NBA Stars We Want to See with Allen Iverson at Las Vegas Superstar Challenge

Just when the NBA exhibition circuit had seemed to run its course, Allen Iverson comes along and gets everyone excited again.

Last Friday, Yahoo! Sports reported that Iverson would host the Las Vegas Superstar Challenge—an exhibition basketball tournament slated November 12-13 at the Thomas and Mack Center. The Superstar Challenge will boast four teams with captains—including Iverson—who will select the players for their respective squads.

With rumors swirling as to who exactly will participate in the tournament, let's take a look at some of the NBA players we'd like to see team up with Iverson in Las Vegas. 

Dwight Howard, C

Not only is Dwight Howard the most complete big man in today's NBA, but he's also the best center in the league by a substantial margin.

While leading the Magic to the playoffs, Howard earned more than a few MVP votes last season—a year in which he debuted a number of new low post moves learned during offseason training sessions with Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon.

It's not likely that he'd use many of those moves out in Vegas, however.

At some point, the Superstar Challenge will devolve into a dunking exhibition, and there is no big man better suited for the task than Dwight Howard, the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk Champion.

Blake Griffin, PF

In an exhibition setting, Blake Griffin's numbers (22.5 points, 12.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game last season) take a backseat to his ridiculous athleticism.

More impressive than his stellar rookie campaign is the fact that he jumped over a Kia Optima during All-Star Weekend—a dunk which paled in comparison to what he did to the Knicks earlier in the season (just ask Timofey Mozgov and Danilo Gallinari).

The best part about Griffin is that he still hasn't quite figured out the speed of the NBA just yet. At 22-years-old, he's attacking everything—and everyone—at 100 miles per hour. Which is exactly why he deserves a starting nod on Team Iverson.

LeBron James, SF

Say what you will about his performance (or lack thereof) during this year's NBA Finals, the fact remains that LeBron James is one of the most singular basketball talents that any of us has ever seen.

There isn't much he can't do on the basketball court. One minute, he'll lock down the opposing team's best player; the next, he'll attack the basket with unparalleled ferocity. When the 6'8", 250-pound James is in the zone, he is a matchup nightmare for virtually every player in the NBA.

It wouldn't be surprising to see James suit up for Team Iverson in a few weeks. After all, he's already played in exhibitions in Philadelphia, Miami, Oklahoma City and Baltimore this offseason. 

Allen Iverson, SG

Allen Iverson gets the nod at the starting shooting guard position for his Superstar Challenge team. According to reports, Iverson may be using the tournament as the springboard for a possible comeback to the NBA.

Aside from his own charity game, this will be Iverson's first turn on the exhibition circuit this offseason. It was rumored that he would make an appearance at the "Battle Of I-95" in Philadelphia last month, but his business manager quickly ended that speculation.

The crossover probably isn't quite as deadly as it once was, but the 36-year-old Iverson is only three seasons removed from averaging 26.4 points per game as a member of the Nuggets in 2007-08. 

Derrick Rose, PG

An Allen Iverson-Derrick Rose backcourt is the stuff of dreams or, in this case, exhibitions.

Both Iverson and Rose have a questionable mid-range game, but there have been few players in recent memory as quick and exciting as these two, especially when they drive to the rim with reckless abandon. 

After his stellar 2010-11 season, it's only fitting that Rose was the smallest player to win the MVP award since...Allen Iverson in 2001. 

Would the backcourt be a bit undersized? Yes. But in these types of games, does it really matter?

Bench: Andre Iguodala, SG/SF

As this summer has shown us, defense is played so infrequently in these types of exhibition games that Iguodala's strongest skill would go virtually unused. 

However, the 6'6" swingman has a certain chemistry with the host of the tournament, having played two-plus seasons with Iverson in Philadelphia. Iguodala was just getting accustomed to the NBA back them, but the two of them combined for more than their fair share of highlights.

Athleticism aside, Iguodala has become accustomed to playing the facilitator role in recent year and would have no problem deferring to the other stars on the team.

Bench: John Wall, PG

Barely old enough to gamble in most states, John Wall would find himself right at home at the Superstar Challenge.

With his explosive first step and top-end speed, the 6'4" Wall is thought by some to be this generation's Iverson. The Wizards' point guard is more of a playmaker than 'The Answer' ever was, as evidenced by his 8.3 assists per game last season.

And if the past NBA exhibition games are any indication, there would be plenty of plays to be made out in Las Vegas. Surrounded by the likes of Iguodala, Griffin and James, the crowd at the Thomas and Mack Center would be in for quite a show.

Bench: Stephen Curry, SG

Every good team needs a shooter, and Stephen Curry fits the role perfectly for Iverson's Superstar Challenge squad. 

On a team with filled with world-class athletes who love to attack the basket, Curry could settle in behind the three-point arc and play the role of spot-up shooter. Curry's other notable asset—a high basketball IQ—is especially valuable in a setting where turnovers and errant passes are the norm.

Bench: Josh Smith, SF/PF

If there is one player in the entire NBA who is perfectly suited for a run-and-gun, defense-optional type of pickup game, it would be Atlanta's Josh Smith.

In recent years, Smith has cut down on the number of ill-advised 3-point attempts that he takes during the course of a game. That discipline would quickly go out the window in a setting such as this. Without question, Smith would be the one player trying harder than everyone else on both ends of the court. 

It isn't hard to envision the 6'9" forward pinning someone's shot against the glass before running the break like a gazelle, looking for the alley-oop pass that he could throw down one-handed. It might be worth the price of admission just to watch Smith during pre-game warmups.

Bench: Tyson Chandler, C

Tyson Chandler doesn't have a refined offensive game, but for the purposes of the Superstar Challenge that might be a good thing. 

Very few big men are as active as he is around the basket, a trait which lends itself well in an environment where there will be tons of opportunities for alley-oops and putbacks.

More known for his defense than anything else, Chandler runs the floor well and is the type of player who could easily notch a double-double without anyone noticing.

Bench: Kevin Garnett, PF

Make no mistake, Kevin Garnett is no longer the 20-10-5 threat he was while in his prime. However, there are few players in the league who understand the game as well as Garnett, an All-Star caliber player even at the age of 35. 

In addition to his pitch-perfect defense, Garnett is an underrated passer who is the focal point of a Boston team that has dominated the Eastern Conference in recent years.

Of course, you would be hard pressed to find anyone in the league who plays with as much passion as KG. Garnett approaches every game like it's the Game 7 of the NBA Finals and exhibitions are no exception.

Bench: Tim Duncan, PF/C

The man known as "The Big Fundamental" is probably too fundamental (read: not exciting enough) for an all-star competition such as this, but it would be great to see Tim Duncan alongside Iverson one last time. 

Since Iverson played in the Eastern Conference for most of his career, he and Duncan have had very few opportunities to team up on the basketball court. The two were part of the 2004 Olympic squad that captured the bronze medal in Athens, and they also both represented the Western Conference in the 2008 All-Star Game. 

Duncan's game is almost the antithesis of what Iverson brings to the table, but in an exhibition such as the Superstar Challenge, the two former overall No. 1 picks just may find some common ground.