The other guys

Look at the roster of your favorite team from the 2002-03 season. Now look at the Spurs roster from 2003. Sure, guys like Bruce Bowen have retired, but what does the year-after-year cohesiveness of the Spurs’ roster say about building championship basketball? With Stephen Jackson as the odd-ball of the group – I can’t imagine Gregg Popovich dealing with him in any sort of way – Parker, Duncan and Manu Ginobili still remain with the Spurs, a time capsule from last decade and further evidence that San Antonio knows how to run a championship-level organization.

For the Suns, it goes like this: Money-making machine Johnson was a scrub off the bench, sitting behind post-knee operated Hardaway. Marion was in his prime and the usual second-wheel. Bo Outlaw rocked the safety glasses and shined as the most awkwardly-moving human being to ever play the sport of basketball.

That Game 1 in the 2003 NBA Playoffs exemplified how quickly the present turns into the past, how players like Duncan can create a legend for themselves through years of remaining on top and how careers like Parker’s are made. It also showed the reality of the NBA, where injuries made Penny mortal, Stoudemire’s welcome alluded to a bright future. And after a few years of earning it by riding the pine, Johnson worked himself into making millions (too many if you ask, uh, anyone).

It also showed the two sides of basketball. The success of San Antonio acted as the polar opposite of the ensuing struggle of many of the Suns players from 2002-03, none of whom had more notable downfalls than the man once known as Starbury.

Follow Kevin on Twitter at @offensivelyfoul.

Follow Dime on Twitter at @DimeMag.

Become a fan of Dime Magazine on Facebook HERE.