The first-ever NBPA Players’ Awards, which aired last night on BET, "did surpass expectations on a number of levels," as the union was "willing, perhaps even eager, to sacrifice self-seriousness in pursuit of spectacle," according to Ben Golliver of SI.com. For a launch event conceived by a union that "hasn’t exactly been known for its competency over the years," the crowd "remained mostly engaged throughout the show." But the NBPA’s ability to "engage and organize its membership has been a long-standing problem, and it continued here despite [Clippers G Chris] Paul’s best efforts." Of the 20 players and coaches "listed on the front page of an informational packet, only five showed up to the event and only three of those five bothered to walk the red carpet." Golliver: "The most glaring and perplexing no-show" was Cavaliers F LeBron James, whose "mere presence has the ability to grant legitimacy." His absence, "excused or otherwise, undercut the event like a defender sliding beneath a jump shooter" (SI.com, 7/21). In Cleveland, Joe Vardon noted the "TV-produced, red-carpeted" show "taped Sunday night at the Rio hotel and casino in Las Vegas" in the first of a three-year deal with the net. Little League P Mo'ne Davis accepted the "Player You Secretly Wish Was On Your Team" award on his behalf. Paul won the "Oscar Robertson Visionary Award;" free-agent G Ray Allen won "Man of the Year;" and former NBAer Allen Iverson won the "Game Changer" award. President Obama "taped a congratulatory segment from the White House in [Ray] Allen's honor." The show was hosted by SNL's Jay Pharoah, with musical guests including Lil' Wayne, 2 Chainz, Kid Ink, Jason Derulo, Fifth Harmony and Monica (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 7/22).
TWITTER REAX: Grantland's Bill Simmons wrote, "DVR'ed the Players Awards on BET and it is unequivocally the greatest 2 hours of my summer. I almost don't want to watch it all at once." The N.Y. Daily News' Frank Isola: "LeBron pulled a Marlon Brando at the Players Awards and was a no-show. Mo'ne Davis -- I kid you not -- accepted the award on his behalf." ESPN's Michael Smith tweeted, "Wait they got Wayne performing at the NBA Players Awards? Ok. Ok." Clippers F Paul Pierce: "I must say very very impressed with players awards tonight we'll done."
