With the first month of 2020 coming to a close, it is time to look forward and anticipate the exciting moments coming up in February across the NBA
After one of the most tragic weeks in NBA History, fans across the globe were forced to say goodbye to one of the greatest players to ever step foot on a basketball court.
Kobe Bryant not only had a big hand in shaping the Los Angeles Lakers, but the way basketball is played in general today. He had a major role as a mentor for thousands of players across the world, from the MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to rising young talents who viewed Kobe as their role models.
The basketball world lost a legend last week and the outpouring of grief for Kobe and his daughter Gianna shows just how much the Bryant family meant to the game of basketball.
However, as horrible as this situation is and as long as the time for mourning will take, the NBA season is forced to continue and move on.
As the league enters the second half of the NBA regular season, the race for the playoffs is truly starting to heat up. The true contenders are starting to rise to the top of the standings and the mere pretenders are beginning to fall away.
With the first month of 2020 coming to a close next week, February provides the most exciting stint of the regular season. Fans start to see the standings take shape with playoff basketball just around the corner and the big names in the NBA begin to find their best form.
Teams like Milwaukee and the Lakers are looking to stamp their dominance on their respective conferences, whilst teams such as the Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers try to string together some wins and move back up the standings.
All this and more means there is plenty to look forward to heading into February, with some exciting matchups and storylines set to dominate the headlines.
So, these are the three key headlines to keep an eye on heading into the shortest month on the calendar.