Best Of 2010: The 50 Biggest NBA Stories This Year
Just when we thought the NBA couldn't one-up itself anymore, we then encountered the summer of 2010 and the beginning of the 2010-11 season. We have seen just about everything when it comes to organized basketball from the new generation of athletes' exceptional acrobatic abilities to the veterans of the league making postseason pushes that not even some of the most talented players today could accomplish.
It almost seems like the beginning of the 2010-11 campaign is building off of the momentum left from the end of the captivating 2009-10 season, where a decisive Game 7 determined who would take home the championship for that year.
Only 30 games into the season and we have already seen plays that haven't been pulled off in years. The absurd amount of buzzer-beaters and play-of-the-year nominees have already heightened the interest of old and new NBA fans.
The past year has without a doubt been one of the most spectacular in recent memory because of the game-time implications and the signings that have reshaped the face of the NBA for the next decade. The new powerhouse down South has given certain Northeastern and West Coast teams something to worry about as they find fresh new talent to compete against. Along with a few other elite teams, the race to the 2010-11 NBA Finals might be one of the better chases in history.
Not only the elite teams, but rebuilding teams have also captured our attention as they feature some of the more entertaining young players in the NBA today. All 30 teams feature at least one or two players that stun and shock us because of the new moves or plays that they pull off on a nightly basis. The past year has featured some of the most captivating and unbelievable moments in recent NBA history as our favorite players give us more ooh's and aah's than the Fourth of July at night.
This year in review has been one of the more impressive just because of all the developments and stories that have taken place. This past year's stories have paved the way for the new season and many seasons to come, as the future has now been planned out by the past actions of the players, owners or GMs that have had any sort of an impact.
50. The Arrival of Ricky Rubio?
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Another season goes by and the Minnesota Timberwolves' number-five pick from last season in Ricky Rubio has yet to play a regular season game with his new NBA team. The Spanish product has been dazzling Europe with his stunning court vision and Pete Maravich-like moves, while the T'Wolves can only sit back and watch.
Timberwolves president David Kahn continues to have high hopes for the return of Rubio in the future and has recently said that Ricky will eventually join the team. At only 20 years old, Minnesota won't have to worry about too many rookie mistakes coming from Rubio, as he continues to work out the kinks in the Euroleague.
49. Antoine Walker's Return
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It was only five years ago that Antoine Walker was a significant role player on an NBA championship team. In his time with the Miami Heat, Walker was the starting small forward of a team that came back from 2-0 down in the 2005-06 Finals to win 4-2.
'Toine's three-point shot was one of the most heralded shots in the game, as he could hit from just about anywhere within half-court.
Unfortunately for Walker, his career quickly went into a downward spiral as he jumped from a few teams over the next four years before being waived by Memphis and not stepping onto an NBA court since then. Walker's legal and gambling issues caused him to go bankrupt and after a stop in the Puerto Rican basketball league, he has made a return in the D-League with the Idaho Stampede.
At 34, Walker could play some sort of role on a team with a deep bench if he can shed some weight and continue to impress in the D-League.
48. The Phoenix Suns Beat the San Antonio Spurs for a Change
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It might not appear it this season, but for the past decade, the Phoenix Suns have been regarded as one of the Western Conference elite. They had two seasons with 60-plus wins and four other seasons with 50-plus wins as point guard Steve Nash won two MVPs in the past 10 years. They were legitimate title contenders if not for the San Antonio Spurs standing in their way.
In the Suns' seven postseason appearances over the past decade, four of their runs have been ended by the Spurs, including a conference finals series. The two other series were in the first round and the other one was in the semifinals. In fact, the Suns went three consecutive seasons winning the regular season Western Conference crown only to see the Spurs end their run twice.
This past postseason, the turmoil came to an end as the Suns got their revenge in the best kind of way with a sweep over their rivals in the semifinals. They would lose in the conference finals, but their redemption series win over the Spurs made up for plenty of sadness and anger that hovered over Arizona for a decade.
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47. George Karl Wins His 1,000th Game
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It took 26 years, but Denver Nuggets coach George Karl finally reached 1,000 wins as an NBA head coach earlier this season. Unfortunately, none of those wins won Karl an NBA championship. Despite the lack of rings, Karl has had an illustrious career coaching the Cavaliers, Warriors, Sonics, Bucks, Nuggets and even Real Madrid for a short while.
It is also important to note that Karl is still recovering from neck and throat cancer that kept him out for a few games during the the 2009-10 season. Since then, George has recovered and is now coaching the Nuggets once again on his quest for his first NBA title.
46. The Stan Van Gundy, Phil Jackson and Erik Spoelstra Soap Opera
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When the Miami Heat struggled to a 9-8 start, there was much speculation of coach Erik Spoelstra possibly being on the way out soon. It was said to be a repeat of what happened at the beginning of the 2005-06 season when Stan Van Gundy stepped down and was replaced by Pat Riley.
When asked about the situation, Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson put in his two cents by saying, "That's kind of my take on it, is that eventually if things don't straighten out here soon, it could be the Van Gundy thing all over again."
Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy didn't take the quote by Jackson lightly as he fired back: "So an analogy he'd make to my situation would be totally useless because he doesn't have any clue what the situation was in that case."
Needless to say, our favorite loud-mouthed coach didn't take too kindly to what the Master of Zen had to say about the situation that took place five years ago.
45. LeBron James vs. Erik Spoelstra
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Like I stated before, coach Erik Spoelstra was in a bit of turmoil early in the season. The team was 9-8 and struggling as they couldn't find a solution to any of the problems that they had encountered.
At 21-8 and in the midst of a 12-game win streak, the Heat don't have much to worry about now. In one third quarter timeout, however, it appeared that everything might have been beginning to spill over.
Following a 13-0 run to start the second half for the Dallas Mavericks in their game against Miami, coach Spo called a timeout and when walking out towards the court, appeared to be purposely bumped in the shoulder by LeBron James. Both parties denied any turmoil among the organization and there have been no run-ins or situations of the kind since then.
44. Andrew Bynum's Injuries
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It's not as hectic a situation as Greg Oden or Yao Ming, but the Lakers' Andrew Bynum is just another big man who has yet to get his career going due to a countless number of injuries. Since being picked 10th in the 2005 draft, Bynum has played only one full season and has played in 65 games or fewer in the other four.
Last season was no different as Bynum sat out most of the way until April 9th, when he made his return. He then played the rest of the way despite injuring himself in the first round of the postseason. The wear and tear he endured by playing the rest of the playoffs forced him to have offseason surgery that has limited his performance in the 2010-11 season.
Bynum just made his return to the hardwood earlier this week and the Lakers faithful are wishing the best for their big man.
43. The Tony Parker and Brent Barry Scandal
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Despite having some of the strongest chemistry of any NBA team in history, the San Antonio Spurs are possibly seeing a little turmoil between one of their starters and their loyal former bench warmer. After Tony Parker and Eva Longoria ended their six-year marriage earlier this season, it then became known of just how this marriage ended up in divorce.
It turns out that Eva had found hundreds of text messages on Tony's phone from another woman, Erin Barry. If the last name doesn't ring a bell, then you'll be surprised to know that it is actually Brent Barry's wife. There has yet to be any hostility publicly seen between the two as the Spurs rocketed out to their best start in franchise history.
At least it wasn't Tim Duncan's wife.
42. The Big Shamrock
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Shaquille O'Neal certainly isn't the player he was with Orlando, Los Angeles or Miami, but he still finds himself playing a significant role on a championship-minded team.
It appeared that Shaq was going to end his career as a free agent after going nearly the entire summer with only a few teams working him out. On August 4th however, O'Neal joined his third team in three years by signing with the Boston Celtics.
The C's had troubles at the center position with Kendrick Perkins recovering from an injury and an over-the-hill Jermaine O'Neal as their current starter. Shaq was the only capable center left in free agency and Boston took the risk of signing O'Neal to their already veteran-laden roster. It was hard to believe that the Celtics starting lineup could look any older as they signed the oldest player in the NBA.
With Shaq at 11 points and six rebounds per game, the Celtics couldn't be happier with their signing.
41. Charles Barkley vs. LeBron James
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During LeBron James' courting process and eventual signing with the Miami Heat, a number of retired NBA players gave their two cents on the situation. From Magic Johnson to Michael Jordan, it seemed like nearly every 1980s and '90s player had a say in what LeBron James should do. However, no one was more candid than TNT analyst Charles Barkley.
He criticized LeBron's hour-long special called "The Decision," called out the Big Three and their first appearance in Miami, and then complained about how James should have stayed in Cleveland rather than teaming up with Dwyane Wade in Miami. Barkley was persistent in his criticism of LeBron and the moves he made over the offseason, but James shot back a few times as well.
In LeBron's "What should I do?" commercial, he took a direct shot at Barkley by making fun of his "I am not a role model" quote. The feud has died down over the past month, but James and Barkley no doubt still have it out for each other.
40. Rasheed Wallace Retires
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Rasheed Wallace has had one of the more entertaining careers of any other 17-year veteran and is more remembered for his mouth rather than his game despite averaging 15 points and seven rebounds and winning an NBA title in the process. 'Sheed is notorious for having one of the loudest mouths when it comes to trash talking and having a word for the officiating crew in just about every game he played.
One of his most famous quotes came following Game 5 of the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals during his time with the Detroit Pistons. Wallace put the loss squarely on the shoulders of the officiating crew as he unleashed an expletive-laden tirade on referees Mike Callahan and Kenny Mauer. Rasheed is also accredited with the saying "ball don't lie."
Wallace's four All-Star appearances and NBA title certainly make up for an illustrious career, but the NBA will certainly miss the entertainment that Rasheed brought to every game as he retired following his 2009-10 campaign with the Boston Celtics.
39. Allen Iverson: The Turkish Star
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Despite winning an NBA MVP in the 2000-01 season and having 11 All-Star games to his name, Allen Iverson just could not find any work in the NBA. No team in the United States, or Canada wanted anything to do with Iverson as he stated that he would only contribute if he was given a starting role. 30 teams replied by not taking a chance on Allen as he faded into obscurity.
Until, that is, he decided to take his talents overseas by joining the Turkish Basketball League. Iverson agreed to a two-year deal worth $4 million as he signed with Besiktas. He made his debut on November 16 and dropped 15 points in 23 minutes in the team's 94-91 loss to Serbian powerhouse Hemofarm.
It certainly isn't the NBA, but Allen's love of the game triumphs over his pride.
38. New Owner in New Jersey
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On May 11, Russian businessman Mikhail Prokhorov became the tallest NBA owner at 6'8". That's hardly all he brings to the New Jersey Nets, as he brings a $13.4 billion fortune and a love for basketball along with him. He has already made his presence felt as he brought in head coach Avery Johnson, while also signing a few role players over the offseason.
Prokhorov made his fortune while running companies that were the largest producers of gold and silver in his native Russia. He is the second-richest person in his country and is 39th in the world according to the 2010 Forbes list. Mikhail has already invested $250 million into his latest business endeavour as he attempts to revive basketball in New Jersey.
Currently, Prokhorov is trying to make a push to bring in Carmelo Anthony, but has failed to make any progress over the past few weeks. There is a high possibility that the Nets could possibly buy a few players and make the postseason in the near future with the help of their new owner.
37. Kevin Garnett vs. Charlie Villanueva
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After an early-season game between the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics, Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva tweeted that Celtics forward Kevin Garnett had referred to him as a "cancer patient." Kevin stated the next day that Charlie didn't hear him clearly and instead said that he called him a "cancer to his team."
Garnett is notorious for being a trash-talker and has seen it escalate due to the fact that his game and his career is in its decline. He has always been known as having quite the mouth during games in an attempt to cause his opponents to lose their focus, but Kevin definitely went over the line by calling Villanueva a cancer patient.
Since then, Kevin actually went up to cancer survivor George Karl during a game against the Nuggets and apologized for his words.
36. San Antonio Spurs' Amazing Start
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Despite having their leader Tim Duncan nearing the end of his career, one of the best shooting guards in the league in Manu Ginobili at 33 years old and coming off of an injury plagued 2009-10 season, and Tony Parker going through a tough divorce, the San Antonio Spurs have yet to lose a step in the 2010-11 campaign by starting off an absurd 23-3.
By winning 23 of their first 26 games, the Spurs have achieved their best start in franchise history and have flew under the radar to become a championship contender in a tough Western Conference that features other 20-game winners in Dallas and Los Angeles. Their .885 winning percentage is good for tops in the NBA as they exhibit that age is not an issue with this team.
Whether the hot start will continue is up to the Spurs and their health.
35. Rajon Rondo's Assist Record
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Just when we thought Rajon Rondo couldn't impress us anymore, he goes out and sets marks like this. He made his impression felt early in the season as he set an NBA record for most assists in a four-game stretch with 67. He then set the record for most assists in a five-game stretch the following night with 82.
For those who don't know math too well, that's over 16 assists per game.
As far as a drop-off goes, Rondo is still leading the league in assists per game at 14 and has gone only three games without recording 10 or more assists. He came up a little short in his quest for the most assists in a game, set by Scott Skiles with 30, as he finished with 24 in a game against the New York Knicks where he recorded a triple-double.
Despite being injured at the moment, Rondo is a heavy contender for his first MVP award as he attempts to lead the Celtics to their second title in four years.
34. Joe Johnson's $120 Million
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Leading your team to the semifinals of the postseason is a suitable ending to a season. Giving the player who led your team there despite shooting under 40 percent from the field in a series that ended in a sweep $120 million is a completely different story. The Atlanta Hawks really did not want to lose Joe Johnson and they made sure by giving him the largest contract of the offseason.
In an offseason where LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Amare Stoudemire were free agents, it was Joe Johnson who came out gangbusters following the free-agency period. At 17-11, the Hawks are doing well, but they are doing it without Johnson, who has only just returned after sitting out the previous nine games due to an injury.
LeBron and Dwyane are making $6 million less than Johnson and are leading their division. The Hawks obviously could have had plenty to work with if not for taking away $120 million that they will be giving to an aging Johnson for the next six years.
33. All-Star Weekend
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It was obvious that the All-Star weekend was losing its touch. The skills competition and the shooting stars contest were complete bore fests, the dunk contest was becoming an afterthought, and the three-point shootout was fun for the first half hour. It needed a big change if the NBA wanted to keep the All-Star Weekend relevant.
Having 108,713 attend the All-Star Game was a suitable solution. It set a record for the largest attendance for a basketball game. For the first time in NBA All-Star Game history, the NBA had the event in a stadium that wasn't built for basketball. Instead, it took place at the newly built Cowboys Stadium that was already being regarded as the most astounding structure to ever be built in the United States.
The game lived up to its audience as the East won 141-139 with Dwyane Wade taking home his first MVP honors with 28 points and 11 assists.
32. Deron Williams vs. Chris Paul
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When it comes to most positions in the NBA, it's quite simple to determine who is the best at every position. Kobe Bryant at shooting guard, LeBron James at small forward, Dirk Nowitzki at power forward, and Dwight Howard at center are all pretty clear-cut. The point guard position is a whole other competition, where two elite players have been duking it out for nearly four years.
Since Deron Williams and Chris Paul were selected third and fourth in the 2005 NBA Draft, they have been constantly trying to one-up each other. Paul won the first round of the fight by taking home Rookie of the Year honors, but it has been Williams' Jazz who have been the most successful team of the two.
Paul was able to lead the Hornets to their first division title, but the team has since dropped off. Williams and the Jazz, however, are easily in the running for a title.
Paul leads the head-to-head matchup this year 1-0, but as the two continue to grow, their rivalry will only become more dynamic and interesting to watch.
31. Fear the Deer
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At 10-15, the Milwaukee Bucks might not exactly be a force to be reckoned with, but it was only a season ago that the Bucks were one of the most dangerous teams to play. It didn't appear that way at the beginning of the season as Milwaukee took a risk by drafting Brandon Jennings to be paired up with an unproven Andrew Bogut and Ersan Ilyasova.
Jennings' early 55-point performance was the spark the team needed to get the ball rolling as they turned from an average team to an elite team in the span of a few months. The Bucks then made a trade to bring in John Salmons, who went on to play some of the best basketball in his career by averaging 20 points in his few months with the team. They finished 46-36 and secured the sixth seed.
Unfortunately for Milwaukee, they suffered a number of key injuries to their starting lineup and were ousted in seven games by the Atlanta Hawks. Had the team been healthy, the Bucks could have easily made a strong push toward the conference finals.
30. LeBron James' Semifinals
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There was no way the Cleveland Cavaliers could be ousted this time. They were coming off their second consecutive season with 60-plus wins and had an actual presence in the middle in Shaquille O'Neal to play alongside LeBron James, Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison. Every analyst had the Cavs going to the NBA Finals, with some even picking sweeps as they faced the Boston Celtics.
It took six games for Boston to defeat the Cavs before knocking out the Magic en route to their second NBA Finals appearance in three years. The Celtics absolutely decimated the Cavs as LeBron James became a non-factor. In fact, he became too much of a non-factor, so much so that those who had watched the game actually believed LeBron quit on the Cavs as soon as Game 5.
His 3-of-14 performance in a 32-point home loss was enough proof for the Cavs faithful to believe that James had quit. He would record a triple double in Game 6, but his 8-of-21 shooting would not be enough to will his team to a victory.
It would be hard to believe that LeBron would actually quit on his team, but conspiracy theorists believe they had the statistical proof that James already had free agency on his mind before the semifinals even finished.
29. Dwight Howard Leading the League in Rebounds and Blocks...Again
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As a freak of nature, Dwight Howard has the responsibility for posting freakish stats. He's the first player to ever lead the league in total rebounds for five consecutive seasons, lead the league in double-double's twice, and is the youngest player to ever reach 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 and 6,000 rebounds.
However, the feat he has accomplished over the past two seasons is possibly the most impressive thus far. Dwight is the only player in NBA history to lead the league in rebounds and blocks in two consecutive seasons, and unless Kevin Love has something to say about it, there isn't much else holding Howard back from doing it a third consecutive time.
28. Brandon Roy's Drop-Off
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It was only last season when Brandon Roy was leading the Portland Trail Blazers to the postseason after averaging 22 points, five assists and four rebounds per game while being regarded not only as one of the top shooting guards in the league, but also as a possible MVP candidate. The Blazers had high expectations for Roy and the team coming into the season and it appeared they were warranted after Roy posted three straight games of 20 or more points.
It's been downhill from there as Brandon has only hit 20 or more six more times, while netting single digits also six times. An injury in mid-November has hampered his performance as he has greatly struggled and not looked like the player the city of Portland has known. He is shooting less than 40 percent and the Blazers are 14-14 in one of the toughest divisions in the NBA.
The early performance doesn't have to be foreshadowing of what's to come, but it's up to Roy to recover from the injuries that have turned his world upside down.
27. Don Nelson Resigns
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If you judged Don Nelson's career on his time with the Golden State Warriors, you'd assume he was just another coach struggling to help a .500 team. What most people don't know is that Nelson leads all head coaches in wins and is regarded as one of the top NBA coaches of all time. The five NBA championships he won as a player have helped him become the coach he is today.
Nellie has won three Coach of the Year awards and is remembered mostly for coaching the Warriors team that defeated the number one seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round. Nellie turned Golden State into one of the most entertaining teams in the league and actually had them as a postseason threat for a time.
He retired on September 23 as the winningest coach in NBA history.
26. Kobe Bryant's Finger
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He might have won an NBA championship and a Finals MVP in the past year, but Kobe Bryant's finger might have other plans for his future. Early in the 2009-10 season, Bryant suffered a finger injury to his shooting hand that should have required surgery. Bryant decided to forgo the surgery and instead learned to play with the injured finger.
Doctors have stated that Kobe's finger will never be the same, but it's also a fact that Bryant's tenacity and ambition triumphs over just about anything. It'll be tough to believe we'll see the same Kobe Bryant as before and if his finger continues to bother him, the Lakers franchise will need to rely more on their big men in Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum (if Bynum is ever ready).
25. 2009-10 Point Guards
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The 2009-10 season might have been the Los Angeles Lakers' year, but it should also be regarded as the year of the point guard.
The rookie point guard, to be more specific, as in Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry, and Brandon Jennings, just to name a few. These young players were proving that there was a future for the point guard position when the likes of Steve Nash and Jason Kidd eventually retire.
Evans is most well-known for being only the fourth rookie in NBA history to average 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. The other three were decent company to be in, as they include Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson and LeBron James.
Brandon Jennings struggled to only 37 percent shooting, but capped it off with the second-highest scoring game in NBA history by a rookie with 55 points. Stephen Curry brought his college game with him to the NBA by hitting 44 percent from deep.
Jonny Flynn, Jrue Holiday, Darren Collison and Rodrigue Beaubois all have become beneficial members of their teams as well.
24. USA Basketball
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USA basketball wasn't exactly the strongest team this summer at the FIBA championships. It wasn't the 2008 Beijing team that ran the table and featured the likes of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
No, this was a team whose best players included Kevin Durant, Lamar Odom and Derrick Rose. Not much was expected out of the USA team, to be honest.
Kevin Durant didn't care. Whether it was scoring 38 points in the semifinals against Lithuania or scoring when nobody else could, Durant made himself an elite player without playing any basketball in the United States.
"The B-Team," as they were called, helped young players like Durant, Rose and Russell Westbrook mature as players as they led the young team to their first gold medal at the world championships in a decade.
A few of these players absolutely played their way onto the 2012 London Olympic team.
23. Orlando Magic-Phoenx Suns-Washington Wizards Trade
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The most recent of the top NBA news of the year involves a trade amongst three teams that will change the outlook of each teams' future. In a trade between Orlando and Phoenix, the Magic received former teammate Hedo Turkoglu and Jason Richardson, while giving away Mickael Pietrus, Marcin Gortat and Vince Carter. The Magic and Washington Wizards also did a swap by trading Rashard Lewis for Gilbert Arenas.
It's a good move for the Magic as they get two three-point shooters, as well as a former player who knows the system, and it's good for Phoenix as they get a few defensive stoppers and a shooter and slasher in Carter. The Magic and Wizards swap terrible contracts as Orlando finally rid themselves of Lewis and got a capable three-point shooter, as well as a driver, in Gilbert Arenas.
The Wizards get some help as far as three-point shooting goes, but it'll take more than Lewis to get the ball rolling there.
22. Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics Season Opener
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When LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade in Miami, it was already believed that the Heat were pretty much going to run the table in the regular season and coast their way to an NBA Finals appearance. Despite LeBron telling everyone that the team might not be ready for a few months, the media hyped up the start of the regular season more than ever before.
The most hyped-up season opener definitely did not live up to expectations. In fact, it was a dud. In a contest against the Boston Celtics, it was obvious the Miami Heat weren't ready. They were sloppy and lackluster against a Celtics team that had established chemistry with a raucous TD Garden crowd behind them. James thrived, but Wade and Bosh struggled in an 88-80 season-opening loss.
This would be a great game now, but it was way too early for Miami to be playing against an already proven Celtics team.
21. Blake Griffin's Power and John Wall's Speed
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It's hard to decide what I'd rather have charging towards me: a powerful beast known as Blake Griffin or a speedy slasher in John Wall.
I think I'll just sit this one out.
Despite the struggles of the Los Angeles Clippers and Washington Wizards, Griffin and Wall have taken the NBA by storm. Wall has impressed with his passing and slashing following a shaky start, but it has been Griffin that has dropped the collective jaws of the NBA world.
His dunks on Timofey Mozgov or Danilo Gallinari were by far the scariest things I've seen in a while.
20. Gilbert Arenas' Legal Trouble
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The original gun speculation happened last season, but it has all spilled over in the past year. On January 6, 2010, David Stern had enough of Gilbert's antics by suspending him indefinitely until the investigation over his bringing guns into Washington's locker room was complete.
The suspension came shortly after Arenas made finger-guns before the start of a game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Gilbert would go on to apologize a month later for his actions in a Washington Post editorial and would get sentenced to two years' probation and 30 days in a halfway house another month later.
Gilbert has since served his time and is ready to start a new life with the Orlando Magic.
19. The Hornets on the Move?
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It was a fun ride, but it appears basketball in New Orleans might be on its last legs following some ownership issues. Owner George Shinn did not have the financial capability to run the team and was forced to give it up to the NBA to purchase and control. The Hornets continue to look for an owner, but until then there are plenty of cities that are pining for a chance at an NBA team.
Kansas City, Seattle and Las Vegas have all given their say in the Hornets franchise as they lay in waiting. The city of New Orleans had the Jazz before they departed for Utah and their loyal fanbase is certainly hoping that they can keep Chris Paul and the Hornets in their city.
18. Kevin Durant, Scoring Champ
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At 22, Kevin Durant has already accomplished what 95 percent of NBA players wished they could accomplish. Before he led the USA Basketball team to their first FIBA gold medal in a decade, Kevin Durant decided he wanted to ravage the NBA as well as a 21-year-old. He did so by becoming the youngest player in NBA history to win the scoring title.
With 30 points per game, Durant beat out the likes of LeBron James and Kobe Bryant to win his first scoring title. Durantula is currently on his way to another scoring title as he leads the league with 27 points per game. It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone if Durant manages to win the scoring title for a second consecutive season.
17. Carlos Boozer Out, Al Jefferson In
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The combination of Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer had established itself as one of the perennial duos of the league. Much like Karl Malone and John Stockton, Jerry Sloan wanted to implement another inside-outside duo that would devastate the NBA now much like it did in the 1990s.
With Boozer on the free-agency block, the Jazz were ready for the worst and decided they would invest in youth by stealing Al Jefferson from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
While he is still learning the ropes of Sloan's system, Jefferson is averaging 16 points and nine rebounds and developing a chemistry with his new teammates.
16. LeBron James Wins MVP...Again
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His team might have fallen short, but when it came to winning another MVP, LeBron James held his own again. After leading his Cleveland Cavaliers to a second consecutive season with the Eastern Conference's best record and averaging 30 points, a career-high nine assists, and eight rebounds, the NBA awarded LeBron with his second consecutive MVP award.
James became the 10th player in NBA history to be awarded consecutive MVP awards and was the first since Steve Nash did it in the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons.
Whether LeBron will become only the fourth player in NBA history to win three in a row is a feat that depends on just how well his Miami Heat finish this season.
15. Greg Oden Out...Again
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It's a sad day knowing that Greg Oden has worn his suit to games more than an NBA jersey. Since being drafted in 2007, the 7'1" giant out of Ohio State has only played 82 games for the Portland Trail Blazers.
It started out with an injury prior to the start of his rookie season that kept him out for the entire length of the 2007-08 campaign, then he missed three weeks due to a knee injury in the 2008-09 season, and he then followed that up by injuring his knee again in the 2009-10 season.
Oden didn't have to step out on the court to miss the season this time around. It was believed that Oden would make a return this season, but it was decided on November 17 that he needed microfracture surgery that would keep him out another season.
Although it seems like it's been an eternity since Oden has joined the league, he's only 22 and still has the potential to play a significant role in Portland.
14. The New Jersey Nets Attempt to Break a Record in the Worst Way
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It doesn't get much worse than the 2009-10 New Jersey Nets. Despite having a competent point guard-and-center duo in Devin Harris and Brook Lopez, the Nets nearly made history by setting the worst record in NBA history. The 9-73 record set by the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers still remains the worst record thanks to a late-season push that helped the Nets finish a league-worst 12-70.
They did, however, set a record for most losses to start a season at 18. The worst loss during the streak came in an 81-80 loss against the Miami Heat when the Nets appeared ready to end the streak at nine. Dwyane Wade, however, hit an off-balance three-pointer with 0.1 seconds left to give the Heat the win.
Luckily for the Nets, they will not have to worry about setting any records because of their 8-20 record.
13. Technical Fouls
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Taking a page from the NFL, David Stern and the NBA decided to tighten up the rule book by being strict when it comes to calling technical fouls. While it hasn't exactly decided any games yet, it is completely obvious that the officials are not letting NBA players or coaches get away with too much. A small outburst, minimal taunting and a little incessant complaining have all been met with whistles.
While it is an improvement to no longer see players running around the court in disgust (Rasheed Wallace) it might come as a problem in the long run if games are eventually decided by officials because of a small emotional outburst.
There is no doubt that the NBA will run into this problem sooner or later and it will be met with an outcry by the players and the fans alike.
12. A Miami Heat-Los Angeles Lakers Finals?
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As much as people would like to see possibly the Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs or Dallas Mavericks in the Finals, the most anticipated NBA finals matchup would be the Miami Heat taking on the Los Angeles Lakers. The possible matchups of Kobe Bryant against Dwyane Wade, Ron Artest on LeBron James, and Pau Gasol taking on Chris Bosh would represent five of the top 20 players in the league on the same court.
The Los Angeles Lakers are the clear-cut favorites considering they have advanced to three consecutive NBA Finals, but the Miami Heat are proving their worth in the Eastern Conference. The Heat currently lead the Southeast Division and are second in the conference. The Boston Celtics might be the only team standing in their way, while Dallas and San Antonio are looking to usurp Los Angeles in the West.
It's destiny for these two teams to match up and it'll be interesting, as well as exceedingly entertaining, to see just how fantastic of a series this would be.
11. Amare Stoudemire to the New York Knicks
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After an exceptional eight seasons with the Phoenix Suns, Amare Stoudemire decided to take advantage of free agency by taking his talents to New York. Knowing that he'd be paired up with Raymond Felton as his point guard, it was believed that "Stat" possibly could not thrive in an offense without his original partner in Steve Nash.
Twenty-eight games into the season and Stoudemire is a front-runner for the MVP award. At 27 points and nine rebounds per game, Amare is having the best statistical season of his career thus far as he attempts to make basketball relevant in New York again. Madison Square Garden has become the raucous crowd that it formerly was in the 1990s when Patrick Ewing and John Starks were leading the offense.
Speaking of which...
10. There's a Basketball Team in New York?
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Yeah, I know, it's surprising right? After a decade of living in obscurity, the New York Knicks have been revived with their new-look team. Amare Stoudemire and Raymond Felton lead a supercharged offense that comes complete with a plethora of three-point shooters and a number of key role players. The Knicks are coming off one of their longest winning streaks in history when they recently ran off eight games from late November to mid-December.
The streak had a good chance to hit nine if not for some late-game theatrics by Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics. While it can be argued that the Knicks' schedule hasn't been that strong, it's a definite step in the right direction for a Knicks team that could use all the winning it can get.
It's also nearly assured that New York will also make the postseason for the first time since the 2003-04 season.
New York has been pining for the opportunity to cheer for the Knicks again and they have it—and yes, they have already begun to take advantage of it at Madison Square Garden.
9. Kevin Love's 30 and 30
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Some sort of history worth remembering was set in Minnesota for a change earlier this season. As a rookie, Kevin Love began to establish himself as a dangerous offensive rebounder by finishing third overall in offensive caroms per game. Early in his second year, in a game against the New York Knicks, Kevin Love had over 30 points and 30 rebounds for the first time in 28 years.
No player since Moses Malone has accomplished the feat and Love went for 31 points and 31 rebounds overall. Even if it was against a weak rebounding team like the Knicks, accomplishing an individual feat that hasn't been set in nearly 30 years is a spectacle to be noticed. Considering that Dennis Rodman, Karl Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar all played during this period makes it even more impressive.
Please surround this kid with talent as soon as possible.
8. The Lockout
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Unless something is done within the next few months, there will unfortunately be an NBA lockout next year. There have been claims of David Stern lying about just how much the NBA has lost in revenue over the past year. Monetary disputes between the players union and the NBA have led up to the possible disaster that might ensue next season.
There has yet to be a full-season lockout in the NBA, but they did come close in the 1998-99 season when teams only played the last half of the season. However, it was also one of the most entertaining seasons in recent history as it was only the second time in history that an eight seed beat a one seed in the postseason.
It would still be considerably disappointing to see the NBA and their finest athletes waste a year of their playing careers due to something as simple as money.
7. Yao Ming Out for the Season and Possibly a Lot Longer
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At first, it didn't seem like Yao Ming would ever miss a substantial amount of time. In his first three seasons in the league, Yao had only missed two games and was quickly becoming one of the top centers in the league as he increased his points and rebounding nearly every year.
He began to face setbacks in the 2005-06 season when he only played 57 games, 48 games in the 2006-07 season, and 55 in the 2007-08 season.
He got back on track by playing 77 games in the 2008-09 season, but then saw his 2009-10 derailed as he missed the entire season. He made a short comeback this season, but was forced to the bench after playing in only five games. It is rumored now that Yao might not even be able to play organized basketball ever again.
At 30, his career would have already been in the decline, but it's a sad sight to see the rest of Yao's career possibly tanking.
6. The Celtics' Late-Season Push
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Just when you thought they were out of gas in the tank, they pull off a miracle like this. After playing nearly .500 ball after the All-Star break and finishing with the fourth seed, the Celtics made one of their most impressive runs in the postseason after appearing to be finished in the regular season.
Despite finishing the season 50-32, they would go on to defeat the Miami Heat 4-1 in the first round, pull off a monumental upset against the Cavaliers by winning 4-2, and beat up on the Orlando Magic 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals before finally seeing their run end in the Staples Center, where they would lose in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
If not for a few late-game mistakes, the Celtics would have been the team to hoist the trophy in the end.
5. LeBron James Returns to Cleveland
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Even though the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat were going in completely different directions, their matchup on December 2 was one of the more anticipated games of the 2010-11 season. It represented LeBron James' first return back to his former team in Cleveland after spurning the team in the offseason to join the Heat. James had spent his first seven years with the Cavs and holds nearly every franchise record.
The game was interesting for the first five minutes until LeBron found a rhythm and had one of the best games of his career. In only 30 minutes, James had silenced the raucous Quicken Loans crowd by netting a season-high 38 points, eight assists and five rebounds in a 118-90 Heat victory.
James was making shots from just about everywhere on the court despite having 20,000 angry fans breathing down his neck.
LeBron lived up to the hype of the game—it was a disappointment that the Cavs couldn't.
4. Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul Trade Rumors
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LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Amare Stoudemire might not be the only big-name players to be switching teams. Even after a star-studded offseason that featured some of the greatest players in the NBA switching teams, there are still moves to be made with Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul both potentially playing the field for a trade or in free agency.
The rumors surrounding Chris Paul might be dying down, but the possibility of a trade happening with 'Melo is still completely possible, as he recently stated last month that he was still anticipating a trade. The only problem for Anthony is that his desired destination of New York does not want to give up essential pieces in return.
However, the Nuggets have been set up with New Jersey to complete the trade, but it is Anthony who continues to denounce going to the Nets.
Both players are free agents next year.
3. Summer Free Agency
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The entire face of the NBA has now been changed all thanks to a few weeks in July and August. The summer free agency period of 2010 represented the largest pool of superstars ever available to just about every NBA team. Even aside from LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, Rudy Gay and Carlos Boozer were all free agents who had the possibility of signing with a different team.
There had never been such a class of players who could all change teams, and it won't be until 2015, when most of these players' contracts end, that we'll see it again. Many players in free agency had the ability to change the outlook of their old and new teams by either staying or jumping ship for a possible new start for a new team.
2. The Los Angeles Lakers Go Back-To-Back
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Following their crushing defeat to the Boston Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers knew they needed redemption if the teams were to meet again. Their matchup was delayed in 2009 when injuries limited Boston, allowing the Orlando Magic to take the Eastern Conference, but the Celtics' late push in 2010 gave them the opportunity to win their second championship in three years if they were able to get the best of the Lakers again.
In one of the tightest NBA Finals in recent history, the Los Angeles Lakers were able to come back from 3-2 in the series to take it overall 4-3. In Game 7, Kobe Bryant shot 6-of-24 but still led the team in points with 23 and earned Finals MVP honors. The Lakers were forced to play catch-up the entire way after going down by double-digits early in the first half, but a 30-22 fourth quarter would play the largest role in the Lakers win.
The rivalry has been brought back after two hard-fought NBA Finals in only three seasons, with the possibility of a third in four seasons happening this season as well.
1. Miami Thrice
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It was by far the greatest coup in NBA history. In the 2010 free agency period, it was well-known that only the Miami Heat had the cap space to possibly sign three players to a maximum contract. With Dwyane Wade already in Miami, it was completely possible for the Heat to sign one or even two stars to the team over the offseason period. Wade weighed his options in Chicago, but decided after a hectic week in Miami that he would stay.
At nearly the same time, former Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh also announced that he would depart for Miami. While it was expected that Bosh could land in Miami, nobody saw what was coming when LeBron James was holding "The Decision," an hour-long ESPN special that featured LeBron choosing which team he'd play for. It wasn't until the day before "The Decision" that rumors of James going to Miami began to arise.
A few hours later and LeBron was taking his talents to South Beach, creating one of the most dynamic super-teams in sporting history. While they have gotten off to a slow start, the Heat and their big three have showed on a number of occasions why they will be the team to beat in the future.
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