Credit to Sports Illustrated and Jack McCallum

16-Player Panel: Clyde Drexler, Karl Malone, Chris Mullin, Scott Hastings, Danny Schayes, Michael Adams, Reggie Miller, Derek Harper, Dominique Wilkins, Eddie Johnson, Doc Rivers, Sam Bowie, Wayman Tisdale, Xavier Mcdaniel, Danny Ainge, and Joe Dumars.

WHICH CITY’S FANS ARE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT BASKETBALL?

New York - 8 votes

"I give New York the nod because basketball has been such a part of the whole city atmosphere for so long." - Schayes

"Me and Marcus [Webb, an obscure teammate] went into Harlem once, and people there even knew who Marcus was." - McDaniel

Boston - 3 votes

Washington- 1 vote

WHICH ARE THE LEAST KNOWLEDGEABLE?

Washington & New Jersey - 3 votes

Minnesota & Sacramento - 2 votes

“They haven't seen good basketball, so they don't know what it looks like.” - Anonymous on Minnesota

"It's been blind faith the whole time the Kings have been there.” - Johnson on Sacramento

Philadelphia, Detroit, Dallas, Indiana, Orlando, & Miami - 1 vote

"They didn't realize what they had with Dr. J, Moses, and Barkley." - Rivers on Philadelphia

"They're not as sharp as they used to be.” - Wilkins on Detroit

“Cubby fans they aren't." - Hastings on Dallas

WHO IS THIS SEASON’S MOST SURPRISING ROOKIE?

Richard Dumas - 5 votes

Tom Gugliotta - 3 votes

Shaquille O'Neal - 2 votes

Robert Horry - 1.5 votes

Oliver Miller, Christian Laettner, Lloyd Daniels, & Alonzo Mourning - 1 vote

Walt Williams - 0.5 votes

"[Jim Jackson is] really the biggest surprise. I expected him to be a dumb rookie, but he's way past that." - Schayes on Jim Jackson who had yet to play a game due to holding out over a contract dispute

WHAT WAS THE MOST GLARING MISTAKE THE FANS MADE IN ALL-STAR VOTING?

Isiah Thomas starting over Mark Price - 5 votes

Isiah Thomas starting over Joe Dumars - 2 votes

Isiah Thomas All-Star over Dražen Petrović - 1 vote

(Petrović did make all-NBA later that season, then died in June)

Scottie Pippen starting over Dominique Wilkins - 1 vote

Scottie Pippen starting over Larry Nance - 1 vote

John Stockton starting over Tim Hardaway - 1 vote

David Robinson starting over Hakeem Olajuwon - 1 vote

WHICH OF THE NBA’S 27 TEAMS IS THE MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE?

The Nets - 7 votes

The Magic & Sonics - 4 votes

"They can win it all." - Bowie on The Sonics

The Kings - 1 vote

"Let me tell you, they're building one tough team out there." - Malone on The Kings

MOST UNPLEASANT SURPRISE?

The Heat - 6 votes

"They looked to be a breakthrough team last year, but they've gone backward." - Miller on The Heat

The Mavericks - 3 votes

"You knew they weren't a top team, but there was no way they could sink this low." - Wilkins on The Mavs

Celtics - 2 votes

"After Cleveland and Chicago, I thought Boston and New York would fight it out." - Ainge

The Warriors, Pacers, Timberwolves, Knicks, & Bulls - 1 vote

"Obviously, winning another NBA championship isn't their main focus any longer. Now, it's who gets the shots, who gets the points, who gets the money." - Hastings on The Bulls

EXCLUDING YOUR OWN, WHICH FRANCHISE WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO PLAY FOR?

The Lakers - 5 votes

"The glitz. The glamour. The exposure. The thought of playing for the Lakers has always turned me on." - Tisdale

"They treat their players first-class." - Drexler

"They pay their players well.” - Adams

”They always get the players they want.” - Harper

"No long, drawn-out negotiations with their players.” - Malone

The Magic & Suns - 3 votes

The Bulls - 2 votes

The Heat & Spurs - 1 vote

WHO SHOULD BE THE MVP?

Charles Barkley - 12 votes (Ainge wanted to vote Barkley, but panelists aren't allowed to vote for teammates.)

"It's hard to believe you could vote for someone in front of Michael, but for what Charles has done, you have to go for him." - Bowie

"Charles made the Suns tougher, tougher in the way they play basketball." - Mcdaniel

Olajuwon & Jordan - 2 votes