BallinEurope promised you superstars for this five-pack in The 35 Greatest Basketball YouTubes of All-Time: Are you ready for M.J. and a lotta other studs? If so, you’re in for a treat from BiE TV today. Once again, here are the so-called rules employed in fashioning this list.
And what better way to fill out number 10 on the list with…
10. Michael Jordan’s ESPN top 10. Imagine if His Airness had peaked in the YouTube era … How many zillions of these videos would there be? Would Jordan have had to sue the ‘Tube? Would Nike have bought it? Weird.
9. Two of the world’s greatest players in the early 1990s faced off in the 1992 Olympics gold medal game: Drazen Petrovic vs. Michael Jordan. The Bryan Adams soundtrack just makes this one that much more awesome.
8. Ricky Rubio rules! Now look, BiE knows what you’re thinking as he puts the young Spainard above The Greatest of All-Time on this list. But the truth is, Rubio is the poster child (so to speak) of Generation YouTube. For the first time ever, millions of Americans are witnessing and evaluating a lottery pick (and possible franchise player) mostly through the ‘Tube. And with his ardent legion of devotees followers worshippers fans, Rubio surely has more YouTubes devoted to showcasing his skills than any other European player.
Why else do you think BiE calls him “The Human YouTube Clip”? Here’s one example that’s converted many an NBA fan to the Church of Rubio.
7. FIBA World Championship: The Journey. Any American or club-team devotee who poopoos international tournaments need only take a look at this official FIBA production. Just look at the number of recognizable iconic moments in this thing: Stuff like Russia shutting down Spain on the last possession to shock Europe and take Eurobasket 2007; Juan Carlos Arroyo reminding Dwyane Wade that Team USA is going down to Puerto Rico in 2004; Kobe Bryant putting the dagger in Spain’s heart in 2008 while emphatically establishing himself as the alpha dog for Team USA; to Manu Ginobili’s sick game-winner in 2004; and You Know Who dunking over You Know Who.
Combined with that amazing score from Requiem for a Dream (BiE swears that song could make anything better), if this doesn’t get you to watch this summer’s FIBA World Championship, nothing will.
(Incidentally, a tip for Laker- and Spain-haters: Try to ignore the bizarre accidental plotline of Pau Gasol’s personal redemption running through this thing.)
6. Official NBA Dennis Rodman mix. Has there ever been a better use of Pearl Jam? BiE thinks not! It’s evolution, baby!
Tomorrow: The rarefied heights of the top five YouTubes of All-Time are breached by the likes of Kobe Bryant and Dusan Kecman.
