Hoopiquity » Pictures

Drafting the 2009 All-NBA First Team

pointgod — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:13:39 +0000

Take a look at past drafts and the players who would later steal the spotlight – Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Dirk Nowitzki, LeBron James…who knew they’d later be drafted into the 2009 All-NBA First team? I can see most of you nodding heads with LeBron James. As soon as Stern calls up the next players this Thursday, June 25, 2009, to get drafted in the NBA, maybe we’ll see a few of these hardworking and talented individuals make the All-NBA first team one day. Think you can predict which of these draft prospects are bound to fill D Wade, Kobe, Dwight, Dirk, and Bron’s shoes in the future? Let us know. For now, here’s a look back at the 2009 All-NBA First Team in their draft moment.

Dwayne Wade (2003, #5)

Kobe Bryant (1996, #13)

Dwight Howard (2004, #1)

LeBron James (2003, #1)

Dirk Nowitzki (1998, #9)

There is a clear distinction between the lions and lambs who play the game. And in this NBA den, the All-NBA first team isn’t intended for the weak and meager. This NBA honor is given to only the elite individual players who have measured up by panel standards, to be the best at leading the NBA all season long. When draft time comes around, think beyond which team(s) will benefit from the player(s) they select. This is the future of basketball.

Los Angeles Lakers Championship Parade

giveandgo — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:55:13 +0000

School’s out, work can wait, and yup Laker fans were out and about. Over 250,000 fans sacrificed Wednesday to attend the Laker championship celebration in the heart of LA. Yes, it must truly be difficult to come out when the sun’s shining and the feeling of victory is still pumping through their veins. Fans found a way to justify their attendance by reveling in the camaraderie of a common thread, priding on their city’s championship team and thrilled for the opportunity to celebrate with the players, coaches, and fellow fans. A sea of purple and gold cheered on the Laker squad as the bus drove down Figueroa, and ended the whole shebang for the first time inside the Coliseum. Celebration-goers were serenaded by the oh-too-familiar Newman’s “I Love LA” anthem, inspired by lots of chest-pounding, clapping, trophy raising from players, and promise of future victories. But unfortunately, no killer dance moves from any of the bench mob to be seen. Mark Madsen, you are missed. Hey, the parade may have footed a bill for 2 million dollars if not more, caused a flood of traffic nearly impossible to bypass, ramped up security and a small handful of arrests and broken barriers, but ask any Laker fan out there and they’ll tell you it was all worth it.

Exclusive fan photos courtesy of Susan at Shinobi Studios.