NBA Generations

I am 23 years old. I first remember paying attention to NBA basketball when I was in the first grade. I vividly recall reading the box scores of the Knicks vs Nets in the New York Times. That was the 1989-1990 season. I remember the Knicks falling behind two games to none against the Celtics in the first round of the 1990 playoffs. They ended up coming back to win, with Patrick Ewing hitting the first three pointer of his career in game five to put the nail in the Celtics' coffin. The Knicks lost to the eventual champion Detroit Pistons in the next round, but my interest in NBA basketball was born.

That was a turning point in the history of the NBA. The 1980's were dominated by the Celtics and the Lakers. The 1990's would be dominated by Michael Jordans' Chicago Bulls. Every decade or so has a group of players that dominates the league. While I was not around to see much of it, the 1980's had Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas, Moses Malone and others. My first NBA generation of greatness was the 1990's. While Michael Jordan dominated them all, this "Dream Team" generation was a very impressive group. This is my list...

Michael Jordan
Hakeem Olajuwon
David Robinson
Karl Malone
John Stockton
Patrick Ewing
Charles Barkley
Scottie Pippen
Clyde Drexler

All of these players were drafted in the mid to late 1980's, but had their best years in 1990's. Not until the mid 1990's did the next generation of great young players hit the league. I would dub this the "Prep" Generation. They are a group who has a few signature qualities. They grew up idolizing Michael Jordan. They left college early or did not attend college at all. As a result of entering the league at such a young age they have had great expectations thrown on them and only now are people realizing their greatness. These players include...

Kobe Bryant
Tim Duncan
Kevin Garnett
Allen Iverson
Shaquille O'Neal (entered in 1992)
Tracy McGrady
Paul Pierce
Chris Webber
Jason Kidd

These are the names that have dominated the league for this decade. They are all almost at or past their 30th birthdays. In addition, there is already a young crop of players looking to dominate the league right now. Do these now older players have the ability to hold off the James', Anthonys, and Howards for a couple years? It will be an interesting time in the history of the NBA to watch.

Side note...I know Dwayne Wade won a title already, but Shaq was a big part of the team. In addition, the rest of the team were older veterans. I am looking for the next team of younger players to take the league by storm (Duncans' Spurs, Shaq/Kobe Lakers, Jordans' Bulls, etc).

The Answer

http://youtube.com/watch?v=eGDBR2L5kzI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4DR9YXLlSE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZARgv6ulkg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENNuPZXCUNo&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWdp1bhUEfA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmEdsjeRDDs&mode=related&search=


The reason I started thinking about this was a result of the ongoing Allen Iverson trade situation. Iverson has been by far my favorite athlete for some time now and I began to wonder where he ranks in NBA history. When I evaluate a players' spot in history I always like to start with his contemporaries. Iverson has played in a time that has been dominated, at least championships-wise, by Tim Duncan and Shaquille O'Neal. When you talk about the top players of this generation, those must be at the top. Comparing Iverson to these players though is not really fair though when you consider that he is borderline 6'0" and they are seven footers. It is fair to say though that the top two perimeter players of this generation are Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson.

Coming out of Georgetown in 1996, AI was the number one overall pick in the NBA Draft. The Philadelphis Sixers drafted him and he was instantly the face of that franchise. He has been through numerous coaches, owners and GMs in the 11 years since he was drafted. He has seven all-star games, four scoring titles, two all-star game MVPs and one league MVP. What he has been able to do in this league is amazing considering he is not only short, but about 165 lbs. He has taken a beating through out his career, but continued to dominate.

His impact on society is even greater than that on the court. If there is one player since Michael Jordan that has captured the streets and the basketball world it is Iverson. He plays with such a combination of reckless abandon and sensational flair. He is lightning quick, and still is strong enough to finish at the basket. His style on and off the court has been critiqued by the suits in the league office and emulated by kids all over the globe. AI was the first to have corn rows. He tatted up his entire body and wore his shorts hanging below his knees. While he may not have been Wilt Chamberlain in the respect of them changing the game to stop him, but they sure changed the dress codes to try and stop him. He is as close to a revolutionary that there is in the sports world today. He is revered by all his teammates and has been constantly questioned by authority. His toughest couches in the past (John Thompson, Larry Brown) are now his most loyal supporters.

If you watch those You Tube clips you will see the greatness of AI. His uncanny ability on the court and his refreshing perspective off the court. He has made mistakes (arrested, rap album, etc) yet he has constantly stood in front of everyone and explained that as a man he is someone who is not perfect. He is doing his best just like we all are, and sometimes he screws up just like we all do.

Recently it was reported that AI demanded a trade. Some may feel that he is turning his back on the franchise and Philly. I strongly disagree. First of all this team has been trying to trade him for six years. Ever since Larry Brown's first year as coach they tried moving him. In that time he has never spoke out against the franchise. Over the years he has had an amazing lack of talent around him. It is tough for me to think of a greater player with less around him through out his career. Even with that though he brought his team to the 2001 NBA finals. In any event, this past week he demanded a trade, but he never said a word to the press. He approached the team as a man, and they complied. I can only hope that he goes somewhere that he can have a chance to win a title. He is not obsessed with his image or marketing like other players have been (see Jordan, Lebron, others). Instead, he is himself. Love him or hate him, its up to you.

• Next Generation? My prediction....Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, Deron Williams, Adam Morrison....No college players yet, but I will shout out Joakim Noah always.
• My favorite three players to watch....Kobe, AI, Melo
• I love watching Knicks/Celts....the play is so undisciplined and the coaches are so bad that it supplies so many good laughs at the end of games. Can we please change the schedule so that they play once a week or something??
• Eddy Curry is developing into a very very good post player. He has two great post qualities....quick feet and soft hands, in addition to a very wide body. He will never be a great post player though until he gets the vision and ability to make passes out of the post to both open shooters and cutters. The best I have seen of this combo is Olajuwon, Webber (pre-microfracture), and Shaq. It is rare (Ewing never was a great passer), but he can at least improve form where he is at.
• Big rumor this morning is AI to the Warriors in a three-way deal with the Bulls.
• I was wondering what the puzzle piece that Isiah wore on his suits during games meant. It turns out its to support a non-profit organization that helps kids with autism. Here is a link to the website if you wanna help out or just be informed...
• http://www.autismspeaks.org/index2.php

STKAFI