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Who has been the face of this generation? By John Nguyen
06.6.2009 - Updated on 06.6.2009
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Stop for a minute. Take a collective breath from the Finals. Put down whatever you are doing and think to the very first time you watched NBA basketball. The first time I watched basketball was on a night when I was living in Port Arthur, Texas located right near Beaumont. It was a night somewhere in the fall of 1988. My dad randomly turned to TBS when they used to exclusively air the Atlanta Hawks.
Before the game, they highlighted Dominique Wilkins, Doc Rivers, Spud Webb, and Kevin Willis. This is when the Hawks were truly the high flying Hawks. The only person they spotlighted for the Chicago Bulls was Michael Jordan. I immediately thought that Chicago and this bald headed player had no chance against those guys. I watched the game out of curiosity as my dad fell asleep. This bald headed player with his baggy shorts, sick kicks, and tongue wagging in air took over the game. He made incredible shots and dunks that left me wanting more.
Before I knew it, Chicago won the game. I could not believe what I witnessed. Chi-Town beat them at their house. From that game on, before the titles, Michael Jordan became the ultimate player. He became the player of the forever in my eyes. It just sucks that old stars eventually fade away like feelings for a significant other. As time goes on, new stars have to emerge to replace the old ones.
This left me pondering. After MJ, who was the face of this generation from 1999-2009?
Only a select few are worthy of this distinction. Lets run down this list.
Tim Duncan: Quiet, stoic, fundamentals, 4 time champion, probably the greatest power forward ever, hates referee Joey Crawford
Shaquille O’Neal: The Shaq Attaq, The Diesel, 4 time champion, dominant force, hates Kazaam
Jason Kidd: Triple double machine before Lebron and Rondo, great defender, perennial all star, led New Jersey Nets to back to back Finals appearances, hates his ex-wife
Kobe Bryant: Black Mamba, 3 time champion as Shaq’s sidekick, played in 6 Finals series thus far, 81 points, 2007-2008 MVP, hates Colorado
Allen Iverson: The Answer, 2000-2001 MVP, top flight scorer, tattoos, arm sleeve, braids, head band, tough as nails, hates practice
Kevin Garnett: Probably the most versatile player within the past 10 years, 2003-2004 MVP, one championship, great defender, hates college and cry babies
There are some players left out such as Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce, but they were not highly visible throughout the years compared to the others. LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, Rondo, and Derrick Rose are all part of this new generation that is about to take over and, despite winning back to back MVP awards, Steve Nash cannot be considered either since he has not been to the Finals just like the six who made the list. I cannot forget Gary "The Glove" Payton either. Special shout out to GP, but he did not make my list since he rode Wade’s and Shaq’s coat tails to win a title. Hey, GP if you’re reading this, I still gave you props.
With all of that in mind, who has been the face of the generation from 1999-2009? Shaq Diesel, Duncan, Black Mamba, The Answer, The Kidd, or The Big Ticket?
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Posted by
OK13
on 06.13.2009 | In Europe people knows O’Neal and Bryant, so I think the face of his generation is Shaq. . | Posted by
Jack
on 06.12.2009 | I say Iverson, your story about seeing MJ is pretty much the same as mine, except it was AI. It would have been about 98-99 I think. Then Shaq in a close second. I think Im in a good position to know being an unbiased international fan if you get me. Like everyone, even people that know s---all about basketball here know those 2. Most know Kobe too, but not 6 years ago like the other 2. Not many know Tim Duncan here though. . | Posted by
Young Jo
on 06.8.2009 | The Answer . | Posted by
40inchleaper
on 06.7.2009 | Shaq has been the face of this generation after MJ’s departure. but ofcourse after his Miami ring, it quickly changed to Kobe . | Posted by
Zoufalec
on 06.7.2009 | Yeah, Charles Barklery is definetely the player of the all decades. He is everywhere and outshinig all the obscure names. Shaquildejn Onielei WTF? Is this some kind of club in Bangkok? . | Posted by
on 06.6.2009 | The last ten years I think only one name comes to mind. Charles Barkley. Sure he wasn’t playing but he’s always there talking to me on tv and on commercials. Dunno who that dwyane wade guy is with him . | Posted by
carlito
on 06.6.2009 | = K O B E = . | Posted by
KG4-ever
on 06.6.2009 | for me personally KG... i used to watch basketball as a little kid (I’m born ’91) whenever I got to see some (I live in germany^^), but this kind of stopped in 98/99 (surprise, surprise..)but then I turned on a game again in 2003, and saw a guy called kevin garnett.. that was the one moment that brought me back into basketball again, idolizing this sick dude.. . | Posted by
da
on 06.6.2009 | all of those guys mentioned pretty much were......but id say iverson 1st then shaq/kobe or garnett....the league was so much better when all those players were at the best compared to todays....even tho kobe..bron...n wade are great....the league had so many better players up into 05 that just fell of bc of injuries or what not . |
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