USBWA Dean Smith Award News

Earvin “Magic” Johnson, who transitioned from a Hall of Fame basketball career to become one of the most successful owners in modern sports, focusing on ethnically diverse and underserved urban communities, and whose foundation inspired awareness in HIV/AIDS education and prevention, will receive the 2026 Dean Smith Award from the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Monday night.

Dick Vitale, whose philanthropy as a champion of cancer research has become as much a part of his signature as his devotion to basketball, has been named the recipient of the Dean Smith Award by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, recognizing an individual in the sport who embodies the spirit and values of the late Coach Smith.