Kobe Year

"Duncan made the All-NBA First Team as a rookie?"

The moment the All-NBA Teams were announced, controversy erupted!

Duncan had edged out Garnett and Webber to claim a spot on the First Team, surpassing Kobe to become the third rookie in league history to make the All-NBA First Team.

The other two were Wilt Chamberlain and Wes Unseld!

As a rookie, Chamberlain averaged 37.6 points and 27 rebounds, sweeping Rookie of the Year, All-Star MVP, and regular-season MVP honors while making an All-NBA Team.

Wes Unseld averaged 13.8 points and 18.2 rebounds (1,491 total rebounds, second only to Wilt Chamberlain's 1,712), earning Rookie of the Year and MVP honors.

And Duncan?

He was the second option on the fourth-place team in the Western Conference! A player who had merely averaged 20+10+3 while committing 3.4 turnovers per game had accomplished something neither Kobe nor Jordan had done.

"There are many great power forwards in this league—Garnett, Webber, Malone, Kemp, and others. I've faced all of them, and I don't think our No. 1 pick's rookie-season performance surpassed theirs." O'Neal's tone dripped with sarcasm.

"I feel sorry for my disciple. Webber deserved a better honor." Chuck Daly openly declared that Webber was more deserving of the First Team than Duncan. In terms of team record, the Magic were second in the Eastern Conference; in terms of stats, Webber's 25.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.8 blocks, and 3.3 turnovers per game completely blew Duncan's 20+10+3 out of the water.

"Our rookie No. 1 pick had quite a few brilliant performances, but did he really surpass what Kobe did last season? Not even close!" Kemp cursed outright. This season, he had become the first player in history with a hundred-million-dollar contract to miss the playoffs.

"Ha! I didn't even make an