The greatest starting five of all time doesn’t even include Lebron

This is one of those threads where ok boomer seems apt.

Love KD and Duncan.

I don't know that Steph+ Jordan works. They're both defensive liabilities somewhat. I think like Magic and Jordan works, or like Steph +Kobe/Lebron

Embiid is good but not that good

I'm going to revise my starting line-up a bit. Part of what made the Chicago Bulls so dominant was they had a legitimate 3 point threat (Kerr has highest 3pt % of all time, and bj armstrong matches Curry). Rodman was also an underrated factor. The 90s bulls would have been great in any era I believe, a big part because of Jordan, a big part because of how they were constructed.

I'd make my starting 5 match how the 96 bulls were constructed, but make them better:

96 bulls -> my team

G Harper -> lengthy point who could play defense -> Gary Payton

G Jordan -> Jordan (nobody does Jordan better)

F Pippen - > one of the best complimentary point forwards ever, who could defend multiple positions -> Lebron James (I dont see Bird switching successfully on a point guard)

F Rodman - > Rodman (nobody does Rodman better)

C Longly - > Defensive specialist who could pass well -> Kareem (known for scoring of course, but was a great passer and made all defensive team like 11 times or something like that - today he'd be like a jokic who could defend)

First off bench:

G Kerr -> 3 point shooter -> Curry

F Kukoc -> Bird

C Wennington -> I think best know for everyone loving him - > Russell

So thats my team:

Starters: Payton, Jordan, James, Rodman, Kareem

Shooter off the bench: Curry

Complimentary Forward off the bench: Bird

Big man off the bench that everyone loves: Russell

Jordan is considered one of the best defenders in the history of basketball.

I believe the only basketball skill Shaq was better at than Wilt was free-throwing. And barely. It's unfortunate that the overwhelming majority of the posters in this forum were born after
Wilt Chamberlain retired (1973), with most probably having been born after he died (1999)...and that the NBA has not preserved their games on film/video as well as some other sports have. It's also unfortunate that some stats, such as blocked shots, were not officially kept until after Wilt retired; he was far and away the most prolific shot-blocker in NBA history. Suffice it to say that in a pantheon of athletes who were freakishly gifted for their sports--Jim Ryun for the 1500/mile, Usain Bolt for the 100/200, Ed Coan for powerlifting, Edwin Moses for the 400IH, Eddy Merckx for road cycling, whatever, Wilt would easily stand supreme. Incidentally, WRT Shaq vs. Wilt--although I believe Wilt remains the physically strongest individual to ever play basketball; one common misconception is that
Chamberlain was dominant because of Shaq-like bullying of smaller men near the basket. In fact, Wilt was primarily a finesse player who scored most of his points with balletic fadeaways, finger-rolls, bank shots, etc.

Just out of curiosity, how old are you with the username “lol lol lol lol”?

Kobe? The guy who played for the Lakers and has a negative career defensive BPM?

Jordan only had one season with a negative defensive BPM (first year in Washington). His top 5 defensive BPM seasons were 4.2, 3.4, 3.2, 2.6, 2.5. Kobe's best defensive BPM season was 1.6 (that was his only season above 0.7). Kobe was not a particularly noteworthy defender and that excludes him from any top 10 all-time discussion.

I see it as a thread where people who weren’t alive before 1990 should spend some time learning NBA history and watching footage of the greats from previous generations before offering opinions on which players would be the best options to place on an all-time team.

If you’re concerned about the defensive mobility of big men, Jokic is not the pick. Either Abdul-Jabbar or Olajuwon would give you significantly better defense while still providing excellent offense.

Just to be clear: When you say Jordan was a defensive liability, are you referring to Michael Jeffrey Jordan, the 1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year and 9-time NBA All-Defensive First Team member?

I think it can only be possible he was talking about Michael Bakari Jordan - the dude who played Apollo Creeds son... :D

Just have to pick on this because everyone seems to agree with you....it might, but not in the way you think.

The best possible team would be the best 4 centers of all time plus Jordan. Everyone forgets height is the name of the game. The problem is that most centers are slow and have inferior skills due to too much reliance on height. However, the best centers not only have superior technical skills but are as quick as guards. Every player requires a double team and an opposing team could never get a rebound. Any team of guards/forwards would never be able to create enough space to get a jump shot off and driving to the basket would be a death wish.

Jordan

Wilt

Russell

Kareem

Hakeem (anyone mentioning shaq or duncan before the dream should be ashamed)

Magic

Jordan

Lebron

Duncan

Wilt

Lebron is not your clutch killer like Jordan. With this lineup, he doesn't have to be. You have three unselfish players in Magic, Lebron, and Duncan. Wilt was actually not only a ball dominant superstar light years ahead of his time 55/25/10 blocks but in Philly in '66-67 and then again in LA with West won 68 and 69 games while reducing his shooting and focusing on passing, rebounding, and defense. The problem with this team as constructed is that there are no great outside shooters. If you replace Magic with Stockton, you get better defense, worse rebounding, better shooting and clutch shooting. If you replace Lebron with Bird, you get better clutch shooting, better passing, and outside shooting and more steals but worse defense overall. If you bring in Jokic, you need a top defender as power forward to make up for his weaknesses as a shot blocker and defender (though he's not as bad as claimed), so you retain the best shot blocker of all time in Wilt or you retain Duncan or Russell. Russell's offense was poor, so he is hard to keep in the lineup. Kareem when he was young was awesome in every area, just not at Wilt's level in power or #'s. Advanced stats would put Wilt above everyone else had steals and blocks been official stats before 1973. Curry is great for 3s and moving the basketball, so he would be great off the bench. His defense is not at this level. The improvement in outside shooting in the league is so notable right now that you would have to think seriously about bringing in more shooting. When I checked a few days ago, there were 50 players shooting 40% from 3 so far this season. Any old time teams without 3 pt shooting with big guys who couldn't defend on the perimeter would be exposed against a modern team for that reason.

John Wesley:

1) What is with your compulsion to submit off-topic thread derailing posts about poster's usernames and their age?

2) A lot of these basketballers may currently have BMI's of greater than 25, and you know how that is very bad news.

The fact that Wilt ran 49.0/1:58.3 in the 440/880 at his size blows my mind. Imagine Shaq racing him??!

"Duncan" is a weird way to spell "Sid Moncrief," but you do you.

Nope. Lebron way below Magic and Bird. Jordan, Magic, Bird on same level.

Anyone putting LeBron and Magic on the same team doesn’t know basketball. Their skill sets are too similar. LeBron has the court vision and passing of Magic with a better offensive game. The court spacing would be bad since Magic is not a good shooter, and LeBron is a streaky shooter. Just imagine LeBron running point, driving yo the lane, collapsing the defense, and dishing to Magic for an open 3. You think he’s going to hit that shot? Give me Steph Curry all day. I need players with different skill sets. Don’t get me started on Wilt and the lousy players he played against. Here’s the 5

Steph

Michael Jordan

Lebron

Kevin Durant (yep, best offensive versatility in league history with scoring at the rim, mid range, and 3)

Shaq (Need a bully for 3 quarters. Sub in another center for the 4th to avoid sending Shaq to the free throw line in crunch time)

I was born after WWII ended and before the Vietnam War ended.