The John R. Wooden Award: Celebrating Excellence in College Basketball

The John R. Wooden Award is an annual accolade bestowed upon the most outstanding men's and women's college basketball players. Presented by the Los Angeles Athletic Club, the award also encompasses the Legends of Coaching Award and the recognition of All-America teams. Named in honor of John Wooden, the legendary Purdue player and UCLA coach, the award embodies his values of character, leadership, and academic achievement, alongside athletic prowess.

Origins and History

In 1976, the Los Angeles Athletic Club sought to establish a nationally prestigious award for college basketball, akin to football's Heisman Trophy. They chose to honor John Wooden, securing the rights to use his name and trademarking it. The John R. Wooden Award Trophy, symbolizing the "Outstanding College Basketball Player in the United States," has been presented annually since 1977 to the player who receives the most points in the annual balloting. The award expanded to include women's players in 2004.

The Wooden Award Trophy

The John R. Wooden Award Trophy is a symbol of excellence in college basketball, handcrafted using the original molds from 1975. The concept for the trophy originated with Founding Wooden Award Chairman Richard “Duke” Llewellyn. Work began on the trophy in 1975, and sculptor Don Winton was entrusted with creating the model. The figures are bronze-plated and mounted on a pentagonal base plate. The tallest figure, representing shooting, stands at 10 1/4 inches (26 cm). The Women’s Wooden Award Trophy, introduced in 2004, features a crystal top with the five figurines adopted by the Wooden Award.

Selection Process

The selection process for the John R. Wooden Award is rigorous and comprehensive. Each year, the award's National Advisory Board, a panel of basketball experts, selects candidates for player of the year and All-American Team honors. The candidates must be full-time students with a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or higher throughout their college careers. They must also have made outstanding contributions to team play, both offensively and defensively, and be model citizens, exhibiting strength of character both on and off the court.

The selection ballot is announced prior to the NCAA tournament. The voters consist of sportswriters and sportscasters representing the 50 states. The top vote-getters are selected to the All-American Team, and the results are announced following the Elite Eight round of the NCAA tournament. The person who receives the most votes is named the national player of the year, and the winner is announced following the NCAA championship game.

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The Wooden Pyramid of Success

The Pyramid of Success, created by Coach John Wooden, is a framework for achieving personal and team excellence. It consists of 15 key qualities that are arranged into a pyramid, with industriousness and enthusiasm at the base as foundational elements. Above these are qualities like self-control, alertness, and initiative, which build on each other. At the top of the pyramid is competitive greatness, representing the ultimate goal of performing at your best when it matters most.

The Legends of Coaching Award

The Legends of Coaching Award recognizes the lifetime achievement of coaches who exemplify Coach Wooden's high standards of coaching success and personal achievement. When selecting the individual, the Wooden Award Committee considers a coach's character, success rate on the court, graduating rate of student athletes, his or her coaching philosophy, and identification with the goals of the John R. Wooden Award. This award is bestowed upon both men's and women's coaches.

The John R. Wooden Award Foundation

The John R. Wooden Award Foundation (JRWAF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting and promoting the John R. Wooden Award programs nationwide. Its mission is to foster teamwork, academic excellence, and character development. JRWAF serves as the primary resource provider for the Wooden Award’s legacy and philanthropic efforts while offering comprehensive guidance and support for award administration, ensuring integrity and adherence to John Wooden’s principles.

Charitable Contributions

Since its inception, the John R. Wooden Award program has made charitable gifts in the names of the Wooden Award All American recipients and has sent underprivileged children to week-long college basketball camps. The John R. Wooden Award partners with Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) each year to host the Wooden Award Special Olympics basketball day. The event brings together Special Olympics athletes and Wooden Award All America Team and coaches in attendance.

Recent Developments

2026 Men's Midseason Top 25 Watch List

The Los Angeles Athletic Club’s John R. Wooden Award announced the 2025-26 Men’s Midseason Top 25 Watch List, highlighting impactful performers in college basketball. The list includes leaders like Braden Smith (Purdue), AJ Dybansta (BYU), and Graham Ike (Gonzaga), alongside first-time selections such as Kingston Fleming (Houston), Josh Jefferson (Iowa State), and Jaden Bradley (Arizona). These players are considered strong candidates for the 2026 John R. Wooden Award Men’s Player of the Year, with others remaining eligible for future lists and the National Ballot.

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List of Wooden Award Winners (Men's)

1977: Marques Johnson (Virginia)
1978: Phil Ford (North Carolina)
1979: Larry Bird (Indiana State)
1980: Darrell Griffith (Louisville)
1981: Danny Ainge (Brigham Young)
1982: Ralph Sampson (Virginia)
1983: Ralph Sampson (Virginia)
1984: Michael Jordan (North Carolina)
1985: Chris Mullin (St. John's)
1986: Walter Berry (St. John's)
1987: David Robinson (Navy)
1988: Danny Manning (Kansas)
1989: Sean Elliott (Arizona)
1990: Lionel Simmons (La Salle)
1991: Larry Johnson (UNLV)
1992: Christian Laettner (Duke)
1993: Calbert Cheaney (Indiana)
1994: Glenn Robinson (Purdue)
1995: Ed O'Bannon (UCLA)
1996: Marcus Camby (Massachusetts)
1997: Tim Duncan (Wake Forest)
1998: Antawn Jamison (North Carolina)
1999: Elton Brand (Duke)
2000: Kenyon Martin (Cincinnati)
2001: Shane Battier (Duke)
2002: Jay Williams (Duke)
2003: T.J. Ford (Texas)
2004: Jameer Nelson (Saint Joseph's)
2005: Andrew Bogut (Utah)
2006: J.J. Redick (Duke)
2007: Kevin Durant (Texas)
2008: Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina)
2009: Blake Griffin (Oklahoma)
2010: Evan Turner (Ohio State)
2011: Jimmer Fredette (Brigham Young)
2021: Anthony Davis (Kentucky)
2013: Trey Burke (Michigan)
2014: Doug McDermott (Creighton)
2015: Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin)
2016: Buddy Hield (Oklahoma)
2017: Frank Mason III (Kansas)
2018: Jalen Brunson (Villanova)
2019: Zion Williamson (Duke)
2020: Obi Toppin (Dayton)
2021: Luka Garza (Iowa)
2022: Oscar Tshiebwe (Kentucky)
2023: Zach Edey (Purdue)
2024: Zach Edey (Purdue)
2025: Cooper Flagg (Duke)

List of Wooden Award Winners (Women's)

2004: Diana Taurasi (Connecticut)
2005: Seimone Augustus (Louisiana State)
2006: Seimone Augustus (Louisiana State)
2007: Candace Parker (Tennessee)
2008: Candace Parker (Tennessee)
2009: Maya Moore (Connecticut)
2010: Maya Moore (Connecticut)
2011: Maya Moore (Connecticut)
2012: Brittney Griner (Baylor)
2013: Brittney Griner (Baylor)
2014: Chiney Ogwumike (Stanford)
2015: Breanna Stewart (Connecticut)
2016: Breanna Stewart (Connecticut)
2017: Kelsey Plum (Washington)
2018: A'ja Wilson (South Carolina)
2019: Sabrina Ionescu (Oregon)
2020: Sabrina Ionescu (Oregon)
2021: Paige Bueckers (Connecticut)
2022: Aliyah Boston (South Carolina)
2023: Caitlin Clark (Iowa)
2024: Caitlin Clark (Iowa)2025: JuJu Watkins (Southern California)

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