SEPTEMBER!
Luke's Phind
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Luke's Phind -
Galoob’s All-Star MVPs: 1997 Chicago Bulls Mini Figures
What would a Kenner Starting Lineup figure look like if it was a quarter the size? Well, these 1997 NBA mini figures from Galoob (the same company that made micro machines) made this concept come to life! When you have these standing side by side to the full-size Starting Lineups, it will make you wonder if someone from the SLU team had a hand in designing these figures. Some of the poses are nearly identical to their taller counterpart. For example, Scottie Pippen’s one-handed dunk pose looks a lot like that of the dunking Clyde Drexler SLU I own. Interestingly, these mini figures share similar design features with the SLUs. The only moveable parts are the arms, waist, and heads. After some digging on Wikipedia, Galoob was purchased by Kenner not too long after these figures were made. So who knows maybe there was some crossover with the design teams. If any toy makers out there have the scoop, please let us know!
The first (and not last) All-Star Mini Figure set I copped off eBay this month was the iconic ‘97 Chicago Bulls. This set features Steve Kerr, Dennis Rodman, Ron Harper, and Scottie Pippen.
Wait… No Jordan?
That’s right. The GOAT of basketball is missing here, unfortunately. I’m assuming they could not afford to get his rights for this set. Despite this omission, this doesn’t detract from how awesome this assortment of figures is. The detail is surprisingly good for how small they are, and they’ve got some cool action poses. Just look at that acrobatic pose from the Worm. Hard to say if he is diving after a loose ball, or snagging a rebound, either way, it is very Dennis Rodman. I also appreciated the extra effort put into the packaging. On the box, each player has a quick blurb about their strengths and playstyle. See below ⬇
When I showed this off to Matt and John, Matt asked, “Are these cooler than Starting Lineups?” While I can’t believe the audacity he had to make a statement like that, he’s not wrong that these are badass! I’m thinking the next team I’ll get will be the Houston Rockets, as it has Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley. Stay tuned!
