But these days, the league wasn't hyping up the "Four Great Shooting Guards" as much anymore.
After losing O'Neal, Kobe had painstakingly honed his offensive skills. This season, he was showing signs of being unmatched, averaging over 35 points per game and seemingly setting new scoring records in every contest.
Tracy McGrady's performance with the Rockets was a bit lukewarm. He was still a top-tier guard, but his popularity in China far surpassed his fame in the United States.
Although Allen Iverson was hot on Kobe's heels on the scoring charts, he was currently embroiled in trade rumors. The rebellious, untamable spirit that had once been celebrated was now being used as a sharp point of criticism against him.
The current media darlings the league was promoting were: Kobe, Su Xi, and James.
It was almost impossible for Vince Carter to return to the center stage.
