It's me again, and since sim league 2000 is just around the corner, I've decided to stop and take a look back on things that have gone on as we approach a decade of sim league seasons. As usual, I have more ideas than I have enough time (or skill) to write, so I'm going to present this article to you guys in pieces, and hopefully I'll get a few good solid entries in this thread before we hit the new year during tomorrow's sim. Hope you all enjoy!
Franchise Players of the Decade, Part 1
Atlanta Hawks - PG Magic Johnson
While Antonio McDyess has already played for the Hawks longer than Magic did, there's no doubt that when thinking of the Hawks' history in the 90's, two-time Finals MVP Magic Johnson should be the first name that pops up. The architect of the NBA's first dynasty, the captain of the "Oldlanta" Hawks helped solidify GM WigNosy's reputation early on as a GM to be feared and respected.
Boston Celtics - C Alonzo Mourning
Bill Russell reincarnated, "Zo" ensured that the proud legacy of the Boston Celtics lived on in the 90's. The Georgetown product helped lead his team to the NBA Finals in his rookie year, and then followed it up with a NBA title and Finals MVP in his sophmore season. He then repeated that feat in his third year, and returned to the Finals the year after that. Now in his 8th season in the league, the 6'10" phenom has been to 5 NBA Finals and has a resume that rivals that of any NBA legend. All of Boston awaits to see what he'll do in the new millennium.
Charlotte Hornets - PF Tom Gugliotta
No one expected much from the man from Huntington Station, New York, but the man who would affectionately come to be known as "Gugs" grew quickly and became the centerpiece of the Hornets for 5 years. A 5-time All-Star and defensive menace, the bond between Gugliotta and Charlotte was so strong that even a trade to another team proved to be extremely short-lived. The 1995 All-Star game MVP now plays closer to home in New Jersey, but one can easily see him returning once again to his true NBA home sometime in the 2000's.
Chicago Bulls - G/F Kobe Bryant
The Bulls' history throughout the 90's hasn't been much to look at. Chris Mullin was the new face of the franchise in the first half of the decade, but his teams were known as aging underachievers. The selection of the Boy Wonder #1 overall in 1996 was the first genuine sign of light for this franchise, and though Kobe's ultimate impact on Chi-Town will play out over the next decade, this decade will forever be linked to Draft Day 1996.
Cleveland Cavaliers - F Dominique Wilkins
Like their fellow Great Lakes city Chicago, the 90's (and especially the first half), were nothing to write home about. Unfortunately for Cleveland fans, the player who will forever be associated with the 90's Cavs isn't Charles Barkley or Muggsy Bogues, or even the Cavs' own No.1 overall high-school phenom, Kevin Garnett. No, it's Dominique Wilkins, aka "The Contract that Crippled a Franchise." Traded to Cleveland from Milwaukee in '92, it was thought that Wilkins, who had helped lead the Bucks to back-to-back playoff appearances in '90 & '91, would team with star Charles Barkley to form a playoff-caliber combo. The exact opposite occurred, however. Dominique's skills rapidly declined, and his monstrous contract shut down Cleveland's ability to sign free agents, as well as compromised their ability to keep their other stars, dooming the Cavs to year after year of the lotto. While the Cavs' future looks considerably brighter heading into Y2K, as they reached the 1999 Eastern Conference Finals behind young guns Steve Nash and Eddie Jones......who are both only in Cleveland because of 'Nique (Nash was drafted in 1996 due to the Cavs sucking, and Jones was traded for Garnett & Wilkins - 'Nique was released by the Lakers shortly after). Lol.
Atlanta Hawks - PG Magic Johnson
While Antonio McDyess has already played for the Hawks longer than Magic did, there's no doubt that when thinking of the Hawks' history in the 90's, two-time Finals MVP Magic Johnson should be the first name that pops up. The architect of the NBA's first dynasty, the captain of the "Oldlanta" Hawks helped solidify GM WigNosy's reputation early on as a GM to be feared and respected.
Boston Celtics - C Alonzo Mourning
Bill Russell reincarnated, "Zo" ensured that the proud legacy of the Boston Celtics lived on in the 90's. The Georgetown product helped lead his team to the NBA Finals in his rookie year, and then followed it up with a NBA title and Finals MVP in his sophmore season. He then repeated that feat in his third year, and returned to the Finals the year after that. Now in his 8th season in the league, the 6'10" phenom has been to 5 NBA Finals and has a resume that rivals that of any NBA legend. All of Boston awaits to see what he'll do in the new millennium.
Charlotte Hornets - PF Tom Gugliotta
No one expected much from the man from Huntington Station, New York, but the man who would affectionately come to be known as "Gugs" grew quickly and became the centerpiece of the Hornets for 5 years. A 5-time All-Star and defensive menace, the bond between Gugliotta and Charlotte was so strong that even a trade to another team proved to be extremely short-lived. The 1995 All-Star game MVP now plays closer to home in New Jersey, but one can easily see him returning once again to his true NBA home sometime in the 2000's.
Chicago Bulls - G/F Kobe Bryant
The Bulls' history throughout the 90's hasn't been much to look at. Chris Mullin was the new face of the franchise in the first half of the decade, but his teams were known as aging underachievers. The selection of the Boy Wonder #1 overall in 1996 was the first genuine sign of light for this franchise, and though Kobe's ultimate impact on Chi-Town will play out over the next decade, this decade will forever be linked to Draft Day 1996.
Cleveland Cavaliers - F Dominique Wilkins
Like their fellow Great Lakes city Chicago, the 90's (and especially the first half), were nothing to write home about. Unfortunately for Cleveland fans, the player who will forever be associated with the 90's Cavs isn't Charles Barkley or Muggsy Bogues, or even the Cavs' own No.1 overall high-school phenom, Kevin Garnett. No, it's Dominique Wilkins, aka "The Contract that Crippled a Franchise." Traded to Cleveland from Milwaukee in '92, it was thought that Wilkins, who had helped lead the Bucks to back-to-back playoff appearances in '90 & '91, would team with star Charles Barkley to form a playoff-caliber combo. The exact opposite occurred, however. Dominique's skills rapidly declined, and his monstrous contract shut down Cleveland's ability to sign free agents, as well as compromised their ability to keep their other stars, dooming the Cavs to year after year of the lotto. While the Cavs' future looks considerably brighter heading into Y2K, as they reached the 1999 Eastern Conference Finals behind young guns Steve Nash and Eddie Jones......who are both only in Cleveland because of 'Nique (Nash was drafted in 1996 due to the Cavs sucking, and Jones was traded for Garnett & Wilkins - 'Nique was released by the Lakers shortly after). Lol.
), but it was the flashy, flamboyant Robert Horry who took the nation by storm in 1996-97. The "Wiz Kids," as they were known then, came out of nowhere to sweep the Magic, topple the weakened Celtics in 7, and sweep David Robinson and the Knicks to become Eastern Conference Champions and face off with Dallas in the Finals. They lost that series, but the energy they garnered from that season resonated with DC faithful for the rest of the decade. True to form, the good vibes didn't last long, as the Wizards found themselves posting the worst record of the decade just a season after, in 1998-99 (14-68). In that sense, a man who was drafted by the Bucks with the Wizards' 1992 1st, acquired by the Wizards in 1994, shocked the world in 1996-97, and then gone by 1998 is the perfect choice to summarize the Wiz's roller-coaster decade.
This has been an awesome sim league decade, y'all. I've enjoyed every second of it (well, except for that one season...), and I hope you all have enjoyed it as well. I also hope that this long article has brought back some memories, and reminded us of how far we've come. I'm looking forward to another 10 sim years, how 'bout y'all?
