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The biggest
pro hoops story of the year so far has been former Knick Bill Bradley's
robust
run at the Democratic presidential nomination. Michael Jordan's
off somewhere carping about his restaurant
deal. Charles Barkley's giving
away millions as he launches what one hopes will be his final
NBA farewell tour. Larry Bird will soon fade
away from the coaching bench, and Dennis
Rodman's only hope for getting back into the league rests on
the tall shoulders of Phil Jackson. Speaking of the Zen
master, his Lakers will go up against Pat
Riley's Heat this season in an odd rerun of their hard-fought
Chicago-New York rivalry.
The good news about the NBA's transition
game is that there's  never
been a better time to become a fan, to claim tomorrow's superstars
as your very own I-knew-them-when
discoveries. No nasty labor
disputes loom in the near court, and several preseason rule
changes should bring back the high-scoring games that shot the
league into prominence during the Showtime
eighties and Love-a-Bulls
nineties.
Many observers
point to the Spurs' Tim Duncan, the 76ers' Allen Iverson, the Lakers'
Kobe Bryant, the Timberwolves' Kevin Garnett and the Pistons' Grant
Hill as the youngsters most likely to come up big this season. But
the NBA is staking
its future on the prospects of the likes of the 76ers' Larry
Hughes, the Rockets' Cuttino Mobley and Shandon Anderson, the Raptors'
Tracy McGrady, the Trail Blazers' Jermaine O'Neal, the Grizzlies'
Shareef Abdur-Rahim, the Bucks' Ray Allen, the Clippers' Maurice
Taylor,  the
Magic's Michael Doleac, and the Pacers' Al Harrington. No matter
who finally emerges from the latest NBA brat pack, this
season promises to be an interesting chapter in the hoop
life.
Frank
Sennett
Newcity.com
affiliates make their NBA points:
BARKLEY'S
LAST BASKET
Sir Charles was
one of the last links to an NBA where winning was more important
than shoe deals
GO
WEST, TALL YOUNG MEN
Western Conference teams look to dominate the NBA this season
NOT
THIS YEAR
The beer has to be sold, the games have to be played, but the outcome
of the Utah Jazz season is inevitable
AMERICAN
BASKETBALL IN CHINA
The other side of the rock
WNBA
WRAP-UP
A look at the season past, and how the Olympics might change the
look of the league
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