Waving Goodbye to a Generation of NBA Stars

[CelticBalla32]

My return to basketball writing is long overdue (remember me, CelticsBlog? lol). I just created a brand new blog and will be talking hoops every week.

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.

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.

Big ups to The Rondo Show for creating my awesome banner at the top of my blog. It's perfect, I love it!

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

[mgent]

Why would you hope Kobe will still get it done at a high level next year?  I'm hoping he averages 14 points while hoisting tons of ugly 3s like last year.

My favorite guy from that era (along with Pierce) would be Dirk.  I identify myself as a German, not an American (although I'm only half German and have never even been there) and I feel overcome with pride every I see him play.

One guy I think you missed is Andre Miller, he has an argument for being considered a star in the league at one point.

Also, I wish you gave SOME type of nod towards Manu in that snippet along with Duncan and Dirk for still getting it done at a pretty high level, and he's older than most of the guys listed (though you did give him plenty of respect in the article).  It's too bad Chauncey hasn't put together a healthy season in like half a decade, I thought he had the type of game that would age perfectly.

Great article bro.

[GreenFaith1819]

Great read.

Pierce was SO GOOD in BOS during his early years....just too bad that he couldn't get a winning team around him until later.

He put up some great numbers during his 01-03 years.

KG was doing same in Minny, plus averaging over 5 assists from the PF spot.

Ray Allen was coming into his prime, too, during those years.

I'd still like to believe that these three would've come together well - even in those early years.

[mgent]

Great read.

Pierce was SO GOOD in BOS during his early years....just too bad that he couldn't get a winning team around him until later.

He put up some great numbers during his 01-03 years.

KG was doing same in Minny, plus averaging over 5 assists from the PF spot.

Ray Allen was coming into his prime, too, during those years.

I'd still like to believe that these three would've come together well - even in those early years.

Just like it's too bad they couldn't have had healthy teams in the the later years.

[freshinthehouse]

Great article, but in my humble opinion the late 90s/early 00s were one of the low points in NBA basketball.  It was that period where Jordan was gone and the other stars of his era were declining, and the next generation was either too young still or just weren't good enough to be transcendent stars (Shaq and Duncan would be the exception to this rule).  And the East was just gross in those days (even compared to the East last year).  Look at the some of the teams the east put in the finals back then.  it was just ridiculous.  And while the west was good, I still don't think it was as good as it is now.

The more I think about it, it may not be so much that that era was weak, it may just be that we are in a new golden age of NBA basketball.  I know that the playoffs these last 5-6 have been the best stretch of NBA basketball that I've ever seen, and I've been watching for nearly 25 years.

[GreenFaith1819]

Great read.

Pierce was SO GOOD in BOS during his early years....just too bad that he couldn't get a winning team around him until later.

He put up some great numbers during his 01-03 years.

KG was doing same in Minny, plus averaging over 5 assists from the PF spot.

Ray Allen was coming into his prime, too, during those years.

I'd still like to believe that these three would've come together well - even in those early years.

Just like it's too bad they couldn't have had healthy teams in the the later years.

So true.

[CelticBalla32]

Why would you hope Kobe will still get it done at a high level next year?  I'm hoping he averages 14 points while hoisting tons of ugly 3s like last year.

My favorite guy from that era (along with Pierce) would be Dirk.  I identify myself as a German, not an American (although I'm only half German and have never even been there) and I feel overcome with pride every I see him play.

One guy I think you missed is Andre Miller, he has an argument for being considered a star in the league at one point.

Also, I wish you gave SOME type of nod towards Manu in that snippet along with Duncan and Dirk for still getting it done at a pretty high level, and he's older than most of the guys listed (though you did give him plenty of respect in the article).  It's too bad Chauncey hasn't put together a healthy season in like half a decade, I thought he had the type of game that would age perfectly.

Great article bro.

I appreciate it, man. Thanks. I did mention Andre Miller in the last paragraph of the point guard section, though, I just didn't profile him with one full paragraph. He was awesome though, no question.

[CelticBalla32]

Great article, but in my humble opinion the late 90s/early 00s were one of the low points in NBA basketball.  It was that period where Jordan was gone and the other stars of his era were declining, and the next generation was either too young still or just weren't good enough to be transcendent stars (Shaq and Duncan would be the exception to this rule).  And the East was just gross in those days (even compared to the East last year).  Look at the some of the teams the east put in the finals back then.  it was just ridiculous.  And while the west was good, I still don't think it was as good as it is now.

The more I think about it, it may not be so much that that era was weak, it may just be that we are in a new golden age of NBA basketball.  I know that the playoffs these last 5-6 have been the best stretch of NBA basketball that I've ever seen, and I've been watching for nearly 25 years.

I don't know about "low point" but I hear you. I think the individual talent across the league at that time was just as special as what we have today. Prime Shaq, prime Duncan, the entire evolution of Kobe (at the perfect time), prime Iverson, prime T-Mac, Jason Kidd, Nash, Dirk.... Pierce. I mean, the league was loaded.

But that is also why I only highlighted a few teams (Lakers, Spurs, Pistons) while I generally stuck to speaking on the era on a player-by-player basis.

[Celtics4ever]

I identify myself as a German, not an American (although I'm only half German and have never even been there) and I feel overcome with pride every I see him play.

I bet you hate AHC aka military channel.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Watching Allen Iverson carry that Sixers squad to the Finals is one my most favorite basketball memories. Talk about carrying a team.

The success of that Pistons team that has "no superstars" but won it with defense and team play.

The comeback in 2002 ECF Game 3, when I yelled and yelled at my house with friends watching me. We cut school for that and boy, that trip to detention was worth it (for me atleast).

Time when the Slam Dunk contest was entertaining.

Nike Shox.

Ah... great times.

[freshinthehouse]

My favorite guy from that era (along with Pierce) would be Dirk.  I identify myself as a German, not an American (although I'm only half German and have never even been there) and I feel overcome with pride every I see him play.

That has to get you some sideways glances.

[GreenWarrior]

I think early on during this era. it was some rough basketball because of the transition from the previous generations. and there was a stretch there where the bad teams outweighed the good. and there was a huge discrepancy between the 2.

but once that generation grew up they were really entertaining to watch.

[CelticBalla32]

I think early on during this era. it was some rough basketball because of the transition from the previous generations. and there was a stretch there where the bad teams outweighed the good. and there was a huge discrepancy between the 2.

but once that generation grew up they were really entertaining to watch.

That's part of why I think it was special. The Jordan era was over and done with, but the league was simultaneously flooded with young superstar talent. Jordan left the Bulls in 98, right when Kobe was starting to take off. KG was a certified stud, Tim Duncan was a top 5 player in the NBA from the get-go. Iverson went crazy right away, too.

In the 90s, every competitive team had to build to compete with the Bulls. Once the Bulls broke up, everyone had to restructure their team and start fresh. The excitement of the up-and-comers during that time was awesome and at least equal to the time LeBron/Melo/Wade/Dwight/CP3/Durant bursted on the scene. I would even say the top stars from the previous generation were "better" than what we have right now.

No big in the league right now was on the level of Shaq. Kevin Love, Aldridge and Griffin are awesome but they weren't Duncan, KG or Dirk. Chris Webber was up there, too. LeBron and Durant are obviously in that top notch but so was Kobe and prime T-Mac, and prime Iverson etc. The PG position is deeper right now, but for the most part I think the last generation boasted more true superstars than we have now.

[CelticBalla32]

Bump

[CelticBalla32]

While everyone's home and relaxing on Sunday, I'll give this thread one last bump before I start to get annoying lol.