Free Web NovelChapter 605: Chapter 186: Someone Has to Be the Best (Part 2)
"Is it because Jordan didn’t win the monthly best player award or the unanimous MVP, so he became self-isolated, wanting to make his opponents self-isolate too?"
What left Zhang Hao astounded was the newspaper showing the record of active players’ single-game 40+ points in the playoffs. The other players combined achieved this 35 times, and this is because, in this year’s playoffs, apart from Jordan, there were three others, including Mr. Zhang, who achieved a single-game 40+, leading Jordan by just one game.
This single-game 40+ was Jordan’s second time achieving it in this year’s playoffs.
"That means, before the playoffs started, active players in the league had achieved 64 single-game 40+ in the playoffs, and Jordan accounted for half of them!"
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On May 4, 1996, at 12 noon, the NBA once again chose to broadcast the awards on the American Cable TV Station located in New York.
This time, the awards were announced by NBA Commissioner David Stern.
After a long opening remark similar to previous years, David Stern’s face was filled with smiles, as if he saw the anxious fans wanting to change the channel or turn off the TV but being reluctant to do so. Satisfied, he began to present the awards.
"This year, there have been many incredible performances by teams in the NBA, with the Chicago Bulls being the most shocking..." freewebnøvel.coɱ
With this statement, viewers watching the live broadcast already knew who the MVP was.
It was not surprising at all. Since the Bulls secured the regular season championship, this award had no suspense whatsoever.
Because that man’s individual performance was undoubtedly the best in the league, whether it was efficiency, statistics, or contribution to victories, it was all the best in the league.
Moreover, that man delivered an even stronger comprehensive performance than the seasons in which he previously won the regular-season MVP.
"...I hereby announce that the winner of the 1995-1996 NBA regular-season Most Valuable Player Award is Chicago Bulls player Michael Jordan!"
After David Stern announced Jordan’s victory, the live broadcast switched to the voting results.
Michael Jordan, with a 96.4% first-choice rate, received 120 out of 125 first-place votes, securing 600 out of a total score of 1582, seizing his fourth career regular-season MVP with an overwhelming posture!
Many people felt uneasy seeing Jordan receive only 120 first-place votes!
Anfernee Hardaway received 2 first-place votes, Zhang Hao received 1 first-place vote, Barkley received 1 first-place vote, and David Robinson received 1 first-place vote.
Apart from Juwan Howard and Pippen, all the monthly best players of the season received first-place votes.
David Robinson got 20% of the votes, totaling 316 points, ranking second on the voting list, while Anfernee Hardaway received 12.5% of the votes, ranking third, Olajuwon received 8% of the votes ranking fourth, Payton received 7.6% of the votes ranking fifth, and Malone got 2.3% of the votes ranking sixth...
Zhang Hao received 1.2% of the votes, totaling 19 points, ranking tenth.
Clearly, Anfernee Hardaway got the most first-place votes besides Jordan, and four others received first-place votes apart from Jordan.
Yet, many people’s anger about Jordan not getting a unanimous MVP focused on one player—Zhang Hao.
The awards presentation continued, with no suspense for the MVP, but there was some suspense for the Best Defensive Player.
This year, there were many contenders for the Best Defensive Player, with Jordan delivering his best defensive efficiency of his career, and the Bulls showing an explosive average winning margin of 14+ points per game.
Payton exhibited a defense performance considered to be the ceiling for point guards, making him the team’s defensive leader despite being in a position traditionally seen as having the least team defensive contribution. If he won, he would be enshrined in the point guard position’s defensive end. Other four positions had players who won the Best Defensive Player, whereas the point guard was viewed as an impossible position to win the award.
Last season’s Best Defensive Player Mutombo was still at his peak, performing consistently on defense, regarded as the best defender in the league, though his team’s record pulled him back.
Other top contenders included David Robinson, Olajuwon, and Moning.
After another lengthy, not-so-impressive introduction, David Stern announced the award: "...I hereby announce that the winner of the 1995-1996 NBA regular-season Best Defensive Player Award is SuperSonics player Gary Payton."
He directly ascended to divinity!
Shooting guards have won the Best Defensive Player multiple times, small forwards had already won it, power forwards had Rodman, and the center position received the most Best Defensive Player awards.
Only the point guard was viewed as an impossible position to win the Best Defensive Player, but Payton broke this barrier... He personally broke the barrier and received this award!
The subsequent switch to the voting details exceeded the audience’s expectations.
Best Defensive Player is different from MVP, similar to Rookie of the Year, with no second or third choice point system—whoever gets the most votes wins.
Payton received 49.56% of the votes, getting 62 out of 125 votes, more than the total votes of second to fifth places—Pippen with 16 votes, Mutombo with 12 votes, Jordan with 7 votes, and David Robinson with 6 votes!
This indeed was unexpected, also a crushing level of victory.
Unlike past years, the Best Defensive Team was announced after the MVP and DPOY announcements.
Regarding the Second Defensive Team, Cavaliers’ Bobby Phills, Hawks’ Mookie Blake, Pacers’ Derek McKay, Magic’s Horace Grant, and Rockets’ Olajuwon were selected together.
