2006 IBN International Player of the Year

[stuart]

Welcome to the First Annual Interbasket Awards. This vote is for the calendar-year 2006 and only 2006. So obviously anything that was accomplished in 2005 or 2007 should be exempt from consideration when you make your decision for the 2006 Award.

For example, Dirk Nowitzki leading the Mavericks to their first NBA finals appearance in 2006 can be considered, however his NBA play during the beginning of the same 2005-06 NBA season doesn't because it was accomplished in 2005. It was the only fair way. So, please don't consider 2005 Eurobasket, but please consider the 2006 World Basketball Championships in Japan.

Above you will find a poll for 2006 Interbasket International Player of the Year - this is the Non-US Player of the Year and can include any basketball player not born in the USA or has represented the US in any international competition. So whom in your opinion is the 2006 Interbasket International Player of the Year?The ten nominated players and their accomplishments are listed alphabetically below:

* Leandro Barbosa: Key contributor to the successful Phoenix Suns Team; second leading scorer on the Brazilian National Team during the 2006 World Championships of Basketball.

* Dimitrios Diamantidis: 2006 Greek Championship MVP award; Took home the silver medal with the Greek National Team in the FIBA world championship; Voted 2006 Euroleague best defender; Stankovic Cup Champion

* Jorge Garbajosa: On September 3, 2006, Jorge Garbajosa and the Spanish national team won the gold medal at the FIBA world championship. He lead the way scoring a game high 20 points. In addition to winning the gold medal, Garbajosa also made the all-tournament team with teammate Pau Gasol; Garbajosa won the ACB (Spanish league) title with Unicaja and was named Finals MVP; Garbajosa would made his NBA debut in 2006; Superbasket Mr. Europe

* Pau Gasol: On September 3, 2006 Gasol and the Spanish national team won the gold medal at the FIBA world championship. Despite being injuried and unable to play in the final game, Gasol was dominant enough throughout the tournament that he was named MVP of the WBC and was first team all-tournament team; Pau appeared in his first NBA All-Star Game in 2006; Set a Grizzlies franchise-record by scoring 44 points on Feb 27, 2006;

* Yao Ming: The year that Yao Ming has finally reached his potential? In the 25 games after the 2006 All-Star break, Yao averaged 25.7 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 53.7 % from the field and 87.8 % at the free throw line; He is the unquestioned leader of the Chinese National Team and arguably (barely) the best player in Asia/Ocenia for many years to come, Yao continues to carry the Chinese National Team as proven by his WBC leading 25.3 ppg. All NBA Third Team and NBA All-Star.

* Steve Nash: Won second NBA MVP Trophy joining Magic Johnson as the only point guards in league history to capture multiple MVP trophies; led a Phoenix Suns team to the Pacific Division title and the Western Conference Finals without superstar Amare Stoudemire; fourth player in NBA history to shoot at least 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range (.439) and 90 percent from the free throw line (Larry Bird, Reggie Miller and Mark Price); 2006 First Team All-NBA Selection

* Juan Carlos Navarro: Voted Euroleague's Top Shooting Guard; Gold Medalist in the 2006 World Championships of Basketball; 2006 ACB (Spanish League) Most Valuable Player

* Dirk Nowitzki: Unquestioned leader of the German National Team; Was second in WBC scoring with 23.2ppg, including 47 points (and 16 rebounds) against Angola in a 3OT win, the first time a FIBA World Championship game went to three overtimes; Already legendary in Euro basketball; Finished third in NBA MVP voting; Led the Dallas Mavericks to the 2006 NBA Finals; having another great; 2006 First Team All-NBA Selection; 2006 NBA All-Star Three-Point Shootout Champion:

* Theodoros Papaloukas: Was instrumental in leading the Greek National Teams performance in the 2006 WBC in which he and his team brought home the silver medal; Named to the 2006 WBC All-Tournament Team; Led CSKA to 2006 Euroleague championship and was named Euroleague's Final Four MVP, Voted Euroleague's Top Point Guard;

* Luis Scola: Played on the Argentine National Team and was second in scoring; Argentina finished fourth place finish in the 2006 World Championships of Basketball; Scola was voted Euroleague's Top Forward; Copa Del Ray Champion

Please don't forget to place your vote for the most deserving players/teams in the other 2006 Categories!

Interbasket Player of the 2006
International Player of the 2006
NBA Player of the 2006
African Player of the Year
Asia/Middle East/Oceania Player of the 2006
European Player of the 2006
Non-US Americas Player of the 2006
Under 22 Rising Star
Team of the 2006
IBN All-World First, Second, Third Teams of the 2006

[BadMann]

Gasol is great,but Scola is better,he is not so shining but very important,