The NBA made its annual postseason awards presentation a prime-time event, hosted by Drake and with a performance by Nicki Minaj and 2 Chainz. But it was the most decorated player in the room who stole the show Monday night
NBA legend Bill Russell, who won 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons, won the Lifetime Achievement Award. After he took the stage, Russell pointed at each of the five big men on the stage — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, David Robinson, Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo — and said, “I would kick your [expletive].”
Ex-Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni won one of the biggest prizes of the night, capturing the NBA Coach of the Year Award after guiding the Rockets to a 55-27 record in his first season on the bench in Houston.