Trail Blazers Introduce New Postgame Boxing Award
The coaching staff is rewarding team victories with a pair of signature Cleto Reyes boxing gloves.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Boxing
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The Portland Trail Blazers have introduced a new team award called The Knockout Punch, which is given to a player following each victory. The coaching staff selects the recipient as a group to celebrate hard work regardless of a player's star status.
Why it matters
The staff implemented this initiative to create an inclusive reward system that recognizes contributions from all players, moving beyond traditional focus on All-Stars or defensive specialists.
The award consists of Cleto Reyes puncher's gloves, which recipients autograph with the date. Players like Damian Lillard and Toumani Camara have already received the honor following early season wins.
The players
Micah Nori
He is the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Damian Lillard
He is a professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers.
Toumani Camara
He is a professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
He is a legendary professional boxer who will provide signed gloves to the season leader.
Courtney Watson
She serves as the director of health and player performance for the Portland Trail Blazers.
The details
Damian Lillard earned the inaugural honor after a victory over the Phoenix Suns, while Toumani Camara secured the second following a win in Sacramento. Recipients are required to sign the gloves, and the staff plans to award a pair of gloves signed by Floyd Mayweather Jr. to the player who accumulates the most awards by season's end.
Timeline
The coaching staff brainstormed the incentive before the 2026-27 season.
The article was published on October 26, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This incentive program aims to bolster morale throughout the 82-game schedule by emphasizing team cohesion. It marks a shift from traditional individual accolades, attempting to sustain engagement across the full roster as the team navigates its season.
Fans tracking team success can look for the signature of the award recipient on the gloves after each win. The season-long competition provides a secondary narrative to the official game outcomes as players vie for the Mayweather-signed prize.
The takeaway
This reward system highlights how professional teams are increasingly using unique cultural incentives to foster inclusivity. It provides a blueprint for how organizations can celebrate non-statistical contributions to maintain a unified locker room culture.
Further reading
Learn more about the team's internal culture by visiting the Portland Boxing section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Oregon Live.
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