BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
(FOUR) ALLEN IVERSON
This is a weird pick, I know. But listen to reason. I wanted to go with one player from teams. I could have went with MJ, Pip, and Rodman without blinking an eye. I also wanted to go with legends that were more in my era. I do remember Magic and Bird, but they weren’t around long enough to have made that much of an impact. My fondest memories of them are probably from the Dream Team stuff and McDonalds commercials. So with that said, I really liked Allen Iverson. He came in and made a huge impact, made it to the finals, and then retired quickly. His career didn’t go the way it should have. No one would argue that. He was a great player and entertaining as hell to watch. He never got the ring, but I don’t think anyone should sleep on the years we had him. He’s 36 now, but he’s still playing in Turkey. I’d love to see him back in the league for the last couple years he has left. With the right attitude and chemistry he could contribute and help others learn from his mistakes.
(THREE) CHARLES BARKLEY
He was one of the most underrated big guys of all time. If he had been on a better team than the Sixers or even the Suns he could have set records and blew things up. Imagine if Barkley was on the Knicks with Ewing or in Atlanta with Dom or even Seattle with Kemp and Payton. I know a lot of people who get easily annoyed by Sir. Charles, but I’m not one of them. He seems like a really fun guy. He’s outspoken, playful, and he knows his shit. He loves basketball, but he doesn’t take himself too seriously.
(TWO) REGGIE MILLER
Reggie Miller should be given an honorary NBA Championship ring. Like Barkley he was a victim of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. I enjoyed watching him kill it for the Pacers, but if he had a Pippen or Worthy to work with he would have dominated. Reggie is also my favorite NBA Commentator. He knows the sport, knows what’s right, and gives you so much information during a game that it makes everyone else look and sound dumb.
(ONE) MICHAEL JORDAN
Why wouldn’t I go with this one? It’s the greatest basketball player of all time. I was a young boy and right at the cusp of my teenage years when Jordan and the Bulls were tearing it up. That kind of experience doesn’t come very often. Being that young naïve wide eyed age during the greatest period of NBA history? Yeah, I’m grateful. In the most respectful was possible, Michael Jordan was a god to me as a child. As I got older I saw him more as a person than a iconic figure, but my respect and affection for the man never faded. I have no idea what I’d say to MJ, but if I’m having dinner with four NBA legends he has to be there.
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