April 24, 2007

I am a fan of the NBA. I love the sport of basketball, and I read boxscores every day. I am not as versed as some of out ESPN experts and analysts like Greg Anthony, Tim Legler or Mark Jackson, for example, but I keep up with it enough to have thoughts on award winners.

MVP: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas. He has done an incredible job with the Mavericks. Nowitzki has been multi-dimensional and simply brilliant, the star of the best team in the NBA this season. I give him the nod over Steve Nash.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Avery Johnson, Dallas. We stay in the Lonestar State and the Mavericks were on fire after a slow start. Johnson is a master communicator and leader. His players have a great way of responding to him. I give him the edge over Toronto's Sam Mitchell, who led the Raptors to the playoffs.

GM OF THE YEAR: Bryan Colangelo, Toronto. His father, Jerry, has to be proud of the job he has done with the Raptors. This was a team that truly struggled a season ago, and now they are playoff bound, baby!

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Brandon Roy, Portland. I said from day one he would be a major factor, and the former Washington Huskie has not disappointed. He may not get the same national exposure of some other newcomers, but he has been a PTPer for the Blazers.

I stay in tune with the NBA … There are the Dickie V award winners.

Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in 1979. Send a question for Vitale for possible use on ESPNEWS.