NBA 1998

1. Michael Jordan: Won his 5^th MVP and 6^th Finals MVP.

He was an unanimous all-league selection.  He was first team All-Defense. He was a starter on the East All-Star team and was MVP with 23 points and eight assists.

He was the NBA Player of the month in December and March.

At age 35 Jordan played in all 82 games. He lead the league in fgs, fgs attempted and scoring (28.7) for the tenth time in his career (a NBA record). He was second in NBA in free throws.

While sweeping the Nets in the first round, MJ averaged 36.3 ppg.

He carried Chicago past Indiana in seven games of Eastern Finals.

He had 41 points in a Game Two win and 28-9-8 in the grueling Game Seven victory.

 

In the Finals vs. Utah cemented his legacy. He scored 37 in Game Two to tie the series at one.

He played perhaps the greatest game in NBA history in Game Six to secure a sixth title.

MJ scored 45 points and his three play sequence to end the game gave Chicago the championship.

Chicago won 62 games while just allowing 89.2 points per game, good for 3^rd in the league. They beat New Jersey and Charlotte in three and five games to advance in playoffs.

2. Karl Malone: Was the MVP runner up and made 1^st team All-NBA for the 10^th straight season.

He was first team All-Defense and the Player of the Month in February.

He was third in league in scoring (27) and 6^th in rebounding (10.3). He led the league in free throws and was second in field goals. He was ninth in FG% at 53%.

He played in 81 games and averaged almost four assist per game.

He was a starter for the West All-Star team.

The Mailman helped close out Houston with 29-13 and 31-14 in Games Four and Five.

Against San Antonio in Game Four he had 34-12.

In the Western Conference Finals sweep vs. LA he averaged 30 points 10 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.

Perhaps, he had the best game as a pro with a 39 point effort on a 17-27 shooting night along with nine rebs and five asts to help stave off elimination in Game Five of the finals vs. Chicago.

The Jazz reached the Finals for the second straight years and lost to Chicago in both years in six games. They beat the Rockets and Spurs in five and swept the Lakers. They were third in scoring with 101 PPG.

Utah tied Chicago with the best record in the league by winning 62 games.

3.  Shaquille O’Neal:  Was first team All-NBA and 4^th in MVP voting.

He was the Player of the Month in January and April.

O’Neal lead the NBA in fg% and fta, 2^nd in scoring and 8^th in blocks.

He was an All-Star and scored 12 points.

He averaged 28.3 ppg, 11.4 rpg 2.4 bpg 58.4% in the regular season.

During the playoffs he averaged 30.5 10.2 2.62 bpg and shot 61.2%. He was 2^nd in ppg 3^rd bpg and 2^nd in fg%.

The Lakers were 46-14 with Shaq in the line up.

In Game Four against Portland, the series clincher, O’Neal had 31 pts on 13-17 fgs 15 rebounds five assists and four blocks

In Games Four and Five vs Seattle to clinch series, he averaged 35 ppg 8.5 rb 5.5 ast 6.5 blk and shot 25-38 (65.7%) fgs.

Shaq averaged 36 ppg in final three games of West Finals loss to Utah.

L.A advanced to the West Finals for the first time in seven seasons. They were 61-21 and tied for the Pacific division title with Seattle. They won seven of nine games in the first two rounds of the playoffs.

The Lakers lead the NBA with 105.5 points per contest.