Changing of the Guard

[Ishkur]

The dismal performance (comparatively) of the US National Basketball Team at the last Summer Olympics in Athens may have been a blessing in disguise. While America has always boasted having the best basketball players in the world, it has had trouble lately assembling the best basketball teams....
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[Aveosmth]

Iskhur,

I think that the first half of your article was solid, but after that, your piece begins to stray more & more from the reality of the NBA.

You stated that Stockton played in the era of the "superstar". I think its dangerous to try and fit Stockton's career in one era as he played in multiple...20 years is a long time. I think that the era of the "superstar" you are referring to began when Jordan retired in 93'. Before that teamwork and execution were highly valued. This was the golden era of the NBA from about 1979-1993. As you can see, Stockton played in between eras as his career lasted from 84-03.

The main reason Stockton never won an MVP is because he happened to play when Magic Johnson & Michael Jordan ruled the NBA. It definitely didn't help that he played the same position (guard) as them as well...Also, he may not have been even the most valuable player on his own team. Karl Malone was pretty darn important as well.

Also, Nash didn't handily defeat Shaq...this was the 4th closest MVP vote of all time. I was very split as to who I thought should've won, but I think Nash is the best choice. I'm not totally sold though, that it was a "statement" vote. Nash averaged 15 points a game & and over 11 assists. He's basically averaging a double/double a night, and his team has the most wins in the league. Based upon those facts, he should win the award no matter what era were in.

I agree with you that the fans are tired of players who whine and complain. There is no debating there...Good point.

All in all, good work.

[Ishkur]

Actually, I consider the "era of the superstar" to have BEGUN with Magic...and continuing, with Bird, Jordan, Ewing, Barkley, Malone, Drexler, Robinson, Pippen, Hill, Miller, Rodman, Penny Hardaway and then on through the late 90s with Shaq, Kobe, Iverson, Carter, and Lebron. In fact, I feel Lebron is going to be the last of this breed.

(I define "era of the superstar" to mean when they stopped being basketball players and started being high profile shoe salesmen. Also, when they spent more time recording rap albums, starring in movies and quaffing soft drinks than playing basketball. John Stockton was probably the most technical player ever, but he never got Chris Rock to voice a puppet named after him)

The golden era may have been 79-93, but I define the superstar era to be about 83-03. A 20 year span of individual achievements in pedestal-lifting, each one getting bigger, bolder, and more braggadocio than the last.

[Aveosmth]

Originally Posted by Ishkur

Actually, I consider the "era of the superstar" to have BEGUN with Magic...and continuing, with Bird, Jordan, Ewing, Barkley, Malone, Drexler, Robinson, Pippen, Hill, Miller, Rodman, Penny Hardaway and then on through the late 90s with Shaq, Kobe, Iverson, Carter, and Lebron. In fact, I feel Lebron is going to be the last of this breed.

(I define "era of the superstar" to mean when they stopped being basketball players and started being high profile shoe salesmen. Also, when they spent more time recording rap albums, starring in movies and quaffing soft drinks than playing basketball. John Stockton was probably the most technical player ever, but he never got Chris Rock to voice a puppet named after him)

The golden era may have been 79-93, but I define the superstar era to be about 83-03. A 20 year span of individual achievements in pedestal-lifting, each one getting bigger, bolder, and more braggadocio than the last.

There is no way you can say Larry Bird and Kobe Bryant to be part of the same era...or even Magic & Iverson.

Magic, Bird, Isiah and those guys were reluctant superstars. They were the best on their teams, but team philosophy was still emphasized. Even Magic's flashiest plays were PASSES to other teammates for scores. There is no way you can link those guys to the "stars" of today. I think Magic, Bird, Isiah, Grant Hill, and David Robinson were throwbacks to the eras of West, Robertson and Chamberlain.

Endorsements have always been a part of basketball and they exploded when Michael Jordan came on the scene. Even though Jordan made tens of millions on endorsements, he would've still played for free. He bled basketball and even he played well on a team.

You can't lump those eras into one...it just doesn't fit..trust me, I grew up watching Magic & Bird in Los Angeles....I yearn for those days when superstars were real people. Their endorsements accentuated their style of play...and not today where people change their play to get endorsements.

Trust me Ishkur, putting Magic & Bird in the same era as Kobe & LeBron is like putting Babe Ruth in the same era as Barry Bonds.

[Ishkur]

read the last line: "each one getting bigger, bolder, and more braggadocio than the last."

Jordan was the last truly humble superstar. The early ones had it thrusted upon them, and handled it fairly well. Everyone thereafter took it for granted a little more and more. It was a downward spiral.....as the superstars got larger, their behavior and habits got worse....in effect, they killed their own industry, because now there is a Renaissance in the league to reject this attitude, of having groups of individuals, in favour of more Jordan-Magic-Bird style team play.

But it's still the same era. It's just that the back-end of it was a grossly skewed and misaligned counterpart to the front end of it, Jumping the Shark so to speak.

[Ishkur]

OHHHHHH SNAP!

Now do you people agree with my article?