MyNameIsKyle said:

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Frankly, that's an era only Gen x and early gen y will miss. Sure, there are some great players, but the nba's current talent pool is probably the greatest of all time. May not be quite as top heavy, but overall it's better, IMO.

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Born in '87, so I likely fall into this criteria. I'll miss the former far more than I miss any of the current batch of players.

I'm not sure we'll ever see players as unselfish as guys like Robinson, Olajuwon, Jordan, Duncan, or Nowitzki ever again. It's possible the league could come back around to more team-oriented, well-rounded basketball. But the younger half of millennials and into Gen Z--and, honestly, most casual fans--prefer the iso-chuck-up-threes type game we have today. It's less substance but has far more flash and pizzazz than the game most of us grew up on. It's really just about what type of basketball you prefer.

BassCowboy33 said:

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MyNameIsKyle said:

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Frankly, that's an era only Gen x and early gen y will miss. Sure, there are some great players, but the nba's current talent pool is probably the greatest of all time. May not be quite as top heavy, but overall it's better, IMO.

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Born in '87, so I likely fall into this criteria. I'll miss the former far more than I miss any of the current batch of players.

I'm not sure we'll ever see players as unselfish as guys like Robinson, Olajuwon, Jordan, Duncan, or Nowitzki ever again. It's possible the league could come back around to more team-oriented, well-rounded basketball. But the younger half of millennials and into Gen Z--and, honestly, most casual fans--prefer the iso-chuck-up-threes type game we have today. It's less substance but has far more flash and pizzazz than the game most of us grew up on. It's really just about what type of basketball you prefer.

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People who grew up watching the era with Bird, Magic, early Jordan, Kareem, Worthy, Thomas, McHale, etc. I'm sure felt similar when all those guys were on their way out. The game evolves...personally I hope we go back to focusing on post ups and an inside-out game, but I also appreciate the crazy things guys are doing today. 7 footers dribbling and shooting threes is awesome to watch.

Hate losing Beltre and Dirk the same year.

Is Vince Carter the last active player to be drafted from the 90's after this season?

azulAg said:

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no more duncan and dirk, kobe and wade, shaq and bosh, manu and tmac. pierce, nash, kidd, wallace ,richardson, nash, carter , garnett etc... i pray the nba will one day have as many greats playing at the same time again. my childhood is dead. RIP

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This is basically everyone who was good on the first NBA2K. Just missing Iverson.

azulAg said:

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no more duncan and dirk, kobe and wade, shaq and bosh, manu and tmac. pierce, nash, kidd, wallace ,richardson, nash, carter , garnett etc... i pray the nba will one day have as many greats playing at the same time again. my childhood is dead. RIP

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Sounds like you really miss Steve Nash.

underrated. deserved a better career. good guy all around

Question: Why would the league not put Dirk and Wade at home for game 82? It's not like there are a bunch of iconic players in the league and they wouldn't know this might happen? This isn't like Vince Carter finishing out his career on his 8th team. I know there are a lot of factors, but it's kind of a bummer that they have 1 more game to play and it's in Brooklyn and SA. At least for Dirk it is a meaningful opponent.

Head Ninja In Charge said:

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Is Vince Carter the last active player to be drafted from the 90's after this season?

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Yes, and there aren't a lot left from early 2000s draft.

2000 - Jamal Crawford
2001 - T Parker, Pau, Tyson Chandler
2002 - Nene & U Haslem
2003 - Korver, (Wade), Calderon, Lebron, Carmelo?, Zaza

Could be missing guys there

Those Phoenix teams with KJ, Thunder Dan, and Sir Charles were a fun style to watch...but yeah, for the most part the Bulls never had to deal with teams that played an open game. Those years with Nash, Van Exell, and Dirk going against Sacramento and Phoenix (with Nash and Stoudamire) really made the NBA interesting again.

Quote:

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1 more game to play and it's in Brooklyn and SA. At least for Dirk it is a meaningful opponent.

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Should have been SA next to last game and Dallas for last game.

I don't think we hated Dirk even during the prime SA v Dallas years.

The thing that sucks most is that the end of this era is the end of the old NBA mentality about winning one for your city with your guys.

Kobe - 20 years with the lakers
Duncan - 19 years with the spurs
Dirk - 21 years with the mavs
Stockton - 19 years with the jazz
Miller - 18 seasons with the pacers
Manu - 16 seasons with the spurs

I know these guys are all exceptions, but even others spent 8-12 years with a single team. It made it fun to root for your guy to win one and against other guys you saw year in and year out. Now with all the team switching and super teams, you almost have to be a fan of the player over the team because you have no idea how "loyal" he's going to be.

Never hated dirk the way I used to hate kobe. Looking back I respect them both, great adversaries. Hated playing both teams come playoffs. Knew it was gonna be a battle. Great. Basketball

My memory of the '93 Suns is clearing out one side of the court and watching Barkley back his defender down starting way out at the 3-point line.

Similar thing with Mark Jackson with Indiana/New York.

MW03 said:

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The thing that sucks most is that the end of this era is the end of the old NBA mentality about winning one for your city with your guys.

Kobe - 20 years with the lakers
Duncan - 19 years with the spurs
Dirk - 21 years with the mavs
Stockton - 19 years with the jazz
Miller - 18 seasons with the pacers
Manu - 16 seasons with the spurs

I know these guys are all exceptions, but even others spent 8-12 years with a single team. It made it fun to root for your guy to win one and against other guys you saw year in and year out. Now with all the team switching and super teams, you almost have to be a fan of the player over the team because you have no idea how "loyal" he's going to be.

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This is why Russell Westbrook is my favorite active non-Rocket NBA player.

I know you have provided photographic evidence but I am still choosing to suppress those memories.

i agree there is talent but there is almost little to no attachment. loyalty to an organization doesnt mean much anymore i guess

Current NBA inspires zero fan passion from me. Bunch of guys that are just buddies, for the most part, hopping from team to team. Current rules make for uninteresting 3pt contests. t's also heavily political, image driven.

Dirk will definitely be missed. In his prime, there wasn't a single player who could challenge him on his pull-up fade away shot. It was lethal, and a lot of current players modeled their shooting after him.

Yeah, I remember praying that T-Mac could D him up due to length and athleticism. Of course, that would've required staying healthy and effort on the defensive end, even then Dirk was other worldly with his post game.

I agree, the way the clippers handled Blake was pathetic

HossAg said:

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azulAg said:

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i agree there is talent but there is almost little to no attachment. loyalty to an organization doesnt mean much anymore i guess

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That's because orgs don't give a **** either. Isaiah Thomas getting traded by the Celtics should be a prime example for every player these days to do what's best for them.

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Should the Celtics have kept Thomas instead of trading for Kyrie?

The charge to build as good of franchise as possible is the duty of the organization.

I have no issue with players (or teams) doing what ever is in their best interest when dealing with contracts.

Didn't say either party should be loyal, just pointing out that players aren't loyal to orgs anymore for a reason.

But IT was a stupid example. Celtics didn't draft him. He was a scrub at Phoenix before coming to bean town.

Why do they have to draft him for it to be a good example? He was their franchise player that everyone loved and out of no where they trade him. Saying the team has to draft him for it to count is stupid.

Because, why would anyone see an issue with trading a player that was traded to you?

What kind of loyalty are you looking for? Teams acquire players only when someone on their roster retires?

i wouldnt say he was a franchise player he had a handful of moments, but he was a town favorite.