NBA: Built to Dominate

The Los Angeles Derby

Whenever the Los Angeles Derby is mentioned, it's impossible to ignore the fierce matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers.

But in recent years, the Clippers could be summed up with just one word—mediocre.

They weren't a title-contending team, nor were they even a respectable playoff threat.

Yet, in the original timeline of this season, the Clippers still managed to squeeze into the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

Granted, they only won 36 games, but it was enough.

Remember, the NBA in the 1990s wasn't the "West is strong, East is weak" league it would become in the future.

This was an era where the East was dominant, and the West was struggling.

However, in this timeline, the Clippers were different.

A major shift in the 1996 NBA Draft caused a ripple effect, leading the Clippers to select Antoine Walker with the seventh overall pick—a player who should have been a top-five talent in the 1996 class.

Of course, that wasn't an official assessment.

It was just Clippers GM Elgin Baylor hyping up his own pick to fool the team's owner.

But was Walker really that bad?

Not at all.

So far this season, he had been the only untouchable player on the Clippers' roster, averaging 16.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, helping them reach a 6-6 record.

That was already a slight improvement compared to last season.

Encouraged by the progress, Elgin Baylor boldly claimed:

"The Clippers will win an NBA championship before the Lakers do."

…

Yeah.

The entire basketball world laughed at him.

Only he took his words seriously.

Kind of like how he truly believed Antoine Walker was the best rookie of the 1996 class.

Maybe being a Lakers legend had actually messed with his brain while running the Clippers.

Alex Mo Takes Over the Derby

Before the game, Lakers head coach Del Harris gave Alex Mo a simple instruction:

"Mo, show them what Los Angeles basketball is really about."

And just like that—slaughter mode was activated.

In the first quarter, Mo ran a pick-and-roll with Derek Fisher against the Clippers' defensive specialist Kevin Duckworth.

The result?

A thunderous alley-oop dunk.

Duckworth—a 7-footer weighing over 265 pounds—thought his size would at least slow down Mo's dominance inside the paint.

He was dead wrong.

"Alex Mo just threw down a dunk over the Clippers' so-called defensive anchor! Is he in a hurry to get home for Thanksgiving?"

"Hahaha, looks like Duckworth won't be getting any turkey dinner in Mo's house!"

The commentators couldn't hold back their laughter.

Even though this was supposed to be a Clippers home game, they still roasted the home team—and for good reason.

Just look at the fans in the arena.

How many were actually wearing Clippers jerseys?

Exactly.

In Los Angeles, there was only one team that mattered—the Lakers.

And with Alex Mo leading the charge, that dominance was only going to grow stronger.

By the time the third quarter ended, Alex Mo had 45 points and 21 rebounds.

That meant he had now recorded four straight games with 45+ points and 20+ rebounds.

In NBA history, only Wilt Chamberlain had ever done it more times than Mo.

Even Shaquille O'Neal, for all his dominance, had only achieved three career 45+20 games.

Lower the benchmark to 35+15, and maybe Shaq could compete with Mo.

But why lower the standard?

Alex Mo was playing on another level.

With the Lakers' 14th consecutive win, they remained the only undefeated team in the NBA.

Houston, missing Hakeem Olajuwon, had just lost to the Toronto Raptors, making the Lakers the sole leader of the Western Conference—and the entire league.

Next Up: The Seattle Supersonics

"The next challenge for the Los Angeles Lakers will be against the Seattle Supersonics at home."

"Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp won't be easy opponents!"

"But the good news? The Lakers will finally have Allen Iverson back in the lineup!"

"After Thanksgiving, it's Alex Mo and Allen Iverson vs. Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp—a national broadcast matchup on ESPN!"

The commentators wasted no time hyping up the next big showdown.

As Iverson's suspension ended, Lakers head coach Del Harris felt a mix of relief and concern.

Sure, Iverson's return meant less workload for Mo, but after four straight exhausting performances, the young star had been pushed to his limit.

It was finally time for Mo to take a step back and let AI share the load.

Thanksgiving with the Lakers

Unlike Christmas, Thanksgiving wasn't an official holiday in the NBA.

Two games were still scheduled—Warriors vs. Nets and Kings vs. Pacers.

But since the Lakers weren't playing, the team canceled all practices, allowing players to enjoy a well-earned break.

And that's when Iverson came knocking.

"Mo, we're celebrating Thanksgiving at your place!"

Mo wasn't really big on Thanksgiving.

Last year, he had planned to spend Christmas in the gym, only for Iverson to drag him to New York instead.

Now?

Same story.

Iverson showed up uninvited, bringing along Big Ben Wallace, Elden Campbell, Kenny Smith, Dell Curry, Fisher, and Byron Scott.

As soon as Dell Curry arrived, he patted Mo on the shoulder and laughed:

"Mo, you should be thankful I didn't bring my boys from Charlotte."

"Otherwise, they'd be begging to play with you too!"

Mo glanced at Iverson.

Yeah…

Just like this guy.

And, of course, Iverson didn't waste any time—he went straight to Mo's PlayStation and fired up a game.

"Yo, Mo, you got the new Resident Evil?"

"Yeah. Beat it already. Too easy."

"Too easy?! Alright, watch me clear it real quick."

And then?

GAME OVER.

Three zombies bit Iverson to death within minutes.

"Man, what the hell is this?! This game is rigged!"

Big Ben, watching from the side, couldn't stop laughing.

"Alright, let me try."

Iverson handed over the controller.

And then?

Another GAME OVER.

If Mo hadn't stopped him, Big Ben would've smashed the PlayStation.

"Damn, you two are terrible," Mo chuckled.

He took the controller.

Then, from Normal Mode to Hard Mode, he breezed through the game effortlessly.

Big Ben stared in awe.

"Damn, Mo… you're a beast on the court and in video games?"

"Maybe horror games just aren't for you two."

So, Mo switched it up—loading a simple racing game for them to play while he went downstairs to chat with the veterans.

"Mo, where were we? Oh yeah!"

Kenny Smith laughed.

"I was just about to tell you the story of Hakeem Olajuwon's stomach issues at Madison Square Garden!"

"Hahaha, and when he's done, I'll tell you about Magic Johnson's wildest nights in LA!"

Between NBA war stories, laughter, and competition, Alex Mo spent his most memorable Thanksgiving in Los Angeles.

November 29th, Game Day

After Thanksgiving, it was time for business.

The Lakers' final game of November.

A battle against the Seattle SuperSonics.

Alex Mo vs. Gary Payton.

Shawn Kemp vs. the Lakers' frontcourt.

The last game before December was about to begin.