Top 5 NBA stories of 2012

From LeBron James' victory parade to the soap opera that is Dwight Howard to the return of basketball to Brooklyn, there were a lot of major headlines that highlighted the NBA in 2012.

But none topped a Cinderella-like story that grabbed everyone's attention from New York City to the Far East.

Here are the best of the best from the NBA this year. – By Marc J. Spears

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3. Dwight Howard saga – Coined the "Dwightmare" and "The Indecision," Howard couldn't make up his mind if he wanted to stay in Orlando or take his talents elsewhere. At different points of last season, he opted into his contract through the 2012-13 campaign, then asked to be traded to the Brooklyn Nets. After a trade couldn't be consummated with Brooklyn, the Los Angeles Lakers swooped in to make a blockbuster deal to land Howard on Aug. 10. ... more
3. Dwight Howard saga – Coined the "Dwightmare" and "The Indecision," Howard couldn't make up his mind if he wanted to stay in Orlando or take his talents elsewhere. At different points of last season, he opted into his contract through the 2012-13 campaign, then asked to be traded to the Brooklyn Nets. After a trade couldn't be consummated with Brooklyn, the Los Angeles Lakers swooped in to make a blockbuster deal to land Howard on Aug. 10. Howard, however, didn't sign a contract extension before the season, will be an unrestricted free agent next summer and has made no commitment to the Lakers. The rebuilding Magic's "Dwightmare" is now the Lakers' problem.   less