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Ellis received a total of 352 points, including 47 first-place votes, from a panel of 129 sportswriters and broadcasters. The Sacramento Kings' Kevin Martin finished second with 349 points (44 first-place votes) followed by the Utah Jazz's Deron Williams with 101 points (13 first-place votes).

Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote. This is the closest finish in voting for the award since 1990-91, when Scott Skiles of Orlando edged out Kevin Gamble of Boston by four votes.

Ellis, who averaged 6.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists, with a .415 field goal percentage in 2005-06, increased his scoring by 9.7 points (16.5 ppg) -- the largest increase in the NBA this season -- and averaged 3.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.71 steals. Starting 53 of the 77 games he appeared in, Ellis reached double figures in scoring 68 times, including 24 games of 20 or more points. The 6-3 guard recorded three or more steals 20 times and had at least five steals three times, including a career-high six at Seattle on March 17.

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The 6-foot-8 forward, though he has a strong supporting role on the Denver Nuggets and endears himself to fans with his hustle, plays in the shadows of Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson and other headliners.

The team, facing the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs starting on Sunday, can count on Najera to score a modest six points a game.

But among the NBA's swelling ranks of international players, Najera, a native of Chihuahua, Mexico, is in the top tier when it comes to marketing appeal. With at least eight endorsement deals, he sits in an elite class with high-profile names such as China's Yao Ming, France's Tony Parker and Argentina's Manu Ginobili.

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Oklahoma City - He doesn't aspire to have a nickname such as King James or Melo or The Answer or D-Wade. He's simply Dirk, a six-time NBA all-star who doesn't have an agent, doesn't sport a tattoo and couldn't care less about starring in a Nike commercial. His musical tastes run more toward David Hasselhoff than rap.

Dirk Nowitzki may not be the face of the NBA, but could well be its most valuable player.

What drives the 7-foot forward is winning, and doing everything possible to improve his skills and help the Dallas Mavericks win - while staying out of the spotlight.

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CONTRA COSTA TIMESArticle Launched: 04/18/2007 11:09:10 PM PDT

LOS ANGELES -- Clipper Nation was all out of hope Wednesday night.

You could tell it was missing from the crowd, which barely filled about two-thirds of the Staples Center. Its absence was noticeable in the voices and expressions of the players.

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There was some fight left, but mostly resignation. A willingness to scrap, yet submission.

That's how the Clippers' season ended Wednesday, conflicting to the final moment.

A team that had begun to carve a true place out of the L.A. sporting scene, that had advanced to the second round of last year's playoffs and within a single game of the Western Conference finals, vanished Wednesday with both a cry and a whimper.

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