1. Li Fei (New York Knicks):
- Per-game averages: 38.5 points, 15.2 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 2.1 steals, 4.5 blocks.
- Team record: First in the Eastern Conference.
- Commentary: Unquestionable. A player who achieved absolute dominance on both ends of the floor. His very presence was a tactic in itself. His 66-point Finals performance put the perfect exclamation mark on his MVP season.
2. Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs):
- Per-game averages: 25.5 points, 14.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.2 blocks.
- Team record: Second in the Western Conference.
- Commentary: The silent cornerstone, a historic power forward. With nothing but fundamentally sound bank shots and defense, he held up the entire Spurs system. If not for Li Fei, he should have been the Sovereign of this era.
3. Shaquille O'Neal (Los Angeles Lakers):
- Per-game averages: 29.7 points, 13.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 3.0 blocks.
- Team record: First in the Western Conference.
- Commentary: An absolute behemoth in the paint, the unstoppable "Big Shark." He had the most dominant season of his career. Unfortunately, some of his brilliance was shared by his teammate, and he also came out second best in his head-to-head matchup with Li Fei.
4. Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers):
- Per-game averages: 28.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.6 steals.
- Team record: First in the Western Conference.
- Commentary: The league's most gifted shooting guard and Jordan's successor. His offensive repertoire was dazzling. However, playing alongside O'Neal put him at a natural disadvantage in the MVP race. His final decision in Game 5 also cast a shadow over his season.
5. Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls):
- Per-game averages: 27.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.7 steals.
- Team record: Second in the Eastern Conference.
- Commentary: The God of Basketball was still burning with energy,