Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone is the National Basketball Association's Most Valuable Player for 1996-97.
Though the official announcement and presentation of the Maurice Podoloff Trophy may not occur until the middle of the month, Utah's Mailman can plan on a special delivery from the NBA.The Deseret News contacted 112 of the 115 voters and learned that Malone will unseat last year's winner Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls for the league's top individual honor. The voting panel is comprised of 28 national and 87 local media members from across the country. Ballots were due at the end of the regular season.
Of the 107 participants who revealed their selections, 65 indicated Malone was their top choice. Jordan picked up 42 top votes and will become the first player in 17 years of media voting to get more than 40 votes and not finish on top. Same goes for Jordan's point total, which could exceed 900, based on a ranking system that awards 10 for a first-place nomination; 7 for second; 5 for third; 3 for fourth; and 1 for fifth. Malone's total is expected to top 950 - second only to Jordan's record total of 1,114 a year ago.
In becoming the only two players to exceed 900 in the same year, Malone and Jordan placed first or second on all but one ballot apiece. Grant Hill of the Detroit Pistons garnered a pair of second-place votes each time the front-runners were relegated to third.
Hill and players like Miami's Tim Hardaway, however, find themselves well behind the leaders in the quest for MVP honors.
This year, it was a two-man race.
NBA expert David Moore of the Dallas Morning News calls it "the closest vote" in his 11 years on the beat.
His national media counterparts and those covering the Atlantic Division agreed. The NBA's nationwide pool of writers and broadcasters gave Malone a 12-11 edge, while the Atlantic reporters were deadlocked at 10-all. Malone's strength was in the Midwest Division, where he prevailed 16-4. The Mailman also captured the Central (13-10) and Pacific (14-7) divisions.
Malone even blew through Chicago, where three beat writers sent their MVP support to the Jazzman.
"I think Karl's had a terrific season. He had an MVP-type of year," said Kent McDill of the Daily Herald. "I've got a sister in Park City so I'll have somewhere to stay (if they kick me out of Chicago)."
Jordan, a four-time NBA MVP, told reporters if he had a vote he'd cast it for Malone. Chicago Tribune writer Terry Armour believes folks in the Windy City and Jordan, himself, see a broader picture of the situation.
"If you add up all the equations," Armour said. "I think Malone deserves it. It's sentimental."
Malone, who finished seventh in MVP voting last season, led the Jazz to a franchise-best 64 victories by averaging 27.4 points and 9.9 rebounds. Though he has received MVP votes annually since 1986-87, Malone has never finished higher than third overall. The 6-foot-9 power forward has scored 25,592 points and grabbed 10,542 rebounds during his 12-year career in Utah. Malone, like Jordan, is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and was recently named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history. He has made the All-NBA first team eight straight times.
"I don't know if this is for his body of work for his career or what he meant to the team this season," said Atlanta Journal-Constitution writer Jeffery Denberg. "If it was for player of the decade, I'd vote for Jordan. But for MVP of this season, it's Malone."
Sports Illustrated's Jackie MacMullan also voted for Malone, but added "This is no knock on Jordan. He was like my 1-A pick."
Jordan won his eighth NBA scoring title by averaging 29.6 points per game and leading the Bulls to 69 wins. He, like Malone, played in all 82 regular season games and was named to the league's All-Defensive team. Several of the voters praised Jordan for keeping the defending NBA champions on top despite injuries to Dennis Rodman, Toni Kukoc and Luc Longley.
"Jordan is the greatest player of all time," said Orlando Magic radio broadcaster David Steele. "If your heart gets in the way you want Malone to win, but it's hard to vote against Jordan."
Few voted against Jordan last year, when the 6-foot-6 guard racked up 109 of 113 first-place votes for MVP after leading the Bulls to a record 72 regular-season wins.
"Is he chopped liver all of a sudden?" asked Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News. "When has his game slipped?"
Lifetime achievement was an overriding factor for many of the voters.
"I just really felt one time before his career is over (Malone) deserved it," said Cleveland Cavaliers broadcaster Joe Tait. "It's time to give the guy his due."
Jordan led the league in scoring, but Malone was a top 10 finisher in three statistical categories. He placed second in scoring, sixth in field goal percentage (.550) and was the league's 10th best rebounder.
"Michael is the best player on the planet, but Malone had a better year," said Greg Boeck of USA Today.
Malone becomes the first Jazz player ever to win the Most Valuable Player award.
"This was not a sympathy vote. He earned it," said CNN's Fred Hickman. "If I had to pick one guy to go to war with, it would be Karl Malone."
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Additional Information
How they voted:
Malone Jordan
65 42
First place votes
Karl Malone Michael Jordan
Position: Forward Position: Guard
Born: July 24, 1963 Born: Feb. 17, 1963
Height: 6'9" Height: 6'6"
Weight: 256 lbs. Weight: 216 lbs.
College: Louisiana Tech. '85 College: North Carolina '84
1996-97 Statistics - Regular Season
..........G GS MPG FGM-A FG-% 3PM-A 3P% FTM-A
Malone 82 82 36.6 864-1571 .550 0-13 0 521-690
Jordan 82 82 37.9 920-1892 .486 111-297 .374 489-576
..........FT% RPG APG ST BL PTS PPG
Malone .755 9.9 4.5 113 48 2249 27.4
Jordan .833 5.9 4.3 140 44 2431 29.6
Malone: 2nd in pints per game (27.4) 10th in rebounds (9.9) 6th in field goal percentage (.550)
Jordan: 1st in points per game (29.6) 19th in steals (1.71)
111 of 115 voters contacted
.....................................First Second Third Points
Karl Malone 65 41 1 942
Michael Jordan 42 64 1 873
Atlantic Division Media: Tie, 10-10
Central Division media: Malone, 13-10
Midwest Division media: Malone, 16-4
Pacific Division media: Malone, 14,7
National media: Malone, 12-11
Would not reveal picks: 4
Did not vote: 1