1998 Roundball Regular Season Winners

'98 Roundball Review NBA Regular Season Winners

The Houston Roundball Review presents the criteria necessary for a player, coach, or management to receive the following awards. Unlike the NBA, we put our criteria in writing in order to give our readers an opportunity to provide input on the awards.

Winners listed in bold. Total votes: 441.

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.

CANDIDATES:

Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls: 54.5%

Karl Malone, Utah Jazz: 27.3%

Gary Payton, Seattle Sonics

David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs

Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets: 18.2%

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.

CANDIDATES:

Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls: 54.5%

Karl Malone, Utah Jazz: 9.1%

Gary Payton, Seattle Sonics: 18.2%

David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs

Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers: 18.2%

COACH OF THE YEAR:

The coach who best maximized his team’s talent and overcame any team adversity.

CANDIDATES:

Larry Bird, Indiana Pacers: 63.6%

Phil Jackson, Chicago Bulls: 9.1%

Danny Ainge, Phoenix Suns: 9.1%

Rick Pitino, Boston Celtics: 9.1%

Pat Riley, Miami Heat: 9.1%

John Calipari, NJ Nets

Jerry Sloan, Utah Jazz

George Karl, Seattle Sonics

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.

CANDIDATES:

Wally Walker, Seattle Sonics: 18.2%

Scott Layden, Utah Jazz

Bryan Colangelo, Phoenix Suns: 9.1%

Wayne Embry, Cleveland Cavaliers: 54.5%

John Nash, New Jersey Nets: 18.2%

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:

The rookie who helped his team improve (no. of wins) the most compared to the previous season.

CANDIDATES:

Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs: 63.6%

Keith Van Horn, New Jersey Nets: 36.4%

Brevin Knight, Cleveland Cavaliers

Tim Thomas, Philadelphia 76ers

Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cleveland Cavaliers

Michael Stewart, Sacramento Kings

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.

CANDIDATES:

Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta Hawks: 45.5%

Shawn Bradley, Dallas Mavericks

Gary Payton, Seattle Sonics: 27.3%

Mookie Blaylock, Atlanta Hawks

Eddie Jones, Los Angeles Lakers: 27.2%

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. coming off the bench.

CANDIDATES:

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers: 45.5%

Dale Ellis, Seattle Sonics

John Starks, New York Knicks: 9.0%

Danny Manning, Phoenix Suns: 18.2%

Alan Henderson, Atlanta Hawks

Kevin Willis, Houston Rockets: 27.3%

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER:

The player who improved the most over last season statistically and became a major contributor toward his team’s success.

CANDIDATES:

Donyell Marshall, Golden State Warriors

Jalen Rose, Indiana Pacers: 18.2%

Theo Ratliff, Philadelphia 76ers: 9.1%

Alan Henderson, Atlanta Hawks

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers: 45.5%

Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns: 27.2%