Michael Jordan Gets Massive Leg Up On 'GOAT' Conversations With New Trophy

Former NBA star and owner of Charlotte Hornets team Michael Jordan will take a stake in DraftKings in exchange for advising the company AFP / FRANCK FIFE

KEY POINTS

The Michael Jordan Trophy for NBA MVP is the most intricately made of all six player awards
"GOAT" conversations will still happen, but this is about as foolproof as it can get in favor of Jordan
A new trophy has also been added for the league's best player in clutch situations

The NBA is about one-third of the way finished, and while fans are keeping a close eye on the playoff picture due to its unpredictable nature, the league is also making strides in honoring some of the greatest players to ever step on the hardwood.

Six performance trophies have been redesigned and renamed after the league's legends, and the most notable, and intricate, of them all is the Michael Jordan Trophy for the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award that has a ton of nods to arguably the world's most popular baller.

Standing at 23.6 inches and weighing 23.6 pounds as a reference to his jersey number and championship count, it also features a 23-point faceted crystal ball at the top.

The base is also extremely noteworthy as it has a five-sided base, a nod to his five regular season MVP awards, a 15-degree angled base alluding to his years in the NBA, and a six-sided nameplate for his six championships.

Other trophies include the new Jerry West Trophy for Clutch Player of the Year, the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy for Defensive Player of the Year, the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy for Rookie of the Year, the John Havlicek Trophy for Sixth Man of the Year, and the George Mikan Trophy for Most Improved Player.

It is understandable that the league would put more emphasis on having the MVP award be as intricate as possible since it shows recognition of the best player in the NBA for that specific season while also embodying Jordan's greatness on the court.

Because Jordan now has a trophy bearing his name, it can be argued that the seemingly endless greatest of all time (GOAT) conversations can be put to rest.

While fans can continue discussing why a certain player should be given consideration for the highly subjective distinction of "GOAT," the NBA recognizing Jordan's accomplishments with the highest honor possible for an individual player is about as definitive as it gets.

Factor in his accomplishments in making the NBA a global phenomenon plus his iconic sneaker line to top it all of, Jordan's case for "GOAT" is about as bulletproof as it gets.

"Our new collection of trophies celebrates some of the greatest and most impactful players in the history of the NBA. As we recognize the league's top performers each season, we also pay tribute to the legends who embody these prestigious awards," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said.

Fans who want to see all close-up images of the revamped trophies can view them here.