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Third is Parker Ainsworth, Texas golden boy and Rockets fan.
Vince “Vinsanity” Carter
Vince Carter was one of the first jerseys I bought. It was the early 2000s, he was a high-flying, freak athlete. He had the swag (think “it’s ova” in the dunk contest). He had the sweet kicks (who didn’t have/want a pair of those shocks? I mean seriously). He even morphed his game, and became a shooter as he got older.
He still laces them up today, 14 years later. But perhaps what I loved most about Vince was when he CLEARED seven-footer Frederic Weis of France in the 2000 Olympics. USA > France; Carter proved it. And USA = Mt. Rushmore. Ergo, VC is on my Mt. Rushmore of the post-Jordan era. Still find that hard to believe? Check out Vince’s top 100 dunks of all time and you’ll realize the dunk shown at 100 would still be among this year’s best.
LeBron “King” James
I know he’s many kids’ (see Matt Tuckness) favourite (or favourite to hate) now, but LeBron has always been sentimental to me. I can remember being 10 years old and living in an apartment, my mom coming home with the mail and LeBron on the cover of Sports Illustrated at 16. The title: “The Chosen One”. He had a shocked look, a glow in the dark looking ball, but man he could play. My mom even said, “Parker they’re saying he’s the next Michael Jordan“, and I read that article cover to cover. People forget this, but back then he got customized Kobe’s (the Adidas Kobe’s) personally shipped to him. I don’t know why, other than the fact that I was a sneaker-obsessed kid, but I thought that was a sign of respect and greatness, at age 16 (now I realize it was probably Adidas’ failed attempt to try to lure him).
I have a LB23 maroon Cleveland jersey hanging in my current apartment, and lost a bet on him in the 2011 NBA Finals and had to have my profile picture as me in a Dirk shirt for 6 months (and I hate Dirk; I’m a Rockets guy). But I’m someone who has been dedicated to James since he was 16 and that article came out, who saw the 35 of 37 against Detroit, saw the triple doubles, wasn’t against The Decision, and is now watching him add to his legacy (think: everything great Jordan did, the Jordan “moments,” all came when Jordan was older than LeBron is right now). He’s gotta make my Mt. Rushmore.
Kevin “KD” Durant
Anyone who knows me knows I’m a huge Texas Longhorn fan; always have been. Growing up in Austin, I can remember when TJ Ford and Rick Barnes began Texas Basketball. But KD changed it. I had season tickets the year he was in Austin, and it sparked a love for KD that hasn’t weathered yet. I remember when he went to Seattle, and they came to OKC. I have his jersey, had a Texas one, and love watching him rain it in.
This season has been a blast. Everyone’s like “where’s this KD coming from?” and I’m like “Check the tapes, watch him at Texas.” This guy is phenomenal, and insane to watch. He’s one of those guys that I think has made the shot before its ever left his hand, every stinkin’ time. He can actually score on anyone. And he adds to his game every off season. He tweaks certain things. But also, he just loves basketball. He’s in Austin frequently in the off season playing with the Texas guys, he did the streetball thing, he had the “Basketball Never Stops” thing during the lockout… He loves basketball. He is amazing at basketball. And it is a basketball Mt. Rushmore. He’s on it.
Allen “The Answer” Iverson
If you grew up watching basketball as a kid in the early 2000s, and don’t have Iverson on your list, you’re lying. AI was a force to watch, a one man show, but more than anything, he morphed basketball culture. He intertwined hip-hop and basketball at a time when both were heading towards the forefront of American culture. You don’t think so? Think about how cool cornrows were from 2000–2005. Du-rags, braids, baggy clothes, throwbacks… Those were all Iverson. The shooting sleeve that has caught on the last few years? People who grew up watching Iverson rock it. He famously wore a Lew Alcindor Bucks throwback while injured on the bench… to a game in Milwaukee.
But enough about off the court. Iverson was tough as nails on it. The best player ever under 6’ tall, he would throw his body into the bigs, weave around the tree limb arms, and never hesitated to go through the defence. Add his lightning quickness, his killer crossover and his raw emotion, and you have an instant fan favourite. He was a “bad boy” similar to how the Pistons were. He was tough, he was good, and he was entertaining because of both. Add that to the fact that, when you saw him standing next to a courtside fan, they were the same height (if the fan wasn’t taller).
Everyone loved Iverson, Iverson was huge to basketball on and off the court; he was a phenomenon. He was just insanely entertaining to watch, even if him being a one man show ultimately meant he never won a finals (though he gave the ’01 Lakers their only playoff loss that year).
