A Lot Has Changed

With no NBA games to televise because of this stupid lockout, NBATV has been broadcasting a lot of "Hardwood Classics." While the currently airing game (Golden St-Washington in the 1975 NBA Finals...yes, the Warriors and Bullets actually played each other in the NBA Finals at one point) won't be shown in this house, I did treat myself to a little late 80's hoops over the weekend. Specifically, I watched a few minutes of the 1986 and 1989 All-Star Games. Obviously the differences between then and now are too numerous to count. You know them. I know them. Together, we could talk for hours (here's a fun game - start talking about the short shorts and see where it takes you).

What I couldn't stop thinking about after turning off the game was the amazing course of events that have led us from 1989 to 2011. I know all professional sports have changed over the past two decades, but I can't think any more so than the NBA. If we told the 1989 All-Stars that the following would happen to their sport, would they believe you?

• The 1987 MVP, who would go on to win the 1989 and 1990 awards, would be diagnosed with HIV in 1991 and subsequently retire
  
• The best collection of basketball talent ever assembled would compete in the 1992 Olympics and win by an average of 45 points
• The greatest of all-time would win three straight titles from 1992-1994
• The greatest of all-time would retire from the sport for two years and instead play professional minor league baseball
• The greatest of all-time would then return and win three more titles before retiring for the second time
• The league would suffer their first lockout in 1999 and lose half the season
• The team from the countries second leading market would win several more titles in the 2000's thanks to a 7' center and a 6' guard (ok, not much changed there...)
• The greatest of all-time would return for a final time, this time with the Wizards
• The league's darkest moment would occur when a player jumps into the stands and fight some fans. The player would then be suspended for over 60 games
• The league would see a new King enter the league, save a city and then devastate the fan base by leaving to join forces with another top 5 player
• Cities such as Memphis, Toronto, Charlotte and Oklahoma City would each become the home to a professional basketball team. The Sonics would no longer call Seattle their home
  
• The league's average salary would be $4.8 million a year
  
• The league would suffer from their second lockout and lose a TBD amount of the season
• Players would start to play overseas, including arguably the best player of the past decade
  

I am sure that I missed something, but the fact that Kobe Bryant is seriously considering playing in Italy is just amazing to me. I know it's not as crazy as playing for the Birmingham Barons, but it is pretty crazy. Think about it a little more: Kobe Bryant, a 5-time NBA Champion, 2-time Finals MVP and 6th all-time leading scorer is heading to Europe to play. It is entirely possible that at age 35, he hurts himself and we never see him play again in the NBA. It is entirely possible that he never gets his sixth championship to tie MJ. It is entirely possible that this is the worst decision of his life (actually, I think it will probably end up being the best decision of his life). There is no way anyone would believe that in 1989...but then again, no one would have ever believed that the greatest of all-time would retire to play baseball.