Jameel Warney Honored as 2017 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year
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In recognition of his MVP performance while helping lead USA Basketball to a gold medal at the FIBA AmeriCup 2017 and to two FIBA World Cup Qualifying wins in November, Jameel Warney (Texas Legends) today was announced as the 2017 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year.
“To be mentioned with those greats who have been named (USA Basketball) athlete of the year is a tremendous feeling for me, a tremendous achievement,” Warney said. “I couldn’t have done this without my teammates, and the coaching staff putting me in a great position. I’m just honored.”
At the AmeriCup, Warney averaged a team-high 8.6 rebounds to go with a team second-best 12.8 points in an average of 21.0 minutes per game while coming into the games off of the U.S. bench. He shot 64.9 percent from the field and was named MVP of the 12-team tournament.
Warney also retuned to play for USA Basketball as a member of the 2017 USA Men’s World Cup Qualifying Team that wrapped up wins against Puerto Rico 85-78 on Nov. 23 and Mexico 91-55 on Nov. 26.
“USA Basketball could not be more grateful to Jameel for his dedication and commitment,” said Jim Tooley, USA Basketball CEO. “He was a major contributor to USA Basketball while going undefeated during his gold-medal performance at the FIBA AmeriCup and the first two games of FIBA’s World Cup Qualification.”
| USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year Award History | |||
| 2017 | Jameel Warney | 1997 | Earl Boykins |
| 2016 | *Carmelo Anthony & Kevin Durant | 1996 | Scottie Pippen |
| 2015 | Jalen Brunson | 1995 | Ray Allen |
| 2014 | Kyrie Irving | 1994 | Shaquille O’Neal |
| 2013 | Aaron Gordon | 1993 | Michael Finley |
| 2012 | LeBron James | 1992 | *U.S. Men’s Olympic Team |
| 2011 | Jabari Parker | 1991 | Christian Laettner |
| 2010 | Kevin Durant | 1990 | Alonzo Mourning |
| 2009 | James McAdoo | 1989 | Larry Johnson |
| 2008 | *U.S. Men’s Olympic Team | 1988 | Dan Majerle |
| 2007 | Jason Kidd | 1987 | Danny Manning |
| 2006 | Carmelo Anthony | 1986 | David Robinson |
| 2005 | Shelden Williams | 1985 | Chuck Person |
| 2004 | *Sean May & Chris Paul | 1984 | *Michael Jordan & Sam Perkins |
| 2003 | Tim Duncan | 1983 | Michael Jordan |
| 2002 | Reggie Miller | 1982 | Glenn Rivers |
| 2001 | Chris Duhon | 1981 | Kevin Boyle |
| 2000 | Alonzo Mourning | 1980 | Isaiah Thomas |
| 1999 | Gary Payton | 1997 | Earl Boykins |
| 1998 | Elton Brand | *Co-recipients | |
This year marks the 38th time USA Basketball has presented its Male Athlete of the Year award, which was established in 1980 to recognize a USA Basketball athlete who, during the year of the award, made a significant impact on the success of his team’s performance.
“He always played his best when his best was needed, and that is one of the best things you can say about any athlete,” said Jeff Van Gundy, USA head coach for both of Warney’s USA teams. “When you need their best, they deliver their best. That is what Jameel has done both with the AmeriCup team and with the (FIBA World Cup) qualifying window we just participated in.”
Warney ranked as the AmeriCup’s overall rebounds leader, defensive rebounding leader, fourth in rebounds averaged, fourth in field goal percentage and tied for seventh in points scored. At the event, he finished with 21 points and seven rebounds in the USA’s gold medal victory over host Argentina, and contributed eight points and 14 rebounds in a U.S. win over Uruguay on its home court.
In the USA’s FIBA World Cup Qualifying win over Puerto Rico in November, he recorded a double-double with 17 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
Warney plays for the NBA G League’s Texas Legends. Thus far in 2017-18, he has played in 12 games and is averaging 19.1 points and 9.5 rebounds in 32.5 mpg. (as of Dec. 14, 2017). In 2016-17 with the Legends, he averaged 17.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 blocked shots in 29.2 minutes per game while shooting 57.6 percent from the field and 70.2 percent from the foul line.
