I grew up watching Larry Bird, Dr. J, and the rest of that classic crew. Along came Magic and Michael Jordan, and they kept my interest. I would love to get interested in the NBA again, but I can't seem to find any players I can identify with. Who are some players and teams which carry themselves on and off the court with class?
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Last edited by longshadow11; 10-12-2008, 10:47 PM. -
Re: I really want to like basketball again
Grant Hill
Dwayne Wade
Dwight Howard
Chris Paul
Deron Williams......
Hell it would be easier to tell you who doesn't carry themselves well on and off the court with class.
I find it funny when people identify with guys like Larry Bird who was hardly a classy guy on or off the court. -
Re: I really want to like basketball again
I didn't care too much for Larry Bird because I was a Sixers fan. Dr. J was and remains my favorite NBA player. I think now we hear about every little thing players do, whereas in the 80s and 90s info wasn't so readily available. This has jaded me towards pro athletes in general. I'm wanting to get past it and enjoy the NBA again, but I've ignored it for so long I don't know any but the big names and those who get into trouble.Comment
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Re: I really want to like basketball again
Right now is a great time to get back into it. The resurrgence of great young players in this league is at a peak.
Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade just to name a few are great young players who carry themselves with "class" as you'd like to say.
But don't get it twisted nobody you grew up loving carried themselves with a whole lot of class... you just didn't hear about it as much. Ala MJ and all the problems he got into in the early 90s. You didn't dare hear about that stuff because there was still that wall between the media and athletes, that has been completely broken so any and everything gets out there.
Don't let it jade your love for the NBA. Get back into it, we're seeing a rare time where just about every team in the league has a all-around great young player.PSN: VoicesWrestling
Podcasts: VoicesofWrestling.com / OverandBackNBA.com / KandPShow.com / All90sPodcast.comComment
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Re: I really want to like basketball again
Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, LeBron, Dwight Howard, Brandon Roy, Deron Williams, etc. There's TONS.Comment
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Re: I really want to like basketball again
To the OP, what is your definition of class anyhow? You mention Bird, Magic and MJ.. and I LOLed.Comment
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Re: I really want to like basketball again
I think I explained it in my second post as far as we just didn't hear about all the shenanigans back then. One of the guys I coach with doesn't care for the NBA because he views it as a culture more than a sport. I haven't watched much basketball in years, so I don't know if there is a strong hip-hop, gangster feel to the game or its environment, but that's the impression I think a lot of people get. I don't like that sort of thing much, but I do like basketball, so I'm willing to keep an open mind.
Sure, MJ had some problems, but he carried himself with a lot more class and dignity than Iverson. At least from what I've seen, but I don't really know. That's why I'm here asking.Comment
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Re: I really want to like basketball again
Sounds like you'll really enjoy watching the Denver Nuggets. Seriously though, if you didn't enjoy this past season, i dont know what to tell you. CP3, Deron Williams, Dwight Howard come to mind.XBL: DTX3
PSN: DTX987
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Re: I really want to like basketball again
The Suns have a long history of not putting up with bull**** and me-first people. Anytime there's a player with off court issues or starts acting like a primadonna, they cut ties with them.
A big part of the reason why I have grown to love them over the years.Comment
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Re: I really want to like basketball again
That's exactly what I was thinking, too.
You're just getting too nostalgic with it, longshadow. Memories get better with age. Sure, you watched hoops during the golden age of basketball... but right now the NBA is pretty high quality, in my opinion. During the turn of the century, 99 til about 04, the NBA was hard to watch. Now it's full of stars, unselfish players, and guys who all handle themselves pretty well.
Guys like Dwight Howard, CP3, Deron Williams, Lebron, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Al Jefferson, Brandon Roy and Carmelo have yet to even hit their primes. Then you have guys on the come-up like OJ Mayo, Michael Beasley, Greg Oden, Al Horford, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, etc. Then we have all of the established superstars that are currently at the top of their games. The league is in good hands, and it's going to be exciting to see how it grows in the next 8-10 years. For me, it's hard NOT to like the NBA at this point.
Just find a team or two you like watching, keep up with them until at least winter break, and see if you still like it. By that time, I'm sure you'll find somebody you can relate to or a team that you want to follow. Sure, it may not be Bird, Magic, or Jordan, but it's not far off if you convince yourself to enjoy it.Comment
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Re: I really want to like basketball again
to the OP
You need to turn the tv on and watch for yourself and stop listening to the wrong people.
Seriously, I could see if you were talking about the NFL to a small degree, but hip hop and gangster?
Tim Duncan,Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Yao Ming, Dirk Nowitski, and I could go on, and you cannot tell me you haven't heard of these guys. They are some of the cleanest athletes in America.
Seriously, what's your agenda that you're trying so hard not to say, and what's stopping you from turning on your television?
The entire Blazers team alone makes what you're asking seem strange.Comment
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Re: I really want to like basketball again
If this is even a serious question....
Enjoy the NBA for what it is, professional basketball. Get out of the past. There are still exciting, talented players around the league, and alot who carry themselves well...but youll never see a another Bird, Dr. J, Jordan again. If your not willing to except that yet you might want to move on...Comment
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