1. 1. Michael
Jordan: Was the Finals MVP for the 5th time in seven years. He
was 1st team All-NBA and All-Defense. He was second in the MVP
voting.
He was also the Player of the Month in Nov.
1996. He was the starter for East in the All-Star game and put
up the first AS game triple double with 14-11-11.
MJ was the scoring champ (29.6 PPG) and led
the league in field goals with 920, while playing in all 82 games. He was also
4th in the NBA in free throws with 480.
He averaged a NBA playoff high 31.1 points
and nearly eight rebounds in 19 postseason games.
He also averaged 6 rebs, 4 asts, and 1.7
steals per game in the regular season.
In round one of the playoffs vs. Washington
he helped the Bulls sweep the Bullets with a 55 point torching in Game
2.
Jordan got Chicago off to
a flying start in round two against Atlanta. He had 34 points, 11 rebounds,
six assists, four steals and three blocks in a Game One
win.
He averaged 30-8 in the five games Eastern
Conference Finals triumph over Miami.
In the Finals against Utah
he had one of his most memorable series in his unparalleled career.
Jordan sank the game winner
at the buzzer in Game One, and finished the night with 31 and eight asts.
In Game Five, MJ finished off what is known
as “The Flu Game” with
38-13-9.
Jordan had 39 in the Game Six clincher, and
averaged 36.5 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 6.5 APG in the Bulls four wins over the Jazz.
The Bulls won their 2nd
straight (and 5th in seven years) NBA title. They finished the
regular season with 69 wins (3 short of their own NBA record) after
starting the season 12-0.
Chicago won the Central division by 13
games. They had the best record in the East by eight games and in the NBA by
five. They led the league with 103.1 PPG and gave up just 92.3.
2. 2. Karl Malone: Won the MVP,
made first team All-NBA and all defensive team.
He was the player of the month in March and
an All-Star starter.
He played in all 82 games was in 2nd
in PPG (27.4) and in field goals. He led the NBA in free throws made (521) and
was 6th in field goal % (55).
He averaged 10.4 rebounds, 4.5 ast, and 1.4
steals per contest.
In the first round of the playoffs vs. the
Clippers he averaged 30.7 PPG and 11.3 PRG.
The
Jazz took out the other LA team in fives games and Malone had32 and 20 in
the Jazz 98-93 overtime series clincher.
He helped Utah past Houston with 29-14 in
Game Five of the Western Conference Finals, a win that gave the Jazz a 3-2
series win.
The Mailman delivered
Utah to its first Finals with 24 points, 11 rebounds, five assist and three
steals in Game Six.
In the NBA Finals Malone’s
vintage performance in Game Three brought the series back to 2-1. He scored
37 on 15-29 shooting and added ten boards and four steals.
The
Jazz had the best record in the West by seven games at 64-26. They won the
Midwest division. They were second in the league scoring 103.1 points per game.
3. Gary
Payton: Was and All-Star starter for the West (17 points 10 ast.). He was
named first team All-Defensive and 2nd team All-NBA.
He played in all 82 games. Payton was 5th in the league in minutes (3,213), 6th in FGs (706), 10th in scoring (21.8 PPG) and 3rd in steals (2.4). He also added 7.1 assists per game.
During the
playoffs (12 games) “The Glove” upped his averages to 23.9 points and 8.7
assists (3rd best per game), while averaging a league-high 45.5
minutes per postseason contest.
He had the 2nd
most three-pointers in a playoff game with eight and scored 34 points in a
Game Three loss in the first round to Phoenix.
He came back with 28 points (5-11 on 3FGs)
and 14 asts. and propelled
Seattle to a 122-115 OT win in Game Four.
