NEW YORK — The Los Angeles Athletic Club’s John R. Wooden Award, presented by Principal, was on display at Madison Square Garden this week as both the men’s and women’s trophies were showcased during the Champions Classic, bringing college basketball’s most prestigious individual honor to one of its most iconic stages.
The annual event featured Duke, Kansas, Kentucky and Michigan State — four storied programs with rich Wooden Award histories. Each school has produced Wooden Award winners, finalists, or honorees over the last 50 years, connecting the Champions Classic directly to the legacy of John Wooden and the student-athletes who have received the award since its inception.
Fans entering The Garden were greeted by the Wooden Award trophies and memorabilia. Wooden Award manager Alek Petrossian met with fans before Kentucky tipped off against Michigan State and Duke faced Kansas. A steady line wrapped around the display as fans posed for photos and explored items from the award’s five decades of history. One fan walked away with a rare prize — a Wooden Award basketball signed by past winners, awarded through an on-site raffle.
The showcase aligned with the announcement of the 2025-26 Wooden Award Men’s and Women’s Preseason Top 50 Watchlists, highlighting the elite players who will compete this season to join the distinguished list of past recipients.
The 2025-26 campaign marks the 50th anniversary of the Wooden Award, first presented in 1976 and now widely recognized as the highest individual honor in college basketball.
With the milestone season underway, its presence at Madison Square Garden — during one of the sport’s signature early-season events — served as a celebration of the award’s history, its future, and the athletes continuing to define the legacy of John Wooden’s timeless standard of excellence.