TRACKING THE NBA'S YOUNG GUNS: WHO'S THE HOTTEST?

     Jason Kidd is not sure when he his new Nike "Air Zoom" model
will debut, since the Mavs' December 1 game against the Hawks
will not be on TNT as originally planned.  Kidd suggested that
tomorrow's night's home game against the Bulls, with the
attention Michael Jordan and WGN-TV bring, could be "a
possibility" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/19).
     BRIGHTEST YOUNG STAR?  On ESPN's "Sports Reporters," ABC's
Armen Keteyian noted Penny Hardaway's 36-point performance
against the Bulls last week.  Keteyian:  "He made a statement
that it's my time in the NBA right now. ... Just as Michael took
over from Magic, I think Penny's ready to take over now as the
guy now in the NBA" (ESPN, 11/19).  On Friday night, TNT's Ernie
Johnson previewed a feature on 76ers rookie Jerry Stackhouse,
calling him the "real deal."  Johnson noted "it may be unfair" to
compare Stackhouse to Jordan, but TNT's profile opened with
highlights of Jordan in '84, and Stackhouse now ("Inside the
NBA," TNT, 11/17).