Leading Sleep Innovation Brand becomes Presenting Sponsor of the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Awards

ATLANTA, GA., February 4, 2025—MOLECULE, the creator of cutting-edge sleep solutions favored by elite athletes, has partnered with the Atlanta Tipoff Club, administrators of the renowned Naismith Awards. This partnership ushers in a new chapter for MOLECULE, as the company becomes the presenting sponsor for the Naismith Women’s and Men’s Defensive Player of the Year Awards. Additionally, MOLECULE joins the Naismith Awards as the Official Mattress sponsor and an Official Marketing Partner, reinforcing its dedication to supporting excellence in basketball.

The Naismith Awards recognize the top players and coaches in college and high school basketball, making it the premier honor in the sport. The Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award is presented annually to the most outstanding defensive basketball player who achieves tremendous on-court success. The organization will release the initial watch list of 15 players on Feb. 5. In early March, 10 semifinalists will be revealed followed by four finalists in late March, and the winner during the Final Four. 

“We are thrilled to welcome MOLECULE as the presenting sponsor of our Defensive Player of the Year Awards,” said Eric Oberman, president of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “Their partnership of being the Official Mattress and Marketing partner aligns perfectly with our mission to recognize excellence in basketball, and we’re incredibly excited to work together to celebrate the outstanding defensive players who make college basketball so thrilling to watch.”

Off the court, MOLECULE will lend its support to the Naismith Awards Community Engagement program, an initiative aimed at revitalizing YMCA gyms in underserved Final Four markets. This commitment underscores the partnership’s dedication to fostering basketball excellence at all levels of the community.

“Partnering with the Naismith Awards is a natural fit for us,” said Kevin Blossom, General Manager of MOLECULE. “Our innovative sleep technology is designed to help athletes and health-conscious people perform at their absolute best, and we’re ecstatic to support the recognition of top defensive players who demonstrate exceptional skill and dedication on the court. We’re also immensely proud to contribute to the community engagement efforts, further solidifying our commitment to promoting health and wellness both on and off the court.”

MOLECULE ‘s revolutionary sleep technology is a game-changer in its own right. Engineered to regulate core body temperature through proprietary Air-Engineered™ technology, its mattresses, toppers, pillows and sheets are designed for recovery-focused sleep, helping active individuals prepare for the challenges of the day ahead. The company’s mattresses boast proprietary foam that delivers up to six times the airflow of leading competitors, ensuring superior heat dissipation and the highest-quality sleep. MOLECULE’s achievements in sleep recovery have earned attention from star athletes, but their vision is to champion sleep solutions that fully restore and provide peak performance to all sleepers.

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Media Contact:

Mallory Hadaway
Atlanta Tipoff Club
mallory.hadaway@naismithtrophy.com
(256) 682-0599

About MOLECULE

MOLECULE, a premier performance sleep company, designs products that are Air-Engineered™ for cooler sleep, helping people achieve optimal rest and recovery so they can maximize performance in their active lifestyles. Developed by a team of renowned sleep scientists, neurologists and engineers, MOLECULE products are trusted by elite athletes such as Alex Morgan and Michael Phelps. MOLECULE products are designed in the USA and are delivered directly to your door with free shipping and risk-free trials. For more information, visit us at http://www.onmolecule.com/

About the Atlanta Tipoff Club 

Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious national honors in all of college and high school basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the family of Naismith Awards annually recognizes the most outstanding men’s and women’s college and high school basketball players and coaches. Other Naismith Awards are presented to the men’s and women’s college basketball defensive players of the year, as well as lifetime achievement awards to basketball officials and outstanding contributors to the game. UCLA’s Lew Alcindor received the first Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy in 1969, while the late Anne Donovan (Old Dominion) was the inaugural women’s recipient in 1983.  Corporate partners of the Naismith Awards include AXIA Time, Jersey Mike’s, MOLECULE and Werner Ladder.