NBA Live 2002 (PS2) (Lakers vs Wizards) (February 12th 2002)

Here we go, the Lakers welcome the Washington Wizards and Michael Jordan to Staples Center for the first time! MJ came back out of retirement again! Who saw that coming? I sure didn't! Even though I was happy to hear he was coming back in September 2001, I still couldn't get motivated to watch the NBA or play NBA video games back then (Especially after Sept 11th). Only Giannis and the Bucks when they won the 2021 Championship got me loving basketball again. Why? The reason is complicated for me to explain in this day and age. Let's just say I respect players who are laser-focused on their game instead of taking their talents someplace else when winning gets tough, and I'm sick of phony mobsters controlling the league. Fun fact: When MJ signed to play for the Wizards on Sept 25th, he made it clear that he will donate his salary as a player to a relief effort for the victims of the September 11 attacks. Fun fact #2: Kwame Brown is the first NBA player drafted as the 1st Round 1st overall pick straight out of High School. Fun fact #3: As the Bulls coach before Phil Jackson, Doug Collins coached Michael Jordan from 1986 to 1989. (Final scores IRL) Lakers won Wizards - 94 Lakers - 103 Los Angeles Lakers 2001-2002 Roster Lineup #34 Shaquille "Shaq Diesel" O'Neal (Cover athlete on the NBA Live 96 PS1 box, and NBA 2K6 and 2K7's game boxes and 2K18 Legend) (   • SHAQUILLE O'NEAL | 75 Stories 💎  ) #57 Nolan "No Man's Land" Owens (A fictional player I created from NBA Live 97 and father of Shep Owens of the 2022-2023 Miami Heat in my version of NBA 2K23's MyCareer story) #17 Rick Fox (The actor) #8 Kobe "Black Mamba" Bryant (R.I.P. January 26th 2020) (Son of Joe "Jellybean" Bryant (R.I.P. July 15th 2024) of the 1976-1979 Philadelphia 76ers, the cover athlete on NBA Courtside 1&2 and NBA Courtside 2002, NBA 2K10, 2K17 Legend Edition, 2K21 Mamba Forever Edition, and 2K24) (   • KOBE BRYANT | 75 Stories 💎  ) #10 Lindsey Hunter (Traded from the Bucks for Greg Foster on Jun 28th, currently a coach at Sparta (Michigan) High School) Bench #5 Robert "Big Shot Rob" Horry #23 Mitch Richmond (The cover athlete on NBA Live 97, released from the Wizards, signed free agent on Jul 20th with Samaki Walker) #2 Derek Fisher (Brother of Duane Washington Sr. of the 1993 L.A. Clippers, uncle of Duane Washington Jr. of the 2022-2023 Phoenix Suns, former head coach of the WNBA's 2019-2022 L.A. Sparks) #52 Samaki Walker (Waived by the Spurs on Jun 29th, signed free agent with Mitch Richmond on Jul 20th, father of Jabari Walker of the 2025-2026 Philadelphia 76ers) #3 Devean George #6 Jelani McCoy (Released into free agency from the Sonics, signed with the Lakers on Sept 21st) #35 Mark "Mad Dog" Madsen (Former player development coach of the 2013-2019 L.A. Lakers, current head coach at the University of California) #14 Stanislav Medvedenko Lakers head coach: Phil Jackson Washington Wizards 2001-2002 Roster Lineup #44 Christian Laettner (Former assistant coach of the 2012 Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Today they are renamed the Noblesville Boom)) #5 Kwame Brown (1st Round 1st pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, cousin of Jabari Smith Sr. of the 2001-2002 Sacramento Kings and Philadelphia 76ers and Jabari Smith Jr. of the 2022-2026 Houston Rockets) #32 Richard "Rip" Hamilton (Currently a basketball analyst for CBS Sports HQ) #23 Michael "Air" Jordan (The NBA GOAT came out of his 2nd retirement! Signed in as a free agent on Sept 25th, but EA Sports knew since September 10th that he was coming back, EVERYBODY KNEW! The cover athlete on the Japanese NBA Live 2002 box, NBA 2K11, NBA 2K12, NBA 2K16 Special Edition, and NBA 2K23 Legend Edition) (   • MICHAEL JORDAN | 75 Stories 💎  ) #12 Chris Whitney Bench #21 Bobby Simmons (Drafted by the Sonics as the 2nd Round 13th pick 42nd overall in the 2001 NBA Draft, then traded for Peja Drobnjak) (I created this player) #4 Courtney Alexander #55 Jahidi White #24 Hubert Davis (Nephew of Walter Davis (R.I.P. November 2nd 2023) of the 1978-1988 Phoenix Suns) #36 Etan Thomas #54 Popeye Jones (Current assistant coach of the 2025-2026 Dallas Mavericks) #3 Brendan Haywood (Drafted by the Cavs as the 1st Round 20th pick of the 2001 NBA Draft, then traded to the Magic for Michael Doleac, then traded to the Wizards for Laron Profit and a 2005 1st Round draft pick (Julius Hodge) on Aug 1st) #8 Tyrone "T-Nez" Nesby #10 Tyronn Lue (Released from the Lakers after the 2001 NBA Finals, signed with the Wizards on July 18th, current head coach of the 2020-2026 L.A. Clippers) Wizards head coach: Doug Collins (Michael Jordan's old Bulls coach before Phil Jackson)