I found this video yesterday, and it reminded me why I thought Allen Iverson was the coolest player in the league when I was a kid. The crossover, the speed, the attitude. He had all of it from day one.
The 1997 Rookie Game
The game was played on February 8, 1997, at Gund Arena in Cleveland, as part of All-Star Weekend. The East won 96 to 91. Iverson was named MVP with 19 points and nine assists, even though the crowd booed the decision. A lot of people thought the award should have gone to Kobe Bryant, who scored 31 points for the West, a Rookie Game record at the time. The same night, Kobe won the Slam Dunk Contest.
What a Draft Class
What struck me most while watching is how many big names were rookies in that game. Next to Iverson and Kobe you see Steve Nash, Antoine Walker, Derek Fisher and Marcus Camby, all at the very start of their careers. Looking back from today, it is wild to see where they ended up. Kobe is still going and is about to start his 19th season with the Lakers. Fisher just retired after five rings and is now coaching the Knicks. Iverson officially called it a career last year.
My Take
This is old-school basketball at its best: baggy shorts, young legs and a bunch of future stars trying to show what they have. Watch it and enjoy.
