Especially in the NBA, designing and launching the right jersey has almost become a science. The sportswear companies in collaboration with the different franchises are continuously doing their best in order to deliver improved and more eye-catching NBA jerseys.

No matter how much they try, though, one thing is for sure! They will never manage to overcome the 90’s – (early) 00’s period! There was something special in that period when it comes to NBA jerseys.

Read also: 32 strange NBA facts that you had no idea about

The teams experimented a lot using humongous logos and funky colours and achieved to embrace in a very cool and natural way the kitch element. The success of these jerseys can easily be evident today as more and more teams and sportswear companies are turning their attention back to the 90’s era.

Of course, this time they rebrand it as retro in an effort to make some extra bucks out of our nostalgia. Nevertheless, I want to believe that nostalgia isn’t the only reason why these jerseys are still popular. It’s also the fact that they are some pretty awesome jerseys which capture the core meaning of the game (playing and having fun) while at the same time respecting the legacy of each franchise.

But enough with my analysis. I think you got the point pretty well by now! Let’s have a look at the Top 20 NBA jerseys, as chosen by DunkStories:

20. Cleveland Cavaliers

Believe it or not, there was life in Cleveland even before the arrival of LeBron James and we have the photos to prove it. During the 90’s the Cavaliers had one of the coolest jerseys that the NBA has ever seen.

My personal favorite is the white one with the blue stripe and the orange colours that you can see below. What do you think? I’m not sure if LeBron had ever tried this jersey, while he was in Cleveland, but I believe that he would look good in it.

19. All-star game 1992

Who can forget the 1992 All-star game? Magic Johnson had offered a captivating performance against Michael Jordan while both wearing two of the coolest NBA All-star game jerseys! For sure, very different jersey design than the one we are used to today but, in any case, there is something that makes them stand out.

18. Charlotte Hornets

Through the years, Charlotte Hornets are consistently one of the teams with the funkiest logo and colours. As early as in the 90’s, they were already captivating lots of attention for their jersey. Regardless of whether you are a fan of the turquoise colour or not, it’s definitely a very memorable jersey.

17. Phoenix Suns

Next on the list are the Phoenix Suns. Charles Barkley has done some crazy performances wearing this jersey and there is no doubt that is one of the people’s favourite in Phoenix.

16. Utah Jazz

A jersey that has been worn by Karl Malone and John Stockton can’t be forgotten. Simple as that! The purple colour and the jazzy mountains makes it potentially one of the most captivating jerseys that the basketball world has ever witnessed.

15. Indiana Pacers

That particular Indiana Pacers jersey is strongly associated with Reggie Miller and has an evergreen design in my opinion. It’s a shirt which can remain modern many decades later thanks to its playful yet stylish design. The biggest proof for that is, of course, that it was recently worn again by the Pacers!

14. Milwaukee Bucks

Will Giannis Antetokounmpo ever get the chance to wear this shirt? Nobody really knows! In any case, it’s a great NBA jersey which is totally representative of the 90’s NBA design. Go deers!

13. New York Knicks

That jersey is a classic for the NBA world and it will never get old. When you see a player like Patrick Ewing fighting for it, you know that it’s a jersey with heavy legacy and an army of fans behind it!

12. Houston Rockets

One more sample of the extravagant yet fascinating 90’s NBA jerseys was that of the Houston Rockets. The launched Rocket around the planet of basketball is one of the most lively memories of the NBA fans who were captivated by the game twenty years ago. And how they could do differently after having witnessed Hakeem Olajuwon and Sir Charles Barkley doing their own magic with this shirt on!

11. Denver Nuggets

The Rainbow shirts of the Nuggets have always been the crowd’s favourite in Denver. They might be a little more playful and colourful than most might expect from a team that should step on the court and take their opponents by storm. But it surely is a vital part of Denver’s basketball legacy. If you want my opinion, it’s a jersey that should be in every basketball fan’s jersey collection.

10. Minnesota Timberwolves

This NBA jersey is synonymous to the time that Kevin Garnett spent in Minnesota. That being said, it will always have a special connection with the Timberwolves crowd. It’s also a shirt that made it to the early 00’s and was combined with an era where the Wolves were very competitive in the NBA.

Find here: NBA rumors: Five mega-trades that were never completed

9. Philadelphia 76ers

It goes without saying that in a list of the Top 20 NBA jerseys, one spot would be dedicated to the Philadelphia 76ers. It’s a team that has experimented a lot with their jerseys both in terms of colours and logo designs. There is no question that the one worn by Allen Iverson in the early 00’s is in the most emblematic that the franchise ever had.

8. Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks is a great franchise. But what it’s even greater is their red 90’s jersey with the big hawk design on it. It was a shirt that was standing out without any effort and which reminds basketball fans of Dikembe Mutombo and his dominating presence in the NBA world!

7. All-star game 1996:

The 1996 All-star game will always be remembered for its jerseys and its remarkable collection of sneakers on court. Now, the sneakers collection is something that we will examine in another list but we have to agree about the jerseys. Both the blue and the white jerseys were a pleasure to look at. Today, they are estimated as two of the most precious items for NBA collectors.

6. Vancouver Grizzlies

If the 90’s NBA era was a jersey that would be the Vancouver Grizzlies jersey. It is no exaggeration to say that it’s one of the most heavily decorated NBA jerseys in history. For many it is considered as one of the ugliest NBA jerseys but in my opinion it combines so many bad design decisions which in the end have turned it to a true masterpiece!

5. Toronto Raptors

Same country, different city and franchise. This jersey that the Toronto Raptors wore back in the late 90’s and early 00’s is still believed to be one of the most recognisable NBA jerseys around the world thanks to its edgy design. The big raptor, its memorable colour and the fact that it was worn by Vince Carter and T-Mac were possibly the main factors that made it so popular among basketball fans.

4. Chicago Bulls

That one might not be as eye-provoking as the ones we have seen so far but it couldn’t miss the Top 20. The legacy that it carries makes it automatically one of the most impactful jerseys in the NBA history. The biggest proof of that is that, no matter how many years have passed since the last time that MJ and his gang terrified their opponents while wearing it, its design has managed to survive until today with very few alterations.

3. Orlando Magic

And we have officially reached the Top 3! There was a time when Shaquille O’Neal was the king of Orlando. At that time, the Magic had the right jersey for their king and for other NBA legends such as Penny Hardaway and Tracy McGrady. This white jersey with the black stripes and the funky blue letters was a beauty and personally I hope that we will see it again in the Magic lockers one day.

2. Seattle Supersonics

I have to admit that I can’t be objective when it comes to Seattle. I miss the Sonics a lot and one of the reasons for that (apart from Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp) are these amazing jerseys above. Kevin Durant referred recently to his dream of seeing the Sonics coming back to action again in the future. Our hope? That he (or someone else) will somehow make it happen soon!

1. Detroit Pistons

Last but certainly not least, the Detroit Pistons. That is by far my favourite NBA jersey ever and I can’t hide it. The chosen colour in conjunction with the super-cool horse logo have turned this Pistons jersey to a classic. Add also to the mix that we have witnessed Grant Hill playing with it and you can understand why this jersey means so much.

What’s your favourite NBA jersey?

That’s all folks! Have a good look at the list and let me know in the comment section below what your favourite NBA jerseys are and why. I would love to hear from you!

There is absolutely no reason to feel bad about it, as I can assure you that most of us are in the exact same situation. With that in mind, I decided one day to dig a bit deeper and find some strange, or in any case eye-catching, NBA facts that you could never have imagined that they were true.

Prepare yourself for a very interesting and surprising journey to some of the strangest NBA facts that you have never heard before:

1. Once upon a time Shaquille was a rapper!

Everybody knows how dominating Shaquille O’Neal was inside the court. But that wasn’t the only place where Shaq was successful. Back in 1994, Shaquille O’Neal and Fu-Schnickens released the song “What’s up Doc” which was the opening act of Shaq in the hip-hop song.

Like it or not, you must admit that Shaq has the flow:

2. Pau Gasol had studied to become a doctor

Could you imagine visiting Pau Gasol for a medical advice? Me neither! Believe it or not, Pau Gasol has attended the Medical School but lucky for us he chose to focus on basketball which at the end seems like a good choice.

3. Kobe Bryant found love on a rap music set

While on the shootings of a hip-hop video, you expect to find many things but surely not the love of your life. That doesn’t apply to Kobe’s case. Bryant met Vanessa (his former wife) on the set of a Tha Eastsidaz recording proving that impossible is nothing if you have the right attitude and your eyes open.

4. The Cavs hold the biggest margin victory in NBA history

What if I tell you that there was life in the Cavs planet many years before the arrival of Lebron James? Back in 1991 (December 17th), the Cleveland Cavaliers played against the Miami Heat and won the game 148-80.

Read also: Five mega trades that were never completed

This 68-point margin is the largest ever noted in the NBA history and definitely a moment of pride for the Cavaliers.

5. Boston and New York are the only stable homes

That’s an extraordinary fact which shows how fragile things in the NBA are in terms of franchises and the area where they are actually based. The Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks are the only teams that have never moved from their base.

6. When every basket leads to jump ball

Yes, you understood correctly! There was a time in the NBA when jump balls were compulsory after every basket. I don’t even want to imagine how much the games would last if this was still a rule today.

7. Six games of Steph Curry equals to a year of Chamberlain’s basketball

The next NBA fact is a very good indication of how much the NBA has grown financially. Wilt Chamberlain had to play for an entire year in order to make as much money as Steph Curry made just by playing the first six games of this NBA season. Poor Wilt!

8. “Larry the Bird”

The logo of Twitter is actually named after Larry Bird. That’s probably the most random NBA fact you have ever heard!

9. The word “three-peat” is trademarked by Pat Riley

Last but certainly not least, Pat Riley has trademarked the word three-peat! And not only that but four different trademarks of the word belong to him according to ESPN.

10. A record that Wilt Chamberlain doesn’t hold

Scoring 2000 points during one NBA season is something extremely hard. Very few have achieved it and surprisingly Wilt Chamberlain wasn’t the first one. In 1957-58, George Yardley managed to score 2001 points becoming the first NBA player to reach this impressive milestone.

11. Harlem Globetrotters have retired Chamberlain’s jersey

Most of NBA fans have associated Wilt Chamberlain with his dominant NBA performances and of course his 100-point night in 1962 against the New York Knicks. Truth is that Chamberlain’s basketball journey started a bit earlier with the Harlem Globetrotters uniform.

He spent just one year with them but it proved to be more than enough. The Globetrotters retired the jersey with number 13 in 2000 (March 9).

12. Have you heard of Walter Allen?

I’m sure you have but it might be hard to guess who it is. That is Ray Allen, of course! That’s an extremely random NBA fact which very few would know. But now you are also one of them. Congrats!

13. Vince Carter was drafted by the Golden State Warriors

When you hear Vince Carter, Toronto Raptors come to mind. That’s a very logical reflex for most of us. That being said, imagine my shock when I found out that Vince Carter wasn’t drafted by the Toronto Raptors but traded there later on.

In the 1998 NBA draft, the team from Toronto chose Antawn Jamison as its fourth pick. As soon as they acquired Jamison they sent him to the Golden State Warriors. The opposite journey was done by Vince Carter who by the way was a very good friend with Jamison back then.

14. Kobe Bryant was No. 13 in NBA Draft

Is this real life? As a matter of fact, yes! Kobe Bryant wasn’t selected in the Top 10 draft picks of the 1996 NBA Draft. What’s even more shocking is the list of the players who were picked by the NBA teams before  Kobe Bryant.

In a nutshell, here are all twelve of them:

1. Allen Iverson
2. Marcus Camby
3. Shareef Abdur-Rahim
4. Stephon Marbury
5. Ray Allen
6. Antoine Walker
7. Lorenzen Wright
8. Kerry Kittles
9. Samaki Walker
10. Erick Dampier
11. Todd Fuller
12. Vitaly Potapenko

15. The best NBA free-throw shooter is…

Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Steph Curry DON’T hold the title of the most efficient free-throw shooter in the NBA history. Can you guess who holds it? Probably not and that’s why it’s considered to be one of the most random NBA facts!

Mark Price with 90.4% is the man you want to trust with the ball if your team is heading to the charity line!

16. Do you know NBA’s “Pink Panther”?

Not sure about the reasons of this nickname but Toni Kukoc was the man who had to live with it.

17. Wilt Chamberlain holds a very unique Rookie record

Among other records and achievements in his basketball career, Wilt Chamberlain holds a great record which has to do with his performances throughout his rookie year in the NBA. More analytically, he is the only one to lead the league in terms of scoring in his rookie season.

Chamberlain averaged 37.6 points which is a remarkable achievement and another NBA fact that you might have not heard of.

18. Chris Webber was drafted by Orlando but never wore the Magic jersey

Chris Webber entered the NBA as one of the most promising assets for the future of the league. That comes as no surprise if we consider his great numbers during college (17.4 points and 10 rebounds per game).

The Orlando Magic was the lucky team to pick him in the first position of the 1993 NBA draft. At this point, most would expect that with a choice like that Orlando would start building their future empire around Webber. But the Magic had a different plan. They offered Chris Webber to the Warriors in exchange for Penny Hardaway.

That’s admittedly a fun NBA fact as the majority of basketball fans believe that Chris Webber was in Golden State from day one.

19. “Mr Bean” is the god of Los Angeles

Yes, you guessed right! Random NBA fact number 19 has to do with Kobe Bryant and his unique middle name. Kobe Bean Bryant had managed to keep this secret for quite a while with great success but now it’s out there. Sorry not sorry!

20. Bill Russell wasn’t always a Celtic

The next NBA fact will be kind of surprising for the fans from Boston. Bill Russell won 11 rings with the Celtics and will always be seen as an emblematic figure for them and the city of Boston. Nonetheless, there was a time in his basketball career where Russell had to step forward for some other colours.

More specifically, he was coaching the Seattle Supersonics from 1973 to 1977 and the Sacramento Kings in 1987-88. It goes without saying that Russell didn’t have the same impact there as he had on the Celtics.

21. Oscar Robertson is the only player who had an entire season of triple-doubles

With all these great players who have played in the NBA, you would think that there would be more than one who managed to average a triple-double for an entire season. Interestingly enough, Oscar Robertson is the only one who has achieved that. In 1962, he had on average 30.8 pts, 12.5 rbs, and 11.4 assists.

The funny thing is that he wasn’t named MVP of the league that season, as he was leading the league only in terms of assists. In any case, though, an unprecedented season for Oscar Robertson.

22. The crazy winning and losing strike of the Suns in the same season

The 1996-97 Phoenix Suns was a team of paradox. That’s the only explanation to the fact that they had in the same season a 10-loss and a 10-win streak. Namely, they started the season with 13 straight losses.

Things changed drastically for the better once Jason Kidd came aboard. In the end, the Suns made it even to that year’s playoff.

23. Michael Jordan wasn’t the first draft pick

Well, that would almost be a blasphemy if it wasn’t for Hakeem Olajuwon. Michael Jordan was selected in the third place in the NBA draft behind Hakeem and Sam Bowie (!).

24. Yao Ming is the NBA All-Star game “Guru”

Yao Ming is the only NBA player of the modern era who had made it to all NBA All-Star games during the period that was actively playing the game. That’s a record that even NBA legends such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant would be seriously jealous of.

25. Ben Simmons can’t make 3-pointers

Ben Simmons is one of the most influential players for the Philadelphia 76ers but he is not perfect. His 3-point skills seems to need a lot of improvement if we take into account that Simmons “managed” to make zero 3-pointers in 2,732 minutes during his Rookie season in the NBA.

26. Allen Iverson has the most steals in a single NBA Playoff game

It’s true that when we think of Allen Iverson, the first thing that crosses our mind has to do with his great scoring abilities and his airy basketball style. Few might know that Allen Iverson is also the holder of a defence-related record.

In the 1999 Playoffs, Iverson had 10 steals in the same game against the Orlando Magic. In AI we trust!

27. Vince Carter has an artistic side

Dunking is an art of its own but this apparently wasn’t enough for NBA legend Vince Carter. During his high-school years, Vinsanity was playing the drums. I haven’t heard him playing so I can’t judge but I’m sure that basketball was a better fit for him.

28. Shawn Kemp in Top 10 draft picks? Well…

Surprise surprise! After Kobe Bryant, another NBA legend who wasn’t appreciated in the NBA drafts was Shawn Kemp. He was picked in the 17th position by the Seattle Supersonics. One thing is sure: many GM’s were banging their head on the wall after seeing him playing!

29. Derrick Rose now and then

Derrick is back and the numbers talk for themselves. Rose is having the best season of his career since 2011. He is averaging 18.5 points and 4.6 assists per game with 48.5% FG and 47% 3-point FG.

30. Muggsy Bogues was a first-round NBA draft pick

Who can forget Muggsy Bogues? The shortest player (5’3”) who have ever played in the NBA and managed to become a hero for many basketball fans due to his height and the fights on court.

Despite his popularity, nobody expected that Muggsy Bogues would be selected as a first-round pick in the 1987 draft by the Washington Bullets. He was chosen in the 12th position and he managed to play in the league for 14 years.

31. The career high of KD is just 54 points!

Now, don’t get me wrong here. Scoring 54 points in a NBA game isn’t something easy. To the contrary, it’s a remarkable achievement. Nevertheless, when we are talking about Kevin Durant the expectations are a bit higher. Especially, if we take into account that there have been 58 players who have scored more points in the course of all these years.

The good news is that KD has very good chances to improve his record very soon if he continues to perform like he does today.

32. The Raptors aren’t the first Toronto-based basketball team

Yes, you heard correctly! The Raptors aren’t the first basketball team to represent the city of Toronto and by extension Canada in the NBA.

The first Toronto-based basketball team to participate in the magic world of the NBA was the Toronto Huskies. Nevertheless, they didn’t last long as they joined the NBA only for a season (22-38) without being able to join the playoffs. To be fair, Canada wasn’t yet sold to the idea of the NBA so at that time it was pretty difficult for the Huskies to rise and shine in such a demanding league.

But wait there’s more!

If you feel that you want to hear some more about this topic, check the video below made by JxmyHighroller:

Do you know any more?

Wrapping it up, these are some of the strangest NBA facts that I bet most of you didn’t know. Take a good look at the list and let me know in the comment section below whether there are any more that should have been included!

Through his basketball journey, he has been many times criticized due to his eccentric lifestyle and sometimes controversial behavior. One thing that nobody can say about “The Answer” is that he hasn’t been true both to the game and to the people around him.

His NBA All-Time Starting Five selection proved that again. Allen Iverson was asked to pick the top NBA starting lineup of all times excluding himself. His choice was very interesting as we saw players such as Magic Johnson and Hakeem Olajuwon to be left out.

Find also: Could Luka Doncic be the next Dirk Nowitzki?

To the contrary, Iverson seemed to have strong faith in the current NBA generation, as two out the five players he chose are still taking the NBA world by storm. This fact can also be considered as a strong proof by Iverson’s side that he is not the type of guy who is obsessed with the past.

He acknowledges that as the sport is rapidly moving forward and he is ready to praise those who truly deserve it. And that’s what makes both Allen Iverson and his NBA All-Time Starting Five selection so interesting for every basketball fan around the globe.

Without much ado, here is the NBA All-Time Starting Lineup as chosen by Iverson himself:

Steph Curry, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal are part of AI’s list for his NBA All-Time Starting Five. Of course, this list is completely subjective and it doesn’t mean any disrespect to other NBA legends such as Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Tim Duncan and many more.

After all, as Allen Iverson himself explained while talking with Stephen A. Smith in ESPN radio, the list refers to five guys that AI really enjoys seeing on the court. It has nothing to do with whether they are the five greatest of all times or not.

Furthermore, Iverson clarified that the reason he didn’t go for someone like Magic Johnson had simply to do with the fact that they played the game some years before him and he hadn’t experienced them playing as much as he did with the five guys that he included in the list.

In any case, though, we are talking about a very tricky list for anyone to put together. NBA is a galaxy of basketball stars and legends for many decades now and it goes without saying that there have been quite a few who had a serious impact on the way we hoop today.

Shaq: “Here is my NBA All-Time Starting Lineup”

Shaquille O’Neal was the first to come up with a response to AI’s list and judging by his picks Iverson did a damn good job with his. Shaq had only one little disagreement as you can see below.

What was this? O’Neal replaced himself in the list with Allen Iverson. For sure a gesture of great altruism by probably the most dominant center in the history of the game.

Needless to say that many of Shaqs’ followers disagreed with his selection and told him that he should start giving a little more credit to himself given the influence that he had in the game. If we take into account that every team needs a great big guy, I think that most of us would agree that Shaq has to get back in this list!

“Mike is the GOAT!”

After revealing his NBA All-Time starting 5, Allen Iverson referred also to the eternal discussion around the greatest player of all time. The Answer made his feelings pretty clear at this point by voting for Michael Jordan:

“I’m hearing a lot of people these days fronting like they have LeBron over Mike!!

Man….. listen. First of all, I love LeBron. I have nothing but love for LeBron. That’s the best player of his generation, one of the best ever, a great husband, great father, great role model, and it’s even beyond that: What he’s doing with that school in Akron?? It’s a beautiful thing.

But y’all.

We’re talking about Mike.

We’re talking about Mike, O.K.??

We’re talking about Black Jesus himself.

And I don’t really have much more to say beyond that. Mike is the GOAT……. Mike is always going to be the GOAT. And please don’t even insult me with any of this “stats, AI!” business, like you have a chance of changing my mind.”

The DunkStories NBA All-Time Starting Five

After all this discussion about the greatest NBA starting lineup, I had also to join the debate and present my dream five below.

There you have it! The DunkStories All-Time Starting Five: Allen Iverson, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Hakeem Olajuwon!

The selection is again purely subjective and doesn’t mean that those not included couldn’t be there. But there are only five spots available so someone should stay out. And this is the million-dollar question for you, as well!

Who is in your all time starting five? Leave a comment below!

Featured image: NBAreligion.com

Madrid proved to be the perfect destination for him and without exaggeration his second home in Europe. He was already an active member of the “Blancos” at the age of 16 and just a year ago Doncic conquered Europe both with Real Madrid and the national team of Slovenia.

Not bad for a basketball player who is just 18 years old. Naturally, last summer it was the time for his big step to the NBA. From day one his name was among the top choices in the draft and stayed there until the end.

Read also: 10 European basketball legends who never played in NBA

Luka Doncic was selected by the Atlanta Hawks as the third overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft and was subsequently traded to the Mavericks for Trae Young and a 2019 protected first round pick. I think that this was a deal that will stay in history as a game-changer for the NBA history.

Dallas has been so far a very hospitable home for Doncic. The presence of Dirk Nowitzki, who has been through almost the exact same process in the past, and a group of players who have both experience and ambition to bring the Mavericks back to the playoffs offer Luka a significant headstart in his NBA journey.

And this is where the big, and kind of taboo, question comes up! Could Luka Doncic be the next Nowitzki for Dallas?

I know that many of the Dallas fans who see this sentence are ready to jump on their keyboards and start writing and long arguments why this can’t happen. But hear me out. Yes, Dirk is one and only and by now an NBA legend who will never be forgotten.

Nevertheless, it’s the first time after the magnificent NBA championship against the Miami Heat in 2011 that the basketball project of Dallas looks appealing. Of course, it’s not only Doncic who is responsible for that. But we have to agree that he is that little extra that makes the Mavericks a team with a very promising future.

“Luka is better than me when I was 19”

When Dirk Nowitzki, a living legend for the Dallas Mavericks, says that for you then there’s something you are doing right.

Is he better than you when you were 19?

“Oh yeah. I could shoot a little bit but I never had the court vision … the savviness that he brings to the game. Just the way he already reads the pick and roll … all the stuff like Chris Paul and these guys do … He’s going to be fun to watch especially with bigs like DeAndre (Jordan) and Dwight (Powell) rolling to the rim … He’s going to pick defenses apart and it’s going to be fun to watch.”, said Dirk Nowitzki.

And he added:

“I’m really liking what I’m seeing. He’s incredible with the ball for a big guy. He’s unbelievable in pick and roll play. His court vision is already unbelievable. I couldn’t believe what I saw from a 19/20-year-old. He’s a good shooter when he has time and I think he’s going to be great for us for a long long time.”

These more than flattering words of Dirk for Luka Doncic shows what in the most emphatic way what we all see on the court. A player who can pass, shoot and be decisive when he has the ball in his hands. And most important, a player who is just 19 years old.

However, despite his remarkable maturity and talent it is extremely crucial that the Mavericks and the basketball fans in general don’t put too much pressure on him yet. After all, Luka is a player who has just started his basketball journey and who is still adjusting to the demanding NBA world.

“I don’t want to put too much pressure on him, either. But coming over from a different country, I went through the same thing 20 years ago. It’s tough. You have to adjust to a lot of things. For me, that took a whole year. That year was really really tough.”, underlines Dirk.

What the numbers say

They say that actions speak louder than words and stats are here to prove in the case of Doncic. After 18 games in the league, Luka Doncic is averaging 19.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1 steal per game.

On top of that, Doncic had scored 198 points in his first ten games in the NBA. That’s the second-most than anyone who was 19 years old or younger. Just to give you an idea, Kevin Durant is the only who managed to score more (201 points).

Find here: NBA rumors: Five mega-trades that were never completed

But he didn’t stop there! Doncic became the first player under 20 years old to score 292 points in his first 15 games in the League.

If these performances continue, there is no doubt that Doncic will be the number one candidate for the Rookie of the Year award. In my opinion, with his achievements so far he deserves it for sure.

There is only one category where he could have done a little better and that’s his turnovers per game (3.8). But again, if we take into account that he is a point-guard this number isn’t that bad. And it is almost sure that it will get better as he plays more and gets more familiar with playing against the best in the world.

The stairway to success

Back to our initial question, I know that nobody can be sure at this point that Luka Doncic will be the successor of Nowitzki’s heavy legacy. Nonetheless, what we can be sure about is that he is only one who looks ready to take on this behemoth burden right now.

If Dallas supports him and most important shows patience then I don’t see any reason why this 19-year-old superstar can’t take the NBA by storm and write his name with golden letters in the Mavericks history.

Of course, there is a bunch of reasons who could bring things upside down. Injuries, bad roster, a trade and many more but thankfully these scenaria don’t look very likely.

The only thing that Luka needs to worry about is to avoid getting too comfortable in his own skin. We should not forget that he is still a kid and that his journey to adulthood, both in terms of basketball and life, is just in the beginning.

This is also where the role of the Mavericks organisation is deemed to be fundamental. Doncic is their most valuable asset right now and they have to do their best in order to help him evolve physically and mentally.

I strongly believe that Dallas should follow the example of the Bucks with Giannis. They brought him in the NBA in a very early stage of his career and they gave him the time and space to evolve. Now in the age of 23, we can confidently put Giannis in the same sentence with Lebron.

Allen Iverson reveals his NBA All-Time Starting Five

This doesn’t mean that Doncic is like Antetokounmpo but in his own scale Luka can already be a veteran in the age of 23 if Dallas plays its cards right.

And I’m pretty sure that if this happens Dirk Nowitzki will be in a corner watching Doncic playing and think “well, he is better than me in the age of 23, as well”. That will be the biggest victory for Doncic, for the Mavericks, and of course for basketball!

Halleluka: An ode to Luka Doncic

What a better way to finish this article than with a song made specifically for Luka Doncic. The team in Ringer showed their artistic side and prepared an ode to the biggest favorite for the Rookie Award of 2019.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is an ode to Mavericks’ savior. Enjoy responsibly!

Featured image: Sportsday.dallasnews.com

The Arrival To Orlando

After a tough childhood and a successful high school and college career in Robert G. Cole High School and LSU respectively, it was time for O’Neal to take the next step by joining the magical NBA world. The Orlando Magic offered him this opportunity in the summer of 1992.

Shaq’s arrival to the NBA was one of the most celebrated entrances in the history of sports. He was well-known before he even stepped on a NBA court.  It’s indicative that he spent a considerable amount of that summer together with Magic Johnson in Los Angeles. Shaquille O’Neal made an incredible start in NBA, as he was named Player of the Week in his first week as an Orlando Magic player.

The stats of Shaq during his rookie season simply were breath-taking: 23.4 points – 13.9 rebounds and 3.5 blocks on average. No wonder why he earned the NBA Rookie of the Year award for 1993.

Shaq stayed in Orlando for three more years and he continued being dominant on court. Together with Penny Hardaway led the Magic in 1993-94 in the NBA playoffs for the first time in Orlando’s history. The ending of this journey was really fast (3-0 loss against the Pacers), but the Magic managed to reach to the 1995 NBA finals the next year. However, they lost the series against the defending champions Houston Rockets.

L.A. Is Calling

His last year in Orlando wasn’t ideal, due to injuries and his competition with Penny Hardaway. In 1996, the Los Angeles Lakers came across Shaq’s way. Shaquille O’Neal considered L.A. as the best choice for his career at this point. His desire to work on other projects outside of basketball such as rap music and acting was an extra motivation for him to join the Lakers.

O’Neal signed a lucrative 7 year contract of $121 million. In his first season, he numbered 26.2 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. The numbers of Shaq remained high the next two seasons but something wasn’t going right for the Lakers. His lack of focus on the game was one of the main arguments against him in L.A. On top of that, a rivalry with Kobe Bryant had started becoming evident. Both players wanted to be the leaders and this started building some extra tension within the team.

Read Also: 10 Huge NBA Stars That Played In Europe

Everything changes – for a while at least – when Phil Jackson was hired as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers in 1999. He was the one who managed to take the best out of Shaq and help him ignore the noise around him. Moreover, he brought Kobe and Shaquille closer and achieved to create a nice and family-like environment between the players of the team.

These elements in combination with the incredible talent of the whole team and the leading performances of O’Neal and Bryant led L.A. to the three-peat! O’Neal was also voted as MVP of the regular season for 1999-2000.

The end of Shaquille O’Neal in Los Angeles came in 2004. After the three spectacular championship triumphs, things started to change again in the Lakers organization. Bryant was feeling that it was time for him to be under the spotlight, while O’Neal couldn’t accept that. Many paralleled Shaq to the jealous older brother of Bryant. Furthermore, Lakers were swept two consecutive times against the Jazz and the Spurs and as a result Phil Jackson was fired from the team. This was pretty much the final hit for the presence of O’Neal in Los Angeles.

Next Stop: Miami

The Miami Heat was the next destination in Shaq’s eventful basketball career. O’Neal arrived to Miami after a trade deal between the Heat and the Lakers. Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant and an upcoming first round draft choice were given to the Lakers.

Shaq was excited for this new opportunity and he wanted to prove that he wasn’t the one to blame in his tensed relation with Kobe. In that sense, he presented a very different profile when he arrived in Miami. He put himself one step behind Dwayne Wade who was the favorite kid of the town in Miami.

O’Neal stayed in Miami for four years and in 2006 managed to win his fourth NBA championship. Wade was the leading star of Heat’s success but O’Neal, Antoine Walker and Jason Williams had a great contribution to it, as well. Shaq averaged 13.7 points 10.2 rebounds in the final series against Dallas Mavericks.

The Final Years

After a rough last season with the Miami Heat in 2008, Shaquille O’Neal was traded to the Phoenix Suns. He stayed there only for a year and it actually was the first year in his career after his rookie season that Shaquille O’Neal didn’t manage to reach to the NBA Playoffs. In general, though, he performed better than his last year in Miami.

Find Also Here: The Kyrie Irving Trade Drama: It’s (Lebr)ON!

O’Neal was traded to Cleveland Cavaliers in 2009. The stats of Shaq in Cleveland were disappointing as he had career lows in almost every category. But of course his less important role there played a significant role toward that. Nevertheless, he managed to reach to the Eastern Conference semifinals where the Cavs were eliminated by the Boston Celtics (4-2).

Last stop in this amazing career was Boston. Shaq joined the Celtics in 2010 and retired with their jersey on June of 2011. He announced his decision to retire in social media on the June 1st and he held a press conference about it on June 3rd.

Shaqtin’ A Fool

Shortly after his retirement O’Neal became part of the TV show Inside The NBA, the TNT post-game program. Using his incredible humor and smooth communication skills, Shaquille O’Neal is roasting players, referees, mascots and fans with great success. His most famous victim is JaVale McGee, the center of Golden State Warriors. Shaq also is part of the commentary team of the Inside The NBA show.

Shaq is Love, Shaq Is Life

Hate him or love him, Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most dominant guys that ever played the game. His natural talent in conjunction with his extraordinary physical characteristics made him one of the most fun to watch and memorable NBA players. It goes without saying, that Shaq could have achieved more if he was able to control his ego a bit better and if he was trying to focus a bit more on basketball in the early years. However, this is one of the things that make O’Neal special. His rebellious spirit and his straightforward character.

In the end of the day, you can do nothing more but admiring this guy for what he has achieved and being sure that somehow the Shaq Effect will kick in again!

Featured Image: Sportsmadeinusa.com

This week, DunkStories focuses on some of the most notable European basketball legends who never made it to the NBA despite their tremendous impact on the sport. The criteria of my selection are quite diverse as they have to do with a number of factors such as the number of titles won in their career, their popularity and their personal career achievements.

Without further delay, let’s have a closer look at ten basketball legends who never played in NBA:

10. Felipe Reyes

Felipe Reyes, Real Madrid and Spanish basketball legend, is undoubtedly one of the biggest European players of the last two decades that hasn’t played in the NBA. He moved from Estudiantes to Real Madrid back in 2004 and he never left the “Blancos” since then.

He has many times been criticised for his lack of athleticism, but his smooth moves and high basketball intelligence has made him one of the most respectable big guys in Euroleague’s history.

A look at his achievements all these years can be convincing:

• 2 Euroleague titles in 2015 and 2018
• 1 Eurocup title in 2007
• 6 ACB championships (2005, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018)
• 6 Spanish Cup titles (2000, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
• 1 FIBA Intercontinental Cup (2015)
• 2 silver and 1 bronze Summer Olympics medals (2008, 2012, 2016)
• 1 gold FIBA World Cup medal (2006)
• 3 gold (2009, 2011, 2015), 2 silver (2003, 2007) and 1 bronze Eurobasket medals (2001)

9. Sergei Belov

We travel a bit back in time where we meet the Russian basketball legend, Sergei Belov. He played for CSKA Moscow from 1968 until 1980 and he was also an emblematic player for the national team of the Soviet Union.

His most memorable performance was in the final of the 1972 Summer Olympic Games against the United States. In a dramatic game (51-50) which ended with the Soviets winning the gold medal, Sergei Belov scored 20 points and he was the x-factor for his team. That night he became a hero for an entire nation.

Apart from the Summer Olympics gold medal, Sergei Belov has won two Euroleague trophies, 11 USSR league titles and two USSR cups with CSKA Moscow. Without a doubt, a Russian basketball legend!

8. JR Holden

Speaking of Russian basketball legends, JR Holden is next on our list. The American who got the Russian citizenship and helped both CSKA Moscow and Russia to conquer Europe. Holden played for 10 years in CSKA (2002-2011) and was one of their leaders all of these years.

Read also: Euroleague MVP: Top 10 candidates

He celebrated two Euroleague championships but the most memorable moment of his career is his breathtaking buzzer-beater shot against Spain in the 2007 Eurobasket Final. The Russians under David Blatt’s guidance managed to win the Spanish national team despite the fact that they were the underdog in this fight.

JR Holden came many times close to continue his career in the NBA but it seems that Europe felt more like home to him in this long and remarkable basketball journey.

7. Sergio Llull

Second Real Madrid player on our list. The one and only Sergio Llull. Half of the NBA teams (if not all) would love to have him in their roster but Llull is loyal to Madrid. During the last years many great players have played by his side (Sergio Rodriguez, Luka Doncic, Nikola Mirotic, etc.) but Llull was always the brain and heart of this team.

He can put the ball in the basket in a million different ways and he is surely one of the most eye-catching players who have ever appeared in European basketball. Llull played first time for Real Madrid in 2007 and all these years he has won two Euroleague championships (2015, 2018), five Spanish league titles (2007, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018), two Spanish cups (2012, 2017) and many individual awards.

It goes without saying that he has celebrated a number of medals with the Spanish national team, too:

• Three gold (2009, 2011, 2015) and one bronze (2013) Eurobasket medals
• One silver (2012) and one bronze (2016) Olympic medals
• One silver FIBA Europe under-20 championship medal (2007)
• One gold FIBA Europe under-18 championship medal (2004)

I think the titles talk for themselves. Ladies and gentlemen, Sergio Llull!

6. Dino Meneghin

Dino Meneghin is the proof that Italians can hoop. Meneghin spent most years of his career in two giants of Italian basketball: Varese (1966-1980) and Olimpia Milano (1980-1990, 1993-1994). Due to his dominant performances, everybody was expecting that sooner or later would end up in the NBA.

Nevertheless, he never took this big step and kept offering memorable basketball moments to European basketball lovers. He is the man with most Euroleague championships (seven!!!) and it’s no coincidence that in 1980 and 1983 was chosen as the European Player of the Year (Mr. Europa).

And not only that, as he is member of the Basketball Hall of Fame which is probably one of the biggest honors for every basketball player around the globe.

Meneghin has also been included in FIBA’s 50 Greatest Players (1991), and  has been named as one of 50 Greatest Euroleague Contributors (2008). It is no exaggeration to say that he is one of the most influential players in the history of Italian basketball (gold Eurobasket medal in 1983) and a true European basketball legend!

5. Theo Papaloukas

When we are talking about European basketball legends, we have to include Theo Papaloukas. One of the most admirable players of Euroleague in the last twenty years with great career in CSKA Moscow and Olympiacos.

Thodoris Papaloukas was the mastermind of his team inside the court, and nobody can forget that he could pass the ball in every way possible. Simply put, he could make his teammates better just with one pass. He has won two Euroleague titles with CSKA Moscow in 2006 and 2008 and he has been named Euroleague Basketball Legend in 2013.

Papaloukas has a long history with the Greek National team, as well. He was part of the great team that got the gold Eurobasket medal in 2005 and the silver World cup medal in 2006. He came very close to sign in NBA twice but he preferred to remain in Europe given his influence on the game there.

4. Fragiskos Alvertis

The eternal captain of Panathinaikos BC is another European basketball legend who never made it to the NBA. If you take a look at his achievements with the “Greens”, you can understand why he never felt the need to leave the Greek powerhouse and try his luck in the NBA.

Twenty years in the same team (1990-2009), countless trophies and memorable moments:

• 5 EuroLeague titles (1996, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2009)
• 11 Greek League trophies (1998–2002, 2004–2009)
• 8 Greek Cup titles (1993, 1996, 2003, 2005–2009)
• 2 Triple Crowns (2007, 2009)
• 1 FIBA Intercontinental Cup (1996)

And many more individual awards which could take us a day to list them all. I mean he has even won a Greek League trophy as the Head Coach of Panathinaikos BC in 2014.

Panathinaikos honored his contribution to the team by retiring his jersey with the number 4 in an emotional friendly game against CSKA Moscow that took place in Athens in October 11th 2009.

3. Dejan Bodiroga

“Sex, droga and Dejan Bodiroga” was the chant that you could hear all around Europe every time Dejan Bodiroga was stepping on the court. Member of the outstanding Yugoslavian national team, Dejan is undoubtedly one of the biggest basketball personas that never played in the NBA.

He is still considered to be a legend for Panathinaikos BC and Barcelona. He has won three Euroleague championships: two with the Greens (2000, 2002) and one with Barca (2003). For many, his most memorable performances were in the Final Four of Bologna where Panathinaikos managed to win the trophy despite the fact that they arrived in Italy as the big outsider.

Find here: Derrick Rose’s 50-point game: A superhero is back!

Naturally, Bodiroga was named Euroleague Final Four MVP and automatically became an eternal hero for the fans in Athens.

As far as his achievements with the National team of Yugoslavia are concerned, Dejan Bodiroga has celebrated three Eurobasket titles (1995, 1997, 2001) and two FIBA World Cup titles (1998, 2002). He has also a silver medal in the Summer Olympics of 1996.

2. Dimitris Diamantidis

If Panathinaikos was a person, it would be him! Dimitris Diamantidis is the natural continuation of Fragiskos Alvertis in the team and probably the player with the biggest contribution in the history of the club.

Diamantidis spent thirteen years (2004-2016) in Panathinaikos BC where he celebrated quite a few titles:

• 3 Euroleague champions (2007, 2009, 2011)
• 9 Greek league champions (2005-2011, 2013, 2014)
• 10 Greek cup titles (2005-2009, 2012-2016)
• 2 triple crowns (2007, 2009)

But that’s not all, as he was also decisive for the National team of Greece. Who can forget his three-point buzzer beater against France in the semi-final of the 2005 Eurobasket in Belgrade. Greece won the title in the Final against Germany and Diamantidis will always be regarded as the one who carried the team to this victory. On top of that, the year after Diamantidis was together with Thodoris Papaloukas part of the Greek national team that managed to reach to the Final of the FIBA World Cup in Japan.

There aren’t many who deny that Diamantidis could have a great career in the NBA but for him staying with his green family was always a priority!

1. Nick Galis

Last but certainly not least, Nick Galis! A European basketball legend who changed the game as we know it not only in Greece but in the entire continent. He was selected by the Boston Celtics in the 1979 NBA draft but he never played there.

What he was meant to do instead was to bring the first gold Eurobasket medal to Greece (44 points in the Final against the Soviet Union) and change forever the relationship of his country with basketball. Furthermore, he was the leader of former Greek powerhouse Aris BC and later joined Panathinaikos BC where he also retired.

On September 8 2017, Nick Galis became part of the most prestigious closed club in the basketball society. He was accepted to the Naismith Memorial International Basketball Hall of Fame, in Massachussetts. It is no exaggeration to say that Galis is an NBAer that never got to play in the NBA not because he couldn’t do it but because he had a different mission in the basketball world.

Wrapping it up!

There you have it. Ten European basketball legends who for different reasons never played in the NBA. Nevertheless, their contribution to European basketball goes far beyond stats and trophies as they were and are the reason for many of us to start following this magical sport.

Are there any more players that we forgot to include in the list. Please let us know in the comments below!

Featured image: Ekipa24.si

Considering all the things that Derrick Rose have been through in his career, this 50-point game against the Jazz was a huge victory for basketball per se. And that’s the most important element that stays after a night like that.

This is no exaggeration if we take into consideration the way that both his teammates and opponents reacted after the end of the game. That’s one more proof that what Derrick Rose achieved on November 1st doesn’t come as easy as many might think.

And apparently that was only the beginning if we take into account his spectacular performance (31 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds) against the Lakers just a few nights ago.

The Timberwolves didn’t manage to create one more wound in LA’s ego but the new three point record of the franchise is something that will be remembered. With 7/9 three point shots, Derrick Rose played his own role in this eye-catching achievement.

Lebron for Derrick Rose: ‘He proved he’s still a superhero’

When the King calls you a superhero then you know you do something right. As soon as Rose’s 50-point game was completed, Lebron James was one of the first people to praise him for this sensational performance.

“You can look at that performance by Derrick Rose. That’s why our game is so unbelievable! Even when a superhero’s knocked down he’s still a superhero and Derrick Rose showed why he’s still a superhero.”, said Lebron James.

What makes this game even more special, not only for Rose but probably for NBA’s modern history, is the fact that he wasn’t supposed to be a starter in the game. However, with Jimmy Butler and Jeff Teague out Derrick Rose had a valuable opportunity to get out there and take the team on his shoulders.

Read also: NBA rumors: Five mega-trades that were never completed

Same goes for the game against the Lakers. Derrick Rose stepped on the court ready to take full responsibility and lead Minnesota to victory. He could have achieved it if he had that call in the end of the game.

But that’s not important. What matters is that Rose seems to be able to maintain his performance standards this year and put his name in the shop window again. He also showed that the role of the mentor fits him well.

That’s also what he admitted on camera after his 50-point game. Rose is one of the most experienced players in Tom Thibodeau’s team and he seems to be surprisingly comfortable with the responsibilities that come with it.

Some might say that this might be a liberating moment for him in terms of basketball and it proves that motivation and basketball respect might be what he was after all along.

Could Derrick Rose be the anti-Butler for the Timberwolves?

If we have to be brutally honest, I don’t believe that this is possible. Jimmy Butler is in probably the best shape of his career and ready to take the next step pursuing his first NBA championship.

On the other side, Derrick Rose seems to come back but it would be too naive to believe that he can overcome completely his horrifying injury past and reach at the standards that made him MVP in the NBA the season 2010-11.

However, I have to say that it looks like a small yet admirable win for Rose that his name is back in the same sentence with that of Jimmy Butler when we are talking about the position of the leader in the Timberwolves (or any other NBA franchise).

Find here: Top 10 Vince Carter dunks as chosen by Vinsanity himself!

At the end of the day, everything is at his hands. If Rose manages to prove that his 50-point game wasn’t a one-night thing but an exclamation mark on the belief that he is back on the game, then sky is the limit.

After all how many players can do the things that Derrick Rose has done in his career? Rookie of the year at the age of 22 and the youngest MVP in the history of the league! You can’t ignore a basketball CV like that for sure!

Will another 50-point game come soon for Rose?

That’s hard to say but it would be no surprise anymore. Ask the Lakers that just a few nights ago saw him dropping 31 points. Of course we should not forget that as Rose starts performing strong again, the opponents will start adjusting their defence to him and make his life in court harder and harder.

But it won’t be the first time this happens! Derrick Rose has a big battle ahead and that’s only with himself. On the one side of the ring it’s his experience and his fiery desire to get on top of his game and on the other side is his personal demons either we are talking about his past injuries or his mind.

Sweet home Minnesota!

The good news is that Rose has a strong ally by his side and that’s the Timberwolves franchise. Despite the adventurous preseason in Minnesota due to the drama with Butler, it appears it’s the right environment for Rose.

A team which combines experience and young talent in an environment that looks familiar if we take into consideration the presence of Thibodeau and his former teammates from Chicago. Most important, Minnesota is a basketball environment of low pressure (let’s be honest there are no high expectations for this season) at the moment which can give him the freedom to focus on his game.

It is no coincidence that until now this is the most productive season of Derrick Rose in terms of scoring since 2011-12. He is at the right place the right time. All left now is to prove that he can consistently remain on the top.

And who knows? Maybe we will have to write about another 50-point game by Rose soon!

Featured image: TheStar.com  

In the list you will see some of the biggest names of the league and you will quickly realise that the distance between success and failure for a player or a franchise can be only a few details away.

Without further delay, here are five NBA trades that could have broken the league as selected by DunkStories:

5. Scottie Pippen for Shawn Kemp

What would you say if Scottie Pippen had left the Bulls for the Seattle Supersonics, and at the same time Shawn Kemp had moved to Chicago? A bit tough to imagine it, eh? Well, it’s an NBA rumor that almost came to life in 1994.

As revealed by George Karl, coach of the Sonics that season, the Chicago Bulls approached the team from Seattle in order to negotiate the trade of Shawn Kemp for Scottie Pippen. Given the tremendous potential of Kemp and the fact that he was four years younger than Pippen, the Supersonics rejected Bulls proposal.

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Back then, though, legendary former Bulls General Manager, Jerry Krause, didn’t confirm that this negotiation ever happened. His move made total sense, if we take into account that Scottie Pippen had just led the Bulls to a strong season (55 wins), while Michael Jordan was living his baseball dream with the Birmingham Barons.

In the end, Scottie Pippen stayed in Chicago and together with MJ after his return won three more NBA championships. As far as Shawn Kemp is concerned, he became a Sonics legend and gave us some remarkable dunks to remember!

4. Hakeem Olajuwon to Miami

Did you know that in 1992 Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets came very close to end their partnership? Well, now you do! Olajuwon had found himself to be largely disappointed by the way front-office of the Rockets was handling team’s future and openly requested a trade through his agent.

“If you have a disgruntled and unhappy superstar and there are irreconcilable differences, then a trade nearly always happens at some point”, said Hakeem’s agent to the press and the game for one of the most influential trades of all-times was on!

Read also: 32 strange NBA facts that you had no idea about

Despite the efforts of the Rockets to get rid of Olajuwon, though, the Heat refused Houston’s proposal twice. The first offer was refused because Miami wanted to keep in their team Steve Smith and Glen Rice. When the Rockets returned offering Olajuwon and Sleepy Floyd in return for Grant Long, Seikaly and Harold Miner, the answer was again negative.

Who could have told then that three years later the Rockets would win the NBA title two times in a row thanks to the outstanding performances of Hakeem Olajuwon. This must still hurt for the Heat!

3. Sir Charles to LA

Back in 1992, Charles Barkley was still playing for Philadelphia and there were already some serious cracks in his relationship with the team. Sir Charles was blaming the 76ers for being unable to find the right guys to play on his side in order for Philadelphia to become competitive.

This is where the Los Angeles Lakers came in the picture and the NBA rumors went crazy. The 76ers examined the possibility of trading Charles Barkley to LA for Elden Campbell and James Worthy. The deal eventually didn’t proceed and Barkley end up in Phoenix after a last disappointing season in Philadelphia where the 76ers didn’t make it to the NBA Playoffs.

Sir Charles was traded to the Suns for Tim Perry, Jeff Hornacek, and Andrew Lang and was named NBA MVP just on his first season there. On top of that, the Phoenix Suns made it to the NBA Finals the same season. Not bad for Barkley!

2. Kobe to join the Bulls

There are many who might not remember that but Kobe Bryant got very close to become a Bull in 2007. After one of the most disheartening seasons of his entire career, the Black Mamba talked very openly about his displeasure of playing in a team who lacked talent and the potential of becoming a title-contender.

Find here: Top 10 Vince Carter dunks as chosen by Vinsanity himself

The Chicago Bulls tried to benefit from this situation and land Kobe in Chicago by offering Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah, Ben Gordon, and Luol Deng to the Lakers. The deal was almost sealed but in the end Kobe refused to move in Chicago if Deng was also part of the trade. The reason was that Bryant believed a lot in Deng and thought that without him the Bulls would lose a lot of their potential.

This refusal by Kobe was a shifting point for LA’s history, as the Lakers achieved to bring Pau Gasol on board and finally match their most valuable asset with a star of top quality. Bryant and Gasol will lead the Lakers to three NBA Finals and will manage to win two of them.

1. Michael Jordan to the LA Clippers

We saved the best for last. An NBA rumor and a near-trade that could truly bring the entire NBA history upside down. As reported by Sam Smith in his book “The Jordan Rules”, the Los Angeles Clippers made an outstanding offer to the Chicago Bulls for acquiring Michael Jordan during the 1987-88 season.

More specifically, Donald Sterling,Clippers Owner at this point, was willing to offer any five players or draft picks to the Bulls in exchange for Michael. Chicago was under extreme pressure at that time as the team was struggling with qualifying for the Playoffs.

However, the Chicago Bulls never seemed to take this offer seriously and instead of giving away their most valuable player, they scanned the market for landing fresh talent which could help them build their own empire in the upcoming years.

All the rest is history, as the Chicago Bulls became under Michael Jordan one of the most emblematic franchises in the NBA history. To the contrary, the Los Angeles Clippers continued being in kind of the same state where they still are today.

Wrapping it up!

As you can see by the list above, NBA rumors can sometimes have some truth in them. Nevertheless, it’s not always that easy for a mega-trade to be completed. There is a number of factors that can have an impact in the development of the negotiations and change the NBA history for the worse or the better.

One thing is for sure though. You can never be sure for almost anyone when it comes to NBA trades. Under the right conditions and circumstances every deal in the magic world of basketball is possible!

Featured image: Rebloggy.com

Until today, there have been 13 different winners of the prestigious Euroleague MVP award. Maccabi’s Anthony Parker was the first player to be named as Euroleague’s Most Valuable Player of the year back in 2005. As if that wasn’t enough, Parker won again the award in 2006 and became the only player until today who have got the trophy twice.

Through the years the list consists of many Euroleague legends such as, Juan Carlos Navarro, Thodoris Papaloukas, and Dimitris Diamantidis.

Sergio Rodriguez, Vassilis Spanoulis, Sergio Llull, and Nando De Colo are some of those who have the opportunity to win it for a second time in their impressive career this year.

Without further ado, DunkStories presents to you the Top 10 candidates for winning the 2018-19 Euroleague MVP award:

10. Tornike Shengelia

Just recently, Baskonia extended Toko’s contract until 2022 and showed in the most emphatic way that he is the star of the team. If we also take into consideration that this year’s Final Four will take place in Vitoria then it doesn’t take much to understand that Shengelia has an excellent opportunity of making some serious noise in 2018-19 Euroleague season.

Despite the current win record (1-2) of the Basques, Shengelia has offered some very promising performances in the opening games of the regular season. It won’t be easy but with a some help from his teammates, ‘El Tokomotive’ has good chances of becoming the 2018-19 Euroleague MVP award winner.

9. Sergio Rodriguez

Rodriguez knows well how it feels to win this award, since he has won it in the past when he was playing for Real Madrid. Nevertheless, things have changed a bit now as he is in Moscow defending the CSKA colors.

He is one of CSKA’s game pillars and everybody is expecting from him and Nando De Colo to guide the Russians back to successes after the disappointing Final Four in Belgrade. Our guess is that Sergio Rodriguez will be among the main contestants for the Euroleague MVP award regardless of De Colo’s plethoric presence in the team.

8. Mike James

Mike James is one of Euroleague’s showmen and he proved it again in Piraeus last week. Nobody can’t doubt his talent in offence and his leader spirit. If you combine that with the ambitious 2018-19 Armani Milano team, then you can be sure that James will take Euroleague by storm this year.

Can he make it to the Euroleague MVP award? Probably no, but still I like his chances. Afterall, he is a true winner and it’s sure that he will fight for it until the end!

7. Vassilis Spanoulis

A Euroleague legend is back for one more spectacular season. Spanoulis has already won the Euroleague MVP award once and he could surely do it again. There is a lot of talk around the type of basketball that Olympiacos will play this season under coach Blatt but V-Span is expected to be again the cornerstone of the Reds.

6. Scottie Wilbekin

Maccabi Tel Aviv had a shaky start in this year’s Euroleague, but Scottie Wilbekin has so far been a pleasure to watch. Despite his little experience in Euroleague, Wilbekin is the mastermind of Maccabi and a nightmare for his opponents.

Read also: Euroleague Fantasy Challenge – 3 lineups to win the game

Last year he won the Eurocup Season MVP award, while playing for Darussafaka, and there are many who believe that this is the season where Wilbekin will conquer Euroleague, as well. If he manages to bring Maccabi back to the Final Four, he will be for sure one of the main candidates for the Euroleague MVP award.

5. Alexey Shved

Khimki has performed really bad in the first three rounds of the season but here is the thing: Shved was again unstoppable. He averages more than 25 points per game and almost every effort of his team runs through his hands.

His scoring instinct is lethal and if Khimki recovers Shved will be one of the favorites for the 2018-19 Euroleague MVP award. Can Khimki and coach Bartzokas help him achieve it? We’ll see!

4. Sergio Llull

After a season with lots of ups and downs, it’s great to see Sergio Llull being himself again. The captain of Real Madrid is back and has a million different ways to put the ball in the basket. The fact that he is playing in a team that has probably the biggest depth in the competition gives him a significant head start compared to most of his opponents in regard to the Euroleague MVP award.

Of course, it’s too early to say but if he remains healthy and Real Madrid gets to the Final Four (huge surprise if they don’t) I can’t see how he won’t be one of the top 3-4 candidates for becoming Euroleague’s regular season MVP.

3. Kostas Sloukas

When a coach like Obradovic gives you the opportunity to lead his team, then you are automatically seen as one of the most influential players of the entire competition. No other player of Fener has the ball in his hands more than Sloukas and we can see why. He is the one who can guide the team in the court, control the pace and bring Zeljko’s orders to life.

The fact that he can both score and pass in combination with his solid assist-turnover ratio make Kostas one of my top choices for the 2018-19 Euroleague MVP award.

2. Nick Calathes

Despite the fact that Nick Calathes hasn’t started this season very well, he averages more than 10 assists per game. I wouldn’t want to play against him once he gets to back on shape.

Almost everything in Panathinaikos is run by Calathes and I can’t see how he won’t be one of the top contenders for the MVP award if the Greens manage to have a solid season.

1. Nando De Colo

Nando De Colo sometimes plays like a robot. And yes, that’s a compliment for the superstar of CSKA Moscow. He knows when he is supposed to pass and when he should execute during a game. He has started this season very strong and given the quality of CSKA, it is almost sure that he will lead the Russians to the Final Four.

Another parameter that we should not forget is that De Colo is the leader of a team that has players such as Sergio Rodriguez, Kyle Hines and Will Clyburn. What more can you ask from him?

Where should I begin from? Lebron is now the king of LA, Leonard is in Toronto, while DeRozan took his place in San Antonio and many more changed team in the hope for more quality time or potentially a ring (just saying Carmelo Anthony and Demarcus Cousins).

All these and much more are coming in a few hours. Of course, it’s not everything perfect in NBA’s regular season. There are also many games that might feel like a waste of time both due to the quality of the teams or the lack of interest.

That being said, and as a continuation of the list I put together last year, here are the 15 games that you have to watch in 2018-19 NBA season:

1. October 16: Oklahoma City Thunder-Golden State Warriors

The return of Kevin Durant in Oklahoma will always have a special interest no matter what. Many believe that this is the last season of Durant in Golden State but this has nothing to do with the way Westbrook and the Thunder fans feel about Durant. For one more year, Oklahoma will try to come closer to the dream of the NBA Finals, while the Warriors will do the best in order to get the title for second year in a row. An excellent way to open the 2018-19 NBA season for sure!

2. October 18: Los Angeles Lakers-Portland Trail Blazers

I don’t think that I need to explain why this game is probably one of the most eye-catching for this entire season in the NBA. The first official game of Lebron James with the yellow jersey is expected to attract the attention of every basketball fan around the globe. James has the difficult mission of bringing Lakers back to the Playoffs (for now) and continue Kobe’s legacy. Nothing could be harder and that’s why we have to be there and watch it!

3. October 19: Boston Celtics-Toronto Raptors

Next on our list, a game with less drama but lots of interest due to the value of both teams. After Lebron leaving Cleveland, there are many who expect one of these two teams to take over the Eastern Conference and appear in 2018-19 NBA’s Finals. Boston and Toronto will meet again many times through the season but their battle will be an interesting crash-test for both sides.

4. November 15: Houston Rockets-Golden State Warriors

Houston Rockets haven’t forgotten the way they lost by Golden State last year and they want revenge. With the addition of Carmello they hope that they can get one step closer to their big dream and bring a shiny ring to Houston. That’s easier said than done though as the Warriors are the number one favorite for 2018-19 NBA title. In any case, it’s expected to be a great game!

5. November 17: Utah Jazz-Boston Celtics

That’s the first time that Gordon Hayward will return to his former home and play against the Utah Jazz. Last year, lost the entire season due to his extremely serious injury so this is a ‘reboot year’ for him. It’s very interesting to see how the Jazz crowd will behave and whether Utah will be as open and friendly for him as it used to be.

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6. November 21: Cleveland Cavaliers-Los Angeles Lakers

Probably one of the most dramatic games for the 2018-19 NBA season. The King is back to the home that abandoned twice and every single moment of this game is anticipated to be full of tension and mixed feelings. The reaction of the crowd might be much friendlier this time (compared to when Lebron was playing for the Heat), but still is a must-watch match-up!

7. December 4: Phoenix Suns-Sacramento Kings

That’s a match-up from the future, The number one draft pick of the season against number two: Deandre Ayton against Marvin Bagley III and Arizona is on fire as both guys played basketball at the same high-school. A match of honour for both of them and a great basketball battle for every fan of the sport.

8. December 5: Cleveland Cavaliers-Golden State Warriors

This year the Warriors might win a bit easier but a remake of the 2017-18 NBA Finals is always interesting. The rivalry that has started the last years between the two franchises is expected to continue despite the absence of Lebron James. The best we have to do is to keep following and see where it will end up.

9. December 25: Golden State Warriors-Los Angeles Lakers

Also known as Warriors versus Lebron James. Will the King be able to throw Golden State from the NBA throne this year? Probably not! But who can be sure that this won’t happen in the next one or two years that the Lakers will get stronger. In any case, a very strong match-up which is expected to wake up some recent memories both for Lebron and the Golden State.

10. December 27: Philadelphia 76ers-Utah Jazz

Ben Simmons, NBA Rookie of the Year, faces Donovan Mitchell, runner-up Rookie of the Year, in a very intriguing match-up. A sneak peek to a big Playoff game of the future maybe. Surely worth a look!

11. January 3: San Antonio Spurs-Toronto Raptors

No matter what, January 3 2019 is expected to be a challenging day for Kawhi Leonard. In his first return in San Antonio Leonard will have to try his best in order to make the Spurs crowd remain silent. And it’s not only them as his ex-teammates are also a bit upset of the way he handled the whole trade situation. On top of that, DeMar DeRozan is also quite mad at the Toronto organization and he would like to offer a convincing performance to his new team and fans. Long story short, a lot of drama in San Antonio that day.

12. January 3: Los Angeles Lakers-Oklahoma City Thunder

The same day we have one more drama going on in Los Angeles this time. Paul George will have to face the Lakers crowd for the first time after his trade soap-opera this summer. After lots of back and forths, George decided to reject his childhood dream of playing for the Lakers and remain faithful to Oklahoma City Thunder. Will this be a good decision for his future? Nobody can be sure. What we can be sure about is that there will be a lot of booing that night in LA.

Read more: Michael Jordan stats: 10 proofs he is the G.O.A.T.

13. January 26: Boston Celtics-Golden State Warriors

I know it’s too early, but I’ll say it. This might be the first preview of the 2018-19 NBA season Finals! And we have to watch it. If the Celtics remain healthy this season, they have nothing to be afraid of. They can surely go all the way and potentially make life hard for the Warriors.

14. February 5: Cleveland Cavaliers-Boston Celtics

Uncle Drew is back to the land where he made his name and it is sure that most the Cavaliers fans would wish to have him on their side now that Lebron is gone. However, the tables have turned and this is perhaps the first time that the Celtics visit Cleveland as the clear favorite after a number of years. Another interesting aspect of this game has to do with the fact that the Celtics are expected by many to replace the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals this year. Let’s see!

15. February 7: Boston Celtics-Los Angeles Lakers

Kyrie Irving against Lebron James and Celtics against Lakers. The competition between these two guys never gets old. Same goes for the rivalry between the two cities. It’s the first time after a few years that both two teams will be extremely competent and in that sense it’s a game which could bring back some good memories and potentially some exciting scenes from the upcoming NBA Finals. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s safe to say that one of the greatest derbies around the world has returned!

Wrapping it up!

There you have it! 15 must-watch games of the 2018-19 NBA season. Regardless of which team or player someone supports one thing is for sure.

This year will be one of the most exciting in the NBA’s recent history. The good news? That is about to begin and we will be there to enjoy!

Featured image: NBA.com