Former Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan has been named the winner of the first Rudy Tomjanovich Award by the Pro Basketball Writers Association.

The award will be given annually to the NBA coach who combines excellence in coaching and co-operation with the needs of the media.

"... Jerry was unfailingly good with the media and his coaching accomplishments speak for themselves," said PBWA president Doug Smith of the Toronto Star. "We’re delighted to name him a unanimous winner."

The award is named after Tomjanovich, an icon of the coaching industry and someone, like Sloan, who understood the needs of the media and went out of his way to be helpful, respectful and accessible.

Sloan resigned as coach of the Jazz on Feb. 10. His 1,221 regular-season coaching wins put him third on the NBA's all-time list. He was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.

The PBWA also announced two other award winners on Wednesday.

Kevin Durant of Oklahoma City won the Magic Johnson Award, which is given to outstanding players whose cooperation with the media is exemplary. Other finalists included San Antonio's Manu Ginobii, Philadelphia's Elton Brand and Chicago's Derrick Rose.

"Kevin’s a uniquely skilled individual on the court and his willingness to accept the media responsibilities that go with his place in the game are valued by writers who cover the league," said Smith.

David Benner and the Indiana Pacers won the Brian McIntyre Award as the league's top public relations staff.

The PBWA's J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award will be announced later Wednesday through the NBA.

-- Steve Luhm