NBA fans: vote, vote, vote. NBA fans can grumble about who wins the KIA NBA MVP Award (and they will) or they can do something about it. The NBA is way out in front of the other pro leagues when it comes to fan engagement — and online voting for the KIA NBA Performance Awards is just another example.
Fans have been able to vote for the NBA MVP since the beginning of the decade, but this year the voting has expanded to include the NBA’s other prestigious accolades: NBA Sixth Man of the Year (is that you, Sweet Lou Williams?), NBA Defensive Player of the Year (we miss you, Kawhi Leonard), NBA Rookie of the Year (hi there, Ben Simmons), and the KIA NBA Most Improved Player.
Here’s how to vote for the KIA NBA MVP and the other awards. Fans can vote once a day from April 2 to April 13, when the voting closes. There are two main ways to vote:
- Online at NBA.com (go to NBA.com/KiaFanVote)
- Using Twitter. On Twitter “fans must tweet the player’s first and last name, along with the official hashtags for each of the Kia NBA Performance Awards:
#KiaMVP and #Sweepstakes [KIA NBA MVP]
#KiaSixth and #Sweepstakes [DEFENSIVE SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR]
#KiaDPOY and #Sweepstakes [DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR]
#KiaMIP and #Sweepstakes [Most Improved PLAYER OF THE YEAR]
#KiaROY and #Sweepstakes [ROOKIE OF THE YEAR]
Unfortunately, all those millions of fans’ votes will be tallied up and equal only a single media person’s vote in the grand scheme. The MVP will still be largely decided by professional sports journalists who cover the NBA daily. But some MVP votes are close — you can have your say and it just might make a difference. Also, using Twitter you’re eligible for a Sweepstakes giveaway. Hey, somebody’s got to win.