Jameer Nelson finishes fifth in NBA teammate award voting

Former Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson finished fifth in voting for the NBA’s Twyman-Stokes Teammate Award, certainly a product of his time with the Magic

The NBA announced Wednesday Tim Duncan had won the Twyman-Stokes Teammate Award, an award honoring the league’s best teammate.

This is a relatively new award (since 2013) with Chauncey Billups and Shane Battier winning the previous two awards. It is a relatively interesting concept to ask players to vote for the best teammate. The NBA did not allow players to vote for their own teammates.

It makes the man who finished fifth all the more interesting.

Jameer Nelson, Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons — Feb 5, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic shooting guard Victor Oladipo (5) and point guard Jameer Nelson (14) against the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Detroit Pistons 112-98. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Jameer Nelson spent his first year outside of Orlando bouncing around the league for the first time in his career. After the Magic parted ways with Nelson last summer, he signed a deal with the Mavericks. Dallas then traded him to Boston before Boston dealt him to Denver.

Nelson went from spending 10 years with one team to playing for three teams in one season. It was a strange change for him.

As a free agent this summer, Nelson opted to remain with the Nuggets, rejoining a rebuild with an uncertain future despite a stated desire to play for a winning team. Nelson is still a productive player — 9.6 points and 3.7 assists per game in 34 games for the Nuggets last year. He still has a few good years left in him and plenty of production.

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However, Nelson’s value has changed since his days with the Magic on the championship contending teams. This vote from the players naming Nelson one of the best teammates shows that he has transitioned well into this role and is accomplishing that.

Nelson is a locker room presence. He is a good example for young players. And a leader on a team.

This is the reason the Magic kept him around for two years of their rebuild. Everyone knew he was not part of the team’s future, but his loyalty to the franchise and the franchise’s loyalty to him and understanding of his true value made him an important part of the Magic’s early rebuilding efforts.

Remember, teammates could not vote for Nelson (whether that means just the Nuggets could not or whether all three of Nelson’s 2015 teams could not is not clear). So Nelson’s contacts around the league and specifically with the Magic may have played a large role in promoting him to this honor. Or at least a few votes (39 first place votes) from his peers.

While Duncan won the award and is very well deserving it, Nelson certainly should feel honored to be part of this group of players — Vince Carter, Elton Brand and former Magic forward Ryan Anderson finished ahead of Nelson. Being called a great teammate by your peers is certainly a high honor.

And even though Nelson is gone from the Magic, it certainly feels like the team benefited greatly from Nelson’s presence on the team.