Cast your ESPY vote: Best NBA Player Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers Credentials: Led NBA in scoring (30.7 points per game) and steals (2.4 per game). Past ESPYs: None. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers Credentials: Led NBA in minutes per game (42.4) and was third in scoring (27.2 ppg). Past ESPYs: None. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns Credentials: NBA MVP, averaged 15.5 ppg and a league-high 11.5 assists per game. Shot 50.2 percent from the field. Past ESPYs: None. Shaquille O'Neal, Miami Heat Credentials: Shot career-high 60.1 percent from the field, averaged 22.9 ppg and 10.4 rpg. Set an NBA record with his 13th straight season averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. Past ESPY's: 2001 and 2002 Best NBA Player, 1993 Outstanding Performance by a Sports Personality in an Attempt to Break into Show Business Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat Credentials: Averaged 24.1 ppg and 6.8 apg. Past ESPYs: None. '04 Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves '03 Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs '02 Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers '01 Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers '00 Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs '99 Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls '98 Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls '97 Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls '96 Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets '95 Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets '94 Charles Barkley, Phoenix Suns '93 Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls The 2005 ESPY winners will be announced during the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles on July 13. The ESPYs will be televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes on July 17 at 9 p.m. ET, preceded by the ESPY Red Carpet Special on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. ET. No Duncan? No Dirk? No T-Mac?
are they missing a year somewhere along the line? clearly jordan couldn't win the '99 espy since '98 was when he retired (and the jordan, barkley, hakeem, hakeem sequence only makes sense being a year earlier), but then garnett in '04 and duncan in '03 makes sense. and duncan in 2000 should be duncan in 1999. so who won from 2000-2002? shaq all 3 times and they only listed 2 or someone else in there? so am i the only one missing a year? and i don't think duncan should get it b/c he kinda coasted in the regular season (20 and 11?) but he should've made the list, probably over wade. well really nash isn't a top 5 player but he was mvp and was a monster in the playoffs so he kind of has to be on there. or maybe duncan should just knock shaq off the list. and when will people stop calling shaq the most dominant/important player in the nba? wilbon just said he was most important and anyone who couldn't see that was crazy. if that were true, he wouldn't be title-less the last 3 years. the way people talk about shaq, you'd think he's won the last 10 championships, instead of the 3 with another top 5 player by his side.
the espys usually fall for the NBA season before, hence why Hakeem won it 95-96 btw, was Hakeem even there to accept the award? anybody remember?
except when DRob got the MVP and Hakeem still beat him, then again, the voters had no choice after the WCF
I like both LeBron and D-Wade, but come on. LeBron couldn't even lead his team to the playoffs, and Wade was worse than LeBron. Where are Duncan and McGrady?
Some credential that is... I'm sick of the hype of Lebron. On what basis is he up for this award as opposed to better and more SUCCESSFUL players?
AI. He was the NBA's best player last season and nobody was close. Led the league in scoring, steals (Hughes doesn't qualify according to NBA.com I guess) and made free throws, top 5 in assists, minutes and free throws attempted. Averaged 45 points (on 55% shooting), 9 assists, 5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game against the Bucks. Scored 60 points against the Magic. Averaged 32 points (on 47% shooting), 9 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals in the month of April. A handful of buzzer beating game winners, the list could go on and on for what that dude did this past season. AI was the NBA's BEST player.
Im guessing that hes up for this award because because hes a 20yr old who averages 27 pts 7.4 reb and 7.2 assts on a crappy team.. oh yeah he also managed to shoot 47% from the field... just curious who you think is a better player??
what does being twenty years old have to do with this award? lebron choked his way out of the playoffs plain and simple. he's one of the most gifted players i've ever seen and since he is only twenty i'm sure he'll win this award many times over. right now guys like duncan, nash, nowitski, stoudamire, shaq, and t-mac are more deserving.
