LEBRON JAMES (MIAMI HEAT)

James is one of the most dominant and scrutinized players in the NBA. A two-time most valuable player (MVP) and seven-time all-star, he has achieved virtually every individual honor the game has to offer. He won an Olympic gold medal with the US team in Beijing, but an NBA title is still conspicuously absent from his rsum.

DIRK NOWITZKI (DALLAS MAVERICKS)

Nowitzki has been a revelation in the NBA since leaving Germany to ply his trade in the US. In 2007, the power forward was named the NBA's MVP, becoming the first European to win the award. Last season, he was named MVP in the NBA Finals after leading the Mavericks to their first championship.

DERRICK ROSE (CHICAGO BULLS)

Rose upstaged LeBron James last season to win MVP, becoming the youngest player to win the prize, averaging 25 points per game. He led the Bulls to the Eastern Conference finals but, despite averaging 27.1 points a game during the playoffs, they lost out to the Heat.

KOBE BRYANT (LOS ANGELES LAKERS)

One of the most accomplished players the NBA has produced, Bryant has achieved it all. But at 33, he is hobbled a bit by a recent wrist injury, and there are questions about the Lakers after their limp exit from last year's playoffs.

BLAKE GRIFFIN (LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS)

Griffin was selected as the first pick in the 2009 NBA Draft but missed the entire 2009-10 season because of injury. He made up for lost time last season, averaging 22.5 points and 12.1 rebounds a game, to unanimously win the Rookie of the Year award and establish himself as one of the most exciting prospects in the sport.

(China Daily 12/25/2011 page8)