In NBA history, there have only been two rookies who won Player of the Week in their very first week.
The first was Shaquille O'Neal during the 1992-93 season, his rookie year with the Orlando Magic.
However, O'Neal's selection caused some controversy. His stats were impressive—31 points, 16 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks per game—but the Magic went 1-2 that week. Critics felt that giving him Player of the Week was just a publicity move to promote a rising star.
Now, Alex Mo has joined O'Neal in that exclusive club, but his case is far different.
A Legitimate Choice
Alex Mo's numbers in his first five games were even better than O'Neal's, and more importantly, his team went undefeated.
He dominated Dikembe Mutombo with 24 points in a single quarter.He outplayed All-Star power forward Vin Baker.He conquered the "Shark Busters"—Rasheed Wallace and Sabonis—while leading the Lakers to victory.
No gimmicks, no controversy. His performance was undeniable.
He didn't just win Player of the Week; he earned it by beating Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon—two all-time greats—at the same time.
The Strongest Rookie in History?
The media quickly picked up on this. "Is Alex Mo the Best Rookie in NBA History?"
ESPN's analysts weighed in on the debate.
"If you include Wilt Chamberlain, the conversation ends there," one expert said. "But if we focus on rookies after 1970, Mo is already in the discussion."
Another analyst disagreed: "Even if you compare him to Wilt's first five games, Alex Mo's numbers are just as impressive. The difference is, Mo's team is winning!"
The Business Frenzy
As the debate raged, Nike and Adidas held emergency meetings.
At Adidas HQ, executives were preparing an endorsement offer. They didn't want to repeat the mistake they made when they missed out on signing Michael Jordan. They weren't going to let Alex Mo slip away.
Meanwhile, at Nike's Portland headquarters, Phil Knight regretted not signing Alex earlier.
"If only I'd been here during the Lakers' visit to Portland," Knight muttered. "We could've locked him in before his value doubled!"
Now, Alex Mo's endorsement price had skyrocketed—higher than anyone imagined.
Dennis Rodman Weighs In
During an interview, Dennis Rodman couldn't resist commenting on the Player of the Week debate.
"The league loves giving these awards to rookies," Rodman said dismissively. "Jordan should've won it. Mo's good, but let's be honest—he got the rookie treatment."
Rodman was clearly trying to stir the pot, but his comments earned him a $20,000 fine from the NBA.
When reporters asked Michael Jordan about it, his response was calm and confident:
"I've won plenty of awards. The only thing I care about now is another championship."
Jordan had nothing to prove—he was already a legend.
Back in the Lakers Locker Room
After hearing Rodman's comments, Big Ben turned to Alex with a serious expression:
"Mo, when are we going to Chicago?"
Allen Iverson grinned, sensing another fight. "You want to fight Dennis Rodman now?"
"Listen, if you're gonna fight him, at least give me a chance to join in this time," Iverson joked. "You can't knock him out with one punch like last time."
Big Ben nodded. "Don't worry. This time, I'll make sure everyone gets a chance."
The entire locker room looked at Alex. Even Coach Del Harris, who had just walked in, noticed the energy in the air.
"Coach, when do we play the Bulls?" Alex asked.
Del Harris smiled, unaware of the conversation that had just taken place.
"We play them on Christmas Day, at the United Center in Chicago."
The entire locker room erupted with excitement.
A Christmas Boxing Match?
The players couldn't wait. For them, the Christmas game against the Bulls wasn't just a basketball game—it was a showdown.
Big Ben grinned. "Mo, you ready for another WWE match on Christmas?"
Alex Mo laughed but said nothing. Deep down, he knew fighting on the court wasn't the right thing to do.
But the thought of turning the United Center into a boxing ring on Christmas Day?
It was tempting.
The Next Georgetown Civil War
Before they could face the Bulls, the Lakers had another challenge: the Miami Heat.
A reporter brought it up during the post-game press conference after the Lakers' victory over the Sacramento Kings.
**"Alex, your next game is against the Miami Heat. Their star, Alonzo Mourning, is another Georgetown alum like you and Dikembe Mutombo.
"Are you ready for the second Georgetown Civil War?"**
Alex smiled confidently. "Of course. I've already won one. Why not make it two?"
The room filled with laughter.
Alex Mo wasn't just ready for the next game—he was ready to conquer the league.