The Madness Before the NBA All-Star Game

"Kobe ruled the new era's November and December!"

"But when the New Year's bells rang! People realized that this most dazzling era was far more than just Kobe."

—Doug Collins

In 1999, the NBA entered the turn of the century!

The year 2000 was about to arrive!

This was destined to be a year full of legends.

As the Lakers adjusted their form, the performances of the league's other superstars instantly overshadowed Kobe!

January!

The final month before the NBA All-Star Game!

By this point, after two months of adjustment, team tactics had essentially settled into place.

Other than a few idiotic coaches, few coaches would make major changes to their player rotations or lineups at this stage.

And after two months of the season, the players' performances had also begun to normalize.

Not every player was as disciplined as Kobe. In this era, players like O'Neal, whose physique went out of shape after a single offseason, were the norm in the league!

Two months! That was enough time for both players and teams to get into rhythm!

This was the month when the season entered its most intense stretch, as strong teams fought for playoff seeding.

From first in the conference to the top ten, everyone began scrambling desperately for the playoffs, such a high-exposure stage.

The leader of a playoff team and a star outside the playoffs were two completely different things!

The former would have countless people willing to offer huge salaries, while the latter would be branded a stat-padder or a locker-room cancer.

No one liked the weak!

And if you couldn't make the playoffs, it meant you sucked!

January!

After the NBA Christmas Day Games, Grant Hill put together the best month of his career!

He averaged 29.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, 11.2 assists, 1.2 steals,