Waving Goodbye to a Generation of NBA Stars

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Shamrock32

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Some of you have seen my hip hop writing over at Rhyme Junkie, but nothing comes close to my passion for basketball. I just created a brand new basketball blog, where I'm gonna be posting on a weekly basis.

I just finished my first post, where I profile the last generation of NBA stars (late 90s-early 2000s) in detail. Shaq, Duncan, Kobe, Iverson, McGrady, Kidd, etc. All of them. Check it out!

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.
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FULL ARTICLE --- ROUNDBALL REWIND: WAVING GOODBYE TO A GENERATION

I take an individual look at all of the top players from the era. I appreciate all comments, feedback and suggestions.

What do you guys think? Who are some of your favorite players from that time?
 
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Reggie

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Makes me realize that i'm getting old. I remember Shaq Zo AI KG and the like when they were in there prime just like it was yesterday and now most of them are out of the league or on there way out. Big ups to the last few players left from that 90's early 2000 era that is still balling in the league.
 
god shamgod

god shamgod

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Reggie said:
Makes me realize that i'm getting old. I remember Shaq Zo AI KG and the like when they were in there prime just like it was yesterday and now most of them are out of the league or on there way out. Big ups to the last few players left from that 90's early 2000 era that is still balling in the league.
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I remember when they were in college and kg was at farragut dominating every game catchin oops off the backboard.
 
*Hulks Up*

*Hulks Up*

got that new coli smell
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god shamgod said:
I remember when they were in college and kg was at farragut dominating every game catchin oops off the backboard.
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Whatever happened to the dude that was throwing him oops? He was super nice too, not straight to the league like KG nice but dude had hops I remember seeing him and KG high school highlights back when FoXSports Channel was PASS or something, everytime I hear or read something about Farragut him and KG come to mind. And I wasn't even a fan of KG I was a Joe Smith stan.:heh:

Looking back at it, outside of Iverson I embraced some pretty shytty athletes back in the day.
 
BXKingPin82

BXKingPin82

The Chairman of the Board will be... The Kingpin
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everytime someone says some shyt about Vince Carter not being able to sky no more he fukks around and dunks on somebody lol

Vince gonna bring back the slam dunk contest...

again:troll:
 
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