NBA Live 2002 (PS2) (Lakers vs Warriors) (December 26th 2001)

Shaquille O'Neal has been put in reserve for the third matchup against the Warriors on the road because of a claw toe deformity in the smallest toe of his left foot that has been bothering him ever since before the regular season started, so its up to Slava Medvedenko to take up the starting center position. As for Nolan Owens, he had to leave the team for personal reasons (His parents died in a car accident in his hometown Owensboro, Kentucky). Even the Warriors made some changes to their starting lineup. Whose game is it going to be? Fun fact: In real life, Jason Richardson was the highlight of this game, performing two putback slam dunks against the Lakers. (Final scores IRL) Lakers lost Lakers - 90 Warriors - 101 Los Angeles Lakers 2001-2002 Roster Lineup #14 Stanislav Medvedenko #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) #17 Rick Fox (The actor) #8 Kobe 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 07, NBA 2K10, 2K17 Legend Edition, 2K21 Mamba Forever Edition, and 2K24) (   • KOBE BRYANT | 75 Stories 💎  ) #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) 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) #3 Devean George #6 Jelani McCoy (Released into free agency from the Sonics, signed with the Lakers on Sept 21st) #10 Lindsey Hunter (Traded from the Bucks for Greg Foster on Jun 28th, currently a coach at Sparta (Michigan) High School) #35 Mark "Mad Dog" Madsen (Former player development coach of the 2013-2019 L.A. Lakers, current head coach at the University of California) #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) #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 💎  ) Lakers head coach: Phil Jackson Golden State Warriors 2001-2002 Roster Lineup #31 Adonal Foyle #21 Danny "Big Daddy from Cincinnati" Fortson #33 Antawn Jamison #23 Jason "J-Rich" Richardson (1st Round 5th pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, father of Jase Richardson of the 2025-2026 Orlando Magic) #20 Larry Hughes Bench #34 Chris Mills #2 Dean Oliver (Signed free agent on Sept 24th, former assistant coach of the NCAA's 2017-2024 Wisconsin Badgers) (I created this player) #25 Erick Dampier #45 Cedric Henderson (Traded from the Cavs to Sixers with Matt Harpring and Robert Traylor for Tyrone Hill and Jumaine Jones on Aug 3rd, then traded from the Sixers with a 2005 1st Round pick (Joey Graham) as part of a 3-team trade deal between the Warriors, Sixers and Hornets on Oct 25th (The Hornets only traded cash money to the Warriors)) #44 Marc "Jacko" Jackson #10 Mookie Blaylock #3 Bob Sura #0 Gilbert Arenas (2nd Round 2nd pick 31st overall in the 2001 NBA Draft, the cover athlete on NBA Live 2008, currently runs a podcast called Gil's Arena) #1 Troy Murphy (1st Round 14th pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, 2016 Notre Dame's Ring of Honor) Warriors head coach: Brian Joseph Winters (Replaced Dave Cowens after Dec 13th, and was the Grizzlies first head coach when the franchise was in Vancouver in the 1995-1996 season)