When first presented with the inquiry as to what my all-time NBA lineup would be, I was overwhelmed at first—so many brilliant NBA superstars to choose from, so precious few roster spots. After careful deliberation though, it turns out the task wasn’t going to be the ordeal I initially imagined it would be.
Nope, it wasn’t impossible to find a quintet of players that were not only spectacularly talented, but courageous, clutch, and with synchronous talents that would result in an efficient and versatile offense and a stonewalling defense.
Without further ado, the team.
Center: Bill Russell
Power Forward: Tim Duncan
Small Forward: Larry Bird
Shooting Guard: Michael Jordan
Point Guard: John Stockton
Since all NBA Championship teams are predicated on defense, having Bill Russell as my defensive anchor will all but guarantee that opposing offenses will have no safe quarters in the vicinity of the basket. On offense, Russell will be a blue-collar guy, setting off-ball screens, cutting judiciously, and occasionally venturing to the right box to drop in a very effective right hook.
Tim Duncan gets the nod for being the best help defender of his generation, and because I’d need a more versatile post-up presence who can also defend.
Larry Bird is an obvious choice for small forward because of his versatility and his competitive drive. In my offense, Bird’s main function will be to provide long-range shooting and spacing, though his ball-handling and decision-making skills are also top-notch.
Michael Jordan’s all around excellence makes him the easiest inclusion of all. Not only will Jordan also contribute to the team’s punishing defense, but he’ll also be the team’s number one offensive option, especially if sets get jammed up and the shot clock is winding down.
John Stockton’s primary function will be to disrupt the timing of opposing offenses by his relentless on-ball defense, physical strength, and genius-level anticipatory skills. On offenses, his court awareness and ability to make every pass will be his primary assets, and will only look to shoot to keep defenses honest.
Given the tremendously physical nature of the team, most opponents will give up mentally because of the sheer beating they’d take on the court. And if they’re physically fit to handle the rough stuff, Jordan, Bird, and Stockton are all well-versed in destroying opponents psychologically.
Russell will most likely defend the opposition’s best face-up defender because Duncan’s perimeter defensive skills are relatively weak. Each player can single-handedly control the defensive backboard by himself. Bird will probably be asked to defend the opposition’s best wing defender for the first three quarters to keep Jordan fresh on offense, though Jordan will undoubtedly defend the best-of-the-best down the stretch.
My offense will be initiated by my defense, and with all the blocked shots, steals, defensive rebounds and quick outlet passes my team would generate, Stockton, Jordan, and Bird would form a nigh-unstoppable fast-break.
In the halfcourt, my team would run a patient, disciplined, hybrid of Jerry Sloan’s flex offense, and Phil Jackson’s triangle, each centered on getting Jordan early post-up position
Erick Blasco's All-Time NBA Team
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27 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Ryan Hartung 11 months ago
I would have Cousy at the point that is my only change.
Great Read!!
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Erick Blasco 11 months ago
Thanks!
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Michael Whittenberg 11 months ago
Good stuff, how come I didn't think of this first? LOL.
Here's how mine would look.
Isiah Thomas
Michael Jordan
Larry Bird
Karl Malone
Hakeem Olajuwon
Good article.
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Collin Whitchurch 11 months ago
Great job, man. Not sure about the PG, either. Perhaps I'd put Isiah there, but it's a tough choice.
It'd be interesting to see who you'd have as the backup at all of these positions, too. Shaq would have to be your backup center, right?
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A-Train 11 months ago
Interesting. Not bad picks by any means, but not players I would have picked (except for Jordan and Bird).
I'm curious to know what you know about Russell. To me, he's the most fascinating pro athlete in American history. Really. I mean, he literally had no offensive game, but yet, people credit him with being this incredible winner. When was the last time, in any sport, you saw a guy dominate just with his defensive presence? Except for Lawrence Taylor and Deion Sanders, I've never seen or heard of a defender who could impact the outcome of a game so heavily. But apparently, that's what Russell did... right?
Russell is remembered for what? Winning. But do you know why he won? The NBA was in its infancy back then. There were only nine teams or so. There were few guys taller than 6-9. There was no three-point line. Guys frequently played over 48 minutes per game. I mean, the league hadn't leveled out yet. And of course, there was no free agency. So Russell landed on the Celtics (thanks to a visionary named Red Auerbach), where he played alongside the best players in the league. Cousy, for starters, is hands-down the greatest point guard ever. Then he had Sam Jones, Tommy Heinsohn, John Havlicek, etc. I mean, each year, the C's had a rotation of guys of which at least SIX players were would-be Hall of Famers. That's nuts. And without free agency to break things up, the Celtics just stayed intact and kept winning and winning and winning. And of course, Russell was the face of the team.
I don't mean to take away from Russell because I'm sure he was special, but there's no way he's better than Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O'Neal. None. No shot. Wilt often ate him up. And Shaq, the most dominant big man ever, has the greatest win percentage of any player not named Russell. Imagine if Russell were on the shitty Warriors instead of the C's. Shaq would be tops.
My top five:
Shaq
Hakeem (I'd play him at PF or C interchangeably with Shaq)
Bird
Jordan
Cousy
I'm ridiculously high on Jason Kidd too. After Cousy, I'd take Kidd over most players--not just point guards. Kidd is arguably pound-for-pound the greatest rebounder ever. For a 6-foot-4 point to finish in the top 100 in all-time rebounds is insane. And I'm pretty sure he's the ONLY guard in the top 100. Factor in he was one of the best defenders ever, and just a great floor general, and man, was he special. He couldn't shoot, but he hit big shots when he had to. Seriously, after Jordan, Kidd was the most unique player I've ever seen. He impacted the game in so many ways. He could guard Kobe. He could out-rebound power forwards. WHATEVER his team needed him to do for the sake of winning, he was able and willing to do.
Don't like the Mailman. Great player but not as good as the stats indicate. He was a compiler.
Love Duncan but I feel he played in a weaker era. Aside from Shaq, what other big man was comparable in, say, the year 2000? KG? You know what I'm saying? Duncan didn't exactly face Kemp in his prime, Mailman in his prime, Antonio+Dale Davis, Ewing, Barkley, Hakeem, etc. The league became a guard's league. But Duncan is great. Still, I would have loved to see him face the great forwards. I feel he had it easier...
Bird had the greatest instincts of any baller ever. He WAS basketball. That was his life. I'm sure he could shoot with his eyes closed.
Good post.
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Erick Blasco 11 months ago
Wilt was more talented than Russell but he had so many insecurities, from not rusting his teammates, to not trusting his coaches, to not taking care of himself...he was Shaq before Shaq, and while he put up some great individual performances against Russell, look at some of Russell's playoff games against Wilt, and some of Wilt's performances against Russell. With had 40-plus rebound games, which were and still are ridiculous.
Also, most of the awards and commentary by Russell's contemporaries praise him as being the central figure of those tremendous Celtics teams. His performances against Wilt, and his personality lead me to believe that he'd be better on my team than Wilt, especially since Russell would be the fourth option. Can you imagine how Shaq or Wilt would fare if you asked them to be a fourth option, and asked them to do dirty work?
Also, I don't want Shaq as a starter because even during his heyday, you can attack him with screen/rolls and jumpers all game long. If I was facing an opponent with, say, Hakeem Olajuwon, I'd want somebody who can defend him, and Russell can do that whereas Shaq has proven he can't.
And while people criticize Russell as being a product of his era, what is there to keep Bob Cousy from suffering the same criticism? Cousy, while also being smart and possessing great handles, was widely known as being only marginally athletic. What's to keep any modern point guard from dribbling right past him on any possession?
Someone asked me above what my bench would be. I'd like to have a bench that cover some of my biggest weaknesses. I'd like a big man who'd be better served to defend the perimeter so Dennis Rodman would be on my team. I'd also take Kobe for his ability to take over games, and LeBron for his powerful scoring ability off the dribble. Johnson would give me a longer and more athletic point guard, and Hakeem would be a versatile and talented center off the bench.
With two more guys to fill out the roster, I'd take Oscar Robertson for sheer versatility, and Shaq for being the most unstoppable big man the game has ever known. For my thirteenth man, I'd take a homer pick and take Matt Harpring because the sight of a player who gets the absolute most out of his marginal talents would inspire his teammates to always play with unbridled energy, physicality, and heart.
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A-Train 11 months ago
LOL... well, I didn't know we were getting so deep into it as to discuss the potential on-court chemistry. if that's the case I would have:
C: Shawn Kemp
PF: Charles Barkley
SF: Larry Bird
SG: Michael Jordan
PG: Jason Kidd
And I'd just run you off the court. LOL. I think Kemp fouls out whomever is guarding him in the first quarter.
Seriously, if we're talking chemistry, I agree with you that Russell should be taken over Wilt and Shaq. He should probably be taken over any other center.
As for Cousy, here's the thing. If you watch games from back then, it's pretty obvious he's the best player on the floor. If you read books about those days, you'll see that all guys from that era agree that Cousy is one of the top five players all-time. Cousy was sick. If he were in today's NBA, he'd be a beast. Skills are skills, and IQ is IQ, and instinct is instinct, and these are not things you can just develop (skills, only to an extent--if you can't shoot when you're 25, you'll never be able to shoot). And Cousy was elite in all three aspects.
As for keeping up physically in today's game, he'd be fine. For starters, he kept up then, right? And they played a much, much, much faster game back then. Running was non-stop, and guys played full games all the time. So, the conditioning would be there. Secondly, understand that Cousy's 6-foot-1 175-pound stature in 1960 would probably be closer to 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds today. I mean, he'd be fine. Would he be able to check Chris Paul? Maybe not. But you cannot underestimate IQ. At my best, I was 190 pounds. Now, ten years later, I'm around 240. I still play ball twice a week and lock down kids in their late teens and early 20's. How? Because I know how to play D. It's not like Bruce Bowen and Shane Battier are the best athletes in the league... but they know HOW to play. I think a smart guy like Cousy would have been at least a serviceable defender in today's game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMdGcmHPrRI
And all of that came without carrying the ball, etc. Tremendous player. Greatest point ever, hands down.
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Tom Dessalet 11 months ago
Good choices. I'd agree that your team would probably win any championship ever.
Personally though, I would just have
Stockton
Jordan
Kobe
Duncan
Shaq
I know this team is very recent, but I also feel that recent players would have the edge over older generations of players. Biased? Yes. But they're stronger, faster and have more strategy in their games than in the past.
Stockton, an old-school guy, but he had the highest basketball IQ ever. Found passing outlets on defense before the opposing guard even saw them.
Jordan, because he's the best player to ever don a jersey.
Kobe, because if you can't double both Jordan and Kobe, and imagine what either would do with only single coverage! Probably top 5 best overall basketball players ever. Just don't ask him how Shaq's ass tastes.
Duncan is interchangeable with any of your prototypical 6'10+ all-nba post players throughout history. The position of power forward hasn't changed much from the days of George Mikan and Wes Unseld up through Duncan. I'd take any of the 3.
Shaq is the single most dominant basketball player of all time. Jordan can draw double teams, but when Shaq does, it results in foul shots (sure it's a risky proposition) or embarrassment. He's torn up every center of the past 2 decades, from David Robinson and Hakeem to Yao Ming and Todd MacCullough (yes I mentioned T-Mac).
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c s 11 months ago
it's such a toss up, at point it would be either magic/isiah/pistol pete/earl monroe/cousy hell i'll take any of those guys at point :D
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Lee Granger 11 months ago
Indeed good choice of teams, but I'd have to agreed with the A-Train regarding Russell.
First, If I had to pick a team to go up against you team here's who I'd pick
c-Shaq
PF-KG
SF-LaBron
SG-Kobe
PG-Isiah
You're neutralized at every posistion. On defense you've got problems now, Russell can't stop Shaq (let's not pretend), and Stockton can't do a thing with Isiah; And good luck Bird handling LaBron.
I think I'd win and you had the first five picks.
If I had the first 5 picks I'd go with:
C-Shaq
PF-Dirk
SF-Kobe
SG-Jordon
PG-Magic
Trust me it works. Dirk is there because Magic need runners and an outside threat to keep things honest. Additionally, with Shaq I don't want anyone else down in the low post once the motion offense stops. Mike's at the high post and Dirk and Kobe are in the corners.
The only other pieces I need to complete my championship run is Hakeem,Rodman, Iverson and Tyron Lue coming of the bench. I need Lue to stop any little guy nonsense you might throw at me. Iverson's there to give me a balanced back court, he's never played with a true point guard like Magic. Dennis fills in at the 4,3 and depending on the night your 2 is having, Rodman shuts him down too. Hakeem backs up the 4&5. Phil's the coach and the championship is mine.
Thanks guys, Lee
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Erick Blasco 11 months ago
A fun team, but who on your team would stop Duncan? KG would get eaten up alive by Duncan and Shaq is too slow to be a good help defender. Plus, I'd just run Bird/Jordan/Stockton off pick-and-rolls attacking Shaq all game long. Good luck trying to get him to show on a screen.
LeBron will be a problem. His strength is extraordinary, but I'd switch Jordan on to him and put Bird on Kobe. My offense would probably be hurt since I'd have to expend a lot of energy on defense, but that's where Shaq as a liability comes in. I don't have to expend a lot of energy on offense to get open looks.
Don't ever discredit Stockton as one of the nastiest defenders of all time. He's not just first in assists, he's first in steals, and he got those steals without gambling into passing lanes.
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Lee Granger 11 months ago
Great come back Erick, however, as I said Duncan vs. KG, pick'em. Duncan is not going to dominate KG. Keep in mind, Duncan has to play defense on KG as well and KG does not always play in the post and becasue of that Duncan may not even be a defensive factor at all. As far as Duncan dominating KG, let alone that game, I don't see it, not with the opposing stars and the guys he's playing with. Oh, and I was curious, who'd be setting the picks? ("Not Mike").
I'll certainly give you the props on Stockton's defense, but I've choosen a true fast break team not much defense for that, and if it gets into a half court situation, well here again, Stockton's at a big disadvantage with the threat of Isiah taking him off the dribble.
Also, if you put Bird on Kobe then you'd be sealing your fate. Kobe would have a field day (sorry Bird, I love you man). Bird would certainly be exposed in this situation (don't forget Kobe's shot). Does Bird play up on him, or play the drive to the basket? No, no you're in trouble there man.
Remember, I picked my 5 after yours and I still think I win.
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Erick Blasco 11 months ago
Duncan's dominated KG in virtually every head-to-head matchup they've had over the course of their careers. Plus, Garnett's habit of choking in important situations, being soft, and riding the coattails of his teammates wouldn't rest well in a winner-take-all game featuring the best players of all-time.
I like you're idea of trying to get into an open-court game with my team. With that being said, I like Magic over Isiah in that case as Magic's enormous length and athleticism would tower over Stockton. I just don't want too many guys who need the ball to be successful on my team, and need to be a main option. When that happens, usually guys complain about touches and status, and the trust they have evaporates.
That's why I want guys on my team who can accept being secondary options, or having specific niches.
Even if you're team has more talent, how is Shaq going to accept sharing the ball with both Kobe and LeBron? How will Magic accept being a second option? There's a lot of risk for potential combustion.
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Lee Granger 11 months ago
Just to recap, I say my team beats Erick's team. Here are teams and Erick pick the first five:
Erick's team Lee's Team
Center: Bill Russell Shaq
Power Forward: Tim Duncan KG
Small Forward: Larry Bird LaBron
Shooting Guard: Michael Jordan Kobe
Point Guard: John Stockton Isiah
Who win's best of 7 series?
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A-Train 11 months ago
Sorry Lee... I don't even know how or why Jordan is off your squad. I think Erick's team would crush yours by at least 30 points. Replace Kobe with Jordan, and Isiah with Magic, and you have a shot.
LOL.
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Lee Granger 11 months ago
Just to recap, I say my team beats Erick's team. Here are teams and Erick pick the first five:
Erick's team Lee's Team
Center: Bill Russell Shaq
Power Forward: Tim Duncan KG
Small Forward: Larry Bird LaBron
Shooting Guard: Michael Jordan Kobe
Point Guard: John Stockton Isiah
Who win's best of 7 series?
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Mark Brown 11 months ago
WHERE IS MAGIC!?!
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Mark Brown 11 months ago
My all time team:
C: Wilt
PF: Kareem (I know he's a center, but still.)
SF: Bird
SG: Jordan
PG: Magic
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Scott Tully 11 months ago
How can your power forward on your list be bigger then your center. Get a clue Blasco. Then you have stockton at PG. You really know basketball.
PG-Magic
SG-Jordan
SF-Bird
PF-Russel
C-Shaq
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Erick Blasco 11 months ago
I'm sorry, you're right. How can I have one of the smartest basketball players of all time, with ridiculous court vision, nasty defensive skills, an extremely advanced competitive personality, and a versatile offensive skill set which could have him distributing the ball, looking to score, or setting screens off the ball for teammates.
And for the most part, centers are defined by playing at a closer proximity to the basket than power forwards. Height means nothing. Who played the center on Boston's championship team? Garnett? I thought he was playing power forward while Kendrick Perkins was the center?
Keep betting on games Scott. With every bet you wager, you continue to risk the integrity of sports. Get a clue Tully.
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michael heller 11 months ago
No Love for the O Dawg at point?
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Stove Pipe 11 months ago
Alright Blasco, I'll take the bait.
Starters:
Wilt
Bird
Malone
Michael
Magic
Bench:
Kareem
Duncan
Kobe
Big O
Stockton
Shaq
Russell
Dr J.
Dominique
Isaiah
Now try and stop me!
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Lee Granger 10 months ago
Guys the first team I picked:
c-Shaq
PF-KG
SF-LaBron
SG-Kobe
PG-Isiah
was to match up against Ericks 5
Center: Bill Russell
Power Forward: Tim Duncan
Small Forward: Larry Bird
Shooting Guard: Michael Jordan
Point Guard: John Stockton
Since Erick picked first I couldn't use the same players.
Now if I had the first 5 picks I'd choose:
C-Shaq
PF-Dirk
SF-Kobe
SG-Jordon
PG-Magic
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Bailey Essrog 10 months ago
To say that a team comprised of Russell, Duncan, Bird, Jordan and Stockton is so much better or worse than a team anchored by Shaq, Hakeem, Bird, Jordan and Cousy is pointless. I'll take either team any day. You probably won't see any blowouts happening here (unless you're playing the 2007-2008 Lakers), and even if one team were to beat the other, that wouldn't necessarily prove that they're the better all-time team. Any team can win one game. Have them play a seven-game series after a full training camp, an 82-game season -- in a league with 29 other teams that are similarly loaded with all-time-type legends, HOF players, etc. -- and preferably a few years together under the belt, and then maybe you might have a case.
My starting five of all time wouldn't be that different from most of the ones already mentioned here. But I would argue that who you have on your bench would really determine your chances of dominating a hall-of-famers-and-legends-only league year after year. You couldn't possibly ask big-egoed superstars like Kobe, Shaq, LeBron, Duncan, Isaiah, Garnett, Malone, Magic, etc. to come off the bench (and who in their right mind would want them to? see Team USA circa 21st century). My bench would include one proven super-sub sixth-man type such as Manu Ginobili, and the rest would be role players: maybe Bill Laimbeer, Lindsey Hunter, Robert Horry, Derek Fisher, James Posey, Dennis Rodman, Bruce Bowen and maybe even Dennis Johnson for his D and clutch play.
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TJ Zwarych 10 months ago
Good Article and nice team, but I think Magic HAS to be there...here is my list
PG Magic
SG Kobe
SF Jordan
PF Bird
C Russel
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David Houser 10 months ago
Get the hell out of here with all you peopple that pick Shaq "I throw my elbow into your face but never get called for the foul" O'Neal over Russell, Wilt and Kareem.
one of the guys today could compete in the 60s 70s and 80s anyway maybe with the exception of a few.
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Caelan B 10 months ago
good article heres my picks
pg:jason kidd jason kidd is the best all around pg john stockton or cousy would be my second pick jason kidd is a flashy passer, ridiculous rebounder for a pg and has a shooting touch from mid range or long
sg:micheal jordan why else wouldent jordan be here leading his team to 3 straight titles, 3 or so mvps(ive forgotten how many) defensive player of the year and hell even his own shoe brand
sf:larry bird larry could get 30 points from shooting from the outside hes like dirk but better he wasent the greastest ball handler but had great footwork when he got the ball 10- 15 out as well as being a pretty damn good rebounder
pf: tim duncan this was a hard descion but i would not of picked kg because of all the players becomeing like him bosh,aldridge,chandler(on the defenseive end), tim duncan has his own fundmental style of play that was like bill russells he has the same move in the low post his calls for the ball and when he gets it he will turn his pivot foot and pump fake then go up for the little sideways hook (also karl malone is up their in the power forward list)
c: bill russell all the comments saying shaq or wilt on the center spot i disagree with russell had to guard a 7'1 big man who would just call for the ball and score when he wanted to when russell faced him he boxed him out for every rebound, and just battled him defensely for the entire series wilt never faced anyone who could guard him so he didnt worry when he met the guy to shut him down it was russell and shaq faced wallace and wallace scored on him time after time
pg: j kidd
sg:jordan
sf:bird
pf:duncan
c:russell
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