This morning I woke up at 7 am and, in my normal routine, I switched on NBA TV. The 1988 All-Star game was playing. While composing my “Tendon-Gate” article, and hearing Dick Stockton doing the play by play in the background, I had to stop and watch.
“Tendon-Gate” was on hold for now…
As I watched, I realized this may have been the game that encompassed everything the 1980′s were. As the decade was winding down and the NBA greats of that era were moving passed their prime, this exhibition was extremely hard fought with a blend of fundamentals and gritty determination – qualities that are far lacking in today’s All-Star games.
These guys wanted to defeat their peers, they saw this game as less of an exhibition for fun and more of an artistic exhibit of talent in a 5 on 5 competition of who is the best conference – not player.
Until today, I never realized what a bridge year 1988 was. The natural evolution of the game was perfectly displayed in Chicago Stadium on that Sunday afternoon.
Jordan entered a league dominated by Magic, Doctor J., Larry, Kareem and Moses. Among those titans of basketball, Jordan managed to captivate the sporting world while playing for an untalented Bulls team.
Jordan’s career seemed to reach new levels each season but his team was not always recognized as the second (behind Russell’s Celtics) greatest dynasty in basketball history.
Though MJ led his Bulls to the 8th seed playoff spot his first several seasons, a feat that is underappreciated on Chicago teams that were untalented and under achieving, his early career was marred by injuries and controversies caused by jealous opponents.
The NBA’s most jealous superstar, Isiah Thomas, unsurprisingly led the charge in 1984. Michael Jordan was voted as a starter, by the fans, to the all-star game in his rookie season. Isiah, feeling the attention Jordan was receiving was unjust, led a player revolt in the all-star game. In a move most forgotten for unsportsmanlike behavior, Isiah refused to pass Michael the ball throughout the game.
Jordan went on to win Rookie of the Year honors and his battles with Isiah had just begun.
His next two seasons were busted by foot and knee problems.
In 1986, Jordan returned from knee surgery in time to face the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Though the Bulls were swept by Larry’s Celtics, Jordan managed to set an unbroken playoff record of 63 points in game 2.
8. Oscar Robertson
Considered by many to be the perfect all around skilled player. In only his second NBA season he averaged a triple double for an entire season! Robertson won one NBA championship and had career averages of 25.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG and 9.5 APG.
There was one man who was most missed on this All-Star Sunday. The man who created the most exciting highlight reels in the history of the game. Julius Erving, the Ambassador of NBA basketball, retired before the 1988 season started and, for the first time in his life, looked on from the stands with pride as Bird and Magic seemed to be holding the torch he passed just fine.
In an era when the Eastern Conference dominated the NBA, it was fitting that they ended up winning that game. Jordan scored 40 point and It was a pretty decisive win by the Eastern All-Stars but that didn’t deter the Western squad from competing to the very end.
One year later, Kareem entered his last campaign and Larry Bird was injured. Mo Cheeks and Moses Malone had not been elected to the All-Star game. In 1989′s All-Star game, it just wasn’t the same but there is no doubt the torch was being left in competant hands.
As the 1980′s closed, though the game would never be the same, Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwan, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley would lead the way through the 1990′s, a less competitive era and yet NBA basketball’s following expanded to regions of the world where it’s presence had never been felt during the Bird, Magic, Kareem, Dr. J era.
I wonder if 20 years from now I will be looking back on today’s All-Star games with the amazement I do of the 1980′s exhibitions
Signature***********************
Get the lowest rates for your Mortgage Refinance
Mortgage and Home Loan News
Discover real estate listings and homes for sale
Related Articles
September 8, 2010
See more in Basketball Betting
