1996 - '97 Regular Season Winners

1996 - '97 Roundball Review Regular Season Winners

Roundball Review Regular Season Awards

Unlike everyone else, we put our criteria in writing in order to give readers of why we made our selections.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER:
The player who has the most value to his team. In other words, if this player missed games for an extended period of time, his team would experience a dramatic fall off in performance and / or wins.

Karl Malone, Utah Jazz: 27.4 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.38 spg, .550 fg%, .755 ft%.

Since February, Karl has been the most consistent scorer in the league. The Jazz own the best record in the West and he had more assists than Jordan.

OTHER CANDIDATES:
Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons
Tim Hardaway, Miami Heat
Penny Hardaway, Orlando Magic
Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks
Anthony Mason, Charlotte Hornets
Gary Payton, Seattle Supersonics

MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER:
The player who has the best season statistically for his team throughout the league and also contributed the most to his team's success. In order to be eligible for the MOP, the player must play in at least 60 games of the regular season.

Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls: 29.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.71 spg, .486 fg%, .833ft%.

MJ is still the most lethal offensive force in the league. Case closed.

OTHER CANDIDATES:
Karl Malone, Utah Jazz
Glen Rice, Charlotte Hornets
Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons
Mitch Richmond, Sacramento Kings
Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks

COACH OF THE YEAR:
The coach who best maximized his team's talent and / or overcame any team adversity.

Pat Riley, Miami Heat: 61 - 21; 32 - 9 on the road. He just continues to maximize his team's talent. Everyone thought the Heat would suffer without Juwan Howard--not even close!

OTHER CANDIDATES:
Doug Collins, Detroit Pistons
Phil Jackson, Chicago Bulls
Flip Saunders, Minnesota Timberwolves
Danny Ainge, Phoenix Suns
George Karl, Seattle Supersonics
Rudy Tomjanovich, Houston Rockets
Lenny Wilkens, Atlanta Hawks
Dave Cowens, Charlotte Hornets
Jerry Sloan, Utah Jazz

EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR:
The executive who made the best personnel decisions which led to his or her team's improvement this season compared to the previous season.

Kris Gardner's pick: Pat Riley, Miami Heat. Improved 19 games.
He re - signed Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway. Riles signed, then lost forward Juwan Howard. He adjusted his game plan and signed P.J. Brown,who has become the top defensive forward in the league, and swingman Dan Majerle. He signed back up center Isaac Austin who has been one of the big surprises in the league. He then traded for forward Jamal Mashburn from Dallas; thereby, putting together one of the best starting fives in the NBA. Since he took over 2 seasons ago, only Keith Askins remains on the team.

Brian Watson's pick: Bob Bass, Charlotte Hornets. Improved 13 games.
Bass rid the Hornets of Larry Johnson's huge contract: $70 M and obtained Anthony Mason in return. He, also, acquired center Vlade Divac from the Lakers for rookie Kobe Bryant who didn't want to be a Hornet anyway. During the regular season, he traded for veteran scorer Ricky Pierce who provides the Hornets another offensive weapon.

OTHER CANDIDATES:
Ernie Grunfeld, New York Knicks
Kevin McHale, Minnesota Timberwolves
Pete Babcock, Atlanta Hawks
Jerry West, Los Angeles Lakers

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:
The rookie who helped his team improve (no. of wins) the most compared to the previous season, put up the best statistics and made his teammates better.

Stephon Marbury, Minnesota Timberwolves: 15.8 ppg, 7.8 apg, 2.5 to 1 assists to turnover ratio. Stephon helped improve the T-wolves by 14 wins from last season and make the playoffs. A lot of rookies scored, but, not too many rookies won.

OTHER CANDIDATES:
Shareef Abdur - Rahim, Vancouver Grizzlies
Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers
Antoine Walker, Boston Celtics
Kerry Kittles, New Jersey Nets
Travis Knight, Los Angeles Lakers
Marcus Camby, Toronto Raptors

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
The player who disrupts the opponent's offense more than any other player. He is not necessarily the best man to man defender in the league.

Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta Hawks: 11.6 rpg, 3.30 bpg.
Deke finished second in the league in blocked shots to Shawn Bradley; however, he dares opponents to attack him at the basket. Also, Mutombo is a much better rebounder.

OTHER CANDIDATES:
Gary Payton, Seattle Supersonics
Mookie Blaylock, Atlanta Hawks
Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls
Eddie Jones, Los Angeles Lakers
Mario Elie, Houston Rockets
Anthony Mason, Charlotte Hornets
Bobby Phills, Cleveland Cavaliers

SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR:
The player who provides an offensive punch as well as any intangible things such as diving for loose balls, making the extra pass, etc. while coming off the bench.

Brian Watson's pick: Terry Mills, Detroit Pistons:
10.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.3 apg, 175 3 pointers made, .422 3pt%.
"Three Mills" made the most 3 pointers off the bench in the league. He causes match - up problems for the opposition as he takes their center away from the basket or takes their forward down to the low post.

Kris Gardner's pick: John Starks, New York Knicks:
13.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.8 apg, 150 3 pointers made, .369 3pt%.
Starks epitomizes this award: He provides a spark to the Knicks. He plays tough defense; throws his body around; and, normally, he's on the floor in the 4th quarter---not Allan Houston.

OTHER CANDIDATES:
Toni Kukoc, Chicago Bulls
Dell Curry, Charlotte Pistons
Nate McMillan, Seattle Supersonics
Chris Gatling, New Jersey Nets
Gerald Wilkins, Orlando Magic

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER:
The player who improved the most over last season statistically and became a major contributor toward his team's success. This award is not for players who played internationally the previous season.

Voshon Lenard, Miami Heat: 12.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.2 apg, 28.9 minutes per game, .459 fg%, .414 3pt%, 183 3 pointers made.
'95 - '96: 5.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.0 apg, 10.8 mpg, .376 fg%, .356 3pt%, 36 3 pointers made.
Voshon thrived under coach Riley's system. He has become one of the top 3 point threats in the league and has begun developing the ability to dribble the ball and attack the basket which added to his offensive effectiveness.

OTHER CANDIDATES:
Rasheed Wallace, Portland Trailblazers
Lindsey Hunter, Detroit Pistons
Kendall Gill, New Jersey Nets
Doug Christie, Toronto Raptors

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