2006 IBN NBA 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 NBA Player of the Year - this is the NBA Player of the Year and can include any basketball player in the NBA - international or not - and please only consider their NBA play. So in your opinion, whom is the 2006 Interbasket NBA Player of the Year? The ten nominated players and their accomplishments are listed alphabetically below:

* Carmelo Anthony: Became known for his late-game heroics towards the end of the 2005-06 season and really elevated his game at the beginning of the 2006-07 season to become the NBA leading scorer for the first couple months of 2006. Early in the 2006-07 season, in just his 8th game of the season, Anthony tied the franchise record of six-straight 30-point games recorded by Alex English; 2006 All-NBA Third Team

* Kobe Bryant: Was fourth in NBA MVP Voting; Scored an amazing 81 points in one NBA game on Jan 22, 2006; the most points in a game after Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game. Led the NBA in scoring with 35.4 points per game; 2006 First Team All-NBA Selection

* Tim Duncan: Though he had maybe his worst year, Tim Duncan was still formidable and the lynchpin of a San Antonio Spurs team that won the most games in franchise history. NBA All-Star; All-NBA Second Team; All-NBA Defensive Second Team

* Pau Gasol: Pau appeared in his first NBA All-Star Game in 2006; Set a Grizzlies franchise-record by scoring 44 points on Feb 27, 2006;

* LeBron James: Led the Cleveland Cavs to the second round of the playoffs where they pushed the Detroit Pistons to the edge of elimination; was second in NBA MVP voting; 2006 NBA All-star MVP; James finished the season averaging 31.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.6 assists, joining Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to average at least 30 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. James also became the youngest player in NBA history to average at least 30 points per game in a season; During one stretch James scored 35 or more points in nine consecutive games; 2006 First Team All-NBA Selection

* 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; and continued his strong improved play in the beginning of the 2006 season by averaging 26pts, 9rebs, and 2 blocks for a vastly improved Houston Rockets team before going down with an injurt. All NBA Third Team, leading vote-getter for the NBA All Star Game and NBA All-Star for the 5th year in a row.

* 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

* Dirk Nowitzki: 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

* Shaquille O'Neal: Not nearly as dominant and riddled with injuries, the significance of Shaquille O'Neal on Miami's championship team cannot be discounted. O'Neal finished the season as the league leader in field goal percentage; he joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only two players in league history to lead the league in field goal percentage nine times; NBA Champion; All-NBA First Team; NBA All-Star for the 13th time.

* Dwyane Wade: Led the Miami Heat to the NBA Championship, outshining Shaquille O'Neal and taking home the NBA Finals MVP. 2006 NBA All-Star; Fifth in the NBA in scoring with 27.2ppg; 2006 Second Team All-NBA Selection; 2006 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the year.

[stuart]

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