#SLOE: People's Basketball Sim League

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.

Franchise Players of the Decade, Part 2


Dallas Mavericks - G Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway
The 3rd two-time Finals MVP, 2nd 5-time All-Star, and 2nd ASG MVP on this list, Penny's the Magic Johnson of this generation, and at 28, still has much more to show us. The Mavs reached the Finals in 1990 behind the steady hand of PG John Stockton, but fell short, and that core didn't last much longer after that. As more or less the direct successor to Stockton, Penny had some huge shoes to fill, and did so by leading the Mavs to the Western Conference Finals his rookie year, and the NBA Finals the next. Ultimate success didn't come easy though, as the Mavs were beaten by the Celtics that season. It was two years until they returned, but they did so with a vengeance, winning back-to-back titles in '96 and '97. It remains to be seen if Penny will add to his legacy in the next decade, but his status as the Dallas sports star of the 90's (yes, bigger than any of the Cowboys) has been sealed.


Denver Nuggets - F Clarence Weatherspoon
Not much has happened in Denver, to be honest. Larry Bird spent some time there, but it wasn't that impactful. Allan Houston and Joe Smith were drafted in the mid-90's, but both quickly ended up on other teams. Lately they've been an All-Star team unto themselves, featuring such names as Mookie Blaylock, David Robinson, Reggie Miller, Robert Horry, Hersey Hawkins, Toni Kukoc...but they don't have much to show for it. It seems fitting, then, to say that the "face" of this franchise in the 90's is a guy who has flashed between solid and spectacular his whole career, and especially his stay in Denver - Clarence Weatherspoon. Too small to play PF and too slow to play SF, the resilient Weatherspoon has nevertheless carved out a place for himself by crashing the boards hard, whether it be scoring or rebounding. Like his team of the last 3 seasons (this is his 4th), he's shown signs of greatness - as his 15.8 ppg, 9.0 rpg 1997-98 season showed - but ultimately cools down and resumes his slow, yet steady pace. It's never wise to take him or his team lightly, but one must wonder if he, as well as his team, will pick up the pace in the new millennium.


Detroit Pistons - G/F Steve Smith
Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan State product Steve Smith gave everything he had to his hometown team, and delivered on nearly every count, truly earning the nickname "Mr. Detroit." The 4-time All-Star and 2-time Dunk Champion began his career with a bang, teaming with Reggie Miller to lead the Pistons to 2 straight Eastern Conference Finals and 3 straight division titles after his rookie year. Smith's loyalty was tested in the mid-90's, as Miller was sent off to Orlando and the Pistons struggled through 2 seasons of semi-rebuilding. But Smith persevered, and led the Pistons back to the playoffs in the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons. Realizing that perhaps it was time to say goodbye, Pistons management broke the news to Smith that they were sending him to the up-and-coming Jazz at the start of this season. It was a bittersweet ending to Mr. Detroit's 8-year tenure with the franchise he'd grown up watching, and the team he'd helped make into a Eastern Conference power during the 90's.


Golden State Warriors - PF Shawn Kemp
The Reign Man has brought the thunder down on Oakland for over 9 seasons now, and despite what the rest of the NBA thinks about him - one GM described him as a "stat-padding knucklehead" - there's never been an athlete this universally loved in the Bay Area, ever. Kemp's high-flying, power-dunking, and loudly-taunting style of play has propelled the Warriors to 5 division titles, 6 Western Conference Finals appearances, and 2 NBA championships. Let's not even get into Kemp's individual accomplishments, of which there are many. Shawn Kemp isn't merely the Warriors' franchise player in this decade, he IS the Golden State Warriors, now and forever.


Grizzlies - C Brad Daughtery & PF Chris Gatling
I know, I know, I put two people here. Well, to be honest, there isn't a better team to pick two guys to represent them than the Grizz, whose GM absolutely refuses to pick one city. So, we have one player for each city, and it just so happens that they once formed perhaps the toughest defensive/rebounding post combo in the first half of the 90's. Southern boy Brad Daughtery (not Daughtry) took to Memphis life easily, and the 7-time All-Star and All-Star Game MVP established himself as one of the league's premier big men. The Jersey-born Chris Gatling, also known as the "Gatling Gun," preferred the woodlands of Canada's Pacific coast, and the 1992 Sixth Man of the Year terrorized foes with his physical, bruising style of play. From 1991 to 1996, the dynamic duo hammered opponents on both ends of the floor, conquering the Pacific division in the 1992-93 season and reaching the Western Conference Finals that same year. Though they never achieved that level of success again, the two defined Grizzly basketball from the Pacific Northwest to the Mississippi Delta in the 90's.

Franchise Players of the Decade, Part 3


Houston Rockets - C Shaquille O'Neal
Haha, DA BIG GUY! Big Sexy Diesel! The Rocketeer! Shaq Daddy! The man of 1,000 nicknames has been one of the league's biggest and most colorful personalities ever since landing in Space City, and the 3-time (and defending) rebounding champ has brought that same forceful energy into the Compaq Center. Shaq's accomplishments so far are legion - 6-time All-Star, 1997-98 blocks leader and Defensive Player of the Year, just to name a few - but the Rockets have only won one division title (1993-94), and have never been to the conference finals, leading many critics to wonder if having such a flamboyant personality as your leader and icon is a good idea. At 27, there's still a lot of time for Shaq to silence the naysayers, and maybe add a new nickname along the way - the "Millennium Man."


Indiana Pacers - G/F Stacey Augmon
While some would argue that PF Derek Strong is a better fit to represent the blue-collar, hard-working, never-say-die attitude that the Pacers displayed during the 90's, there's no doubt that Stacey Augmon was the bigger star, and meant much more to Indiana faithful. Arriving on the scene in 1991, Augmon established himself as a scoring machine and defensive juggernaut from Day 1, averaging 19.8 ppg his rookie year. He hasn't averaged less than 20 ppg since. Fellow '91 draftee and Central division rival Steve Smith kept Augmon and the Pacers from really making a statement though, as the Pacers weren't able to capture a division title until the 1995-96 season (they repeated in 1996-97). But Augmon's reputation for "choking" in the post-season (the Pacers never advanced past the 1st Round in Augmon's 6 years as a Pacer) led to the 7-time All-Star and 1997-98 scoring leader's departure. Still, when one hears the name "Augmon" or thinks of the Indiana Pacers in the '90s, one instantly links one with the other.


LA Clippers - SG Latrell Sprewell
The multifaceted big man Terry Mills and scoring machine Cliff Robinson may have sparked the Clippers' renaissance, but the fiery Latrell Sprewell has outlasted them both to become the man for LA's other team in the 90's, and perhaps has become their all-time greatest player. Sprewell's sheer intensity and force of will has led him to be compared to another #3 overall pick, Michael Jordan. Like Mike, Spree's earned a reputation for fierce defense, effortless scoring, and elevating weak teams almost by himself. But also like Mike, the 1996-97 ASG MVP has found postseason success hard to achieve, and has sometimes offended teammates with misplaced intensity (Sprewell's 1996 choking incident with Vernon Maxwell springs to mind). But sometimes you need a firebrand to spark a revolution, and there may be no better person to have associated with a franchise like the Clippers heading into the future.


LA Lakers - PG Kevin Johnson
While young stud Kevin Garnett's receiving a lot of hype and recognition now, he's far from the Lakers' first marquee superstar in the post-Magic era. That honor - and the title of biggest Lakers' star of the 90's - belongs to California-born point guard Kevin Johnson. Kevin wasted little time picking up where Magic left off, leading the Lakers to a victory over their eternal rival Boston in the 1992-93 NBA Finals (coincidentally, it was the year after Magic led Atlanta to their 2nd consecutive NBA title). KJ picked up MVP honors for that season, and followed it up with another Finals appearance the next season. By the end of his 8-year tenure with the Lakers, "California's Golden Boy" had made 6 All-Star appearances and led the league in assists 3 times. Lakers legends don't die, they multiply, and KJ made sure that he would be included among the very best with his performances during the 90's.

Franchise Players of the Decade, Part 4


Miami Heat - PG Gary Payton
Is there any team better suited for the hot-tempered, firebreathing 2-time steals leader Gary Payton than the Miami Heat? The "Glove" has left his fingerprints all over Miami over the decade, and the Heat have found consistent, though bittersweet, success under his leadership. It's bittersweet because of the fact that they've never won their division (excusable due to the Celtics' continued dominance), and have had some spectacular moments - and meltdowns - in the playoffs (mostly due to Payton and the Heat's emotions getting the best of them). Time will tell if cooler heads prevail in the next decade, thus preventing 1st-round flameouts, but Payton has definitely done his part to keep the flame going in Miami.


Milwaukee Bucks - G/F Jalen Rose
The early 90's Bucks teams - featuring Robert Parish & Kevin Willis - were not to be taken lightly, but they faded away quickly, forcing the Bucks into a rebuilding mode. Rose's personal NBA story is the same as the Bucks' - hard work and disappointment eventually giving way to victory and relevance. Arriving in Milwaukee in '94, the 1998 All-Star and Dunk Champion was then seen as a humongous project, an enigma with no real position and weak defense. He proved to be a slow-developing player, and was flirting with the dreaded "wasted talent" label until the 1996-97 season, where a whirlwind sequence of events led to him being kicked out of and welcomed back to Milwaukee in one season. The incident proved to be a wake-up call for both Rose and the Bucks, and in the 1997-98 season they were able to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, and followed that up with a division title in 1998-99. Now in his 6th season and playing at an all-time high, Jalen Rose looks confident and ready to lead the Bucks into 2000.


Minnesota Timberwolves - PF Chris Webber
Robert Pack's decision to sign with a division rival earlier in the year makes this choice even clearer than it was before. Webber's had a lot of expectations ever since his arrival in '93, and he's done his best to rise to the occasion. The 1993-94 Rookie of the Year came into the league blazing, averaging 25.9 ppg and being named 1st team All-NBA in defense his first season! Once Grant Hill arrived in Minnesota the next season, the Wolves' status as the next big threat in the West was solidified, then validated in 1998-99 when C-Webb led the Wolves to their first division title and Western Conference Finals appearance. Webber's so good that his only true rivals are current (and all-time) greats: the Mavs' Penny Hardaway (who was passed over by the Wolves in favor of Webber), and the Warriors' Shawn Kemp (who has personally disposed of the Wolves time and time again in the playoffs). It remains to be seen if Webber will finally overcome his rivals - and become a legend in his own right - in the years to come.

Franchise Players of the Decade, Part 5

Don't be surprised if you start to see quicker entries.


New Jersey Nets - SG Isaiah "JR" Rider
The textbook definition of a shooting guard, JR (bah gawd) Rider has put points on the board for the Nets since 1993. Now considered a draft steal, GM RPF felt pretty good after selecting Rider with the 13th pick in the 1993 Draft. Rider's completely validated RPF's faith in him, as he's averaged at least 20 ppg every season he's been in the league. Surprisingly (and perhaps fittingly for the team that everybody thinks of as the Knicks' version of the Clippers), Rider's efforts have received little recognition throughout the league, as he's only been invited to one All-Star Game. It's obvious that Rider's taken this slight to heart, as he - along with Tom Gugliotta - led the Nets to a 60-22 record last season. Will Rider and the Nets find the respect they crave in the new millennium?


New York Knicks - C David Robinson
Hmm...an incredibly talented Knicks center who could never win the big one during the 90's, despite having very solid teams surrounding him...why does this sound familiar...Anyway, David Robinson was an absolute monster during his prime. In the 1991-92 season, he averaged 39.4 ppg and 11 rpg! But it always seemed like the Admiral went in each season with guns blazing, only to run out of ammo in the playoffs and ultimately sink with his battleship. From 1990 to 1997, the same cycle of "Dominate, Playoffs, Lose, Repeat" was the Knicks' M.O. until their then-GM just said, "meh" and shipped him off to Denver. As the rebuilding project begins for 2000 under new management, David Robinson's Knicks' tenure brings back fond memories to New Yorkers.


Orlando Magic - PG Jason Kidd
Contrary to popular belief, the Magic have done well for themselves in the 90's, and have had more than their fair share of memorable players over the years. Who could forget Glen Rice leading them to their 1st division title, or the real "Magic" coming to Orlando and delighting fans with his play? Horace Grant, Pervis Ellison, Bo Outlaw, Eddie Jones...many have come, and all eventually left. And so, it's fitting that the face of Orlando in the 90's will make memories in another city for the 2000's. Jason Kidd came in with Eddie Jones as part of the short-lived "Court Magicians" rebuilding project of '94. But by 1996, Jones was gone, leaving Kidd to manage a new cast of characters alone. Kidd eventually grew into the role of leader, and in no place was it more evident than the 1998-99 NBA Playoffs, where "Captain Kidd" steered his team through 3 consecutive 7-game series in order to win the conference championship and reach the NBA Finals for the first time ever. But in a stunning turn of events, Kidd was traded to Los Angeles in the summer of '99, bringing his 5-year tenure with the Magic to a sudden close. The Magic plan to start fresh in 2000, but it remains to be seen if the new stars of the millennium will meet the same fate as those of the decade prior.


Philadelphia 76ers - PG Tim Hardaway
Gather 'round, my children, as I tell a tale of two franchises, and what changed them both forever in the summer of '94. Now, there were others who have left their mark on one franchise, Vlade Divac in the first half, Anthony Peeler in the second, and the other team's members are legion, but one player had an impact greater than most - Tim Hardaway. Four years he spent in Philly, and though his teams met with little success, we eagerly awaited his return in '94. Then GM BoJangles forgot to fax their offer to Tim. Tim said "pfft, whatever," and signed with Boston. All of New England rejoiced. All of Pennsylvania groaned (except Pittsburgh, they laughed). Conroy said "yes!" Other GMs said "no!" (among other things). Bo said "oops." And so it was, that after one brief playoff appearance in 1993-94, the Sixers were banished to the depths of the lottery, and all glory was given to Boston. That, my children, is why we of Philadelphia will always remember Tim.

Franchise Players of the Decade, Part 6


Phoenix Suns - SF Glen Rice
It's been one of those decades for the Phoenix Suns, as bad contracts, fading stars, and more pink slips thrown at Training Staff members than panties thrown at a R. Kelly concert have been the story. There's no better player to represent this helter-skelter decade in the desert than Glen Rice. The "Glen Rice Experiment," as it would later become known as, took place in 1993, when Rice was brought over to team with current stars Hakeem Olajuwon and Scott Skiles. It only took a few months for GM Inner to figure out that Rice as a 3rd banana wasn't gonna work, and so off went Hakeem to Miami, and the keys to the franchise were given to Rice. And then in the summer of '94, Rice took those keys and threw 'em in the Grand Canyon, signing with the Warriors for less and denying GM Inner the opportunity to sign-and-trade. This marked the start of the rebuilding era in Phoenix, and hopefully the fruits of that moment (Iverson, Williams, Van Horn, O'Neal) will ripen in the 2000's. And to be honest, I found it really odd that the only other Sun who really had any sort of decade-relevant impact on the franchise in the 90's was Ken Norman.


Portland Trail Blazers - C Shawn Bradley
7 foot 6 inches of pure rebounding and shot-blocking skill, Bradley was easily the biggest name to come out of Portland in the 90's. Entering the league in 1993, Bradley realized his potential much quicker than most expected. Unfortunately, his teammates weren't as lucky, and Bradley was forced to stand by and watch as the team slowly disintegrated into a lotto-bound franchise. His bitterness with management growing, Bradley demanded a trade in 1999, a wish that the Blazers granted. While Bradley's teams never did much, fans still came out to see Bradley off as he hopped on a plane to New York, sealing his legacy as one of Rip City's finest.


Sacramento Kings - PF Karl Malone
It was a cry heard throughout every NBA arena outside of Sac-Town. "He's OP! He's OP!" For those who don't know, "OP" stands for "OverPowered," and few NBA players of embodied "power" more than Karl Malone, He of The Bloated Contract and Point Totals. Remember when I told you about Robinson's 1991-92 scoring outburst? Yeah, he didn't win the scoring title that year. He only had 39.4 ppg. Karl had 39.7 ppg. As a matter of fact, Karl led the league in scoring each of his four years in Sacramento. Other guys are lucky to keep up a 20 ppg average over 4 seasons. Karl didn't drop below 35 ppg over those four seasons. Oh, and that 39.7 ppg season? He single-handedly dragged his team to the Finals that season. He wasn't just a King, he was the King, and Tracy has a hell of long way to go in Y2K before he can ever replace Malone in Sacramento fans' minds. OP? Ya darn right.


San Antonio Spurs - PG Mark Price
And here's where you all start laughing (if you weren't already out of breath from laughing at my Glen Rice/Phoenix choice). But after you wipe the tears from your eyes, I want you to follow this link http://pbsl.ijbl.net/1995, go to the Spurs' page, and look at Mark's career up to that point. Yes, up until right after that injury-plagued 1995-96 season, Mark Price was a doggone good PG, and was without a doubt the motor behind the Spurs' high-octane attack of the first half of the decade, and the mentor for the high-flying next-gen talent of the latter half and beyond. From the "Triple-D" team of Drazen, Danny, and Dale to the "Cerberus Offense" of Ray, Glenn, and Shareef, Mark Price has been the Spurs' anchor for 8 seasons.

Franchise Players of the Decade, Final Part


Seattle Supersonics - G/F Doug Christie
The Sonics are another 90's middling franchise, never really doing too much outside of brief flashes of competitiveness. As such, it should come as no surprise that new GM Trell wants to - to quote Mad Stan from Batman Beyond - "Blow it all up" and start fresh for the millennium, but what is rather surprising is that their former franchise player, one Mr. Christie, decided to wait until being traded to realize his potential. The hard-nosed swingman gained a rep as a star in the making in the 1994-95 season, his third year in the league. But though he was steadily improving, he was doing it slowly. That seemed to become a running theme with the Sonics, as the once-young team on the rise slowly but surely began to stagnate. Eventually the pieces started to fall apart and fade away, and even Christie's steady progress was halted by two injury-plagued seasons back-to-back in 1997-98 and 1998-99. Being unceremoniously dumped for a "meh" trade package signaled a sad end to the Sonics' slow decline, and for better or worse, Doug Christie will forever remain a symbol of that long, sleepy era in Seattle.


Toronto Raptors - PF Charles Barkley
Even though he only played in Toronto for two seasons (1993-95), Barkley embodies everything that the Raptors were about in the 90's. Sound's uncontrollable lust for big men? Check. A revolving door of solid, but short-lived talents? Check. Above-average records coupled with average postseason results? Check. It also helps that Barkley's two seasons as a Raptor produced back-to-back franchise records (51-31 both seasons). Sound's settled down a bit on the hot-potato trading of his key components, as new star Michael Finley just inked a big-time deal set to keep him in Toronto for Y2K and beyond, but his love of bigs hasn't changed. In the 1999 NBA Draft, the Raptors made a huge deal to acquire the No.2 pick. Once they had it, they decided to draft an undersized, yet incredibly tough and fearsome in the post, Power Forward named Elton Brand. Sir Charles approves.


Utah Jazz - SG Michael Jordan
Perhaps the saddest and most heartbreaking part of the 90's was watching "Air Jordan" slowly fall down to earth. The hype surrounding him coming into the decade was incredible. This, this was the guy to take over from Magic and Larry and lead the NBA into a new era. Here was the one who would single-handedly revolutionize the league. And - as GM CPrej would be quick to tell you - he was gonna do it all in Utah. But...it never happened. Oh, it started off well, as the Jazz rolled their way to a Midwest Division crown and an appearance in the Western Conference Finals against the Mavs. Then Jordan went down in Game 5. And things were never the same again. After one more top-level season in 1991-92, the steady decline started. CPrej, still convinced that Jordan alone was the key, didn't notice what was going on. MJ was slowing down, his body no longer able to sustain his high-energy, high-flying style for 35+ minutes a game. Matters only got worse in 1993, when his father was murdered and news of his gambling issues surfaced. Amidst all the turmoil, MJ still had it in him for one last burst of greatness in 1994-95 - but that was it. You could see it in his eyes, the "love of the game" wasn't there anymore. Utah pulled the plug on the Jordan Era by trading him to Minnesota in 1996, and he promptly faded from the public eye, unable to hold his own against the Shawn Kemps and Penny Hardaways of the league. Tim Duncan and Stephon Marbury are now making names for themselves in Utah, and the future in Utah looks bright, but for an entire nation, Utah is the City Where His Airness' Empire Crumbled.


Washington Wizards - F Robert Horry
Many will remember Nick Anderson as the Wizards' first true 90's DC superstar (take that, Scottie ), 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.

Thank goodness, I made it just in time. Once again, my ambition proved greater than my actual abilities. I originally had a lot more planned, but time caught up to me. I'm tired now. 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?

So with that being said...