|  | | Darko, left, doesn't have LeBron's marketing appeal. |
The college game will need three weeks to answer the question above. In the NBA, they already know the answer -- at least when it comes to the top pick of the June draft. LeBron James is the consensus No. 1, but the reason has nothing to do with his mad skills.Chat wrap: Senior NBA writer Marc SteinWho'll be the MVP? | Todd's 'charmed' life
| COAST TO COAST |
 As if the idea of a fourth consecutive championship wasn't sufficiently ambitious, the Lakers are bidding to establish a new standard for comebacks. Never before has the NBA fielded champs with a record as poor as 11-19 after 30 games, which is where L.A. was after its Christmas Day loss to Sacramento. The worst record for a title winner after 30 games is 16-14, shared by 1947's Philadelphia Warriors and 1948's Baltimore Bullets. Of course, as loyal reader Michael Carman recently reminded us, Seattle once came close to an even more dramatic recovery than what the Lakers are attempting. After a 5-17 start in 1977-78, a coach named Lenny Wilkens was rehired to oversee a storybook 42-18 run to finish the regular season. The Supes then ousted the Lakers, Portland and Denver in the playoffs before finally falling to Washington in a seven-game Finals. Then again ... The '77-78 season was a weird one start to finish, so it might not be the realistic guide for hopeful Lakerites. Washington started a mere 18-12 and won it all with a final regular-season mark of 43-39, the worst finish for any champion in league history. Today's Lakers, after their horrific start, are on pace for a 47-35 regular season. ... Click for more on Baron Davis' reluctant return, Paul Silas' fantasy league and the Warriors' worries.
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Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. To e-mail him, click here. Also, send Stein a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.
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| STEIN SIDELINES |
MALE OF THE WEEK
 Stromile Swift
The Grizz has won six games in a row to set a franchise record for victories (24) ... with 17 games to go. Thrust into a prominent role when Orlando refused to take him in a trade because the Magic wanted Drew Gooden, Swift has averaged 20.2 points, 12.2 rebounds and 3.2 blocks during the streak.
E-MAIL OF THE WEEK
 "Maybe it's just me, but I don't think the 76ers are getting the respect they deserve -- particularly Allen Iverson. The end of the season is approaching and MVP votes are rolling in, but not for Iverson. He has arguably had his best season as a professional and the Sixers are 14-2 since the All-Star break."
Nicholas James
Philadelphia, Pa.STEIN: Iverson seemed to hit a lull after the Sixers' 15-4 start that knocked him off the MVP radar for a while. He has certainly blipped back on now, but the field is ridiculously deep. If it makes you feel any better, Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Webber are also starved for MVP recognition because of Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Tracy McGrady.
Send Stein a question
SPEAK OF THE WEEK
 "It's not what we're doing. It's what San Antonio's doing. We're playing pretty well, actually."
— Mavericks coach Don Nelson, on the Spurs slicing Dallas' lead atop the Midwest Division to 2½ games.
STAT OF THE WEEK
5
Orlando's Tracy McGrady is on pace to become just the fifth player in NBA history -- joining Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and Michael Jordan -- to average 30 points, six rebounds and five assists in a single season.
STAT OF THE WEAK
16.7
That's the minutes-per-game average for Washington's out-of-favor Kwame Brown since the All-Star break. |
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