Ten Days That Shook The (Modern) NBA World
This is the second part of a two-part series on the ten days that, more than any others, shaped the modern (post-Jordan) NBA.
The first part, http://bleacherreport.com/articles/617481-do-you-know-what-happened-on-these-dates-that-changed-the-nba, was a quiz to see who could guess what happened on the dates, which are as follows:
1. July 1, 1996
2. July 18, 1996
3. December 23, 1996
4. January 13, 1999
5. September 4, 2002
6. June 26, 2003
7. February 19, 2004
8. July 14, 2004
9. July 31, 2007
10. February 1, 2008
Follow the slide show to see what happened.
July 1, 1996
1 of 11
On July 1, 1996, Jerry West traded the Lakers' starting center, Vlade Divac, for a 17-year-old kid, Kobe Bryant. Divac would go on to have some very good years for the Sacramento Kings, teaming with Chris Webber. Bryant would go on to become the face of the Lakers, winning five championships.
July 18, 1996
2 of 11
On July 18, 1996 it was announced that Shaquille O'Neal would join the Los Angeles Lakers on a seven-year, $121 million contract. The Lakers would win three championships, and O'Neal would be the most dominating force in basketball through the early 2000s.
December 23, 1996
3 of 11
On December 23, 1996, David Robinson broke his foot in a game against the Miami Heat and missed the rest of the season. He had already missed the beginning of the season with a bad back. Consequently, the Spurs managed only 20 wins that season, secured the first pick in the next draft, and chose Tim Duncan. The rest is history—the Spurs won two championships with Duncan and Robinson, and two more since Robinson's retirement because of "The Big Fundamental."
January 13, 1999
4 of 11
On January 13, 1999, Michael Jordan retired for the second time, ending the era of the Bulls' dominance, and initiating the contemporary era of the NBA, which can only be defined as P.J. (Post-Jordan).
September 4, 2002
5 of 11
"The basketball universe changed forever Wednesday night." So said the Associated Press story reporting that Argentina had defeated the USA 87-80 in the FIBA World Basketball Championship in Indianapolis on September 4, 2002. It was the first loss for the U.S. in 59 games since it began sending NBA players to international tournaments, but it wouldn't be the last, thus necessitating the "Redeem Team."
Manu Ginobili torched the U.S. that day for 15 points with three assists, two steals and a block in 24 minutes. U.S. assistant coach Gregg Popovich watched from the American bench. Coach Pop's consternation was mitigated somewhat: his team, the San Antonio Spurs, had already drafted Ginobili in the second round of the 1999 NBA Draft with the 57th overall pick. Ginobili would begin playing for the Spurs in the 2002-2003 season and would be instrumental in their winning the championships in 2003, 2005 and 2007.
June 26, 2003
6 of 11
On June 26, 2003, the NBA Draft was held at The Theater in Madison Square Garden, New York. The draft included LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Kaman, Kirk Hinrich, David West, Boris Diaw, Kendrick Perkins, LeandroBarbosa, Josh Howard, etc. This draft class produced scoring champions, MVPs and a Finals MVP.
Maybe the most fate changing aspect of the draft, though, was a bone-headed move by Joe Dumars, who drafted for the Pistons, Darko Milicic ahead of Carmelo or Wade. Had he drafted better, the Pistons might have won more than one title in the 2000s.
February 19, 2004
7 of 11
On February 19, 2004, after just one game played for the Atlanta Hawks, Rasheed Wallace was traded to the Detroit Pistons, completing their outstanding five of the Wallaces (Ben and Rasheed), Tayshaun Prince, Rip Hamilton,and Chauncey Billups. The Pistons would defeat the Lakers in the Finals that season, putting an end to what had seemed like a dynasty that would last for years to come.
For a player perceived to be a problem guy, Rasheed Wallace not only had a lot of success in the NBA (he had led the Portland Trailblazers to two straight Western Conference finals in 1999 and 2000), his success came as a contributing member of superbly balanced teams. Neither the Trailblazers nor the Pistons teams he was on had a single 20-point-per-game scorer. The Pistons with Wallace would be one of the winningest teams through the 2000s.
July 14, 2004
8 of 11
After squabbles between Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers traded O'Neal on July 14, 2004 to the Miami Heat. Teaming with Dwyane Wade, O'Neal would win another title with the Heat in 2006.
July 31, 2007
9 of 11
A month after the Celtics had acquired Ray Allen (on June 28, 2007), they traded five players (plus cash and draft picks) to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kevin Garnett on July 31, 2007. Garnett had arguably been the most productive player in the NBA for the last half-decade, to no avail in Minnesota. With Garnett and Allen teaming up with Paul Pierce, the Celtics would make the NBA finals in two of the next three seasons, and would win it all in 2008.
February 1, 2008
10 of 11
On February 1, 2008, the Memphis Grizzlies would basically gift Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, the rights to Marc Gasol, and a couple of first round picks. The Lakers since acquiring Gasol have been in the NBA finals three straight seasons, and have won the last two.
Recap
11 of 11
To recap, these are the days that shook the modern NBA, shaping the post-Jordan era:
1. July 1, 1996: Lakers trade for rights to Kobe Bryant.
2. July 18, 1996: Shaq leaves Orlando for Los Angeles.
3. December 23, 1996: David Robinson breaks his foot.
4. January 13, 1999: Michael Jordan retires for the second time, and forever from the Bulls.
5. September 4, 2002: Argentina defeats the USA, but San Antonio has a star in Ginobili.
6. June 26, 2003: The 2003 NBA draft.
7. February 19, 2004: Rasheed Wallace traded to the Pistons.
8. July 14, 2004: Shaquille O'Neal traded to the Heat.
9. July 31, 2007: Kevin Garnett traded to Boston.
10. February 1, 2008: Pau Gasol traded to Los Angeles.
Do you agree with these ten dates? What do you think will be the next formative date?
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