Grizzlies' Cedric Coward selected as finalist for major NBA award
· Yahoo Sports
Memphis Grizzlies rookie forward Cedric Coward was selected as one of the finalists for the 2025-26 NBA Hustle award, the league announced on Thursday.
The award, given annually since 2017, honors players who make effort plays that do not often appear in the traditional box score but impact winning on a nightly basis. It is based on a statistical formula rather than a media vote, utilizing a variety of hustle stats.
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Coward finished fourth for the award, which was won by Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabaté. Hustle stats, including deflections, loose balls recovered, charges drawn, screen assists, contested shots and box outs, have been tracked since the 2016 postseason.
2025-26 NBA Hustle Award Top Five Finishers
- Moussa Diabaté, Charlotte Hornets
- Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks
- Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
- Cedric Coward, Memphis Grizzlies
- Josh Hart, New York Knicks
Coward finished the season by averaging 13.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists while shooting 33.8% from 3-point range in 62 games. He ranked sixth in rookie scoring and 11th among all players in the league in loose balls recovered (55).
The 11th overall pick on Dec. 30 became only the fifth rookie in franchise history to record at least 25 points and 15 rebounds in a game, joining the likes of Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol and Shareef Abdur-Rahim. He was one of five rookies with multiple 15-rebound games this season.
Coward emerged as a key player for the Grizzlies, starting in 47 games this season. He delivered several productive outings throughout the year with his versatility and overall ability, and the 22-year-old was recognized by the league for his effort on Thursday.
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Grizzlies news: Cedric Coward selected as finalist for major NBA award