NBA: 25 players who should have won MVP in retrospect

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 05: NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson speaks during the USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy Player of the Year press conference prior to the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 5, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) /

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Michael Jordan (Photo by STEVE SCHAEFER/AFP via Getty Images) /

NBA: 25 players who should have won MVP in retrospect: 7. Michael Jordan 1996-97

It truly appeared as though voter fatigue hit Michael Jordan during the 1996-97 season. At this point, everyone clearly understood what they were watching.

After taking some time off, Jordan returned to the game as the same dominant presence that he always was. The Chicago Bulls were the favorite to win the title and Jordan was the best player. While voters couldn’t stop him from winning another title, they could, however, prevent him from winning a fifth MVP award.

Jordan won enough and a new face needed to emerge. Stepping up to the plate was Karl Malone. Known as the “Mailman” Malone delivered that season. He led a 64 win Utah Jazz club by averaging 27.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and registered 16.7 win shares.

Jordan couldn’t help but laugh as Malone was handed the MVP award. All he did was put together a season in which he averaged 29.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.3 assist and led the league with 18.3 win shares. To make his MVP snub even more egregious, Jordan’s Bulls led the league with 69 wins. Still, it appears as though they were just sick and tired of having his name permanently scribbled into the award.

Sure Jordan sulked over his second-place finish, but he eventually got the last laugh as his Bulls wiped the floor with Malone and the Utah Jazz in the NBA Finals.