What can you say about Agent Zero that he hasn’t already said in his own blog? The NBA’s most outspoken star had a career year in 2007, averaging more than 28 points per game for the second consecutive season before succumbing to a debilitating knee injury. As remarkable as his scoring may be, it’s his timing that truly impresses us. According to the stat gurus at 82games.com, Arenas has been among the league leaders in game-winning shots for the past two years.

Season highlight: Arenas turned in yet another clutch performance on January 4, 2007, when he nailed a game-winning 32-footer against the Milwaukee Bucks. "Once I let it go -- you know I'm looking at it -- and I'm like: 'Oh, that's in. I don't even need to look at this one,' " said Arenas at the time.

Number 5
LeBron James - Cleveland Cavaliers
King James’ statistics may have dropped a bit in his fourth year, but it’s hard to be disappointed with a player who averages 27.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game while also leading his team in double, triple and quadruple teams. We’re guessing LeBron James will be able to hold his head high during this off-season knowing that he’s the youngest player to reach 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, 6,000, 7,000, and 8,000 points.

Season highlight: LeBron exploded for 41 points against Detroit’s notoriously staunch defense on March 7th, leading his squad to an exciting overtime victory. “I liked his aggressiveness late, that was huge for us,'' Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said following the game. “When he attacks the rim like that we're a different ball club.''

Number 4
Tim Duncan - San Antonio Spurs
We’ll be the first to admit that Tim Duncan’s turnaround bank shots are about as sexy as a pair of your grandmother’s underwear. However, you’d be hard pressed to find another player with a better grasp of basketball’s fundamentals. Although Duncan’s free-throw shooting can still make you wince, his lockdown defense and quiet leadership make this three-time NBA champ one of the league’s most valuable commodities.

Season highlight: Duncan was absolutely dominant in a January 26th game against the Grizzlies, as he swatted a career-high 9 shots into the stands.

Number 3
Kobe Bryant - Los Angeles Lakers
The league’s leading scorer for the second consecutive season, Kobe Bryant matured into a dependable -- and dare we say -- even likable teammate in his 11th year with the Lakers. We chalk it up to his growing maturity as well as his willingness to defer to complimentary players like Luke Walton, Lamar Odom and, in times of sheer desperation, Smush Parker.

Season highlight: The league’s most lethal scorer, Kobe helped the Lakers snap a seven-game losing streak on March 16, 2007, when he scored 65 points against the Portland Trailblazers. "I had to come out aggressive and assert myself, just because our confidence was a little shaky," he said afterward. "We needed a breakout game. And it's my job as a leader to kind of read what we need as a team. And sometimes, me taking over games like this instills confidence in us all." Translation: Kwame Brown should be bagging groceries in a French Lick Piggly Wiggly.

Number 2
Dirk Nowitzki - Dallas Mavericks
The best player on the NBA’s best team, Nowitzki became the league’s first European MVP following a stellar season in which he averaged more than 24 points and 8 rebounds per game. Although his knack for scoring is well documented, Nowitzki also deserves praise for improving his defense and becoming a more vocal team leader. As for Dirk’s playoff performance, let’s just say that we’ve seen deck chairs that have taken longer to collapse than he did against the Warriors.

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