NBA players will now get the chance to award each other thanks to a new program launched by the National Basketball Players Association.
ESPN`reports that the program will allow players to vote anonymously for awards, including Most Valuable Player. Cavaliers forward LeBron James, who was recently named First Vice President of the union, said that the players will finally be able to acknowledge one another for their accomplishments.
"Guys are going to be able to recognize the guys they play against every night and what they do for their franchises," James said.
The official NBA awards have been voted on by media members since 1981. Union executive director Michele Roberts decided to create the program after several players complained about not having a voice in the matter. James said that the idea of players voting in the official awards is something to be discussed at a different time.
"It's a conversation we can have at a later date," James said. "The media has done a great job every single year picking the awards. But us players get to see the guys every single day, so it's a longer conversation."
James, a four-time MVP, added that if given the choice to vote he would choose himself.
The players-only awards will be announced at a meeting of union members in Las Vegas in July.