NBA 1996

1. Michael Jordan: Won the regular season and Finals MVP. He also was named MVP of the All-Star game (20 pt. on 8-11).

He was first team all NBA and All-Defense.

MJ led the NBA in field goals (916), and PPG (30.4). He was second in free throws with 548

and third in steals (2.2).

He played in all 82 games and averaged over six rebounds and four assists per game.

In the 2^nd rd vs. New York Jordan put up 36 PPG in the five game route of the Knicks including 44 in the Bulls Game One win.

Chicago swept reigning East champ Orlando in the conference finals and Jordan’s 45 on 16-23 shooting powered the Bulls into the Finals.

Jordan averaged 27.3 points and 5.3 rebounds as the Bulls beat Seattle in six games to take their fourth title in six years.

Chicago set a NBA record by winning 72 games including 39 at home in the regular season.

2. Gary Payton: Was the Defensive Player of the Year. He was named 2^nd team All-NBA.

He was an All-Star (18 pt, 5 rb, 5 st, 5 ast.) and 6^th in the MVP voting.

Payton was named to the USA Olympic team that won gold in Atlanta. He led the team in assists (36) as he started six of the teams eight games.

The Glove led the NBA in steals per game (2.9) on his way to being named to the All-Defensive team.

He averaged 19.3 points, and 7.5 ast. in 81 games.

Payton helped close out the Kings in round one with 29-6-5 in Game Four.

Seattle swept the two-time defending champions Rockets in four games, led by Payton. He averaged 24.5 points and 7.8 asts while shooting 52% from field and 44% on threes in the series.

In the West Finals he had 21-7-3 (P-A-St) and (18-8-4) in Game One and Two wins over Utah. In the Game Seven clincher he had 21 pts (9-17 fgs)six boards and five asts. in 45 minutes.

He guided the Sonics to wins in Game Four and Five of the Finals against Chicago (13-2 in their previous 15 playoff games.) GP averaged 22 pts. 8.5 ast, 6 rebs. in those games.

Seattle won the Pacific Division and had the top record in the West with 64 wins. They finished 2^nd in the NBA scoring 104.5 point per contest. Seattle advanced to the Finals for the first time since 1979.

3. Karl Malone: Was first-team All-NBA and All-Star (11 pts. 9 rebs.). He was also an Olympian. Malone scored in dbl. figures in USA’s first four games and shot 57% from the field.

During the regular season the Mailman was 2^nd in the NBA in points (2189), field goals (789), and 3^rd in FTs (512).

He averaged 25.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.7 steals per game and shot 52% in all 82 games.

In Utah’s three wins over Portland in round one Malone averaged 29.3 points 11 rebounds, while shooting 57%.

Malone helped give the Jazz a 2-1 series lead with 32-11-6 performance in a 105-75 rout of San Antonio. He had 25-13-6 in Utah’s series clinching win in Game Six.

In the West Finals Malone put up five straight games of 20+pts and 10+ rebs. The Jazz would fall in seven games.

During the playoffs, he finished in the top 5 of all players in total minutes points rebs steals ft and #1 in fgs made. He averaged 26-10-4 in 18 postseason games.

Utah won 55 games and was third in the West. They advanced to the West Finals for the 3^rd time in six seasons.