50. Wes Unseld
49. Willis Reed
48. Gary Payton
47. Russell Westbrook
46. Dominique Wilkins
45. Clyde Drexler
44. Elvin Hayes
43. Kevin McHale
42. Walt Frazier
41. George Gervin

50. Wes Unseld- The ultimate undersized Center. Despite being 6'7", Wes Unseld made up for his lack of traditional size at Center with a defensive presence that made him as immovable as a DC monument. Coming out of Kentucky as the 2nd Overall pick in 1968 behind future teammate Elvin Hayes, Wes made an immediate impact. As a rookie (1968-69), Unseld joined Wilt Chamberlain (1959-60) as being only one of two Rookies to win both Rookie of the Year & MVP in the same season. Wes went on to average 13.8 ppg while his rebounding peaked with a career-high 18.2 rpg as he also earned his first of five All-Star selections. In 1969-70, Unseld's scoring peaked with a career-high 16.2 ppg. However, he missed out on the All-Star team. In 1970-71, Wes would lead the Baltimore Bullets (later Washington) to their first NBA Finals appearance. However, the Bullets would get swept 4-0 to the Milwaukee Bucks, led by Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), and Oscar Robertson. Unseld proved to be one of the toughest defenders of his era as he led the league in rebounding in 1974-75 (14.8 rpg). Along with "The Big E", Wes would lead the Bullets to a 60-22 record as they would tie the Celtics for first in the Eastern Conference. However, history would repeat itself but this time the Bullets would fall in a sweep to Rick Barry's 8th seeded Golden State Warriors. The Bullets would finally bring a championship to DC as they defeated the Seattle Supersonics in 1978, as Unseld was the Finals MVP. After retiring in 1981, Unseld would be enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988. The legacy of Wes Unseld is that he was the greatest star for the Wizards in the franchise's greatest era as he would continue to be a staple for the organization even in the front office. On June 2, 2020, Unseld passed away after lengthy health battles, including pneumonia. However, his mark in DC and NBA history still lives.

49. Willis Reed- The shining season of Willis Reed's career came in 1970. That season, he became the first player in NBA history to win All-Star Game MVP, Regular Season MVP, and Finals MVP in one year. He also made the All-NBA 1st Team, and All-Defensive 1st Team. The most heroic moment of his career came in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals, where he limped to the court and inspired his team to victory. Willis Reed was a very fearlessly, tenacious player, on offense and defense. His career high scoring average was 21.7 ppg. He also averaged a career-high 14.6 RPG. Reed would go on to win another Finals MVP in 1973, but injuries would diminish his effectiveness. The year 1970 will forever be the defining year for Willis Reed's legacy. Reed was also the "Sporting News MVP", in a year with strong competition at his position. Willis Reed was a 2-time NBA Finals MVP, 1-time NBA MVP, All-Star Game MVP, 7-time All-Star, 1-time All-NBA 1st Team selection, 1-time All-Defensive 1st Team selection, and a 4-time All-NBA 2nd Team selection. Willis Reed is a Basketball Hall of Famer.

48. Gary Payton- Gary Payton was one of the most intense, hands-on, lockdown defenders of all-time. "The Glove" was a perfect nickname for his defensive style because he was constantly ready to pick an opposing player's pocket for a steal. Payton was one of the most dangerous perimeter defenders of all-time, along with the likes of Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen. Not only was he a supreme defender, but he was a good offensive player. Gary Payton was the face of the Seattle Supersonics franchise, as the team's all-time leader in points, assists, and steals. Even though he never won an MVP Award, Gary Payton's greatness cannot be denied. Unfortunately, Gary was in the gigantic shadow of the "Michael Jordan Era", which crippled the legacies of many great players. Not only was Payton overshadowed by Air Jordan himself, but also by other players such as Hakeem Olajuwon, Karl Malone, David Robinson and others. Still, GP found a way to stand out. Gary Payton was one of, if not the best two-way Point Guard in NBA history as it pertains to offense and defense. During his prime, Payton was a 20 ppg, 8 APG, guy. In 1996, The Glove enjoyed his defining season. That season, he won Defensive Player of the Year, leading the league in steals with a career-high 2.9 SPG. Payton also led the Sonics to the NBA Finals, where they fell to Jordan's 72-win Bulls in a tough, hard-fought defensive series. In 1999-2000, GP's scoring peaked at 24.2 ppg, while his rebounding peaked at 6.5 RPG. In 2001-'02, his passing peaked at 9.0 APG. In 2006, Gary Payton finally enjoyed the championship success that he desired for years when he won as a member of the Miami Heat. Gary Payton is tied with Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant for most All-Defensive 1st Team Selections in NBA history with 9. Payton and Jordan are the only players to win DPOY, with those 9 selections. GP was also named to 2 All-NBA 1st teams, All-NBA 2nd Team 5 times, All-NBA 3rd Team three times, and 9 All-Star selections. Gary Payton will soon be a Hall of Famer, and is already a legend.

47. Russell Westbrook- One of the more polarizing players of recent NBA History besides LeBron. An energetic point guard with the firepower of a shooting guard. Praised for his intensity and athleticism, but is famous for making critical errors because of his ball-dominant style of play. Russell Westbrook is definitely the prototype for a score first, ask questions later point guard. After being drafted 4th Overall by The Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008, Russell would join forces as the sidekick to Kevin Durant as they would be seen as the Team of the future. Durant & Westbrook definitely had shades of Shaq & Penny Hardaway for the Orlando Magic during the mid 90s. After finishing fourth in NBA Rookie of the Year voting to Derrick Rose, Westbrook would improve the next season as he became a full-time starter. In 2009-2010, The Thunder made a significant turnaround where they more than doubled their wins as they finished with a 50-32 record. These were the first signs of promise as OKC legitimized themselves as contenders in the West. However, they would eventually fall to the back to back Champion Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. In 2010-11, Russell made his first All-Star selection as a reserve for the Western Conference. That season, he was the best second option for KD by contributing with 21.9 ppg, 8.2 apg, 4.6 rpg. OKC would prove once again that they were a vital threat in the West before falling in the Western Conference Finals to Dirk Nowitzki's Dallas Mavericks. As we know, the Mavs would eventually become the NBA Champions that year. Not only was Nowitzki driven, but Russ also had streaky shooting that hurt the team. In 2011-12, the Oklahoma City Thunder finally made their breakthrough by making their first Finals appearance in franchise history apart from the Seattle Supersonics. Unfortunately, the Thunder would fall to the Miami Heat (4-2), led by LeBron James and his other Big 3 teammates, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. That Thunder team would never return to the Finals. Russell would have another All-Star campaign in 2012-13 before having a second surgery on his right knee prior to the 2013-14 season. The surgery would drastically hinder his performance that season including arthroscopic surgery on his right knee that would keep him out through the All-Star Break. As a result, OKC remained competitive because they relied heavily on the performance of franchise star Kevin Durant, who would go on to win MVP. I believe this is what turned their competitiveness into a deeper sense of jealousy. After finishing 59-23, the Thunder finished 2nd in the Western Conference behind the San Antonio Spurs. OKC would lose to the eventual Champion Spurs in the WCF, as Westbrook would average 26.7 ppg, 8.1 apg, 7.3 rpg in the postseason. He would also become the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1964 to average at least 26 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds in the playoffs. Clearly, this was only a sign of bigger things. The tables would soon turn as Kevin Durant would be sidelined for most of the 2014-15 season after being diagnosed with a Jones fracture in his foot. KD would only be available for 27 games, which left room for Westbrook to shine, as he led the NBA in scoring for the first time in his career (28.1 ppg). In his return to the All-Star Game, Russ won ASG MVP with 41 points. Westbrook set a record for most All-Star points in a half (27), as he finished one point shy of Wilt Chamberlain's 1962 total of 42. He also became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1989 to record four consecutive triple-doubles. However, Westbrook's individual brilliance was not enough as the Thunder missed the playoffs with a 45-37 record, placing them ninth in the West. The 2015-16 Season is when things finally began to truly implode. On October 30, Russ and KD both scored 40 points against the Orlando Magic. That is fitting because this season would be 20 years since Shaq & Penny's last season in Orlando. KD was Shaq and Russ was Penny and the parallels became even more obvious as their egos grew larger. There was not enough Basketball for either of them. Westbrook would earn his second All-Star MVP Award in 2016. This season, he would go on another triple-double run which led to averaging 10.4 apg for the first time in his career. However, the Thunder would implode after notoriously blowing a 3-1 lead to the 73-9 Golden State Warriors. This would lead to one of the biggest break ups in NBA History next to Shaq's breakups with Penny & Kobe as Durant would leave and join the rival Warriors. The chemistry was already deteriorating, and this confirmed what was going to inevtiably happen. As a result, Russell would have his signature season in 2016-17 as he would become the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1961-62 to accomplish this feat. Russ would go on to have three consecutive triple-double seasons. This was Westbrook at his best as his scoring also peaked with a career-high 31.6 ppg, making him the league's scoring champion. He also enjoyed career-highs in 3-point percentage (34.3%) and free-throw percentage (84.5%). As a result of this historic season, Russell won NBA MVP (31.6 ppg/10.7 rpg/10.4 apg). I believe this was his vengeance season since KD went to Golden State. He also became the first player to win MVP with less than 50 wins since Moses Malone in 1982. However, the Thunder would suffer an embarrassing first round playoff exit thanks to James Harden's Houston Rockets, 4-1. Meanwhile, Kevin Durant would have the last laugh winning his first two straight NBA Championships as the Warriors conquer the Cavs, 4-1. Russell would have two more triple-double seasons but they would both end in first round failures like his MVP campaign. The biggest embarrassment came at the hands of Damian Lillard & the Portland Trailblazers, which would culminate in Westbrook getting traded to the Houston Rockets for Chris Paul. Westbrook would enjoy a brief reunion with former OKC Thunder teammate James Harden. However, the fun would be short lived as the Rockets would fall to the eventual NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers. After that experiment blew up, the Rockets would trade Russ to the Washington Wizards. Unfortunately, the Wizards missed the postseason. As he continues to write out his story, there is no doubt that Russell Westbrook has already made history for this game.

46. Dominique Wilkins- Dominique Wilkins was one of the NBA's most dynamic scorers and high-flyers in his prime. Dominique was truly a Human Highlight Film, as he captured the imagination of fans everywhere with his powerful windmills, alley-oops, and tomahawk dunks. In 1986, Dominique won the NBA scoring title, as he led the league with 30.3 ppg. That season, he also made his first All-Star Game, as well as his only All-NBA 1st Team appearance. From that point, Michael Jordan would soon take force as the scoring champ. Unfortunately, Dominique's legacy was overshadowed and swallowed up by the era of Magic/Bird/Jordan. Many fans simply remember the battles with Michael Jordan in the dunk contest but don't go to further educate themselves. People rarely mention Dominique's classic game 7 battle against Larry Bird in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals in 1988. That season, Dominique's scoring average peaked at 30.7 ppg. Wilkins carried above-average to good Atlanta Hawks teams. None of those teams were great & elite. As a result, his legacy was further squashed, because the Hawks had to fight the Juggernauts of the East (Mid-'80s Celtics, Late-'80s Pistons, Early-'90s Bulls). Nique was amazing in the open court for the fast break. He also had a pretty decent post game, and soon became a better shooter. His rebounding also peaked at 9.0 RPG. Wilkins also had 10 straight seasons with 25 ppg. However, one of the most surprising things that I have found about Dominique was that he was a volume scorer. His career average was 46%. This is pretty ironic, considering much of his game involved attacking the basket. For me, that hole is not quite as large as the hole of not having the right supporting cast. I believe that if Dominique Wilkins and James Worthy switched places, Nique would be the one with multiple championships with Magic, Kareem & co. (no offense Worthy) Dominique's career numbers prove that he is another great case study of someone's legacy being hindered because of the team, not the player themselves. Dominique Wilkins was a 9-time NBA All-Star, 1-time All-NBA 1st Team selection, a member of 4 All-NBA 2nd Teams, and 2 All-NBA 3rd teams. Dominique Wilkins is a Basketball Hall of Famer and a very overlooked legend.<

45. Clyde Drexler- Amazing high-flyer, Incredible all-around player. Clyde "The Glide" Drexler was truly a fantastic athlete, great ballhandler, thinking man's player, excellent defender and progressed into a better shooter. Here is one of the many forgotten perimeter players from the Magic/Bird/Jordan era, who held his own, but was greatly overshadowed. Drexler was terrific on the fast break finishing plays with incredible dunks & layups during an incredibly physical era. Today's new-school fanboys don't understand, and many refuse to. He was the definition of a player with incredible grace, style, and class much like others such as Julius Erving, David Robinson, and Hakeem to name a few. Clyde Drexler is the greatest player in Portland Trailblazers history. During the '80s/early '90s, Clyde Drexler was the closest matchup to Michael Jordan, along with Dominique. Even Drexler & Jordan's nicknames were identical. "Clyde The Glide" vs. "Air Jordan". Clyde-6'7", MJ-6'6". Drexler-210, Jordan-200. Their head to head matchups was absolute classics. Even against The Greatest, Clyde was able to handle himself very well. Drexler's first true breakout season was in 1987-88, where he averaged 27.0 ppg/6.6 rpg/5.8 APG. One of Clyde's greatest individual season came in '88-'89, where his scoring peaked at 27.2 ppg, and his rebounding peaked out at 7.9 RPG along with 5.8 APG. Drexler also averaged a career-high 2.7 SPG that season. Those look very close to LeBron-type numbers. In '89-'90, Clyde Drexler led the Blazers to the first of 2 Finals appearances ('90, '92). Very interesting to note that Clyde led the Blazers to the Finals the year before MJ. Another similarity in their legacy is that they were dynamic high-flying guards that battled the physically brutal "Bad Boy" Detroit Pistons Defense. In '91-'92, Drexler and Jordan finally met each other in the NBA Finals. That season, Drexler averaged 25.0 ppg/6.6 rpg/6.7 APG and finished 2nd place in MVP Voting behind Michael Jordan himself. That season, he also made his first and only All-NBA 1st Team Selection. The comparisons & buildup from the media were very strong, much like a heavyweight fight. The media desperately needed a new rivalry & story for the '90s, since Magic & Bird were out of the picture. The stage was set, as everything finally culminated during that Finals. Jordan certainly came out victorious, but Drexler's supporting cast failed, as his sidekick Terry Porter fell flat. After two straight drop-off seasons, Clyde Drexler realized that he was on the decline and Portland needed to rebuild. That rebuilding process involved him going to a better team, where he could finally win a ring. Midway through the '94-'95 season, Drexler was traded to the Houston Rockets for Otis Thorpe, so that he could reunite with former college teammate Hakeem Olajuwon. During the playoffs, Drexler was fantastic as Olajuwon's sidekick during that 1995 Rockets Championship run. Drexler was also a 10-time NBA All-Star, All-NBA 1st Team Selection 1 time, All-NBA 2nd Team 2 times, and All-NBA 3rd Team 2 times. Mr. Clyde Drexler is indeed a Basketball Hall of Famer and NBA legend.

44. Elvin Hayes- "The Big E" Elvin Hayes was certainly a force on the basketball court. After an outstanding college career at the University of Houston, Hayes was drafted 1st overall in the 1968 NBA draft. Expectations were strong, and he did not disappoint. Elvin Hayes put the NBA on notice ('68-'69), as he led in scoring (28.4 ppg) and rebounding (17.1 RPG). Hayes was the second, and the last player to do so since Wilt Chamberlain (1959-60). To this day, I am still mind-boggled as to why the Big E did not win Rookie of the Year & MVP (both awards went to future teammate Wes Unseld). In '70-'71, Elvin's scoring peaked at 28.7 ppg. After that season, the San Diego Rockets would move to Houston. This is the same place where Hayes first made his mark in college at UH. However, the reunion only lasted one season, as Hayes was traded to the Baltimore Bullets in 1972. Elvin Hayes' run from '68-'72 was unbelievable. Every year, he averaged over 25 ppg, and 3 years over 16 RPG. As a Bullet, Elvin sacrificed his numbers, because he was surrounded by a better overall team. In 1973-'74, Elvin Hayes led the league in rebounding again, as he averaged a career-high (18.1 RPG). The front-court combo of Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld was deadly for other teams. Together, they led the Bullets to 3 Finals appearances (1975, '78, '79). The Bullets won in 1978, over the Seattle Supersonics. Elvin Hayes had 13 seasons where he averaged a double-double. The others to do that include Wilt, Russell, Moses Malone and Shaq. He would have had 16, had his streak not ended in '81-'82. However, Hayes did average a double-double every season in the playoffs. Elvin Hayes was a model of durability, as he has played over 80 games every season. He also has exactly 50,000 minutes. However, the biggest knock that I have for Elvin Hayes would be his field goal percentage. As a big man, he was surprisingly inaccurate as he only shot 45% for his career. He was also often known as a player that came up short under pressure in the playoffs & big games. Hayes also had a reputation for not being a great team player. Elvin Hayes was a 12-time NBA All-Star, 3-time All-NBA 1st Team selection, 3-time All-NBA 2nd Team selection, 2-time All-Defensive 2nd Team selection, Scoring Champion, NBA champion (1978 Bullets), 1968 Sporting News & Associated Press Player of the Year. Elvin Hayes is a true Basketball Hall of Famer & legend.

43. Kevin McHale- From quintessential 6th Man to being on the front line with Larry Bird and Robert Parish for the Celtics Big 3, Kevin McHale was also a pioneer for low-post moves. Thanks to his long arm reach, McHale was able to destroy defenders in the post offensively as well as be a nightmare on defense. His wingspan is listed as 8'0", which is even longer than Kevin Durant's wingspan (7'5"). Kevin's defensive prowess earned him 6 All-NBA Defensive Team selections along with his 7 All-Star selections. McHale's presence proved critical for Boston's championship success in the 80s as the Powerhouse of the East to counter the Showtime Lakers dominance in the West. Charles Barkley has gone on record to say that Kevin McHale was the toughest player that he ever guarded, which is all you need to know as a testament to his skill. He also won back to back 6th Man of the Year Awards (1984, 1985). Both of those seasons, the Celtics faced off against the Lakers in the Finals. Boston would win in 1984 (4-3), where the signature play of the series was McHale knocking Kurt Rambis' head off with a clothesline mid air. The next season, the Lakers would get their revenge. In 1985-86, Kevin McHale would become a full-time starter for the Celtics as the impact would become immediate. That season, he would join Bird, Parish, Dennis Johnson and Danny Ainge to establish a green machine that would steamroll the NBA with a league best 67-15 record. When it comes to single seasons, this could very well be considered not only the best Celtics team of all-time, but arguably the best team in NBA History. A case could be made for this team with the likes of the 1996 Chicago Bulls, 2017 Golden State Warriors and many others. In 1986-87, his scoring peaked at 26.1 ppg along with his rebounding at 9.9 rpg, along with leading the league in Field Goal % (60.4). This season was a flagship in other ways as McHale would become the first player in NBA History to shoot 60% from the field or better while shooting 80% or better from the free throw line (83.6%). This season would reward him with his only All-NBA 1st Team Selection. However, McHale's foot injury would come back to bite him as the Lakers would vanquish the Celtics (4-2). Kevin would lead the league in FG% once again in 1987-88 with the same percentage. Injuries would later derail him, but Kevin already proved to be the premiere Power Forward of the 80s as he was part of one of the greatest frontcourts in NBA History. Much like James Worthy with the Lakers and Scottie Pippen with the Bulls, Kevin McHale played an integral sidekick role that proved to be a strong backbone for his team's success.

Rise of the Greek Freak

We are witnessing the breaking of a new day. Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a transcendant All-Time NBA Finals performance in his very first Finals appearance as he led the Milwaukee Bucks to victory over the Phoenix Suns, 4-2 in the 2021 NBA Finals. After being embarrassed in back to back playoff appearances, slander for Giannis started to escalate. By my estimation, it reached practically a fever point after the Bucks were destroyed by the Miami Heat in the Bubble in a 4-1 defeat. What made this worse was seeing Giannis win his second straight MVP. You had James Harden saying that he didn't use enough "skill" after he won the first award. Other players turned sour toward Giannis because he said that he did not want to practice with LeBron, Wade, Melo, CP3 among other veterans. This clearly rubbed them the wrong way. Instead of playing with them even in practice, he wanted to beat them. There were also former players turned analysts like Richard Jefferson who said he might be more of a "Scottie Pippen" who needed a Michael Jordan to rescue him. Kendrick Perkins referred to him as the Robin to Khris Middleton's Batman. Both are clear-cut insults referring to Giannis as a sidekick at best who couldn't be a leader. Scottie Pippen is an all-time great, but last time I checked he didn't win one MVP, let alone back-to-back. Guys like Jefferson and Perkins made these statements loud and proud with their chest and even doubled down until the Finals were over. Obviously, Skip Bayless found a new target with the Greek Freak to fire his darts at since LeBron is on his way out of the door. Bayless was among those who blew the trumpet after the Bucks won Games 5 and 6 over the Hawks when Middleton and JRue Holiday had outstanding performances without Giannis. Skip even said that Milwaukee looked like a better team WITHOUT him. Even when I would bring his name up in conversations at places like FootLocker or FootAction, I am met with a small silence and hesitation. Somebody even said that he would never win a ring after he re-signed with the Bucks. Initially, there may have been reason to feel that way with the Lakers winning and the Brooklyn Nets forming a superpower with their new Big 3 (Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, James Harden). With that said, it was considered taboo to even say his name given the previous evidence. However, I still had hope that things would turn around for him. Whenever I would see Giannis, I would see shades of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as he was Milwaukee's first Superstar franchise player.

Jabbar carried the Bucks to their first championship in franchise history while winning Finals MVP. He also was a three-time MVP in Milwaukee by the time he was 27. Kareem wore 33 as Giannis wears 34. All the parallels were right there to make my case for Antetokounmpo. I also said if he added the Skyhook, it would make him highly unstoppable. Can you imagine if he added the post moves of Hakeem Olajuwon to his arsenal? It would be a nightmare for anybody going up against him. Even as a Lakers fan, I still had to admit that the future of the league is on the shoulders of Giannis. Another player that I drew parallels to was LeBron James. It may not sound like the popular thing to say, but once upon a time LeBron was in the same shoes.

Both were two-time MVPs by the time they were 26. Both Giannis and LeBron were known for dominating through sheer force and dominance with little left to be desired in the jump shot department. By this point in their careers, they were both in the crosshairs of media personalities such as Skip Bayless until they won a ring. We all know how LeBron's story turned out. Meanwhile, Giannis stuck to his guns and continued to dedicate himself to becoming the best version of himself. From the time the season started, I saw a spark that I had not seen before. He started doing more in the post instead of just the typical straight line fastbreak that teams like the Raptors and Heat were able to figure out. He started taking more chances with midrange and outside jumpers. Clearly, Giannis wasn't going to win three straight MVPs because of voter fatigue and two straight playoff failures. However, this worked in his favor because it gave him the edge to focus on the bigger picture: an NBA Championship. Even during their pursuit, Giannis was faced with rising criticsm over his jumper and free throw shooting. In an era where aesthetics and outside shooting are overemphasized, it can be exhausting. Still, he found a way to persevere. I have never seen so much of an obsession with three pointers since Steph Curry and Klay Thompson made it the standard all across the league with their massive success in Golden State. Since then, fans and analysts over stress it to the point where they don't respect somebody who is not a marksmen. Shaq was not known for his shooting, but he was highly effective and that is where Giannis is. Fast forward to the playoffs, and the Bucks have a rematch with the Miami Heat. This was the Greek Freak's redemption series and he delivered as Milwaukee put out the Heat in an overwhelming sweep. The next stop would take place in Brooklyn as the Bucks would battle the highly favored Nets. I knew that this would be the most pivotal series of the playoffs, because the winner would have the best chance of winning it all. Giannis vs Durant was definitely what I looked forward to from this series. After being down 0-2 (including a 39 point thrashing with a legendary KD crossover), the Bucks would climb back to bring this series to a decisive Game 7, along with a Kyrie injury previously. Milwaukee would hold off Brooklyn in the deciding Game at Barclays in Overtime after an all-time great game from Durant himself. The Bucks would go on to hold off the Atlanta Hawks, despite a roadblock where Giannis suffers his own injury that would sideline him for the rest of the series going into Games 5 and 6. After losing Game 1, Antetokounmpo would return for Game 2 to put up a great effort in a loss, leaving the series 0-2. The premature coronation for Chris Paul was underway, including a tweet from LeBron that said "2 down, 2 to go" along with the Suns in 4 fan celebrating. However, the tide would turn when the Greek Freak was at full strength as the Bucks would win 4 straight. With a great supporting cast of Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, PJ Tucker, Brook Lopez and others, Giannis carried the Bucks and the city of Milwaukee on his back to bring an NBA Title to the franchise for the first time in 50 years. Throughout the series Antetokounmpo was sensational as he provided the biggeset highlights (Blocking Ayton's alley oop, posterizing CP3 on an alleyoop from Holiday). To cap off the series, the Greek Freak would close out the series with 50 points, 14 rebounds, 5 blocks and go 17-19 from the free throw line in poetic fashion. His free throws were a glaring weakness that was a punchline for many, including Chris Paul himself. This game was the perfect clapback to the critics. For the series overall, Giannis averaged 35.2 ppg/13.2 rpg/5.0 apg. Giannis hit the reset button on the NBA as he won without a Superteam on his side, no matter what anyone else tries to say. He was rewarded for his loyalty and stayed committed to the team and the city when there was talk flying around about him going to the Warriors or Heat. Giannis is what the NBA needs as a breath of fresh air. His humility, dedication to his craft and loyalty are what have saved a league that has been plagued with ego and driven by greed. To see someone win without needing to have the deck stacked in their favor is as rare as they come in today's era. Giannis shows what happens when nice guys finish first. So much for somebody who doesn't have "skill".

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 Predictions

East:
1. Celtics
2. Raptors
3. 76ers
4. Bucks
5. Pacers
6. Wizards
7. Heat
8. Cavaliers

1. Boston Celtics
The Celtics are my Team to look at to take the Crown for the East because of the momentum that they created last Season with the acquisition of Kyrie Irving along with the rise of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier along with Gordon Haywood added to the mix. Boston took the LeBron James led Cleveland Cavaliers to the very brink as they were within ONE GAME of making it to the NBA Finals. Even though Kyrie was not part of the Series, the Celtics showed what their collective nucleus was made of even without a high profile name. Not saying that Irving was expendable, but Boston was certainly a surprise to make it that far. With LeBron going to Hollywood, I expect Boston to build from where they left off.

2. Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors made a huge power move to raise their stock in the East by landing former San Antonio Spurs Franchise Star and Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. Things were heading south between Kawhi and the Spurs during the Offseason because he felt a lack of support from the Organization while he was injured. Leonard initially wanted to join the Lakers because he is from that area. However, Gregg Popovich shut that down like Mutombo because he did not want to do business with them. As a result, the only option left was to move to the East and up North. Leonard came in a packaged deal along with Danny Green in exchange for DeMar DeRozan. Leonard adds some needed star power to a team that did very well by winning 59 Games while not having a marquee name. The expectations have been raised even higher.

3. Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers have a very strong nucleus that they are building piece by piece. With the likes of Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid and the return of Markelle Fultz, the Sixers look to make an even greater leap. Philly already closed the Season with 52 wins, as I expect them to raise the bar to at least 56-57 Games. With Simmons and Embiid continuing to build their repertoire, the Sixers look to be a serious threat and well within the mix of the Top 3 Powerhouses in the East.

4. Milwaukee Bucks
With the Greek Freak Giannis as the Centerpiece, the Milwaukee Bucks will continue to be a dark horse within the Top 5 of the East. However, losing Jabari Parker could create a ripple effect leaving Giannis to carry even more of the weight. Milwaukee's lack of activity in the Offseason could very well prove detrimental moving forward.

5. Indiana Pacers
The rise of Victor Oladipo proved to be a very pleasant surprise in the post-Paul George era for the Pacers. Indy overachieved in some ways by winning 48 Games as I expect them to hover around that same mark. However, Oladipo's shooting touch started to disappear during the crucial second half of the season (January-March) as it nosedived to 30.2 percent. The Pacers supporting cast would have to rally even harder to cover those deficiencies.

6. Washington Wizards
During an offseason with a limited budget, the Washington Wizards made the most with what they were given. The Wizards upgraded their Athleticism at Center by replacing Marcin Gortat with perennial All-Star Dwight Howard. The Wizards also added Austin Rivers and Jeff Green to provide what they believe could be some extra depth. However, the only concern with this is a matter of chemistry.


7. Miami Heat
With Heat Legend and future Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade making this Season his Curtain Call, Miami is well into their rebuilding phase as a franchise. The Heat will be entering this season with a 14 player roster, which is one player under the league's average. It's not surprising as the team wants to save around $4 million including salary and tax. With Hassan Whiteside as their Centerpiece, Miami looks to float as a contender within the at least 7th place.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers
No other place for the Cavs to go at this point with the departure once again of their Crown Jewel LeBron James. With King LBJ going to Hollywood, the Cavs are back in the cellar for the Eastern Conference Playoffs. The tables have turned significantly for the Cavs, but at least they are not out of the playoffs altogether with Kevin Love as their new Primary Option.







West:
1. Warriors
2. Rockets
3. Jazz
4. Thunder
5. Lakers
6. Timberwolves
7. Pelicans
8. Blazers


1. Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors have a stranglehold on the Western Conference with the Infinity Gauntlet as they have added perennial All-Star and former Pelicans Center, DeMarcus Cousins. Boogie is going to be Golden State's latest Infinity Stone as the Starting Lineup looks like a Regular Season All-Star Team. I look to see them continue their reign in the West by going 65-17.

2. Houston Rockets
After taking the Western Conference Heavyweight Champs to 7 Games last season, the Houston Rockets will continue to be the biggest threat to the Warriors. With the addition of future Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony, the Rockets look to open the floor when it comes to their isolation scoring. Houston has a triple threat of their own with the mix of CP3-Harden-Anthony to make some noise, but it won't hold the Champs down completely. The only concern for them is a matter of chemistry, but I don't see that holding them back any further than 2nd Place. I see them going at least 59-23.

3. Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz is the silent assassins of the West because they aren't treated as the powerhouse that they are. Utah made a surprisingly impressive run even without Gordon Haywood. With the rise of Donovan Mitchell, the Jazz look to duplicate that success while also implementing Jae Crowder and a returning Rudy Gobert.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder (51-31)
With the nucleus of Russell Westbrook and Paul George, the Thunder will look to continue to be among the Top 5 Teams to look for in the West. With the exit of Carmelo Anthony, OKC could become more flexible defensively with the addition of Nerlens Noel.

5. Los Angeles Lakers
This is going to be very fascinating. The Lakers got a Shark in the Free Agency pool with the acquisition of LeBron James to add much-needed depth and marquee value to a rebuilding Lakers roster filled with youth. LeBron's Scoring, Playmaking, and experience would prove as very valuable assets for the likes of Lonzo Ball to learn from. However, the Lakers biggest Achilles Heel is their shooting. With Michael Beasley, Lance Stephenson and Rajon Rondo, the Lakers have their share of weaknesses in the shooting department. As history has proven time and time again, LeBron can turn lemons into lemonade.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are in quite the spot. They have a promising nucleus but are in need to win now. With Karl Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins at the forefront of the future, things seem bright. However, they are facing chemistry issues with Jimmy Butler and an injury prone Derrick Rose. Minnesota would at best finish at the 6th seed.

7. New Orleans Pelicans
I see the Pelicans finishing 7th place at best. Nothing more, nothing less with Anthony Davis keeping things steady in the wake of losing Boogie Cousins.

8. Portland Trailblazers
The Blazers rely heavily on their one-two punch of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum in the backcourt with Evan Turner as a complimentary piece. With that said, I see them finishing the season winning at least 48 Games to secure the 8th Spot.


Conference Finals:
Celtics vs. Raptors (Celtics 4-3)
This series would be a tough battle on the road to the Finals, but I see Boston capturing the crown in the East as they capitalize on what they did last season by finishing what they started.

Warriors vs. Lakers (Warriors 4-1)
As great as LeBron James is at making others around him better, the Warriors just have too much strength at all positions as they continue to be his Kryptonite. I see LeBron's Finals streak coming to an end in the West.

NBA Finals:
Warriors vs Celtics (Warriors 4-2)
This is the marquee matchup that I look forward to the most in the Finals. Two very stacked teams giving it everything, but Golden State will continue to keep their grip on the NBA Finals Trophy with Kevin Durant or Stephen Curry winning Finals MVP.