I recently put together an article discussing the end of the last generation of NBA basketball, where I highlight all of the best players from the era. Shaq, Kobe, Duncan, Iverson, T-Mac, KG, Kidd, etc. All of them.
It's sad how almost all of this generation is either gone or on their last breath, but it's fun to go back and reflect.
Here's a snippet of the introduction:
FULL ARTICLE --- ROUNDBALL REWIND: WAVING GOODBYE TO A GENERATION
I take an individual look at all of the top players from the era at each position. I appreciate all comments, feedback and suggestions.
To the mods - I absolutely do not intend to spam, as I have been a member of Operation Sports for eight years and my blog is a 0% threat level to your forum. There is a difference between spamming and posting an NBA article for NBA fans to read. I'm not just posting my link and leaving it at that, I'm fully prepared to engage myself into the discussion should this thread receive any comments.
What do you guys think? Who are some of your favorite players from that time?
It's sad how almost all of this generation is either gone or on their last breath, but it's fun to go back and reflect.
Here's a snippet of the introduction:
What a great time period for the game of basketball. We watched Phil Jackson mastermind yet another three-peat, while Pop and the Spurs have been competing for titles with the same core for over a decade. We watched the financial aspect of the league skyrocket, thanks to Jordan and the six-month 1998-99 lockout that made every player before them wish they were born 10 or 20 years later. The average NBA salary in the 1997-98 season was $2.16 million, which has practically tripled since in a league where salaries have reached an annual mark up to $30 million. We also witnessed the evolution of the stretch-four, star players maximizing their individuality and the peak of athletic ability throughout the NBA.
Jordan’s [second] retirement marked a monumental time period for the game, and the group that took over featured its own spark of greatness. However, Father Time is catching up to them these days, too, as the majority of them have either walked away from the game or are on their last lifeline. I’m not upset about the talent we have going forward, but it’s difficult to watch all of your childhood heroes on their last breath.
There are only a few players from that generation still getting it done at a high level, such as Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki and [hopefully] Kobe Bryant. Meanwhile, Tracy McGrady was a minor league pitcher for the Sugar Land Skeeters last year. Jason Kidd and Rasheed Wallace are now coaches. Steve Nash is on life support. Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury were relegated to finishing their careers in China. Jesus Shuttlesworth is now just Ray Allen. Yao Ming’s body broke down in 2011, which forced him to retire at age 30, while 2004 NBA MVP Kevin Garnett can hardly stay on the court for 20 minutes out in Brooklyn. Vince Carter is still a solid role player, but he can’t do this anymore. Shaquille O’Neal and Chris Webber are entertaining us every week on NBA TV and TNT, but they can only bless the game in a suit with a microphone these days.
It’s not fair, but it is the inevitable way of life. It is what it is. At this point we’ve just got to accept it and enjoy the electrifying new wave of talent, but it doesn’t mean we have to forget the greatness that came before them. Nostalgia is a jewel.
As they swallow their pride and pass the torch, let’s take a look at what made the leaders of the last generation so special.
Jordan’s [second] retirement marked a monumental time period for the game, and the group that took over featured its own spark of greatness. However, Father Time is catching up to them these days, too, as the majority of them have either walked away from the game or are on their last lifeline. I’m not upset about the talent we have going forward, but it’s difficult to watch all of your childhood heroes on their last breath.
There are only a few players from that generation still getting it done at a high level, such as Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki and [hopefully] Kobe Bryant. Meanwhile, Tracy McGrady was a minor league pitcher for the Sugar Land Skeeters last year. Jason Kidd and Rasheed Wallace are now coaches. Steve Nash is on life support. Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury were relegated to finishing their careers in China. Jesus Shuttlesworth is now just Ray Allen. Yao Ming’s body broke down in 2011, which forced him to retire at age 30, while 2004 NBA MVP Kevin Garnett can hardly stay on the court for 20 minutes out in Brooklyn. Vince Carter is still a solid role player, but he can’t do this anymore. Shaquille O’Neal and Chris Webber are entertaining us every week on NBA TV and TNT, but they can only bless the game in a suit with a microphone these days.
It’s not fair, but it is the inevitable way of life. It is what it is. At this point we’ve just got to accept it and enjoy the electrifying new wave of talent, but it doesn’t mean we have to forget the greatness that came before them. Nostalgia is a jewel.
As they swallow their pride and pass the torch, let’s take a look at what made the leaders of the last generation so special.
I take an individual look at all of the top players from the era at each position. I appreciate all comments, feedback and suggestions.
To the mods - I absolutely do not intend to spam, as I have been a member of Operation Sports for eight years and my blog is a 0% threat level to your forum. There is a difference between spamming and posting an NBA article for NBA fans to read. I'm not just posting my link and leaving it at that, I'm fully prepared to engage myself into the discussion should this thread receive any comments.
What do you guys think? Who are some of your favorite players from that time?
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