EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR:
BEST Mitch Kupchak, LA Lakers– Kupchak raped Chris Wallace and the Grizz by trading Pau Gasol for one of the biggest busts in NBA draft history Kwame Brown. More importantly, found a way to keep Kobe Bryant happy while turning the Lakers back into a championship contender.
RUNNER UP Billy King, unemployed/Philadelphia 76ers–It’s a shame King was fired before the team of youngster he build got a chance to gel. He received a lot of criticism for not getting enough in the Iverson deal (which probably led to his firing) but it looks as if Sixers will have a longer stay in the playoffs than AI’s Nuggets.
WORST EXECUTIVE NOT NAMED ISIAH THOMAS Chris Wallace, Memphis Grizzles–Exchanged Gasol for Brown. I guess Wallace was looking to team up Brown with fellow 1st round bust Darko Milicic to sport the worst front line in the NBA. Also traded for Jason, or was it Jarron?, Collins, another 7 foot stiff.
COACH OF THE YEAR:
BEST Byron Scott, New Orleans Hornets–Not even a die hard Hornets fan would’ve predicted this type of success. The surpising Hornets finished as the # 2 seed in a conference where a 50 win season did not even guarantee a playoff birth.
RUNNER UP Rick Adelmen, Houston Rockets–Nate McMillan had an inury proned Blazers team competing out west; Mo Cheeks took one of the youngest teams in the NBA to the playoffs; Eddie Jordan guided a the Wizards to the 5th seed despite Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler playing a combined 11 games; Doc Rivers should be mentioned because he had the best record in the eastern conference. Adelman, coached the Rockets to home court advantage in the 1st round and led the team to a record setting winning streak while Yao Ming was injured.
WORST COACH NOT NAMED ISIAH THOMAS Avery Johnson, Dallas Mavericks–Last year the Mavs had the best record in the league but were sent packing in the 1st round of the playoffs. This season they added Jason Kidd and were fighting for a playoff birth down to the last week of the season.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER:
WINNER Rudy Gay, Memphis Grizzles–Doubled his scoring avg from 10ppg to 20ppg and looks to be a future star.

RUNNER UP LaMarcus Aldridge–Portland Trailblazers–In my opinion gets the nod over Hedu Turkoglu because he also doubled his scoring average and improved more overall as a player. Turkoglu’s stats improved and he was Orlando’s most consistent player, but I believe he benefitted more from the Magic’s system that his overall skill level increasing.
WORST Eddy Curry, New York Knicks– His production declined in nearly every statistical category. Enough said.
SIXTH MAN:
WINNER Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs–This was the easiest award to pick. Nobody even comes close.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER:
WINNER Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets–Paul led the league in steals and was a terror in the passing lanes night in and night out.
RUNNER UP Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics–Surprisingly the Celts were one of the if not the best defensive team in the entire NBA this season. It all started w/ KG and his inspired play.
WORST Denver Nuggets–I have to hand this award out to a team instead of an individual player. Denver is just plain terrible at playing defense as a team. Just imagine how many points they’d give up if they didnt have the NBA leader in blocks in the middle.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:
WINNER Kevin Durant, Seattle Supersonics–Durant was the early favorite after it was announced Greg Oden would miss the season due to microfracture surgery. KD finished was one of the youngest players in NBA history to average 20ppg. Other than an awful February, he had a very solid rookie season.
RUNNER UP Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks–Horford nearly averaged a double double and helped the Hawks make the playoffs for the first time since…..well, a long time. Horford was so good the Hawks gave up on Sheldon Williams after one season. Wait. Or was Sheldon so bad the Hawks drafted Horford to replace him?
WORST Corey Brewer, Minnesota Timberwolves– 5.8 ppg 37 fg% on the T’Wolves?

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER:
WINNER Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets–Paul was spectacular this season averaging 21 points 11 assists 4 rebounds 2.7 steals while shooting 48% from the floor. Not only did Paul put up great numbers, he led is team to the 2nd seed in a extremely tough Western Conference. The Hornets would not even be a .500 team w/o Paul as their quarterback.

RUNNER UP Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers– Kobe had another MVP season. He went from being disgruntled and demanding a trade to leading the Lakers to the # 1 seed out West and in position to win his 4th championship. While this wasn’t Kobe’s finest season statistically, he’ll trade the scoring numbers for what he received this year. Help in the form of Pau Gasol.
WORST Shaquille O’Neal, Phoenix Suns–Shaq, now the Big Cactus, seemed ready to pack it in for the season once the Miami Heat got off to a terrible start. As soon as he was traded to the Suns he came back a new man, diving in to the crowd for loose balls and showing a new motivation once he went to a contender. However, the Suns are one game away from being eliminated in the 1st round of the playoffs.
RB