NBA: Built to Dominate

Iverson was blindsided.

He had planned to represent the Celtics in this year's Summer League, only to receive unexpected news—he had been traded!

The media erupted with coverage of the deal, and only then did Iverson realize the weight of what had just happened. He was headed to Los Angeles, carrying a burden he hadn't anticipated.

Coincidentally, his close friend, Alex Mo, had been traded there just before him.

A Familiar Face in a New City

"I never expected us to still be teammates," Iverson said with a grin as he crashed at Alex Mo's place. He was still adjusting to the shock of it all.

"Dude, I'm gonna have to crash at your place tonight," he added. Having just arrived in LA, he hadn't even had time to look at real estate.

Alex Mo shrugged. "Stay as long as you need."

Back in their Georgetown days, whenever Mo wasn't in the dorms during the holidays, he would stay over at Iverson's place. Now, the roles were simply reversed—it only felt right.

The Summer League Snub

Mo sighed, reclining on the couch. "It sucks that we can't play in the Summer League."

Since he had been traded from the Grizzlies, Memphis removed him from their roster, and because the deal happened so late, the Lakers couldn't submit a new list in time. Iverson was in the same boat—he had been set to play for the Celtics but got moved just a day before the Summer League started.

As a result, the first chance for the No. 1 and No. 2 picks of this draft class to make their Lakers debut would have to wait until the preseason.

Despite this, the Lakers' offseason moves had already drawn enough attention. The media had a field day predicting that the "wrong move" would leave LA in shambles.

Yet, fans couldn't help but wonder—could the Georgetown duo bring the same dominance to the NBA that they had in college?

And just as importantly—would Shaquille O'Neal, traded for a rookie, regret his departure?

The Shark's Wrath

O'Neal had sat down with Lakers GM Jerry West just before the trade, already envisioning his bright future in LA. He had packed his bags, ready to bask in the glitz and glamour of the City of Angels.

Then, out of nowhere, the Lakers sent him packing to Vancouver in a three-team deal—choosing a rookie over a dominant superstar.

Furious, Shaq didn't hold back in his response.

"The Lakers' front office is going to regret this," he told the media. "They just threw away a dynasty."

His words ignited the league.

Fans, analysts, and even fellow players eagerly anticipated the first showdown between the Lakers and the Grizzlies.

Would Shaq utterly dominate Alex Mo, proving the Lakers made a colossal mistake?

Or...

Would Mo show the world why the Lakers bet on him—by humiliating the Big Diesel?

Elsewhere: A Celtics Gamble & A New "Big Three"

Meanwhile, back in Boston, inside North Shore Garden, a young Kobe Bryant stood beside Red Auerbach, taking in the arena.

"You see those banners up there?" Auerbach said, placing a hand on Kobe's shoulder. "You'll hang another one for this team."

But before that banner could go up, the Celtics had to endure another rough season. After missing out on Alex Mo in '96, they were dead set on securing Tim Duncan in '97.

Meanwhile, the NBA offseason of 1996 raged on.

With Shaq now in Vancouver and the Georgetown twins in LA, another major shake-up occurred:

Charles Barkley, still chasing a championship, left Phoenix to join the Houston Rockets, teaming up with Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler to form an aging but dangerous Big Three.

"The Rockets are going all in," Iverson muttered as he read the breaking news.

"So many great players never get a ring in their whole career," he added, shaking his head.

"That's because of one guy," Alex Mo chuckled, tossing Iverson a cold drink.

"Still think you can drop 25, maybe even 30, against Michael Jordan?"

Iverson took a sip and smirked. "Whether I score 30 or not doesn't matter. The real question is—aren't you afraid of him?"

"Afraid?" Mo laughed and stretched out on the couch. "I'll make this clear. I'm not targeting any one player. I mean every star in this league."

"None of them deserve for me to use the word 'fear.'"

That included Jordan.

Mo had come to the NBA in Jordan's era—which meant one thing.

He was here to overthrow the Bulls dynasty.

"As expected from you," Iverson grinned. "Alright, if we face the Bulls this season, let's make a bet. Whoever underperforms owes the other $50,000."

"I like extra motivation," Mo countered. "Let's raise it to $100,000."

"Done! A hundred grand it is."

Little did Michael Jordan know that he had just become the centerpiece of a high-stakes bet between two hungry rookies.

And if he found out?

He'd make sure neither of them lived to regret it.

Lakers Training Camp Begins

September 28, 1996.

Players across the NBA reported to their teams for training camp.

All eyes were on the defending champions, the Chicago Bulls, who had just completed a historic 72-10 season and won the title on Father's Day.

With superstars moving left and right, the media questioned whether Chicago had done enough to stay ahead of the pack.

Phil Jackson, ever the Zen Master, chuckled when asked if the Bulls had improved.

"Keeping Jordan is the reinforcement," he said simply.

LA's Bright Future?

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, the media swarmed as the Lakers introduced their new core:

Alex Mo, Allen Iverson, Kenny Smith, and Dell Curry.

Jerry West had let go of Shaq and Jason Kidd to roll the dice on two unproven rookies.

Naturally, the press pounced.

"Jerry, some believe you should have kept Shaq and Kidd. If the team struggles this season, will you regret your decision?"

West didn't hesitate.

"I never regret my moves," he said. "And I guarantee the ones who'll regret it aren't in this room—they're the people who doubted Alex and Allen."

He smirked at the reporters.

"Open your eyes now. Otherwise, you'll be eating your words soon enough."

As the press conference continued, reporters turned their attention to Alex Mo.

"Alex, you're the **first No. 1 overall pick in NBA history to be traded before playing a single game. Does that sting?"

"And with Shaq's recent comments—saying he'd destroy you in a matchup—does that intimidate you?"

Mo leaned forward, calm but firm.

"First of all, trades are part of the NBA. This is a business. I don't take it personally."

Then, he cracked a confident smirk.

"And second—'fear' has never been in my dictionary."

"If anything, I'm the one players should be afraid of—not the other way around."