In the 1970's, the NBA was in trouble. It was openly discussed,not a secret that only aficionados knew about. People just didn't have much interest in NBA basketball. There was a widespread lack of enthusiasm, despite the game being "FAAAAAAAAN-TASTIC."
Then along came David Stern and saved the league. A lot of good things came out of Stern's reign, including a longer three point line, decrease in hand checking, defensive three second rules, the legalizing of zone defenses, and the charge semi-circle under the hoop to name a few. Video replay to determine if shots beat the buzzer have made things more fair for teams who do or don't really deserve the win.
But Stern didn't save the league. No, the league was saved by someone who had more power and ability than anyone else in it; Michael Jordan.
Jordan redefined the term "slam-dunk." He accomplished feats never before done by a player his size, with a charisma and flair entirely his own. Even if he hadn't won 6 championships, his amazing abilities intrigued people. In fact, people can't not watch greatness.
MJ was called "His Airness" and earned it. He played hard and was financially rewarded very well by not only the Chicago Bulls, but by any company in the world that needed effective marketing. His shoes still sell for hundreds of dollars and all players are held against his standard.
So who saves us this time?
I think there are some terrefic young players in the league today. Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire headline the group of tommorow's greatest, but there is one player who could bring the NBA back to its former spot as the number one sport in America.
And I hate him.
I don't want people to think that I'm just a Kobe hater. I've disliked him for years and years. He's a jerk, he's cocky, and his interviews speak louder than most would notice.
Take for example his performance in the 2006 playoff series against Phoenix when he took one shot against the Suns in the entire second half of game seven. He flat out quit, regardless of his talk about sticking to the game plan or trying to get his teammates involved. Bryant quit on his team and even though there was no denying it, he still did.
But Kobe is a supertalent. I truly believe, and I loathe to even write this, that Kobe is the greatest scorer in the history of basketball. I think he would beat Jordan handily in a game of one on one. He has smashed tons of Jordans career records, and although some are still intact, I would predict that Bryant has about six years left in him as one of the league's top three scorers. There are stars in the NBA, but no one that players and coaches fear like Kobe, no one so hostile with the ball. Yet his game still lacks something.
We all know that there's more to basketball than just scoring, and I'm not even talking about defense. It's the part that Jordan got and that LeBron has already figured out to a certain degree. It's how to be a leader, and more importantly, how to be a teammate.
If I were a player on the Lakers, I would be begging for a trade. The guy only knows one play, and that's the play in which he calls his own number every time. Actually, he knows the play where you yell at the guy who made a mistake during the timeout and demoralize him in front of the whole bench.
During team USA, I did see stretches of humanity in him though. ESPN's Rachel Nichols asked him if he still felt the same way about the comments he had made. The old Kobe would have licked his lips and said that he stood by his comments 100%, that he meant exactly what he said, and that he was never frustrated, only scheming to get what he wanted.
"Frustration," Bryant said. "You get frustrated and you say things you don't really mean."
If Kobe begins to take credit for the failures as well as the success of his team, we could see the league have a player who is not only dominant as a scorer, but a leader of a team that doesn't hate him.
Bryant also needs to take the competitiveness down half a notch. It's one of his most powerful weapons, but it did cost him a game and two flagrants last year after he clubbed two players after getting his shot blocked.
If he pulls it off, which I half heartedly hope he does, he would be a likeable, marketable, more than human superman who will do more for the league's good than any new anti-tanking rule or playoff format ever could.
Don't worry though Mamba, we actually wouldn't mind if you still hit Manu.
You can email the JackDaddy at jackhoops@gmail.com
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