NBA 75 Greatest Players (Finale, 10-1)

10. Shaquille O’Neal 9. Tim Duncan 8. Larry Bird 7. Wilt Chamberlain 6. Bill Russell 5. Kobe Bryant 4. Magic Johnson 3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2. LeBron James 1. Michael Jordan 10. Shaquille O’Neal- The most physically imposing/dominant player in NBA history (7’1 300-320 lbs) of RAW Power, force, and athleticism. Shaquille O’Neal is indeed one of a kind and has been the closest thing of his generation to Wilt Chamberlain. Like Wilt, Shaq during his prime was a man among boys. From his arrival as the 1st overall pick in ’92, Shaq immediately set the league on fire and took it by storm. Shaq won ROY during the ’92-’93 season, averaging 23.4 ppg, 13.9 RPG, and 3.5 BPG. In 1993-94, Shaq averaged at the time a career-high 29.3 ppg, with 13.2 RPG, finishing in 2nd place to David Robinson for the League Scoring Title. In 1994-95, Shaq enjoyed the most incredible run in his tenure with Orlando. That season, he won the League Scoring Title, averaging 29.3 ppg again, while finishing 2nd place in MVP Voting to David Robinson. That season, he led the Orlando Magic to their first Finals appearance in Franchise history, falling to Hakeem Olajuwon’s Houston Rockets in a sweep. Shaq fought a good fight in that series, averaging (28/12/6/2). Shaq’s run in Orlando certainly helped him establish himself as a household name. In Orlando, he averaged 27.1 ppg, 12.4 RPG, and 2.7 BPG. After falling to Jordan’s Chicago Bulls in a sweep in the ECF, Shaq took his talents to Hollywood to join the LA Lakers. In 2000, Shaq had a classic season. His scoring peaked at 29.7 ppg, winning his second Scoring Title. He also averaged 13.6 RPG and 3.0 BPG. Shaq became the Undisputed Regular Season MVP as the Alpha Dog for the Lakers and the NBA. That season, Shaq became the third player in history to win Regular Season MVP, All-Star MVP, and Finals MVP in one year, joining Jordan and Willis Reed. In the playoffs, O’Neal raised his level of play. In the postseason, he averaged 30.7/15.4/3.1 while leading the Lakers to their first of three straight titles (’00, ’01, ’02). This would be their first in 12 years. Shaq’s Production helped him become “The Big Legendary”. Here are his stats in the Finals: 2000 vs. Pacers: 38.0/16.7/2.3 2001 vs. Sixers: 33.0/15.8/4.8 2002 vs. Nets: 36.3/12.3/3.8 2004 vs. Pistons: 26.6/10.8/1.6 These monumental numbers earned Shaq 3 straight Finals MVP Awards, as HE clearly carried Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers to a return to the NBA Mountaintop. O’Neal was frozen out during the ’04 Finals, because of a certain fellow superstar jacking up shots and shooting the team out of the series. The Shaquille O’Neal-led Lakers of the early ’00s became the Dynasty of the Decade. I will also put this dynasty with every other, including the Showtime Lakers, Bird’s Celtics MJ’s Bulls, and Duncan’s Spurs. As a Laker, Shaq is one of the Top 3-5 Finals performers of all time with the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic, etc. O’Neal soon went to the Miami Heat to help Dwyane Wade and the Heat win their first title in franchise history. O’Neal established himself as one of the Top 2 Players of the 2000s decade. The decline in his career has skewed his production to 23.7 ppg in the regular season. In the playoffs, he averaged 24.3 ppg. Shaq finished his career as a 15-time All-Star, 8 All-NBA 1st Team Selections, 1 All-NBA 2nd Team Selection, 4 All-NBA Third Team Selections, 3 All-Defensive 2nd Team Selections, and 1 All-Rookie 1st Team Selection. O’Neal finished in the Top 10 in MVP Voting 13 times, Top 5 8 Times, Top 3 5 Times, and Top 2 3 Times. Shaquille O’Neal is a Hall of Famer and firmly cemented his position as an NBA Legend. 9. Tim Duncan- Tim Duncan’s fundamental approach to the game, execution, and ability to out-think opposing players have made him a nightmare for other teams. Duncan has been so synonymous with fundamentals, that Shaq gave him the nickname “The Big Fundamental”. This nickname fits him perfectly. Duncan has been the face of the San Antonio Spurs ever since he became the Franchise’s 1st Overall Pick in 1997. As David Robinson went down because of injury, the Spurs immediately went into rebuilding mode and found the largest piece of the championship puzzle. That piece was Duncan. Tim Duncan took the league by storm, winning the Rookie of the Year Award in 1998. That year, Duncan not only won ROY, but he also made the All-NBA 1st Team and All-Star team. That season, he averaged 19.4 ppg, 11.0 RPG, 2.5 APG, and 2.3 BPG. In the 1998-99 season, Duncan led the Spurs to their first title in franchise history. He raised his level of play in the playoffs, averaging 23.2/11.5/2.8. In the Finals, Tim Duncan was incredible. He demolished the Knicks’ defense, with 27.4 ppg, 14.0 RPG, and 2.4 APG. These averages are similar to Larry Bird in the ’84 Finals. For his performance, Duncan was named Finals MVP. In 2002, Duncan received his first MVP Award, averaging: (25.5/12.7/3.7/2.7). This was the season when Duncan’s scoring reached its peak. 2003 turned out to be a legendary season in Tim Duncan’s career. That season, he won his 2nd straight MVP (23.3/12.9/3.9/2.9). In the Finals, he averaged (24.2/17.0/5.3/5.3) as the Spurs ripped the Nets apart. Duncan’s well-rounded performance in this series certainly ranks as one of the Top 5-10 Performances in Finals History. Duncan won his 2nd Finals MVP Award. Duncan would lead the Spurs to 2 more championships (’05, ’07). Now, as the Leader of 5 Spurs Championship teams, 3 Time Finals MVP (’99, ’03, ’05), and 2 Time League MVP (’02, ’03) Tim Duncan stands on the top of the mountain, wearing the Title “Greatest Power Forward of All-Time” firmly around his waist. With these accolades, Tim Duncan has cemented himself as the Greatest Player of His Generation. For the past decade, Duncan kept a stranglehold on the Power Forward Position, as he has squandered the hopes of many great players to win titles. Duncan has been the perfect model of consistency, and someone that younger fans and today’s players should study carefully. Duncan recently led the Spurs to their 5th Finals Appearance against the Miami Heat. He looked very solid in spite of the loss. The Spurs gained their revenge as they vanquished the Miami Heat in 5 games of the 2014 NBA Finals, ending the Big 3 Era in South Beach. Duncan has been a 14-time All-Star, All-NBA 1st Team 10 Times, All-NBA 2nd Team 3 times, All-NBA 3rd Team 1 Times, All-Defensive 1st Team 8 Times, and All-Defensive 2nd Team 6 Times. Tim Duncan has finished in the Top 10 in MVP Voting 11 times, Top 5 9 times, Top 3 5 times, and Top 2 4 times. Tim Duncan is one of the most accomplished and consistent players of today’s game and of all time. Mr. Tim Duncan is a Hall of Famer, Legend, and the Greatest Power Forward ever. 8. Larry Bird- Magic Johnson’s arch-rival, and fellow King of the ’80s, Larry Bird helped define the way that generations came to view and respect the NBA. In 1979, like Magic for the Lakers, Bird was a special prize gift wrapped for the Celtics to resurrect a once great franchise from the doldrums that they were stuck in after Bill Russell walked away from the game in 1969. Larry Bird was transcendent in every way as an Icon for both the Celtics and the NBA. 1978-79, Boston went 29-53. In Bird’s rookie year (1979-80), the Celtics made a 32-game IMPROVEMENT going 61-21 when Larry earned ROY Honors. That season, he averaged 21.3/10.4/4.5 with 47% FG shooting, 40% from 3-point range, and 83% from the free throw line. The following year, Bird led the Celtics past Dr.J’s Sixers in a classic 7-game series, where they would go on to conquer the Moses Malone-led, Houston Rockets in 6 games. Bird earned his first championship, ironically, the year after Magic won his first. Both Bird and Johnson would be forever linked from that point on. In 1983-84, Bird reached the first point of an incredible prime/run, where he won the first of 3 straight MVP awards (’84-’86). That season, he averaged 24.2/10.1/6.6 while shooting 49% and 88% from the line. He would go on to have his first Finals meeting with Magic Johnson, where his Celtics defeated the Lakers in a legendary 7-game series. Larry won Finals MVP, averaging 27.4/14.0/3.6 while shooting 48% FG, 66% 3pt, and 84% FT. He shot 66% from the 3-point range! That is insane! In 1984-’85, Larry would go on to average, at that point, a career-high of 28.7 ppg, along with 10.5 RPG, and 6.6 APG, while shooting 52%, 42% from the 3-point range, and 88% from the line. 1985-86 was an absolutely Legendary Year for Bird. That season, he averaged 25.8 PPG, 9.8 RPG, and 6.8 APG, while shooting 49.6% from Field Goal range, 42% from the 3-point line, and 89.6% from the Free Throw line. Not only did he win his 3rd Consecutive MVP Award, but he also won his second Finals MVP Trophy in 3 straight Finals appearances. Bird also averaged roughly a Triple-Double in the Finals that year (24.0/9.7/9.5). In Game 6, Larry had a triple-double (29/11/12). In ’87, Larry led the Celtics to their last Finals appearance against the Lakers, where they fell to their greatest adversaries. In ’88, his scoring peaked at 29.9 ppg. From ’86-’88, Larry became the first to have seasons shooting 50/40/90 (50% FG, 40% 3pt, 90% FT). Larry Bird won 3 straight NBA MVPs, 2 Finals MVPs, All-Star MVP, 13-time All-Star, 9-time All-NBA 1st Team Selection, All-NBA 2nd Team Selection 1-time, and NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team 3 times. Bird finished in the Top 10 in MVP Voting 11 times, Top 5 in MVP Voting 9 times, Top 3 eight times, and second place 4 times. Larry was tremendously brilliant against a wide level of competition, especially those who were more athletic than him. For those who say that Larry was slow, un-athletic, and could not play in today’s era, here is a list of more athletic players that he has outplayed. (Michael Jordan, Julius Erving, Dominique Wilkins, Magic Johnson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, Scottie Pippen). Larry Bird is truly a bonafide Basketball Hall of Famer, Icon, and Legend of the Game. 7. Wilt Chamberlain- 7’1″ 270 lbs of a pure athletic monster, Wilt Chamberlain was an NBA revolutionary, as the game’s first dominant 7-footer. Wilt’s individual destruction and dominance opened up the door for players such as Kareem, Shaq, etc. Chamberlain was indeed one of a kind. Wilt was a stat-stuffing machine. Wilt’s numbers were the kind that you would put up on NBA 2k, and NBA Live, if you put the game on the rookie. Wilt was indeed a man among boys, with an unbelievable blend of size, raw power, speed, agility, and athleticism that was unheard of during his time. In 1959-60, Chamberlain was the first player in NBA History to win both Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. That season, he averaged 37.6 ppg and 27.0 RPG. In 1960-61, Wilt averaged 38.4 ppg, with a career-high 27.2 RPG, while shooting 50%. The following season (1961-62), Wilt went on an absolute rampage, as he averaged a phenomenal 50.4 ppg, 25.7 RPG, on 50.6% shooting. After his rookie season, Wilt went on to have 3 straight seasons of 3,000 points or more (’61,-3,033 ’62-4,029 ’63-3,586). These records have become virtually untouchable. His battles with Bill Russell were the stuff of legend and opened the door for the Magic vs. Bird rivalry in the ’80s. When Wilt joined the 76ers, he adjusted his game to sacrifice his numbers for the sake of the team. In 1966-67, he averaged 24.1 ppg, 24.2 RPG, and 7.8 APG, to win NBA MVP and lead the Sixers to a 68-13 record, and an NBA Title. In 1967-68, he led the NBA in assists with 8.6 APG. Wilt has had one of the top 3 peaks in NBA history, with MJ and Kareem. Chamberlain was a 4-time MVP (’60, ’66, ’67, ’68), 1-time Finals MVP(’72), All-Star MVP (1960) 7-time Scoring Champion, 11-time Rebounding Champion, 13-time NBA All-Star, 7-time All-NBA 1st Team Selection, 3-time All-NBA 2nd Team Selection, 2-time All-Defensive 1st Team Selection. Wilt is now 4th All-Time in Total Career Points (31,419, 30.10 ppg). Chamberlain is also the All-Time Leader in Total Career Rebounds (23,924) with a career average of 22.9. Wilt finished in the Top 5 in MVP Voting 10 times, Top 10 11 times. Wilt Chamberlain is not only a Hall of Famer, and a Legend, but an Icon as well. 6. Bill Russell- The Ultimate Winner, a Defensive Genius. Bill Russell was the Most Intense Defensive Force of All-Time. Russell was the Anchor & Leader of 11 Championship Teams in 13 Seasons. Bill Russell left a monumental mark on the Game of Basketball, both on and off the court. Russell was a great hustle player, and an outstanding Rebounder and Shot Blocker. Russell’s speed and leaping ability as a big man, along with his timing helped him even more as a defender. Many of his blocks led to fast breaks for his team. His legendary rivalry with Wilt Chamberlain helped to define the ’60s, along with his team’s dominance to become a dynasty. Bill Russell was also a 5-time MVP, as he and Wilt handicapped every other player’s chance of winning the Award (Oscar was the only non-big man to win in ’64). Russell and his Celtics shattered the hopes and dreams of many players to win titles in that era, including Jerry West & Elgin Baylor’s Lakers. The Celtics won the title in his rookie season. In his second season (1957-58), Russell won his first MVP Award. From ’59-’66, the Celtics had an 8-year reign of terror, winning 8 straight titles. From ’61-’63, Bill Russell became the first player to win 3 straight MVP Awards. In ’62, Russell overcame a Legendary MVP Race, which saw Wilt average a monstrous 50.4/25.7, Oscar record a triple-double (30.8/12.5/11.4), and Elgin average 38/19/5. That season, he averaged 18.9 ppg, 23.6 RPG, and 4.5 APG. This man has been Wilt’s toughest opponent during his prime. Bill Russell is also the first and only player in NBA History to be named player/coach. The only hole that I would see in Russell’s game would be his shooting percentage for a Center (44%). You could also argue about the lack of deep competition during his time. However, that does not completely overshadow his stamp on the game. Russell’s impact as a champion has been so great, that the NBA has named the Finals MVP after him. If the Trophy was around sooner during his time, he would have won it every time in my view. Bill Russell finished in the Top 10 in MVP Voting 12 out of 13 times, Top 5 11 times, and Top 3 9 times. Mr. Bill Russell is the godfather of Basketball and a tremendous Legend of the Game. 5. Kobe Bryant- What can I say about Kobe that has not been said? He was certainly one of the most versatile and captivating players of all-time, with an amazing skill set that has led to many great scoring accolades over a very decorated career. As far as mirroring “MJ”, Kobe patterned his entire game and career after Jordan, because of his playing style. This is a man who has had multiple 40-50 point games over his illustrious career. His most memorable game was his 81-point performance in 2006. Kobe Bryant has definitely been one of the most important players not just of his era, but of any era. We saw Kobe mature in front of our very eyes. Kobe has been the leader of 2 out of 5 championship teams (2-time Finals MVP). In 2000-2001, Kobe had his first true flash of brilliance as an all-around player, when he averaged 28.5 ppg, 5.9 RPG, 5.0 APG. He was instrumental in creating one of the most dangerous duos in NBA History with Shaquille O’Neal. That Lakers Dynasty was feared throughout the entire league, as they ran off a historic three-peat from 2000-’02. We witnessed the resurgence of the Lakers as they returned to prominence for the first time since the Magic/Kareem Showtime Era of the 1980s. They were the NBA’s Dynamic Duo, as Shaq was Batman and Kobe was Robin. Kobe even admitted that he was the sidekick at that time. However, Kobe eventually became Nightwing and was ready to spread his wings. In 2003, Kobe had the best all-around season of his career (30 ppg, 6.9 RPG, 5.9 APG, 2.2 SPG). In the postseason, he averaged 32.1/5.1/5.2. Following the loss to the Pistons in the 2004 Finals, the feud between Kobe and Shaq reached a boiling point. After the departure of O’Neal, Kobe became the full-fledged focal point of the Lakers in the long run. He was on a mission to show Shaq and the world that he could win without him. and the Lakers had a tough transitional period from 05-07. During this time, the Lakers missed the playoffs once and had two very early playoff exits. In 2006, Kobe won his first scoring title, averaging 35.4 ppg. However, the Lakers fell to the Phoenix Suns after dropping a 4-1 lead. With the season that he had, I still believed that he was the REAL MVP of that season. With the Miami Heat winning their first Championship that season, the pressure was building even more for Kobe to win without the Diesel. Not only did the critics target Kobe, but Shaq himself laughed and joined in on the finger-pointing of his former teammate. After numerous trade demands in the summer of 2007, the Lakers finally built a better team around Kobe. In 2007-2008, Kobe Bryant finally won his 1st MVP Award and led the Lakers to the Finals in 2008. The Lakers fell to the Celtics in 6 games. That summer, Kobe jump started the most pivotal, game-changing season of his career as he led the Redeem Team to victory in the Olympics. By 2008-09, the Lakers started to come together as they became the team that Kobe envisioned to win the championship. He became more approachable with his teammates and trusted them much more. The biggest thing for Kobe that season compared to the previous season was to take the game serious, but not take himself as seriously. In the ’09 Finals vs. Orlando, Bryant averaged (32.4/5.6/7.4 43% FG, 36% 3pt, 84% FT), as the Lakers obliterated the Magic, 4-1. Kobe would win Finals MVP. This championship carried significant weight with it because Kobe FINALLY showed the world that he could win without Shaq. In the 2010 Finals vs. Boston, Bryant averaged (28.6/8.0/3.9 40% FG, 31% 3pt, 88% FT). Kobe Bryant dodged the ultimate silver bullet in Game 7. In that game, he shot 6-24 but made up for it with his rebounding and defense. This goes to show how leaders find ways to win even when they are not at their best. For his overall series, Kobe would win his second straight Finals MVP Award as he truly separated himself from his former franchise superstar teammate. The leap from high school to the pros has helped enhance his numbers, but it has also brought extra mileage on his body. As it pertains to overall popularity, Kobe ultimately became the man after Jordan stepped off of the court for good. His impact when it pertains to filling that spot has definitely helped the NBA in large ways in terms of global acceptance. He helped to further inspire future generations of players who have come to the league today. Kobe retired as the third all-time leading scorer (33,643), now at fourth. Kobe Bryant has been a 18-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA 1st Team Selection, 3-time 2nd Team Selection, 2-time 3rd Team Selection, All-Rookie 2nd Team Selection. He has also been named to 9 All-NBA Defensive 1st Teams, 2 All-Defensive 2nd Team Selections. Mr. Bryant has won 2 Finals MVP Awards, 1 NBA MVP Award. He has ranked in the Top 10 in MVP Voting 12 times, top 5 11 times, top 3 5 times, and top 2 twice. Sadly, Kobe lost his life on January 26, 2020 in a helicopter crash along with his Daughter Gigi, and seven other people. His passing was felt around the world as it sent shockwaves. People that don’t follow Basketball knew who he was as the tributes poured, left and right. Kobe Bryant was posthumously inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame for the Class of 2021, as he will forever be an icon of the game. Basketball: NBA Finals: Closeup of Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson (32) victorious with Walter A. Brown championship trophy after winning Game 6 and series vs Philadelphia 76ers. Philadelphia, PA 5/16/1980 CREDIT: Manny Millan (Photo by Manny Millan /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images) (Set Number: X24508 ) 4. Earvin “Magic” Johnson- Magic Johnson was indeed the Ultimate Team General and an NBA game-changer. Magic was a 6’9″ 220 lb, pure all-around Point Guard, that played the position like someone 5’10”. Magic has been well known for his flashy, dynamic style of play, with his amazing no-look, behind-the-back passes, while engineering the greatest fast-break offense of all-time (Showtime Lakers). Magic was also a tremendous playmaker, as he was the best at making his teammates better. His Basketball IQ was off the charts. He revived Kareem, and Bob McAdoo’s careers, and made players such as James Worthy into household names. His rivalry with Larry Bird saved the NBA from its darkest days, and further inspired a generation of fans and other great players soon to come, including Michael “Air” Jordan. As the Lakers’ 1st overall pick in 1979, Magic’s impact was felt immediately. That season, he helped lead the Lakers to their first championship in the ’80s, defeating Julius Erving’s Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980 NBA Finals. When Kareem went down with an injury during Game 5, Magic’s legendary performance in Game 6 (42/15/7), led to the first of 3 Finals MVP Awards. In 1981-82, Magic became the closest of his era, and beyond to match Oscar’s triple-double, by averaging 18.6 ppg, 9.5 APG, and 9.6 RPG. (If you round up, that is a triple-double itself) In 1983-84, Johnson averaged a career-high 13.1 APG. In 1984-85, Magic averaged a career-high 15.2 APG in the playoffs, while winning his 3rd NBA Championship, defeating the Celtics for the first time. In 1986-87, Magic had the greatest season of his career, averaging shy of 24 ppg 12.2 APG, earning the 1st of 3 MVP Awards, while leading the Lakers to their 4th NBA Title during that decade. The following year, Johnson led the Lakers to their 5th title of the ’80s, making them the first team in 19 years, since the Celtics in ’67-’68, and ’68-’69. The Lakers started the decade in the Finals and ended in the Finals. Magic was the personification of the ’80s, from his style of play to even his personality. Had it not been for his career being cut short and sabotaged because of the HIV Virus, I firmly believe that Magic would have had another 5 solid years, which would have seen him be the first player in history to reach 20,000 points and 10,000 assists. Johnson ended his remarkable career as a member of the 1992 Dream Team with Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, & Co. Magic won 5 NBA Titles, 3 Finals MVP Awards, 3 NBA MVP Awards, 9-time All-NBA 1st Team selection, 12-time All-Star, Top 5 in MVP voting 9 times, and 2-time All-Star MVP. Earvin Magic Johnson is the greatest pure point guard, and the face of the Lakers, as an icon and a legend. 3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar- Kareem won a record 6 MVP Awards(1971, ’72, ’74, ’76, ’77, ’80), 2 Finals MVPs (’71, ’85) on 6 Championship teams (’71, ’80, ’82, ’85, ’87, ’88). 2 Time Scoring Champion (’71, ’72). NBA’s All-time Leading Scorer (38,387 points) Led the NBA in Blocks 4 times (’76, ’77, ’79, ’80), Leader in Rebounds twice (’76, ’77). 19-time All-Star, Kareem averaged a career-high 34.8 ppg, 16.6 RPG, and 4.6 APG in the 1971-72 season. 10-Time All-NBA 1st Team Selection, 5-time All-NBA 2nd Team Selection, 5-Time All-Defensive 1st Team Selection, 6-Time All-Defensive 2nd Team Selection. Kareem averaged 32 ppg, 17 RPG, and 5 APG, on 50% in his prime during the playoffs. Kareem finished in the top 5 in MVP voting a record 15 times. The man was on top of his game for over a decade. His longevity has worked tremendously for his legacy. Even though Kareem was a member of 6 championship teams (1- Bucks, 5-Lakers), I firmly believe that he should have won the Finals MVP in ’80. Kareem won both of his Finals MVP Awards in a 14-year span (1971-1985). This was the same length of time as Wilt Chamberlain’s entire career (1959-1973). Kareem delivered stellar playoff performances, especially in the Finals. In 1971, he averaged 27.0 ppg, 18.5 RPG, and 2.8 APG. In 1974, he averaged 32.6, 12.1, and 5.4 vs Boston. In 1980, Kareem averaged an incredible 33.4/13.6/4.6/3.2 vs the 76ers, as I alluded to before. Kareem was the complete package as a Center, with the individual dominance & success and size of Wilt, along with the team success & intangibles of Russell (minus a few rings of course). I find it a crime that Kareem is not mentioned as often as MJ, Magic, Wilt, etc. as an all-time great. Kareem recently had a statue unveiled by the Lakers in his honor. Kareem’s style of play, legacy, and body of work gives him the strongest case as one of the top 3 players of all time behind Michael Jordan. His career is so incredible and unique, that if you factor in his achievements in High School(Power Memorial) and College(UCLA) he is the greatest in the Overall History of Basketball. I feel as though this kind of legacy should be held in the highest regard and anything outside of the top 2-3 underrated him. In Conclusion, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a Basketball Hall of Famer, Icon, and Legend. 2. LeBron James- This man has been a phenom from the moment that he stepped foot on an NBA court. LeBron James is an insanely spectacular hybrid that we may never see again. LeBron is a lethal combination of Magic Johnson’s size, and ballhandling skills, Oscar Robertson’s scoring, Pippen’s athleticism on both ends of the floor, and Dr. J’s transition game, with enhanced strength and speed from today’s weight training & technology. With all due respect, this guy is built like a mutant. LeBron took the league by storm during his rookie season. That year, he ran away with the Rookie of the Year Award. The following season, LeBron showed signs of brilliance in his versatility, as he averaged 27.2/7.4/7.2. In his third season (2005-2006), LeBron officially broke through as the best all-around player in the NBA. That season, he averaged a career-high 31.4 ppg, while also leading his team to their first playoff appearance in a very long time. In 2006-2007, LeBron had an incredible playoff run again, as his defining performance was a 48-point destruction of the Detroit Pistons. LeBron’s Cavs would ultimately fall short to Tim Duncan’s Spurs in the Finals. In 2007-2008, LeBron James won his first scoring title, averaging 30.0 ppg/7.9 RPG (career peak)/7.2 APG. LeBron won his first NBA MVP Award in 2008-2009, averaging 28.4/7.6/7.2. The following season, as LeBron won his 2nd straight MVP, his assist peaked out at 8.6, while averaging 29.7 ppg, 7.3 RPG. He also had his first season with 50% FG. After taking his talents to South Beach with controversy, LeBron did not miss a beat. His first season with the Heat looked similar to his last season in Cleveland (26.7/6.5/7.5 51% FG). The biggest hole in LeBron’s legacy was the way that he underperformed in the Finals twice (2007 vs. Spurs, 2011 vs. Mavs). The only way for him to further solidify his legacy was to win on the biggest stage. The 2011-2012 season saw LeBron James play out of his mind, in both the regular season and playoffs. This past year, he won his third MVP Award (27.1/7.9/6.2). His playoff run was absolutely mindblowing. (30.3/9.7/5.6- 50% FG) LeBron left pure destruction in his path, as he dismantled teams such as the Knicks, Pacers, Celtics, and Thunder. Winning the championship was the final icing on his cake and the biggest notch on his belt. LeBron James is second all-time in Player Efficiency Rating (PER) next to the one and only Michael Air Jordan. LeBron has led the NBA in PER for the past 5 seasons. He has also led the NBA in Win Shares in the past 4 seasons. NBA Metrics has certainly been in LeBron’s favor. The legacy that LeBron James has built to this point has been unbelievable. LeBron James has only played 9 seasons and has surpassed many players who have had full careers. Currently, LeBron has won 3 MVP Awards and 1 Finals MVP Award. With his incredible MVP performance while leading the Heat to the NBA Title, LeBron James has officially narrowed the gap between himself and others such as Julius Erving and Moses Malone. He has also made things even closer between himself and Kobe Bryant. The debate has become even closer than what people think. Recently, LeBron had yet another phenomenal season, winning his fourth MVP Award, while leading the Heat to their second straight championship. With this milestone, James joined elite company with the likes of Kareem, Russell, Jordan and Wilt to win 4 or more MVP’s. Along the way, LeBron led the Heat on a 27-game winning streak, along with becoming the “youngest” player to score 20,000 career points. LeBron’s career regular season averages are: (27.6 ppg/7.2 rpg/6.9 APG 48.3% FG). For the playoffs, he has averaged: (28.5 ppg/8.7 rpg/6.7 APG 46.9% FG). LeBron James is on an incredible roll, and I enjoy seeing him play and watching him ascend even further among the all-time greats as time goes on. The body of work that this man has created thus far is beautiful. Here is a full look at LeBron’s resume: LeBron is a 3-time NBA Champion, 3-time NBA Finals MVP, 4-time NBA MVP, 9-time All-Star, 2-time All-Star MVP, 1-time Scoring Champion, 7-time All-NBA 1st Team Selection, 2-time All-NBA 2nd Team Selection, 5-time All-Defensive 1st team Selection, Rookie of the Year, and NBA All-Rookie 1st Team Selection. LeBron has also finished in the Top 10 in MVP Voting 10 out of 10 times (every season), top 5 8 out of 10 times, top 3 6 times, and second place 1 time. He has also finished second place in Defensive Player of the Year Voting once. The way he played against 2011 MVP Derrick Rose in that season’s ECF was a perfect example of how dangerous he has become as the league’s best perimeter defender. LeBron also won the 2012 Sports Illustrated “Sportsman of the Year” Award. Miami would repeat in 2013. Unfortunately, the party ended in South Beach, as the San Antonio Spurs dismantled LeBron’s Miami Heat squad, causing him to return to Cleveland. Recently, the Hometown Hero returned to bring Cleveland their first title in NBA History by defeating the 73-win Golden State Warriors in 7 Games to win his third Finals MVP. In 2020, LeBron continued to add to his amazing story by leading the Los Angeles Lakers to their 17th NBA Championship as they defeated the Miami Heat, 4-2. This Ring carried an even deeper sense of significance following the death of Lakers Icon Kobe Bryant, along with a season that was in jeopardy from a global pandemic (COVID-19), and in the face of racism at an all-time high since the days of the Bill Russell Era. LeBron James continues to build on a legacy that makes him a certified First-ballot Hall of Famer, NBA Legend and the Greatest Star of his Generation. 1. Michael Jordan- (32,292 points- 3rd All-Time) (30.12 ppg- 1st All-Time) 6 Finals MVPs (’91-’93, ’96-’98), 5 League MVPs (’88, ’91, ’92, ’96, ’98), 10 Time Scoring Champion (’87-’93, ’96-’98) (6 seasons over 50% from the field) 3 time Steals Champion (’88, ’90, ’93), Rookie of the Year (1985) Defensive Player of the Year (1988), Highest Career PPG Average in NBA Regular Season History (30.12 ppg). Highest Career PPG Average in NBA Playoff History (33.45 ppg). Career High in Points & Scoring Average: 3,041 (37.1 ppg in 1986-87). Best All-Around Season: (32.0 ppg, 8.0 RPG, 8.0 APG, 2.9 SPG on 54% FG shooting in 1988-89). 8 seasons over 30 ppg (’87-’93, ’96) 5 seasons over 32 ppg (’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’93). Jordan’s averages in the Finals: 33.6 ppg, 6.0 RPG, 5.9 APG, 48% FG, 36.8% 3-pt. 10-Time All-NBA 1st Team Selection (’87-’93, ’96-’98), 9-time All-Defensive 1st Team Selection (’88-’93, ’96-’98). 2-time Olympic Gold Medal Winner (1984, 1992) Member of the ’92 Dream Team. Michael also holds the Record for Highest Scoring Average in the Finals: 41 ppg (’93 vs. Suns). Jordan finished in the Top 10 in MVP Voting every full season with the Bulls (11 Seasons). Michael Jordan raised his level of play to infinite levels in the playoffs (mainly the Finals). Michael was superhuman in his first 9 seasons BEFORE playing baseball, both statistically and athletically. (’84-’93). In the 1st 3-peat, Jordan averaged 31 ppg, 11 APG, 55% FG vs. Lakers in ’91, 35 ppg, 4.8 RPG, 6.5 APG, 52% FG vs. Blazers in ’92, and 41 ppg, 8.5 RPG, 6.5 APG, 51% FG vs. Phoenix in ’93. There is no denying how Michael simply demolished the league during his zenith. There is also no denying that Michael at his very peak would destroy today’s league even more. Michael revolutionized not only basketball but the world of sports, in general, that no one before or after has ever been able to do from a global standpoint. Michael Jordan is indeed an Icon, Legend, Hall of Famer, and King of NBA Royalty. Case for Michael Jordan as the Greatest of All-Time (G.O.A.T.): NBA All-Time Leader in Regular Season ppg: 30.12 All-Time Leader in Playoff ppg: 33.45 6 Time Finals MVP (Leader of all 6 Championship teams) Consistently dominant Offensive Player (10 Scoring Titles, 10 1st Team Selections Consistently dominant Defensive Player (DPOY, 9 Defensive 1st Teams) Consecutive seasons with 200+ steals Ultimate Model of Consistency Transcendent player Global & Pop Culture Icon Cerebral Player Unbelievable Competitor Once in a lifetime impact Proved that you could win with great scoring & athleticism Shattered the mold & created his own. Highest PER (Player Efficiency Rating) in NBA History. Jordan should have been at least an 8-time MVP, but the media gave one to Magic Johnson (1990), because of his reputation, and past team accomplishments (5 rings). Sound familiar? Charles Barkley was given the award in 1993 because he was on a better team than the year before and the writers were tired of voting for MJ (MJ deserved it the most). In 1997, Karl Malone was “given” the MVP, because, like Barkley, the media was tired of voting for Michael. It is basketball heresy to compare today’s players to Michael, because of how minuscule their accomplishments are compared to his. These players also pale in total comparison to how Michael played in his absolute prime. No one compares. Michael Jordan sits alone as the King of the NBA Castle.

Mamba Forever (Kobe's Legacy)

January 26, 2020 will forever be a day that you will remember where you were when you received the painful news. This is the day that we lost not only a Basketball Icon, but a Cultural Icon. I had just gotten out of Church and took a nap when I got the call about his death. When my sister told me about it, I thought it was one of those terrible Internet hoaxes where people make up news about someone's death. I thought the Internet made up a sick joke about Kobe being dead so that he could come back and say "I'm still here!". Sadly, that never happened as I checked Google to confirm the truth. Come to find out, this was the sad reality as multiple reports from TMZ, ABC News and others showed up as my results. Then, I went to Social Media (Instagram, Twitter, etc) to find my World crashing down. The most painful words that I could read were true (Kobe Bean Bryant, dead at the age of 41. 1978-2020). There have been deaths that hit very hard before (Michael Jackson, Prince, Macho Man Randy Savage, Nipsey Hussle to name a few) but NONE like this. Here was a death that hit me harder than a hit from Thor's Hammer, Mjolnir. Kobe's Career has spanned 20 years. TWENTY YEARS!! That has been the span of most of my life. His Career spans different stages of my life. From Elementary School, Middle School, High School and Adulthood. When talking about someone who is a Generational Hero, Kobe definitely fits that mold. Kobe was drafted in 1996, when I was 7 years old. I had just moved from Washington, DC to Lanham, MD and started going to Catherine T. Reed Elementary. His debut ran parallel with my debut at a new School in a new County. Kobe's beginnings did not get off to a rocket start, but rather a rocky start. He was not the brightest star coming out of that legendary 1996 draft, instead it was Allen Iverson. However, Kobe worked through his rookie learning curve and showed flashes of what would make him great later on. Even though his numbers did not immediately show it, Kobe drew early comparisons to his predecessor, His Airness Michael Jordan. The parallels were so strong that Kobe was voted as a Starter for the West in the 1998 All-Star Game, only his SECOND season. This was a testament of the great potential that Kobe would soon fulfill as he held his own against Jordan to show how hungry he was to reach that level of greatness. Obviously, Jordan himself as well as the world were all highly impressed. The impact of this would be felt the following year as Bryant was officially inserted into the Lakers starting lineup. After the bitter humiliation of a sweep at the hands of the Spurs, the Lakers needed a much needed change in leadership and scenery. The 1999-2000 season was the breaking of a new day in Los Angeles. The Lakers fired Del Harris and hired legendary Coach Phil Jackson as the Lakers moved into the Staples Center to start a new journey. The change was evident as the Lakers dominant presence was felt throughout the season. With Shaq as the MVP and Kobe as a rising star in the sidekick role, the Lakers marched through the season with a 67-15 record on their way to their first NBA Championship in 12 seasons. Kobe had his greatest impact in the WCF Game 7 when he delivered the Game-winning alleyoop to Shaq to secure the win over the Blazers to make it to the Finals. In the Finals, Kobe's 26 points and 10 rebounds were another sign of his evident breakout into being a bigger star. That impact would lead into the following 2000-2001 season as Bryant would play a much larger role. That season, he averaged at that time, a career-high 28.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg and 5.0 apg, which placed him even closer to Shaq as O'Neal averaged 28.7 ppg. Even though the Lakers finished the season 56-26, they rose their level of play higher than ever in the playoffs with an incredible 15-1 record. At this point, not only was Kobe closing the gap with Shaq, but he was also closing the gap with rival and league MVP Allen Iverson. Their history goes back to the '96 Draft as Iverson was drafted as 1st Overall while Bryant was the 13th Overall pick. This and the MVP award would be the much needed fuel that Kobe needed for his unquenchable competitive fire as he locked his eyes on Iverson as his next target. To add even more fuel, AI became a star in Kobe's hometown which escalated things. Fast forward to the 2001 Finals and the Lakers would destroy the 76ers in a "Gentlemen's sweep", winning their 2nd straight title 4-1. Shaq was Finals MVP once again, but Kobe zeroed in on Iverson as his defensive assignment. Bryant would continue to have the last laugh as he dominated Iverson and the East in the 2002 All-Star Game with 31 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Allen had no answer for the Black Mamba on that night.

The Lakers would continue their reign of dominance into the playoffs. After defeating the Kings in a gruesome 7 Game Series, the Lakers would obliterate the New Jersey Nets in a 4-game sweep. By this point, Bryant established himself even more as Michael Jordan's heir apparent as he cemented himself as the premiere Shooting Guard in the NBA. For years, Shaq and Kobe were called the Batman and Robin of the NBA. After the three-peat, Bryant transitioned from Robin to Nightwing as he made his first of 11 All-NBA 1st Team selections. This was also the season where Kobe got rid of the Fro and went with the short cut that he has had for the rest of his career. I even got my haircut just like his, to the point where my Mom said for years that I favored him. To hear your Mom tell you that you resemble your favorite Basketball star can be a huge boost. In 2002-2003, the Lakers would notice a shift in leadership as Kobe became the focal point of the Lakers offense. That season, he led the league in total points for the first time out of four different seasons with a total of 2,461. Bryant also led the league in field goals made with 868 on the way to averaging 30 ppg for the first time in his career. However, the Lakers fell short of winning their fourth straight championship at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs. The Summer of 2003 would begin a LONG Season for Kobe and would change his image in ways never seen before. Kobe was dealing with a sexual assault allegation that would cause him to miss much of the 2003-2004 Season as the Lakers added future Hall of Famers, Karl Malone and Gary Payton. The turmoil between Kobe and Shaq would reach its breaking point this season. Even though the Lakers made it to the Finals, the Pistons would conquer this Superteam 4-1. Shaq's time in Los Angeles would come to an end as he was traded to the Miami Heat. As a Lakers fan, this was the end of an era but I knew that it was inevitable. In a post-Shaq era, Kobe would undergo a transformation with his image and his game. He even got a tattoo as a sign that he would take on more of an edge as a player. This would also be a time where Bryant would go through a maturation phase as a man as well. During this phase, he also changed his number (more on that later). This coincided with my time in High School as I was making my own adjustments physically and socially. Just like Kobe, I was going through my own growing pains in an uncertain time. Kobe had the platform that he had been waiting for his whole career and he carried that team the best that he knew how to with what little that he had. However, life after Shaq was not very easy in that stage of his career. However, the highlights would be when Bryant led the league in scoring (points, ppg) for the first time in his career with an average of 35.4 ppg in 2006. The signature game of that season was when Kobe scored 81 points as the Lakers defeated the Raptors. Bryant also had a game against the Mavericks where he scored 62 points in 3 quarters. Kobe's brilliance was on full display as he became the centerpiece of the team. After that 2006 Season, Kobe would continue his identity change as he changed his number from 8 to 24. This symbolized not only that he wanted to win more than Jordan, but 8x3=24. That means that Kobe wanted to be 3 times the player that he was before, as it also meant to me that he was paying tribute to winning three straight rings with number 8. Kobe was turning over a new leaf. The biggest takeaway from this was also how determined Kobe was to surpass Shaq on the rings list after he saw Diesel win a ring in Miami with his new Tag-Team partner, Dwyane Wade. For me, it was like watching Andy exchange Woody for Buzz Lightyear. We also saw the return of the Zen Master Phil Jackson back on the Lakers sidelines. Kobe wanted to prove to Shaq and the rest of the world that they should NEVER count him out. This is what fed the Black Mamba even more. Knowing that Shaq's best years were behind him, I knew that Kobe would surpass him when all was said and done because he had much more in the tank. The Black Mamba's first season with number 24 was 2006-2007, when he averaged 31.6 ppg to secure his last scoring title. New number, same beast. Unfortunately, that did not translate into team success as there were talks of a possible trade. Little did we know that the only trade that would happen would be Kwame Brown going to Memphis in exchange for Paul Gasol. The Lakers would also draft Andrew Bynum while picking up some other key pieces to build a championship contender. In 2007-2008, we would witness Kobe's first and only MVP Season as he averaged 28.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 5.4 apg en route to winning this much deserved Award while the Lakers were on the mission for another trophy. However, the Boston Celtics were finally resurrected after free agent Hall of Famers Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen joined Paul Pierce to form a three-headed green monster. Ultimately, this rivalry was destined to be reborn as the Lakers and Celtics collided in another Finals battle for the first time in 21 years (Lakers won in 1987). However, as a Lakers fan I knew that Boston had too much firepower and momentum to let this slide through their fingers. The Celtics would defeat the Lakers 4-2 in the Finals with Paul Pierce winning Finals MVP. After that painful loss, Kobe and the Lakers went back to the drawing board to regroup. This proved to be a very interesting and pivotal time. As Shaq was rapidly declining, Kboe was shaping his legacy to cement himself among Basketball Immortals while also racing to move past his former teammate in the rings Department. Kobe would win back to back Championships in 2009 & 2010 as the Alpha Dog leader that he worked so hard to become. Ironically, Kobe won his fourth ring in '09 by destroying Shaq's original squad, the Orlando Magic 4-1. The Black Mamba would get the last laugh on Shaq Diesel as well as the Celtics by winning his fifth and final ring by defeating Boston in 2010. Bryant would also win back to back Finals MVPs in those series. From that point, there would be no question that Kobe became the 2nd Greatest Shooting Guard in NBA History right next to his predecessor, Michael Jordan. That fifth championship unquestionably placed Kobe in the Pantheon of Greatness, making him one of the illustrious Top 10 Players to ever play the sport. Shaq even joined the Celtics to ring chase, but fell short. After winning his fifth ring and the Lakers 16th Championship, Kobe never made it back to that stage. However, he still played at the highest level possible even through injuries while still making All-Star Games (winning his last ASG MVP in 2011). Along the way, Kobe finally surpassed his hero MJ in Career Total Points in 2013.

Bryant enjoyed the greatest final regular season game that anybody could ever have when he scored 60 points to defeat the Utah Jazz in 2016. Kobe enjoyed the honor of having both number 8 and 24 retired by the Lakers. Now, whenever someone turns 24 they say that they are entering their "Kobe year". Dave Chappelle even had a skit where he was shooting something in the trash and said "Kobe". Even Undertaker did the same thing in his "Last Ride" Documentary. These are signs that you have transcended into popular culture and have grown beyond the sport. Life outside of Basketball was just heating up for Kobe as he won an Oscar for his Movie "Dear Basketball". It was his love letter to a Sport that he loved and gave so much to as it gave so much back to him. He even made the cover of NBA 2k17 for the Legend Edition. Now, here is where we tragically come full circle to the year that rocked my World as a Basketball fan. The tributes for Kobe were flooding left and right in many ways, from t-shirts, signs, etc. The Hall of Fame Class of 2020 has become the strongest collectively that I have ever seen with Kobe, KG and Tim Duncan as the headliners. Now, NBA 2k21 has paid tribute with an exclusive Mamba Edition in honor of Basketball's National Treasure. Kobe's legacy is unparalleled because of his decorated career and impact. Mamba Mentality has become part of our lexicon because it represents the idea of working hard and diligently to become the very best version of ourselves. Kobe worked in ways behind the scenes to give back to the Community of Los Angeles after being their Champion and Superhero on the court for 20 years. He was also an advocate for Women's Basketball while supporting the WNBA. His foundation even donated $1 Million to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. This made me even MORE of his fan. Kobe's imprint is too large to be overlooked or replaced. I think LA Sparks Power Forward/ESPN Analyst Chiney Ogwumike said it best when she said, "Kobe was the biggest ally that we ever had for us 80's and 90's babies who grew up watching and idolizing his game, he was everything. That perfect combination of loyal to his city, winning multiple championships, fierce competitor and most important, human." I couldn't have said it any better. Mamba Out!

NBA Monarchy of Greatness: All-Time Greats (Part II)

As we continue our story, the Motor City Barbarians rumble through the NBA's courtside for two straight years, annihilating anyone who opposed them. However, no matter how many times they would knock down this next Great figure, he would still come back, stronger, wiser and more resolved. Finally, things would change in 1991...

VIII- 1988-93 & 1996: His Royal Airness Lord Michael of Chicago (Chicago Skywalker)
Challengers: Magic Johnson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing

Soaring above his Kingdom like no other King before or since, this young Skywalker defied the traditional way to rule the Basketball Universe with his variety of Aerial Attacks against all comers. His Airness' first reign was a March through the NBA that showed no mercy. First, His Airness along with Elder Philip and Pippen the Versatile conquered the Motor City Barbarians and sent them home like dogs with tails between their legs. On his Path to the Promise, Lord Michael dethroned Earvin the Great Magician once and for all to take his rightful place in the Basketball Castle. Lord Michael would also torch the likes of Sir Clyde of Portland and Sir Charles of Phoenix while capturing numerous MVP and Scoring Crowns to add to his illustrious Trophy Case of Greatness. Lord Michael of Chicago dominated with Jedi like athleticism and efficiency, something that amazed the Basketball Kingdom. His Army was Bullish as the Windy City Kingdom ran roughshod across the Basketball Countryside, conquering villages big and small. It would seem like the Windy City Reign would last forever, but suddenly His Airness abruptly relinquished his Crown in 1993 to explore the far away lands of Major League Baseball. The throne was vacant until...

IX- 1994-96: Prince Hakeem of Houston "The Dream King"

Challengers: Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone

At just the age of 23, young Prince Hakeem (Akeem at the time) would show that he was destined for greatness right away. The silent assassin would lead his Rocket Army into battle against the Celts Emerald Kingdom, but Larry the Legendary and his knights were at the peak of their powers as they obliterated the young Nigerian Warrior and his troops. As Prince Hakeem recharged in the lowlands of Texas, he witnessed his contemporary Lord Michael Jeffrey of Chicago supplant him as the heir apparent to Magic and Bird. However, the Chicago Skywalker would explore new lands after conquering the Land of Basketball for the third straight year. Without making a sound, Prince Hakeem would seize the Basketball Throne as his Dream became a reality. Prince Hakeem the Dream King conquered International rival St. Patrick Ewing of Jamaica as the Rockets of Houston defeated the Knicks of Yorkshire. This was Hakeem's revenge for their encounter in the Land of the NCAA in 1984. Along the way, the Dream King would capture the NBA MVP and second straight Defensive Player of the Year while winning his first Finals MVP Award. The Dream King finally brought the Basketball Crown to the Land of Houston, Texas. The Rockets of Houston would refuel after a slow start by reuniting Prince Hakeem with his fellow College soldier Clyde the Glide Drexler from their Phi Slamma Jamma days. The Dream King would conquer the likes of Sir Charles of Phoenix, Sir Karl Malone and Sir John Stockton of Utah and MVP David the Admiral of San Antonio on his way to another Battle in the Finals. In the Finals, Prince Hakeem would conquer Shaquilla The Hun of Orlando as the Rocket Army would conquer the Magic Army of Orlando. The Dream King would rule with his mighty sword over the Basketball World for two full Seasons...

1996-'98: Return of the Ruler

The Dream King would descend just as fast as he had risen, because the Ruler returned to reclaim his Throne. Michael rejoined Zenmaster Phillip and Pippen the Versatile en route to winning another three straight Championships, becoming the first King since Emperor William of Boston to win in his final battle. 

X- 1999-2005: Shaquilla The Hun "His Royal Dominance"

Challengers: Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Karl Malone

Rising from the Mongol Swamps of Louisiana, this great 7'1" force could move many mountains (including Mt. Mutombo and others) along with backboards. Shaquilla The Hun traveled from the Magic Land of Orlando to the Western City of Angels known as Los Angeles to revive the Great Western Dynasty. With a power that could not be matched, Shaquilla was both the Irresistable Force and the Immovable Object. This was a King of Epic Proportions, the kind that the Basketball Universe had not seen since the likes of King Wilt and Kareem the Wise. With his young Warrior sidekick Prince Kobe by his side, Shaquilla the Hun would lead the Lakers of Los Angeles to three straight Championships. His dominance in battle was reminiscent of Lord Michael Jeffrey of Chicago during his early reign from 1991-1993. Although Shaquilla's reign was magnificent, it was cut short. Perhaps due to injuries and the inner conflict between him and his successor. Their in-fighting led to a fracture in the Western Dynasty as Shaquilla The Hun would relinquish his throne as the Southwestern Dynasty was born...

XI- 2003-2008: Kaiser Duncan The Fundamental

Challengers: Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, Tracy McGrady

Known by many as Timmy the Fundamental, this quiet and selfless King's attitude and devotion to Country led to his army's machine like annihilation of what seemed to be more high powered adversaries. Kaiser Duncan's Greatest and Most reliable weapon was his deadly bank shot, which helped him conquer even the greatest of foes. While showing undying loyalty to the land of San Antonio, many still believe the Southwestern Reign in San Antonio to be greatest of them all. Kaiser Duncan and his soldiers fought with precision, defense and fundamentals as they functioned like a well-oiled machine ready to destroy. Though his reign lacked the pomp and circumstance of his predecessors, few since Kareem the Wise could match King Duncan's discipline and ability to see the greater picture. The Spurs of San Antonio would become one of the most respected Dynasties in the Land of Basketball. 

XII- 2006-2011: Caesar Kobe

Challengers: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard

As Shaquilla The Hun led the Great Western Dynasty in the early 2000's, there was an ambitious young prince that battled by his side. This prince was known as Caesar Kobe of Los Angeles. Young Kobe was a prince that had a ruthless approach to winning, while also dividing other troops. Caesar Kobe pulled the ultimate betrayal among warriors in 2004 when he orchestrated a coup to have Shaquilla The Hun removed from his throne in the Great Western Dynasty. After a year of Exile from the land of the Playoffs (The Year of the Eagle), Caesar Kobe reemerged as the Black Mamba and sunk his teeth into his true greatness for the next five seasons restoring power to the Great Western Dynasty in 2009 and 2010. During this Era, there was a younger King that fought for Caesar Kobe's throne as the Land of Basketball would never be the same...

XIII- 2006-Present: King James The Chose One "The Decider"

Challengers: Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Garnett, Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan, Derrick Rose, Stephen Curry

The Current King is unlike many others. His talents are never to be denied, but his motives have often left others wondering. King James made his arrival in 2003, as he would take the Basketball Land by storm. He was a force to be reckoned with, shades of Lord Michael of Chicago, Larry the Legendary and Earvin the Magician. During his initial reign in Cleveland, King James led his army to battle against the Great Southwestern Dynasty, where they would fall to the machine led by Kaiser Duncan, along with Sir Ginobili of Spain and Sir Parker of France. Young LeBron would also win back to back MVP Crowns. After carrying his army as far as he could for seven grueling seasons, King James left his Homeland of Cleveland for the South Beach Kingdom with a Decision that rocked the Basketball World to its very core. Many viewed him as a vagabond with no desire to take over the throne or have any stability. After being humbled in defeat by the Maverick Army of Dallas, King James reasserted himself to claim his rightful place on the Basketball Throne with two successful reigns in the Land of South Beach. When the South Beach Kingdom began to crumble, King James returned to his Homeland of Cleveland to lead the lowly Cavalier Army to the Mountaintop as they conquered the Golden Armored Warriors to claim their first Crown. King James led the Land of Cleveland to the Promise Land as he cemented his place among the Greatest Kings in the History of Basketball Land. 

The Show is Over for the Big Ticket

This year, we have absolutely witnessed the End of an Era. First, Kobe Bryant announces his retirement with a great farewell tour. Next, Tim Duncan announces his Exit from the Game with a retirement that was as quiet as his Career. Now, another star from that I grew up watching has closed the Curtain on his Hall of Fame Career as well. Tim Duncan's other rival and polar opposite in every way, Kevin Garnett. Even though Moses Malone was the first player to jump to the Pros (ABA in 1974) from High School, Kevin Garnett was a Pioneer for the Modern Generation because he opened the door for HS Players to get large contracts. Garnett brought Energy and Intensity to the Game as he was not only the Leader from his Production, but he was also the Emotional Leader to spark his teammates. For the first 12 Seasons of his Career, Kevin Garnett CARRIED the Minnesota Timberwolves as far as he could. Along with the likes of Tim Duncan, Shaq, Kobe, Iverson, and others, KG was one of the Premiere Players of his Generation. He was also one of the Top Three Power Forwards of his Era with Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki. KG and Duncan would become forever linked in NBA History.

The highest level that Minnesota reached in Franchise History was an appearance in the Western Conference Finals vs the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004. Garnett was league MVP. However, the T-Wolves fell to the Lakers. Within the next three years, things would fall apart for Minnesota as Garnett was traded to the Boston Celtics for a greater window of opportunity. In 2007, Kevin Garnett joined forces with Paul Pierce and 3-Point Legend Ray Allen in Boston. Garnett won Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, his first Season with the Celtics. That year, the Celtics defeated the Lakers for their 17th Championship. However, the Celtics reign was cut short in 2009 as Garnett missed the playoffs because of an injury. Boston would return to the Finals in 2010 as they would face Kobe Bryan's Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers would repeat as Champions by defeating the Celtics in Seven Games because of an injury to Kendrick Perkins. Meanwhile, the Celtics would also be known as the rival of LeBron James as they destroyed Cleveland on their way back to the Finals. Miami would eventually overcome the Celtics hurdle on their way to winning back to back NBA Finals.

When his time in Boston had come to an end, KG would make the move to Brooklyn to play for the Nets along with former Celtic Paul Pierce. During his time in Brooklyn, Kevin Garnett joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone as the only three players in NBA History with 25,000 points, 14,000 rebounds and 5,000 assists. The Nets made it to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals where they were defeated by the Miami Heat 4-1. Midway through the 2014-15 Season, Kevin Garnett agreed to waive his no-trade clause in order to be traded back to Minnesota in exchange for Thaddeus Young. Minnesota's favorite son returned. Garnett was back at the place where it all began, which is another great way to end your career. He was no longer the Kid, but the Senior of the NBA. During his last run in Minnesota, Garnett reached 26,000 Career Points and surpassed Karl Malone on the NBA's All-Time Defensive Rebounds list. Minnesota was the house that KG built.

Kevin Garnett was also a Modern Day Pioneer for the way that Big Men currently play by taking more jump shots and looking for other ways to score. Big Men are taking more of the face up approach than back to the basket. Garnett has also created a new culture of Basketball in Minnesota. KG was named "The Big Ticket" because people would buy a Ticket just to see him play. Garnett was the Box Office Attraction for the Timberwolves. Kevin played with the Passion and Intensity of a Bloodthirsty Timber Wolf. He was a Classic General on and off the Court. There will never be another like Kevin Garnett. The Hall of Fame Class of 2021 just got even Stronger.

Resume:
NBA Championships: 1 (2008)
NBA MVPs: 1 (2004)
Defensive Player of the Year: 1 (2008)
15x NBA All-Star ('97-2011, 2013)
4x All-NBA 1st Team (2000, '03, '04, '08)
3x All-NBA 2nd Team ('01, '02, '05)
2x All-NBA 3rd Team ('99, '07)
9x All-Defensive 1st Team (2000-2005, 2008-2009, 2011)
3x All-Defensive 2nd Team (2006-2007, 2012)
NBA All-Star Game MVP (2003)
NBA All-Rookie Selection 2nd Team (1996)
J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (2006)
Only NBA Player to reach 25,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 5,000 assists, 1,500 steals and 1,500 blocks

Stats:
Points: 26,701
Rebounds: 14,662
Assists: 5,445
Blocks: 2,037
Steals: 1,859
FG%: 49.7%
3PT%: 27.5%
FT%: 78.9%

What could have been: The Mid-90's Orlando Magic

Recently, I came across the "ESPN 30 for 30" Documentary of the Orlando Magic from the mid-90's. Appropriately, that Magic team is known as the "Lost Dynasty" because they were the best team of that era to not win a championship. It was a fun and exciting time to be an NBA fan in general, and that squad personified it. They were a cultural phenomenon with the style of their uniforms. Next to Michael Jordan, Penny and Shaq were the most marketable stars in the league at this time. Shaq and Penny were fan favorites in the NBA Jam video games. Penny had his alter-ego Lil' Penny (voiced by Chris Rock). The Magic had all of the pieces in place to take the place of the Jordan-led Bulls as the next NBA Juggernaut. The tag-team of Shaquille O'Neal and Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway were extremely promising. Penny was a 6'7" Point Guard that was labeled as Magic Johnson 2.0. People thought that he could even surpass Magic in some ways. Yes, Penny was that good. On the other hand, you have Shaq, who was a 7'1" Demolition Machine. O'Neal was poised to become the Greatest Center of All-Time as he was heavily compared to the likes of Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Shaq would go on to become the closest thing to Wilt in the Modern Era, so all was not lost. Since Shaq's retirement, there has not been a Center that has come remotely close to achieving what he has achieved as players of his mold have become extinct. Today's fans may only see him as an out of shape commentator joking with Charles Barkley on TNT, but Shaq was a menace in his younger days. When you are looking to build the typical basketball team, you would start with the Center and a Point Guard. Shaq and Penny fit those requirements perfectly. Orlando traded Chris Webber on draft day for Penny to create that nucleus. This team was the biggest threat for his Airness heading into the future, as they were aiming for Chicago's throne. They had all of the tools to be the 90's Hip-Hop version of Showtime. Then, you add supporting pieces around them such as Dennis Scott, Brian Shaw, Horace Grant and Nick Anderson that you could count on to get the job done. Horace provided the championship experience that they needed, as he won the first three championships being the third wheel on the aforementioned Bulls team.

Magic's Lakers and Bird's Celtics dominated and defined the 1980's. Jordan's Bulls defined the 1990's. The Shaq & Kobe Era Lakers did that in the early 2000's, along with Duncan's Spurs. Orlando fans will always live with the painful idea about what Shaq & Penny could have done for the Magic in the late 90's heading into the new millennium. The Magic had youth and a very strong upside in their favor. Shaq was one of the top two scoring leaders and a top 3 MVP Candidate in Jordan's absence. They conquered the East, as Shaq pretty much-made players like Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning his whipping boys. The Magic went through teams like the Knicks, Hornets, and the Pacers on their journey. Their shining moment came when they defeated the Chicago Bulls, who were already established as an all-time great dynasty from winning their first three titles before Michael went to baseball. In fairness, Jordan was still shaking off his rust as he was still not in the proper shape for Basketball. Unfortunately, they were also filled with immaturity. They lacked the experience and mental toughness to handle the mantle that was theirs to take. Orlando hit a brick wall in the NBA Finals, as Shaq was humbled by Hakeem Olajuwon's veteran leadership and All-World Post Moves. On top of that, Clyde Drexler & co, surprised rising star Penny Hardaway and the rest of his cast of characters as the Houston Rockets swept the Magic in the Finals. To make matters even worse, Nick Anderson bombed from the free throw line as he missed all four free throws. Anderson was not Rick Barry or Larry Bird from the free throw line, but he was passable at 71%. Suddenly, Nick transformed into Shaq when he stepped up to the line as his misses were another crack in the team's armor. Anderson fell apart psychologically and never recovered. In 1996, Orlando went 60-22 as they were right after the history-making 72-10 Chicago Bulls Powerhouse. Penny was breaking out even more into a star, as both him and Shaq would make the 1996 Dream Team in the Summer. Sadly, everything came crashing down in the 1996 Eastern Conference Finals. The Bulls came back with a strong vengeance, as they assassinated the team that was destined as "The Team of The Future". The Magic were beaten mercilessly, as Michael and Scottie trapped Penny on each and every side. Meanwhile, Dennis Rodman rendered Shaq as ineffective. The promise that Orlando once had was incinerated as Chicago would win three more championships. The same Bulls team that was considered a thing of the past would cement their place as the Kings of that Decade. Michael Jordan would further cement his case as the Greatest Player of All-Time.

The internal conflict would tear the team apart, as their Franchise Star would leave for Hollywood and establish his place among the great champions in NBA History with a new dynamic perimeter player named Kobe Bryant. They would become what Shaq and Penny should have become had things fallen into place. Shaq would become one of the top players of the 2000's, as he would lead the Lakers to 3-Straight Championships. Shaq's run in the Finals was comparable to Michael Jordan's first three-peat years. O'Neal was clearly a magnet to championship success, as he made any perimeter player around him better (Penny, Kobe, Wade). Shaq became the Shawn Michaels to Penny's Marty Jannetty. He is, in fact, the most destructive force on a Basketball Court that this generation has seen. On the other side of the coin, the Orlando Magic would quickly fall on their face. In the span of one season, the Magic went from being in the Conference Finals to not making the playoffs. Penny was given a larger load to carry because of the potential that he had. He was the flavor of the month. However, that flavor left a bad taste in everyone's mouth as Penny's body slowly started to break down. Hardaway would join the Phoenix Suns by 1999. He would show flashes of who he was, but was never the same player as a result of injuries. O'Neal and Hardaway would cross paths in the playoffs, as Shaq's Lakers destroyed Phoenix 4-1. Penny would look at Shaq and Kobe's duo as a reflection of what he and Shaq once shared, as well as what they could have shared.

With that being said, this begs the ultimate question: What if the Orlando Magic stayed together? The Magic were already second place in the Eastern Conference behind Chicago. Penny was coming off of his best season. Shaq was taking the throne as the Top Center in the league, as Olajuwon, Ewing and Robinson would soon fade not long after that. However, Orlando Management told Shaq that he was not worth $100 million. Yet, players like Alonzo Mourning and Juwan Howard were gettting paid that much (Zo/$105 million, Juwan/$101 million respectively). Shaq may have had his issues controlling his ego, but he was well worth that kind of money. In all due respect to Zo and Howard, but they were not even in the same category as Shaq as players. They were not even in the same library as Shaq, let alone in the same book as him. Shaq was drawing worthy comparisons to Kareem, Wilt, and Russell at the time. The NBA showed how much they invested in Shaq by naming him one of the 50 Greatest Players!! Although it was a premature move at the time, Shaq fulfilled that potential and more as he became one of the consensus Top 10 Players of all-time. With that said, Shaq was shortchanged as the team offered him $80 million instead. The way that they showed their "appreciation" or lack thereof was to underpay him. On the other hand, Jerry West offered Shaq a much greater deal that he richly deserved as the Lakers offered Diesel $120 million. The rest is history. Orlando's championships went out West. Let's say that Orlando swallowed their pride and paid Shaq what he deserved. Then, they could bring in the right role players to take the places of Dennis Scott and Nick Anderson. As long as Penny stays healthy, he could have had the storied career that Kobe Bryant has instead of becoming the urban legend of our generation like Connie Hawkins and Len Bias were to previous generations. If things continued to go well, they could have also added Tracy McGrady to the mix (somebody would have to give up the number 1 for Orlando). As long as the right personnel moves were in place, Orlando could have made their mark as one of the perennial dynasties in NBA lore. Even if they snatched at least two or three, that would be fine. Instead of joining the ranks of the greatest dynasties, this Magic team joined the ranks of the 80's Rockets, 2000's Blazers and 2000's Kings as teams that had what it took, but shot themselves in the foot. They were a walking championship waiting to happen. Once again, "What if?".

All-Time East vs. West Team

In honor of All-Star Weekend, I came together with a group of fellow Sports experts and analysts to create an All-Time Starting Lineup for both the East and West All-Star Teams. These players have been selected based on their performances in the All-Star Game. This is strictly all-star based, not collective career-based.



East:

PG: Isiah Thomas
6'1", 180
All-Star Appearances: 12 (1982-'93)
All-Star MVPs: 2 ('84, '86)

SG: Michael Jordan
6'6" 205
All-Star Appearances: 14 (1985-93, '96-'98, 2002-'03)
All-Star MVPs: 3 ('88, '96, '98)

SF: Larry Bird
6'9" 220
All-Star Appearances: 12 (1980-88, '90-'92)
All-Star MVPs: 1 (1982)

PF: Charles Barkley
6'5" 255
All-Star Appearances: 11 (1987-'97)
All-Star MVPs: 1 (1991)

C: Wilt Chamberlain
7'1" 270
All-Star Game Appearances: 13 (1960-69, '71-73)
All-Star Game MVPs: 1 (1960)

West:

PG: Magic Johnson
6'9" 220
All-Star Game Appearances: 12 (1980, '82-'92)
All-Star Game MVPs: 2 ('90, '92)

SG: Kobe Bryant
6'6" 205
All-Star Game Appearances: 18 ('98, 2000-2016)
All-Star Game MVPs: 4 ('02, '07, '09, 2011)

SF: Kevin Durant
6'10" 240
All-Star Game Appearances: 7 (2010-2016)
All-Star Game MVPs: 1 (2012)

PF: Karl Malone
6'9" 260
All-Star Game Appearances: 14 (1988-'98, 2000-'02)
All-Star Game MVPs: 2 ('89, '93)

C: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
7'2" 225
All-Star Game Appearances: 19 (1970-'77, '79-'89)
All-Star Game MVPs: 0

Bench:

East:
Allen Iverson
Dwyane Wade
LeBron James
Julius Erving
Moses Malone
Bill Russell


West:
Oscar Robertson
Jerry West
Clyde Drexler
Kevin Garnett
Tim Duncan
Shaq

Greatest NBA All-Star Game Performances

1. Magic Johnson (1992)- West 153, East 113
Team: Los Angeles Lakers (West)
Location: Orlando, FL
All-Star Game MVP: Yes
Stat Line: 25 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds

When it comes to impact, it is hard to find any other performance that touched the NBA world the way that Magic Johnson's performance did in 1992. Just months after retiring at the top of his career because of HIV, Johnson made his return to an emotional crowd for the All-Star Game in Orlando. Despite protests from some of the other players, Johnson suited up for his last All-Star Game. Magic was the headliner for that night as it was the most memorable moment that captured the hearts of the fans. He finished the game with 25 points, 9 assists and 5 rebounds. Magic has had many great All-Star games, but this is his the game that is his crowning moment. It is significant because nobody thought that he would even live, let alone participate. The final showdown that Magic had with Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas made this even more special as the West dominated the East 153, 113.

2. Michael Jordan (1988) East 138, West 133
Team: Chicago Bulls (East)
Location: Chicago, IL
All-Star Game MVP: Yes
Stat Line: 40 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, 4 blocks

Michael Jordan was the Ambassador for All-Star Weekend in Chicago. The night before, he defeated Dominique Wilkins in a heavyweight classic battle known as the "Slam Dunk Contest". To finish things off, Jordan delivered the best statistical game at the time for anyone not named Wilt Chamberlain. Michael out shined a "Who's Who?" of Top 10 Greats from Magic, Bird, Kareem and Hakeem along with other legends like Karl Malone, Moses Malone, Isiah Thomas, etc. MJ finished the game with 40 points (17-23 shooting), 8 rebounds, 4 steals and 4 blocks as the East defeated the West in a close game 138, 133. Michael took home ASG MVP Honors in front of the hometown crowd at Chicago Stadium. The West put up a great battle, but had no answer for Jordan. Michael announced his arrival as the best pure player in the game on this night, and for the season as he would later win NBA MVP.

3. Wilt Chamberlain (1962) West 150, East 130
Team: Philadelphia Warriors (East)
Location: St. Louis, MO
 All-Star Game MVP: No
Stat Line: 42 points, 24 rebounds

Despite his team losing this game, Wilt Chamberlain's numbers in the 1962 NBA All-Star Game are out of this world. In typical Wilt fashion, he destroyed the stat sheet with 42 points and 24 rebounds. Wilt is the highest ranked player on this list to not win All-Star Game MVP in his best performance. Bob Pettit won the Game's MVP Award, but Wilt was clearly the star that night. Wilt won ASG MVP in his rookie season of 1960, but this game gets the nod because Chamberlain set the record for most points in All-Star Game History (42).

4. Kobe Bryant (2011) West 148, East 143
Team: Los Angeles Lakers (West)
Location: Los Angeles, CA
All-Star Game MVP: Yes
Stat Line: 37 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals

Kobe Bryant was in his best form during the 2011 NBA All-Star Game. Bryant clearly felt the momentum from the hometown crowd at the Staples Center because he put on the best All-Star show of his career with 37 points, 14 boards, 3 assists and 3 steals as the West defeated the East 148-143. Kobe earned his fourth All-Star MVP Award, tying Bob Pettit for the most in NBA History.

5. Isiah Thomas (1986) East 139, West 132
Team: Detroit Pistons (East)
Location: Dallas, TX
All-Star Game MVP: Yes
Stat Line: 30 points, 10 assists

Isiah Thomas was always entertaining in the All-Star Game as he battled rival PG Magic Johnson. However, Zeke's best game was in 1986 when he dominated the ball by leading the East in a fourth quarter rally to win 139-132. Isiah dropped 30 points with 10 dimes as he took home his second All-Star MVP Award.

6. Allen Iverson (2001) East 111, West 110
Team: Philadelphia 76ers (East)
Location: Washington, DC
All-Star Game MVP: Yes
Stat Line: 25 points, 5 assists, 4 steals, 2 rebounds

Scoring Champ and MVP Allen Iverson was a perennial show stopper in the All-Star Game. However, his 2001 Performance is clearly his most standout game. Iverson was the shining star in front of the Washington, DC crowd as he carried an Eastern Conference team with Jerry Stackhouse, Antonio Davis, Anthony Mason and Dikembe Mutombo to victory over a Western Conference team stacked with starpower in the frontcourt. The West team featured beasts like Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Chris Webber and Rasheed Wallace along with Kobe Bryant in the backcourt. That is a heavy accomplishment, as Iverson took home his first All-Star MVP Award with 25 points, 5 assists, 4 steals and 2 rebounds. This is how he would typically carry the Sixers during his career. This was the best game of Allen Iverson's All-Star Legacy.

7. Kevin Garnett (2003) West 155, East 145 (Double OT)
Team: Minnesota Timberwolves (West)
Location: Atlanta, GA
All-Star Game MVP: Yes
Stat Line: 37 points, 9 rebounds

Kevin Garnett's 2003 All-Star Game was his most significant. This was Michael Jordan's final All-Star Game, but Garnett stole the show as he led the West to victory 155-145 in double overtime with 37 points and 9 rebounds. This was another stellar All-Star Game among many during the 2000's Decade.

8. LeBron James (2011) West 148, East 143
Team: Miami Heat (East)
Location: Los Angeles, CA
All-Star Game MVP: No
Stat Line: 29 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists

LeBron James and Kobe Bryant had a great battle in the 2011 All-Star Game. LBJ embraced his role as a villain during his first year in Miami as he looked to crush the hopes of the fans at the Staples Center by leading the troops in the East to near victory before Kobe saved the day. James finished the game with a Triple Double (29/12/10). If his comeback were successful, LeBron would have won the Game's MVP.

9. Dwyane Wade (2010) East 141, West 139
Team: Miami Heat (East)
Location: Dallas, TX
All-Star Game MVP: Yes
Stat Line: 28 points, 11 assists, 6 rebounds

Dwyane Wade led all scorers with 28 points to go with his 11 assists and 6 rebounds in front of an all-time attendance record of 108,713 fans at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas. Wade's performance earned him All-Star MVP Honors. The most special aspect of this game is that Wade shot 75% from the field. Unbelievable.

10. Kobe Bryant (2002) West 135, East 120
Team: Los Angeles Lakers (West)
Location: Philadelphia, PA
All-Star Game MVP: Yes
Stat Line: 31 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds

Kobe Bryant truly left his stamp on All-Star Game History when he won his first of a record four All-Star MVP Awards in the 2002 NBA ASG in his home of Philadelphia, PA. Bryant was heavily booed that night because the Lakers defeated Allen Iverson's 76ers in the Finals the previous year. The fans clearly had a rotten taste in their mouths. Plus, that is how fans in Philly are in general. Nonetheless, Kobe was incredible with a spectacular 31/5/5 game to lead the West to victory 135-120. In the words of John Cena, Kobe truly rose above the hate from the fans that night as he overshadowed the rest of the competition. Another significant thing that I remember from this game was the fact that Allen Iverson was the Ambassador for All-Star Weekend as he wore number 6 in honor of Dr. J. Side Note: This ASG probably had the best collection of shoes by that time.