Honorable Mentions

THE 5 THINGS WE'LL STILL BE DISCUSSING 5 YEARS FROM NOW ...

1. The breakthrough season of LeBron James (right)

2. Kobe Bryant's 81-point game, thanks to the strict enforcement of the no-hand-checking rule on the perimeter

3. Toronto G.M. Bryan Colangelo's midseason departure from Phoenix, which hastened the turnaround of the Raptors

4. Jerry Colangelo's controversial decision to hire Mike Krzyzewski as coach of USA Basketball

5. The ultimate failure of the 76ers to build a winner around Allen Iverson

THE 5 THINGS THAT DIDN'T TURN OUT TO BE BIG DEALS AFTER ALL ...

1. The return of Pat Riley (left) to coaching with the Heat

2. The impact the loss of Joe Johnson had on Phoenix's title hopes

3. The feud between Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson