The Greatest Generation on their way out?

             Larry Bird and Magic Johnson saved basketball. The NBA was at an all-time low and was almost on its way out before two of the games greatest competitors entered the court. The rivalry, desire to win, and overall intensity is something that today's NBA seems to lack. Larry Bird once said that he and Magic were friends off the court and enemies on it (I'm paraphrasing of course) but this is a mindset that players today don't seem to get, and the ones that do are immediately labeled as disrespectful and bad for the game. Call me what you want but I kind of miss this kind of intensity in a game, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4oF34p3-rQ. I love Larry Bird, but by today's standards fans would HATE him! We have forgotten that players like him, and Magic, and MJ, and Reggie Miller were "dirty players," who would do whatever they had to to win. This style has faded fairly quickly over the years with only a handful of true competitors still active. Players today are soft, see Blake Griffin for best example. Sure he puts numbers in the box and fans in the seats, but I honestly believe that if a team wants to win a championship they need to rid themselves of guys like him. You'll never see guys like Blake motivating his team to win, stepping up to take the final shot, standing up for his teammate, or playing lock-down defense against a star, you'll see him dunk....AND THAT'S IT! Basketball seems to be transitioning from a game of passion and teamwork to a game of highlights and drama, see Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard trade request sagas. The last competitors in the NBA are within their final years, here are a few that I believe are left:

• Kevin Garnett: Players hate him, teammates love him. Joakim Noah was once quoted calling KG, "mean." It's nice to see that Florida college education system did him some good, I'm particularly interested in Noah's experiences in the subjects of "sharing" and "playing nice." The Big Ticket employs several tactics to win, be it his fundamentals, his vocal attacks, his physicality, or Hall of Fame worthy defense, Kevin Garnett is one of the all time greatest. If you talk to any of his teammates over the years they all say the same thing, that he is a constant professional, a passionate teacher, a true competitor, and a winner. If those qualities mean that Joakim gets his feelings hurt well then maybe he should try basket weaving instead of basketball. 

• Kobe Bryant: As a die-hard Celtic fan it pains me to say this, but I must be fair. Kobe Bryant is a competitor. With a personality and swagger comparable to Michael Jordan, Bryant has made a name as a winner and a top 10 all-time player. I suppose the reason he gets this title is because he's everything Blake Griffin is not. He'll take the last shot, he'll be motivating on the sidelines, he'll take the tough defensive assignments, and he has a seemingly unstoppable arsenal of scoring moves. If you don't believe me, I can give you FIVE golden reasons why The Black Mamba is a fierce competitor. His teammates may not always love him but you can't deny his results. 

• Tim Duncan: I know I know, he doesn't really fit the criteria for what I've been saying, however he does have a right to be on here. Tim Duncan is still relevant at 37, the reason for this can be answered in his nickname, "The Big Fundamental." Fundamentals are the key to a long and dominant career. Guys like Griffin and Howard are not going to be around long because their game relies too much on physical domination. What Duncan has in common with the previous two guys is the fact that his basketball IQ is off the charts! The guy is incredibly intelligent and its half the reason for his longevity and stellar resume. He's a four time NBA champion and two time MVP, he plays well with teammates and delivers when his team needs him. He may not be as vocal as some others on the court, but Duncan displays intensity and competitiveness in his own way and for that he makes the list. 

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