In less than 72 hours, we’ll turn the page on 2016, a year that has provided us with a handful of historical NBA moments. We’ve seen records broken, legends retire, and history made over the course of the last 12 months, so before we welcome 2017, it’s worth taking a look back at some of the stories we’ll remember from the past year.
Several NBA.com reporters did just that in a Blogtable feature, with Steve Aschburner, Flan Blinebury, Scott Howard-Cooper, John Schuhmann, Sekou Smith, and Lang Whitaker weighing in on their favorite memories from 2016.
The NBA.com piece hits all the beats you would expect — the Warriors‘ 73-win season; the Cavaliers‘ improbable comeback and championship win; Kevin Durant‘s decision to leave Oklahoma City for Golden State; and new Collective Bargaining Agreement that signals several more years of NBA labor peace.
Of course, the NBA.com feature focuses on the “biggest” stories of 2016, and it’s hard to make the case that there were many stories bigger than the ones they mentioned. We want to open up the discussion a little more, and ask you about the stories you thought were the best or most memorable of 2016.
For some Lakers fans, for instance, the best story of 2016 might have been Kobe Bryant‘s farewell tour culminating in a 60-point explosion in his final NBA game. For other Lakers fans, 2016’s best story may have been the team turning the page on the Bryant era and beginning a new chapter under Luke Walton, with a handful of young, exciting players leading the way.
What do you think? As the year comes to an end, what NBA stories, players, teams, or moments do you expect to remember most about 2016? Jump into the comments section below to share your thoughts!
The return of the bad boys culture in Detroit, culminating in a return to the playoffs.
A large majority of the population believing Steph Curry had replaced Lebron James as the best player in the league during the regular season.
LEBRON THE KING THE GOAT