Tribute to Argentina's Golden Generation of Basketball, 1999-2008 | SPECIAL

As the 2008 Beijing Olympics drew near, I couldn't help but feel that this would be the last hurrah for The Golden Generation of Argentine Basketball, with the likes of Manu Ginobili, Andres Nocioni, Luis Scola and Fabricio Oberto all being in their late 20's or early 30's. By the time 2012 rolls along, Manu Ginobili - one of his generation's greatest winners - will be 35, and with the wear and tear that his body has suffered, there's a good chance that he won't be playing basketball, much less Olympics basketball, by then.

Although they have just lost 101-81 in the semifinals of Beijing to USA's revenge-seeking Redeem Teamers, the spirit of the Golden Generation of Argentina's ballers has long been immortalized - it is simply time to celebrate their flowering achievements as pioneers of international basketball.

It all started with a thunderous dunk in the faces of Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan that could be heard all over the world. It was in the summer of 1999 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in Tournament of the Americas. A 19-year old Andres Nocioni received the ball in the right corner. Kevin Garnett of the United States came to pressure him; Nocioni, went left, spun towards the baseline, and before you knew it, he was throwing down on KG and Duncan. The sound was so loud that you thought apocalypse had hit, and the crowd noise was deafening. That was the birth of Argentina's finest generation.

A. Nocioni dunking on Garnett and Duncan, 1999 Tournament of the Americas

The Argentine team didn't make the 2000 Sydney Olympics, but they came back with a vengeance in 2002 in the World Championships. In that tournament, they marked their territory as a truly pioneering group when they became the first nation to defeat an American "Dream Team". Although the United States would lose additional games against Yugoslavia (now Serbia) and Spain in the tournament, the greatest moment belonged to the Argentines. It was they and not the Serbians or Spaniards who had proclaimed to the world that a Dream Team of NBA players could in fact be beaten.

B. Shocking upset of USA, 2002 Worlds

Surely, if they had not followed up that stunning upset of the United States with continued excellence, Argentina would not have gone down in the annals of basketball lore. Ultimately, because they got the Americans first - and topped that in the 2004 Athens Olympics, it is the silver medalists Argentina and not gold medalists Yugoslavia that is remembered today from the 2002 FIBA World Championships.

While then-Yugoslavia floundered after their pinnacle of 2002, Argentina went on to become a bona fide world basketball powerhouse. Although they were soundly beaten in the 2003 Tournament of the Americas final by the US, they roared back in Athens the following year. There was a sign of things to come when Manu Ginobili showed against Serbia and Montenegro that he was the official inheritor of The Hand of God, banking in a flying floater at the buzzer to beat Serbia and Montenegro 83-82.

C. Manu's Miracle against Serbia and Montenegro, Athens 2004

However, business was not over, as Argentina had to go through the United States in another chapter of their growing rivalry. In their semifinal game, Argentina thoroughly outplayed and outmuscled an American squad in building a 13-point and holding on to win 89-81. Argentina once again made history in becoming the first nation to defeat a Dream Team in the Olympics. Manu Ginobili had 29 points in the game and would go on to become MVP of the tournament and Argentina the gold medalists.

D. Another shocking upset of USA, Athens 2004

With their historical upsets of the United States, Argentina's Golden Generation has taken basketball to a new level internationally. Win or lose, teams are no longer afraid to take on the United States. Basketball has grown from a Dream Team bully show in 1992 to a truly global sport with bona fide rivalries in 2008. Even better, what is available right now is only the tip of the iceberg, with untapped markets and player pools around the world, especially in China and Brazil.

It is daunting task to follow in the footsteps of a generation of world class basketball players Argentina has been showing to the world since 1999. Argentina has some nice prospects, including a teenaged combo guard prospect named Matias Nocedal, with nice skills and athleticism, but we must be careful not to judge him according to the way we have been spoiled.

The flag planter of the Argentina's Finest, Andres Nocioni, has gone on to become an essential role player for the Chicago Bulls. Manu Ginobili, the superstar of the group, has gone on to become a true NBA star with multiple championships. Luis Scola, Walter Herrmann, Carlos Defino, Pepe Sanchez and Ruben Wolkowyski have all gone on to play in the NBA. And Alejandro Montecchia has become one of my personal underground favorites.

Manu : hurt but not forgotten

Although we may have seen the last of Argentina's Golden Generation play together, let us celebrate. As exemplified by Manu's injury during Argentina's loss to USA and Andres Nocioni keeping them in the game on one leg, and Luis Scola dropping 28 and 11, these guys literally put their safety on the line when they step onto the court. Their NBA clubs may not be pleased, but unless someone gets rid of every single tape and every single article of their games, they will forever continue to inspire the new generation of basketball players, fans and coaches.