In the 1994 season, the National Lacrosse League (then called the Major Indoor Lacrosse League) began naming a Player of the Week. The first recipient was Buffalo Bandits legend John Tavares.[citation needed]
In 2002, the league renamed the award to Overall Player of the Week, and added weekly awards for Offensive Player of the Week, Defensive Player of the Week, and Rookie of the Week.[1] In 2007, another new award was added, Transition Player of the Week.[2]