.com.

About HSS

HSS is the world’s leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health. At its core is Hospital for Special Surgery, nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics (for the 12th consecutive year), No. 4 in rheumatology by U.S. News & World Report (2021-2022), and the best pediatric orthopedic hospital in NY, NJ and CT by U.S. News & World Report “Best Children’s Hospitals” list (2021-2022). HSS is ranked world #1 in orthopedics by Newsweek (2020-2021). Founded in 1863, the Hospital has the lowest complication and readmission rates in the nation for orthopedics, and among the lowest infection rates. HSS was the first in New York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center five consecutive times. The global standard total knee replacement was developed at HSS in 1969. An affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS has a main campus in New York City and facilities in New Jersey, Connecticut and in the Long Island and Westchester County regions of New York State, as well as in Florida. In addition to patient care, HSS leads the field in research, innovation and education. The HSS Research Institute comprises 20 laboratories and 300 staff members focused on leading the advancement of musculoskeletal health through prevention of degeneration, tissue repair and tissue regeneration. The HSS Global Innovation Institute was formed in 2016 to realize the potential of new drugs, therapeutics and devices. The HSS Education Institute is a trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal knowledge and research for physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, academic trainees, and consumers in more than 130 countries. The institution is collaborating with medical centers and other organizations to advance the quality and value of musculoskeletal care and to make world-class HSS care more widely accessible nationally and internationally. www.hss.edu.