Best Starting 5 with Restrictions - Fun exercise

[Moranis]

So I saw this on twitter and thought it might be fun to do here.  The question was make the best NBA starting 5 you can (it was from lifetime, but why limit) with the 2 following restrictions.  Every player must be from or born in a different country and you can't have 2 players that played for the same franchise (so for example, you can't have Kareem and Giannis since they both played for Milwaukee). 

PG - Steve Nash, South Africa - Phoenix, Dallas, LA Lakers
SG - Michael Jordan, US - Chicago, Washington
SF - Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece - Milwaukee
PF - Tim Duncan, Virgin Islands - San Antonio
C - Hakeem Olajuwon, Nigeria - Houston, Toronto

Or this one (5 different players)

PG - Tony Parker, France - San Antonio, Charlotte
SG - Drazen Petrovic, Croatia - Portland, New Jersey
SF - Lebron James, US - Cleveland, Miami, LA Lakers
PF - Dirk Nowitzki, Germany - Dallas
C - Patrick Ewing, Jamaica - New York, Seattle, Orlando
You could use a combination of Simmons and Ginobili here instead of Parker/Petrovic if you like that team better.

Plenty of interesting options you could put together.  Something fun to do to kill some time if you are bored.

[Roy H.]

Does Virgin Islands count, where it’s a U.S. Territory?

C: A. Sabonis
PF: Giannis
SF: Bird
SG:  Manu
PG: Luka

Not the best, but I didn’t want to steal all of Moranis’ guys.

[Moranis]

Does Virgin Islands count, where it’s a U.S. Territory?

C: A. Sabonis
PF: Giannis
SF: Bird
SG:  Manu
PG: Luka

Not the best, but I didn’t want to steal all of Moranis’ guys.

I wasn't sure on Virgin Islands, but most of the lists of the best international players include Duncan so I counted him as that.  There really are a lot of interesting teams you can come up with, but it does get challenging once you get a team or two into it or you try to use someone like Dikembe that was on so many teams. 

[Jvalin]

Does Virgin Islands count, where it’s a U.S. Territory?

C: A. Sabonis
PF: Giannis
SF: Bird
SG:  Manu
PG: Luka

Not the best, but I didn’t want to steal all of Moranis’ guys.

Arvydas Sabonis and Luka have both played for Real Madrid.

PG: Luka
SG: Manu
SF: Oscar Schmidt
PF: Bird (I bet he would have been a PF in today's game)
C: Dream

Wanted to somehow include Drazen cause he was one of the best shooters of all time, but he had played for Real Madrid too.

[Celtic Fan Forever]

C: Hakeem Olajuwon
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
SF: Giannis Antetokounmpo
SG: Michael Jordan
PG: Tony Parker

[Jvalin]

Every player must be from or born in a different country

Nash
MJ
Dominique Wilkins (born in France)
Giannis
Sabonis

Other players that haven't been mentioned yet:

Bob Cousy (holds dual citizenship, USA/France)
Victor Oladipo (USA/Nigeria)
Kyrie (was born in Australia)
Embiid, Jokic, Yao, the Gasol brothers, Marciulionis, Divac, Kukoc, Peja, Schrempf, Kirilenko, Porzingis, KAT, Horford, Siakam, Jamal Murray, Buddy Hield (to name a few)

[gouki88]

Going to try and avoid using any of the guys put in other teams in the thread so far.

C: Yao Ming
PF: Detlef
SF: Luol Deng
SG: Drazen
PG: Kyrie

Obviously not that good, but unique!

[Jvalin]

Going to try and avoid using any of the guys put in other teams in the thread so far.

C: Yao Ming
PF: Detlef
SF: Luol Deng
SG: Drazen
PG: Kyrie

Obviously not that good, but unique!

Kyrie and Deng have both played for the Cavs. Kyrie and Drazen have both played for the Nets. Drazen and Detlef have both played for the Blazers.

[trickybilly]

Random Central American team

JJ Barea
Carlos Arroyo
Ramon Rivas
Al Horford
Duncan

[gouki88]

Going to try and avoid using any of the guys put in other teams in the thread so far.

C: Yao Ming
PF: Detlef
SF: Luol Deng
SG: Drazen
PG: Kyrie

Obviously not that good, but unique!

Kyrie and Deng have both played for the Cavs.

Lol, I forgot Deng played there. I was originally going to include Peja, but he played 25 games with Dallas, lol.

I guess Kukoc could be my SF?

[Moranis]

Going to try and avoid using any of the guys put in other teams in the thread so far.

C: Yao Ming
PF: Detlef
SF: Luol Deng
SG: Drazen
PG: Kyrie

Obviously not that good, but unique!

Kyrie and Deng have both played for the Cavs.

Lol, I forgot Deng played there. I was originally going to include Peja, but he played 25 games with Dallas, lol.

I guess Kukoc could be my SF?

Kukoc and Petrovic are both Croatian

[GreenFaith1819]

Here's mine:

The Big Shamrock at C



Dirk at PF



Greek Freak at SF



Drazen Petrovic at SG



Tony at PG