NBA Award Voter Competency Test 2015-16

Earlier this afternoon, the NBA announced their 2015-16 All-NBA teams. These, like all end-of-season awards, are voted on by a panel of 129 media members. It seems that voters have become increasingly informed since the process is now transparent, with every vote made public. However, some votes have been criticized and there’s no question that these panelists have to be knowledgeable.

At one time, people could argue that these end-of-season awards didn’t matter much. Sure, they helped a player’s legacy and potentially their endorsement dollars, but they were largely inconsequential.

But now, in addition to bonuses from endorsements, millions of contract dollars are at stake because of the “Derrick Rose Rule” that was included in the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Rose Rule allows a player whose rookie-scale contract is being extended to earn 30 percent of the salary cap – as opposed to 25 percent – if they have won Most Valuable Player, been named to the All-NBA team twice or selected to start two All-Star Game (which is voted on by fans, not media).

So far, only three players have qualified: Rose, Blake Griffin, Paul George and Damian Lillard. With an All-NBA selection this season, Anthony Davis would’ve joined that list. But he wasn’t selected, so now he will miss out on approximately $24 million. This is not a typo.

With so much money at stake, it’s extremely important that voters are informed. I have put together the following test, which could be given to voters each season to ensure that they are watching the games and remaining knowledgeable year after year. Like many online tests, there are ways to prevent cheating such as adding a timer or giving a failing grade should the user open a new browser.

The league could decide to set the minimum score for retaining one’s NBA award vote at, say, 37 points out of a possible 52 – or just over 70 percent correct. Here are the questions, followed by the answers in white text at the bottom of the test (highlight the text to view the answers). Do you deserve an NBA award ballot?

1. List the top three players (in no particular order) in total minutes played in the regular season for the following teams – 1 pt for each individual player named correctly (15 pts possible):

Golden State Warriors

Atlanta Hawks

Los Angeles Clippers

Minnesota Timberwolves

Brooklyn Nets

2. List the leader in total points scored in the regular season for the following teams – 1 pt apiece:

Toronto Raptors

Memphis Grizzlies

Portland Trail Blazers

Boston Celtics

Orlando Magic

3. List the leader in total three-pointers made in the regular season for the following teams – 1 pt apiece:

Detroit Pistons

Dallas Mavericks

Oklahoma City Thunder

Milwaukee Bucks

New York Knicks

4. List the leader in total free-throws attempted in the regular season for the following teams – 1 pt apiece:

Utah Jazz

Sacramento Kings

Miami Heat

Philadelphia 76ers

Indiana Pacers

5. List the top three players in the NBA (in no particular order) for assists per game (minimum 500 minutes played) during the regular season – 1 pt for each correct:

6. List the top five offensive teams in the NBA (in no particular order) during the regular season using points per-100-possessions scored via league site (NBA.com) – 1 pt for each correct:

7. List the top five defensive teams in the NBA (in no particular order) during the regular season using fewest points per-100-possessions allowed via league site (NBA.com) – 1 pt for each correct:

8. List the top three players in the NBA (in no particular order) for offensive rebounds per game (minimum 500 minutes played) during the regular season – 1 pt for each correct:

9. List the eight playoff teams in the Eastern Conference in descending order by regular season record – 1 pt for 8 correct teams, 3 pts for correct order:

10. List the eight playoff teams in the Western Conference in descending order by regular season record – 1 pt for 8 correct teams, 3 pts for correct order:

Answers (highlight each)

1. Golden State Warriors – Draymond Green, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson

Atlanta Hawks – Paul Millsap, Al Horford, Kyle Korver

Los Angeles Clippers – DeAndre Jordan, Chris Paul, Jamal Crawford

Minnesota Timberwolves – Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns, Ricky Rubio

Brooklyn Nets – Brook Lopez, Thaddeus Young, Bojan Bogdanovich

2. Toronto Raptors – DeMar DeRozan

Memphis Grizzlies – Zach Randolph

Portland Trail Blazers – Damian Lillard

Boston Celtics – Isaiah Thomas

Orlando Magic – Evan Fournier

3. Detroit Pistons – Reggie Jackson

Dallas Mavericks – Wesley Matthews

Oklahoma City Thunder – Kevin Durant

Milwaukee Bucks – Khris Middleton

New York Knicks – Carmelo Anthony

4. Utah Jazz – Gordon Hayward

Sacramento Kings – DeMarcus Cousins

Miami Heat – Dwyane Wade

Philadelphia 76ers – Jerami Grant

Indiana Pacers – Paul George

5. Rajon Rondo, John Wall, Russell Westbrook

6. Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors

7. San Antonio Spurs, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Golden State Warriors

8. Andre Drummond, DeAndre Jordan, Kenneth Faried

9. Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons

10. Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets