1996-97 NBA season Finals, awards and best players

NBA Finals 1997

NBA Finals: Utah Jazz (W) 2 Chicago Bulls (E) 4

NBA Finals MVP: Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)

Main players: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Ron Harper (Chicago Bulls), Karl Malone, John Stockton, Jeff Hornacek (Utah Jazz).

Regular Season MVP: Karl Malone (Utah Jazz).

All-NBA first team: Tim Hardaway (Miami Heat), Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls), Grant Hill (Detroit Pistons), Karl Malone (Utah Jazz), Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets).

All-NBA second team: Gary Payton (Seattle SuperSonics), Mitch Richmond (Sacramento Kings), Glen Rice (Charlotte Hornets), Scottie Pippen (Chicago Bulls), Patrick Ewing (New York Knicks).

All-NBA third team: John Stockton (Utah Jazz), Penny Hardaway (Orlando Magic), Vin Baker (Milwaukee Bucks), Anthony Mason (Charlotte Hornets), Shaquille O'Neal (Los Angeles Lakers).

Category	Player	Pos.	Team	Value
Points	Michael Jordan	G/F	Chicago Bulls	29.6
Rebounds	Dennis Rodman	PF/SF	Chicago Bulls	16.1
Blocks	Shawn Bradley	C	Dallas Mavericks	3.4
Assists	Mark Jackson	PG/SG	Denver Nuggets	11.4
Steals	Mookie Blaylock	PG	Atlanta Hawks	2.7
Efficiency	Karl Malone	PF	Utah Jazz	28.9
3-point field goals	Reggie Miller	SG	Indiana Pacers	229

NBA Sixth Man: John Starks (New York Knicks).

Most Improved Player: Isaac Austin (Miami Heat).

PLAYER	GP	MP	FG	(%)	3P	(%)	FT	(%)	RB	AS	PTS
Karl Malone	82	0.4	10.54/19.16	55.0	0.00/0.16	0.0	6.35/8.41	75.5	0.1	0.1	0.3
Michael Jordan	82	0.5	11.22/23.07	48.6	1.35/3.62	37.3	5.85/7.02	83.3	0.1	0.1	0.4
Grant Hill	80	0.5	7.81/15.74	49.6	0.13/0.41	31.7	5.63/7.91	71.2	0.1	0.1	0.3
Chris Webber	72	0.5	8.39/16.21	51.8	0.83/2.10	39.5	2.46/4.35	56.6	0.1	0.1	0.3
Anthony Mason	73	0.6	5.93/11.30	52.5	0.01/0.04	25.0	4.37/5.86	74.6	0.2	0.1	0.2
Hakeem Olajuwon	78	0.5	9.32/18.28	51.0	0.06/0.21	28.6	4.50/5.72	78.7	0.1	0.0	0.3
Patrick Ewing	78	0.5	8.40/17.21	48.8	0.03/0.12	25.0	5.63/7.46	75.5	0.1	0.0	0.3
Vin Baker	78	0.5	8.10/16.04	50.5	0.19/0.69	27.5	4.59/6.68	68.7	0.1	0.0	0.3
Gary Payton	82	0.5	8.61/18.07	47.6	1.45/4.63	31.3	3.10/4.33	71.6	0.1	0.1	0.3
Scottie Pippen	82	0.5	7.90/16.66	47.4	1.90/5.17	36.8	2.49/3.55	70.1	0.1	0.1	0.2

Defensive Player of the Year: Dikembe Mutombo (Atlanta Hawks).

All-Defensive first team: Gary Payton (Seattle SuperSonics), Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls), Scottie Pippen (Chicago Bulls), Karl Malone (Utah Jazz), Dikembe Mutombo (Atlanta Hawks).

All-Defensive second team: John Stockton (Utah Jazz), Mookie Blaylock (Atlanta Hawks), Anthony Mason (Charlotte Hornets), P.J. Brown (Miami Heat), Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets).

Rookie of the Year: Allen Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers).

All-Rookies first team: Stephon Marbury (Minnesota Timberwolves), Allen Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers), Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Vancouver Grizzlies), Antoine Walker (Boston Celtics), Marcus Camby (Toronto Raptors).

All-Rookies second team: Matt Maloney (Houston Rockets), Kerry Kittles (New Jersey Nets), Ray Allen (Milwaukee Bucks), Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers), Travis Knight (Los Angeles Lakers).

Month	Player
November	Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
December	Shaquille O'Neal (Los Angeles Lakers)
January	Grant Hill (Detroit Pistons)
February	Glen Rice (Charlotte Hornets)
March	Karl Malone (Utah Jazz)
April	Kevin Johnson (Phoenix Suns)

* Player was selected but he could not play the game

All-Star Game MVP: Glen Rice (Charlotte Hornets).

Citizenship award: P.J. Brown (Miami Heat).

Sportsmanship award: Terrell Brandon (Cleveland Cavaliers).