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		ALSO SEE NBA All-Star Game 2000 NBA All-Star 2000 Viewer's Guide Sizing up the Slam Dunk competition Sizing up the Shootout competition Sizing up the Rookie Challenge Sizing up the 2ball competition NBA East: Mutombo no ordinary Hoya NBA West: Stockton deserves selection Ratto: Latrell's not coming, if anyone noticed All-Star game rosters All-Star Game history Lawrence: Heard had no chance

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NFL

Wednesday, February 9
Next generation taking over the All-Star weekend

By Mitch Lawrence
Special to ESPN.com

NEW YORK -- This year's NBA All-Star Game is going to be strictly kid's stuff.
Jason Williams
Jason Williams: Part of the next generation.

No less than nine of the 24 stars, seven from the East and two from the West, will be making their debuts in the league's showcase game Sunday in Oakland. Another six players will be playing in only their second or third games. In all, 16 of the 24 stars still haven't hit the big 3-0.

If you detect the work of the NBA's mighty marketing arm behind the selections, you're onto something.

One of the big ad campaigns for this season features Jason Williams and Allen Iverson. "It's our turn now," is the catch phrase. In a way, it seems strange that the league is so busy pushing new faces for the new millennium. What, are Shaquille O'Neal and Grant Hill has-beens? No, but ...

"The NBA does push the young players and the next generation of players," said Alonzo Mourning, one of the East's codgers, despite the fact that he still doesn't turn 30 until Feb. 8. "That's their job -- to structure how they want the league to be perceived. But I don't call myself old. I prefer to think of myself as 'experienced.'"

Whatever the Heat star calls himself, he's still not a part of the kiddie corps the league is busy selling to teens and hip-hoppers. For that group, Karl Malone is some old coot who's always complaining about something. Jason Williams might be more flash than substance, but he's their new man. Along with Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter, Iverson, Michael Finley and all the whole under-30 crowd. Sixteen of the game's participants are still in their 20s, with eight still not having celebrated their 26th birthdays.

But here's some advice for all the kids: Don't get caught up in the All-Star hype.

"Anybody can make the All-Star team," Pat Riley said. "What you want are true superstars."

Meaning, of course, the Jordans and Magics and Birds and special players who can lead their team to titles. When it comes to that, the kids should look at one of their peers for guidance. Duncan, playing in his second All-Star Game and still only 23, is the league's best player on most nights now, because he's so fundamentally sound.

The message to the next generation is, have fun in Oakland, but don't get caught up in being a star.

"It's about winning," said Miami's Tim Hardaway, another "old-timer," at 33, who's been to five All-Star affairs. "It's about trying to win championships. As you get older, you let that hoopla go. The young guys want that. That's fine. I don't even like thinking about it. You have to know what really matters."

Not an exhibition game in February, but playoff games in June that define careers.

Rim Shots I

Before the Nets' big win Sunday over the Warriors, Don Casey was in deep, deep trouble. According to an ownership source, the team was seriously considering making a change and promoting Eddie Jordan to interim status. The big hangup in management's mind was whether the move would achieve the desired results, i.e., a playoff berth. It might be too late for that.

Knicks GM Scott Layden told a colleague, after all those silly rumors of a Patrick Ewing-for-Juwan Howard trade, "No way." But the Knicks are still interested in Glen Rice. Rumors of a major four-team deal, involving the Lakers, Raptors, Heat and Sixers, with such players as Rice, Tracy McGrady, Larry Hughes and Jamal Mashburn heading to new teams, turned out to be a bunch of hot air. Toronto GM Glen Grunwald swears that he has had no conversations with the Lakers for the last two months.

Eddie Jones recently told another ex-Laker that he's heading south when he turns free this summer. The Florida native has Miami or Orlando on his mind. The Magic will have the cap room, but the Heat would have to execute a sign-and-trade with the Hornets to land Jones.

McGrady reportedly told the Raptors that he's also leaving. But Toronto denies that. McGrady, on the fourth level of free agents, below Tim Duncan, Grant Hill and Jones, has always been targeted by the Bulls, who do have the $71 mil max to get him.

Rim Shots II
Don't be shocked if Kurt Rambis is pursued by the Clips for their coaching vacancy. A few seasons ago, when they tried to hire Rambis, the Lakers gave him a salary boost to stay on as an assistant, with the idea of one day replacing Del Harris. Which happened. Which the Lakers lived to regret. More than one Laker felt that Rambis didn't have a clue. With young talent like Lamar Odom and Michael Olowokandi, the Clips need a good teacher. Indy assistant Rick Carlisle has the credentials.

Ron Mercer, who wants the $71 mil max, isn't so sure that the Magic will give it to him. Since he's been in Orlando, his agent, Andy Miller, has been calling around to find out what teams might be willing to give Mercer all that loot via a sign-and-trade deal. The Nuggets were one of many teams that don't see Mercer as a "max-out" player.

Antawn Jamison is the Warriors' lone All-Star rep. He'll try to capture the dunk contest.

Stephon Marbury, who should have made the East's stars, did the classy thing by downplaying his obvious snubbing. But behind closed doors, he was "very, very" upset, according to one buddy.

Very few big-name stars get bonuses for making the All-Star team. But with his first selection, Allan Houston pockets $100,000. "I don't want this to be a one-time thing," the Knick said. The way he's progressing, it won't be. "With the other guy gone now, there's nobody better at the position," Pat Riley said. "Allan has developed into a superstar." The "other guy," obviously, was No. 23.

Jeff Van Gundy is an All-Star rookie, too. Heading into his first appearance on the sidelines, the Knick coach promises, "I'm going to stand out of the way." With the Knicks resuming the season in Toronto, Van Gundy shouldn't forget to play Vince Carter 45 minutes and call all plays for the Raptor sensation, too.

If the Magic doesn't trade Corey Maggette, it's because the rookie has an "in" with Grant Hill, who's second only to Tim Duncan on Magic free-agent wish list. The Duke alums do talk on occasion.

The big question in Oakland: Who gets frozen out, Ray Allen or Vince Carter?

Mitch Lawrence, who covers the NBA for the New York Daily News, writes a regular NBA column for ESPN.com.


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