At the conclusion of each regular season the NBA gives out an array of different awards to honor their best players. With the exception of the very tight MVP voting, this year?s winners were quite obvious. Chris Paul was everyone?s pick to win the Rookie of the Year, and Boris Diaw was undeniably the Most Improved Player in 2005-2006.

As many college campuses are closed down for the summer, and schools around the nation begin to close their doors I thought it would be fun to hand out Superlatives to the NBA?s Class of 2006. The NBA employed nearly 450 players this season, similar to the class size in some modern high schools.

If students can receive awards like ?Most Likely to Succeed? why can?t millionaire athletes?

Class Charmer

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers ? He?s the most charismatic of all NBA players these days. He?s in countless commercials and advertisements because he?s got a great personality and he?s the most marketable player in the league. Who else could play himself five times in one commercial?

Most Changed Since Rookie Year

Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons ? Wallace, who was never even drafted by an NBA team, entered the league during the 1996-1997 season with the old Washington Bullets. That year he averaged just over a point and a rebound in five minutes of play per game. Nearly a decade later he?s a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, and an NBA champion. All of which makes many NBA teams sick over not drafting him.

Most Artistic

Etan Thomas, Washington Wizards ? Sadly for Thomas he might be a better poet than a basketball player. His first collection of poems, titled More Than an Athlete, covers controversial topics such as racism, poverty, and even being a Toys R Us Kid. The book, which doesn?t seem to be doing half-bad, is also accompanied by a CD soundtrack. Poetry might look better to Etan after he averaged just 2 points and 2 rebounds per game for the Wizards in their first-round loss to the Cavaliers.

Most Unique

Scot Pollard, Indiana Pacers ? This guy has had more hairstyles in his nine-year career than all five Spice Girls have had in their entire lives. After searching through several NBA-related sites it took me almost an hour to find a site that had the same bio picture of Pollard. His barber must be a wealthy man.

Most Likely To Succeed

Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets ? One could present a case for LeBron James, but Paul seems to be destined for greatness. The NBA?s 2006 Rookie of the Year averaged 16.1 points and 7.8 assists per game in seventy-eight games this season. The reason I think he?ll have great success in the league is that he has a level head on his shoulders. He?s also a proven leader. He nearly led the Hornets to an improbable playoff run, which ended just weeks before the season ended.

Most Theatrical

Vince Carter, New Jersey Nets ? If Reggie Miller was still an active player he?d had been this year?s recipient, but Carter is more than deserving of this superlative. It seems as though he cries out in agony every time he enters the paint, and flails his arms and legs after every instance of contact. I?m not going all Anthony Johnson and claiming he?s soft, I?m just saying he?d make a great stage actor.

Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com