Before Mike Bibby became a star in the NBA, he played for Shadow Mountain High School in the North Valley of Phoenix, Arizona. Bibby helped the Matadors win a State Championship, and as one of the best players in high school, he was invited to the 19th edition of the McDonald's All-American Game in 1996.
The contest featured future college and NBA stars. However, according to Bibby, this one was extra special because almost half of the players were drafted into the NBA.
During his recent appearance on The OGs Show , Bibby recalled his experience playing in that March 31, 1996 game.
"The teams were unfair, I'mma tell you that. They had everybody. They had Steve, they had Jermaine O'Neal, they had Kobe Bryant, they had Tim Thomas, Heen Holloway, they had Ed Cota. This is all their team…They had about 10 pros, you know what I mean," Bibby said.
Ten future NBA players
There's no question that the 1996 McDonald's All-American game at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena was star-studded. As Bibby said, it had plenty of future NBA players on both sides of the court.
The East roster featured Kobe Bryant , Jermaine O'Neal, Tim Thomas, Stephen Jackson, and Rip Hamilton. West, meanwhile, was led by Bibby, Corey Benjamin, Mateen Cleaves, Jason Collier, and Loren Woods, who all made the NBA. Of those 10 future NBA players, eight were first-round picks, including two drafted straight out of high school—Kobe and J.O.
"They started Heen Holloway, Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O'Neal, Tim Thomas, and Steve (Jackson)," added Bibby. "That was their starting five. They tipped it back, through their head, threw a lob, man this was over with. That's how the game started. They beat us by a good 15."
None of the future NBA stars won MVP honors
Boasting a more talented lineup, the East eventually defeated the West 120-105. Jackson (East) and Winfred Walton(West) led all scorers with 21 points apiece, with Vassil Evtimov being the only player to register a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Kobe Bryant had 13 points and three assists. However, the East's starting point guard, Shaheen Holloway, won MVP honors with seven points, eight assists, and six steals. Holloway played four seasons at Seton Hall but was undrafted when he entered the 2000 NBA Draft.
Kobe ended up as the biggest star of the group. After he was picked by the Charlotte Hornets, he was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he teamed up with Shaquille O'Neal. Together, they won three straight championships from 2000-02. Interestingly, Kobe's path to the 2002 title included a WCF showdown against Bibby's Kings.
Related: Mike Bibby was warned '02 series vs. Lakers could be rigged: "If they bring in this crew, it's not gonna go the way we like"
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