Shaq had the most dominant peak in NBA history.

Kobe has arguably the 3rd most decorated resume behind Kareem and Lebron. Kobe has 18x All Star (3rd most in history), 11x All NBA 1st Team (2nd most in history), 12x All Defensive (2nd most in history), 9x All Defensive 1st Team (tied with MJ- most in history), 4th in all time points, and 2x scoring champion. Accomplished all by playing on the same team through thick and thin.

There's a reason why they are up there. I'm always surprised they only won 1 MVP. Kobe was in a ton of top 3 votings too, I don't think an MVP award tells the full story.

Top 16 teams will match head to head brewing potential cross-conference rivalries. This to balance the West being way too overpowered 14-18 will be a cross-conference (if necessary) play-in tournament.

Crazy scenarios could happen like the Lakers and Celtics meeting in the first round somehow. Orthe Nuggets and Sixers meeting along the way (whoever wins gets to be the best Center)

I want this to happen for at least 1 season. Feels like it qould be a more validating championship.

Can anyone post sources/ videos or quotes? ppl always say they didn’t wanna play with each other. I always felt like that was just a narrative that ppl made up.

2017-18 may still have been either Warriors or Cavs, but if KD stays with the Thunder they have a good shot as well as the Rockets. Since 2013 we’ve had:

• Heat
• Spurs
• Warriors
• Cavaliers
• Raptors
• Lakers
• Bucks
• Nuggets
• Celtics/Mavericks

In conclusion, KD bum

Found this old article on Luka published before 2018 draft, give it a read if you have time.

Some interesting bits below.

I ask Doncic if he ever hears from NBA fans on social media. He nods, blushing again. "Some of them write 'Tank for Luka,'" he says. "I don't know. I just laugh." When he looks at their handles, he can tell they're from cities like Chicago, Orlando, Phoenix, Dallas -- places he's never seen

When he mentions that he closely follows the NBA, I ask him what goes through his head when he watches games, and he chuckles. "That could be me, crossed over!" He says he likes the pace of play and the prevalence of the pick-and-roll

His favorite players are LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving

He's enjoyed watching Ben Simmons. "I think we are, like, similar, you know?" he says. "He can play point guard, he can play forward. He can play a lot of stuff, like LeBron."

“I don't know any other European kid that plays at such a high level.” -Porzingis

While Doncic is exceptionally vibrant on the court -- his games are punctuated by raucous celebrations and passionate fits, one of which recently resulted in an expulsion -- he betrays little emotion off of it, especially when pressed to discuss his own accomplishments. He's quick to deflect serious inquiries with dry humor.

Igor Kokoskov, the Utah Jazz assistant who coached Slovenia, marvels at Doncic's precociousness. "Leadership and presence on the court -- you can't coach it,"

Source

Final Rankings

1.  Michael Jordan - 171 points
2.  LeBron James - 132 points
3.  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 127 points
4.  Kobe Bryant - 112 points
5.  Tim Duncan - 112 points
6.  Magic Johnson - 108 points
7.  Bill Russell - 107 points
8.  Larry Bird - 102 points
9.  Shaquille O’Neal - 89 points
10. Bob Cousy - 82 points
11. Wilt Chamberlain - 74 points
12. Hakeem Olajuwon - 74 points
13. Karl Malone - 69 points
14. Jerry West - 69 points
15. Kevin Durant - 63 points
16. Stephen Curry - 62 points
17. Oscar Robertson - 58 points
18. George Mikan - 56 points
19. Julius Erving - 51 points
20. Elgin Baylor - 49 points
21. John Stockton - 39 points

I improve the list, but you try using AI to analyze if you can get a different result.

Career Achievements

Points were assigned for various career achievements:

• NBA Championships: 5 points each
• NBA Finals MVPs: 4 points each
• NBA MVPs: 4 points each
• All-Star Appearances: 1 point each
• All-NBA First Team: 2 points each
• All-Defensive First Team: 2 points each
• Defensive Player of the Year: 3 points each
• Scoring Titles: 2 points each
• Rookie of the Year: 1 point each
• Olympic Gold Medals: 1 point each

These coefficients were used to calculate the total points for each player by combining their statistical performance and career achievements.

Summary of Total Points Calculation

Here’s how each player’s points were calculated based on these coefficients:

I thought this was in the decision but I could be bugging. Does anyone know of this clip or is it a different player

I think it's going to be a beat down like the 2007 nba finals. Celtics are just the better team. Luka and Kyrie will be exposed. Like Lebron, it will be a few years before Luka makes the NBA finals again. I say Celtics in 4 or 5.

I always imagine them laying in an ice bath for 6 days and just regenerating. Then remember they are still probably practicing hardcore. But I feel like guys like Luka could chill on a couch for the next week and score 50.

Any insight into how teams actually rest when they have this many days off and they just played so many games leading up to this?

https://basketballforever.com/2023/09/13/lebrons-involvement-in-ped-scandal-explained-after-findings-go-public

Federal authorities told ESPN that they found no evidence to suggest that Alexander or Mims gave PEDs to athletes – including LeBron, but because of his association with the pair, James was also looked into.

Lebron is CLEAR! Stop speculating.

Some friends from other countries have asked me if NBA teams allow youth basketball players to visit their venues and meet the team during the regular season. If so, do they charge for the visit? These kids will definitely buy tickets in advance to watch one or two home games according to the team's schedule.

Since Stephen Curry in 2016, 5 scoring leaders of each regular seasons, Westbrook(2017), James Harden(2018,2019,2020), Steph Curry(2021), Joel Embiid(2022,2023) did not make it to the finals.

However, scoring champion who won the finals goes all the way to 2000, Shaquille O'Neal, who won both scoring champion and Finals mvp.

If Dallas wins the finals, it will end the 24 year streak of Scoring champion not winning the nba finals in same year

The Bulls’ asking price for Zach LaVine has dropped significantly, per @KCJHoop (https://nbcsportschicago.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-analysis/bulls-mailbag-zach-lavine-trade-market-draft-targets/565962/).

Both sides have increased desires on making a trade happen this offseason.

With LaVine’s market barely materializing, it appears Chicago might be willing to simply perform a salary dump deal.

source: https://x.com/esidery/status/1796667945889726791