"When was the last time the NBA had this many transcendent superstars?" Stern sat in a suite at the First Union Center, a kindly smile on his face as he quietly awaited the start of the game.
The changes the NBA had undergone in recent years were astonishing.
There was no need to mention the OK Dynasty's five straight championships. It had been a worldwide celebration, perhaps the greatest run in basketball history.
During that period, countless discussions and attention around the world had revolved around the OK Dynasty. Kobe and O'Neal had been elevated to godlike status, while even the Lakers' role players had become familiar faces to countless fans.
During that era, the Lakers had been the center of the world.
Yet after the OK Dynasty fell apart and Michael Jordan retired, the NBA's popularity had not declined—it had actually risen!
Even Stern had not expected that.
He had been mentally prepared for the NBA to enter a period of adjustment lasting several years.
The American economy had been unstable these past few years, and vicious terrorist attacks such as 9/11 had erupted. Nearly every entertainment industry had been affected.
But with the rise of a new generation of elite stars, the emergence of championship-caliber teams, and the attention from the Asian market, the NBA's popularity this year had surpassed even Stern's expectations.
This year, the NBA even had a chance to surpass the NFL!
Conflict and focal points created attention.
There were simply too many stories this year!
The tangled history between Kobe and O'Neal.
The battle for the league's best regular-season record.
The scoring-title race among several players averaging over thirty points.
The MVP race.
Yao Ming's All-Star controversy.
The championship race.
And the trade market that was about to open.
Countless superstars had shone brilliantly