All-Time Starting Five

[slightly biased bias fan]

PG Jerry West

SG Michael Jordan

SF Larry Bird

PF Tim Duncan

C  Bill Russell

[slightly biased bias fan]

I am sure this has been brought up many times, but my concept is if you could snatch any player from their prime year, bring them to the present and make them play a full season together, who would be the best?

For me this starting five would be unstoppable.

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

PG Jerry West

SG Michael Jordan

SF Larry Bird

PF Tim Duncan

C  Bill Russell

Vs.

PG: Oscar Robertson

SG: Reggie Miller

SF: Lebron James

PF: Kevin Garnett

C: Hakeem Olajuwon

[Who]

G: Oscar
G: J West
F: Kawhi
F: LeBron
C: Shaq

I believe Shaq would be unstoppable under today's rules. The spaced out courts would make it impossible to get double teams there. The PnR would make it easy for Shaq to establish deep post position. The switching defense will be impossible against Shaq. So Shaq is my center.

From there, it is trying to get a nice balance around Shaq. I went for quick forwards. A pair of SFs in Kawhi and LeBron who are two way players. Then I went with 2 big guards in J West and Oscar. I liked Jerry because he is less selfish than MJ or Kobe. A better shooter than Wade. I went with Oscar at PG because he is bigger than Steph and a better defender than Magic. A better shooter than Kidd or Payton.

[Roy H.]

Not necessarily my all-time team, but this team would be fun:

Magic
Jordan
Bird
Lebron
Jokic

[jambr380]

Just want to add that the Forwards should always be Bird and Lebron. The vast majority of people out there have Duncan as their PF over Bird, but Bird was a PF for the first half of his career with Maxwell here. He also won two Titles and two MVPs as a PF.

And it's not like Duncan only played PF. Dude played a lot of Center.

I don't know. The all-time starting 5 is almost always a foregone conclusion with: Magic, Jordan, Lebron, Duncan, and KAJ. And I think we need to change the narrative. Bird is more highly ranked all-time than Duncan and I believe he should be on the all-time starting 5. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!! 

[Vermont Green]

Not necessarily my all-time team, but this team would be fun:

Magic
Jordan
Bird
Lebron
Jokic

This is closer to mine.  Magic to me is clearly the best PG and Jordan is everyone's SG.  Bird and LeBron are both right there for either SF or swing/PF.  Jokic will probably get there.

I usually come back to putting Russell as the PF on my all time list and have to drop off one of Bird or LeBron.

[Larry for 3]

Not necessarily my all-time team, but this team would be fun:

Magic
Jordan
Bird
Lebron
Jokic

This is closer to mine.  Magic to me is clearly the best PG and Jordan is everyone's SG.  Bird and LeBron are both right there for either SF or swing/PF.  Jokic will probably get there.

I usually come back to putting Russell as the PF on my all time list and have to drop off one of Bird or LeBron.

Jokic is great but is he as good as Tim Duncan? Idk. Duncan is one of the most underrated players in history.

[Moranis]

G: Oscar
G: J West
F: Kawhi
F: LeBron
C: Shaq

I believe Shaq would be unstoppable under today's rules. The spaced out courts would make it impossible to get double teams there. The PnR would make it easy for Shaq to establish deep post position. The switching defense will be impossible against Shaq. So Shaq is my center.

From there, it is trying to get a nice balance around Shaq. I went for quick forwards. A pair of SFs in Kawhi and LeBron who are two way players. Then I went with 2 big guards in J West and Oscar. I liked Jerry because he is less selfish than MJ or Kobe. A better shooter than Wade. I went with Oscar at PG because he is bigger than Steph and a better defender than Magic. A better shooter than Kidd or Payton.

Isn't Wilt better than Shaq at basically everything? Wilt was taller, stronger, faster, in better condition,  etc. and that is just the physical tools. Wilt was also a better passer, better defender, better rebounder, better scorer, etc. And it isn't like Shaq was a model teammate or leader. 

This type of thing is made for a player like Wilt.

Wilt, Duncan, James, Jordan, Stockton

While Magic is clearly better than Stockton, I think Stockton would fit better. I like Duncan's personality and skill set next to Wilt better than other players and I think Jordan and James would be a better version of MJ and Pip or LBJ and Wade. 

[Vermont Green]

G: Oscar
G: J West
F: Kawhi
F: LeBron
C: Shaq

I believe Shaq would be unstoppable under today's rules. The spaced out courts would make it impossible to get double teams there. The PnR would make it easy for Shaq to establish deep post position. The switching defense will be impossible against Shaq. So Shaq is my center.

From there, it is trying to get a nice balance around Shaq. I went for quick forwards. A pair of SFs in Kawhi and LeBron who are two way players. Then I went with 2 big guards in J West and Oscar. I liked Jerry because he is less selfish than MJ or Kobe. A better shooter than Wade. I went with Oscar at PG because he is bigger than Steph and a better defender than Magic. A better shooter than Kidd or Payton.

Isn't Wilt better than Shaq at basically everything? Wilt was taller, stronger, faster, in better condition,  etc. and that is just the physical tools. Wilt was also a better passer, better defender, better rebounder, better scorer, etc. And it isn't like Shaq was a model teammate or leader. 

This type of thing is made for a player like Wilt.

Wilt, Duncan, James, Jordan, Stockton

While Magic is clearly better than Stockton, I think Stockton would fit better. I like Duncan's personality and skill set next to Wilt better than other players and I think Jordan and James would be a better version of MJ and Pip or LBJ and Wade.

If you are going to put Duncan at PF, why not put Russell there?  Russell > Duncan in my opinion.  As to Center, that is the toughest one.  You could make an argument for Wilt, Shaq, Kareem, Jokic, and maybe a few others.  No right or wrong answer at Center.

[Roy H.]

Not necessarily my all-time team, but this team would be fun:

Magic
Jordan
Bird
Lebron
Jokic

This is closer to mine.  Magic to me is clearly the best PG and Jordan is everyone's SG.  Bird and LeBron are both right there for either SF or swing/PF.  Jokic will probably get there.

I usually come back to putting Russell as the PF on my all time list and have to drop off one of Bird or LeBron.

Jokic is great but is he as good as Tim Duncan? Idk. Duncan is one of the most underrated players in history.

Very different players.  I took Jokic because he's the perfect offensive center for 2025. 

Tim Duncan is a much better defender, and he would be a great player in any era. He just doesn't bring the floor stretching and passing in the same way.

[Moranis]

G: Oscar
G: J West
F: Kawhi
F: LeBron
C: Shaq

I believe Shaq would be unstoppable under today's rules. The spaced out courts would make it impossible to get double teams there. The PnR would make it easy for Shaq to establish deep post position. The switching defense will be impossible against Shaq. So Shaq is my center.

From there, it is trying to get a nice balance around Shaq. I went for quick forwards. A pair of SFs in Kawhi and LeBron who are two way players. Then I went with 2 big guards in J West and Oscar. I liked Jerry because he is less selfish than MJ or Kobe. A better shooter than Wade. I went with Oscar at PG because he is bigger than Steph and a better defender than Magic. A better shooter than Kidd or Payton.

Isn't Wilt better than Shaq at basically everything? Wilt was taller, stronger, faster, in better condition,  etc. and that is just the physical tools. Wilt was also a better passer, better defender, better rebounder, better scorer, etc. And it isn't like Shaq was a model teammate or leader. 

This type of thing is made for a player like Wilt.

Wilt, Duncan, James, Jordan, Stockton

While Magic is clearly better than Stockton, I think Stockton would fit better. I like Duncan's personality and skill set next to Wilt better than other players and I think Jordan and James would be a better version of MJ and Pip or LBJ and Wade.

If you are going to put Duncan at PF, why not put Russell there?  Russell > Duncan in my opinion.  As to Center, that is the toughest one.  You could make an argument for Wilt, Shaq, Kareem, Jokic, and maybe a few others.  No right or wrong answer at Center.

because Wilt and Bill aren't as good a fit.

[Vermont Green]

G: Oscar
G: J West
F: Kawhi
F: LeBron
C: Shaq

I believe Shaq would be unstoppable under today's rules. The spaced out courts would make it impossible to get double teams there. The PnR would make it easy for Shaq to establish deep post position. The switching defense will be impossible against Shaq. So Shaq is my center.

From there, it is trying to get a nice balance around Shaq. I went for quick forwards. A pair of SFs in Kawhi and LeBron who are two way players. Then I went with 2 big guards in J West and Oscar. I liked Jerry because he is less selfish than MJ or Kobe. A better shooter than Wade. I went with Oscar at PG because he is bigger than Steph and a better defender than Magic. A better shooter than Kidd or Payton.

Isn't Wilt better than Shaq at basically everything? Wilt was taller, stronger, faster, in better condition,  etc. and that is just the physical tools. Wilt was also a better passer, better defender, better rebounder, better scorer, etc. And it isn't like Shaq was a model teammate or leader. 

This type of thing is made for a player like Wilt.

Wilt, Duncan, James, Jordan, Stockton

While Magic is clearly better than Stockton, I think Stockton would fit better. I like Duncan's personality and skill set next to Wilt better than other players and I think Jordan and James would be a better version of MJ and Pip or LBJ and Wade.

If you are going to put Duncan at PF, why not put Russell there?  Russell > Duncan in my opinion.  As to Center, that is the toughest one.  You could make an argument for Wilt, Shaq, Kareem, Jokic, and maybe a few others.  No right or wrong answer at Center.

because Wilt and Bill aren't as good a fit.

Alright then, I will take Jokic and Russell to go against Wilt and Duncan.  I just feel that Russell is not given enough credit due to many not even being alive when he played.  I would have Russell as my PF over Duncan and then if you are concerned about fit, just pick Jokic or Kareem or Olajuwon or whoever you think fits best.

Again, I understand we are splitting hairs, especially with the Centers.

[Moranis]

G: Oscar
G: J West
F: Kawhi
F: LeBron
C: Shaq

I believe Shaq would be unstoppable under today's rules. The spaced out courts would make it impossible to get double teams there. The PnR would make it easy for Shaq to establish deep post position. The switching defense will be impossible against Shaq. So Shaq is my center.

From there, it is trying to get a nice balance around Shaq. I went for quick forwards. A pair of SFs in Kawhi and LeBron who are two way players. Then I went with 2 big guards in J West and Oscar. I liked Jerry because he is less selfish than MJ or Kobe. A better shooter than Wade. I went with Oscar at PG because he is bigger than Steph and a better defender than Magic. A better shooter than Kidd or Payton.

Isn't Wilt better than Shaq at basically everything? Wilt was taller, stronger, faster, in better condition,  etc. and that is just the physical tools. Wilt was also a better passer, better defender, better rebounder, better scorer, etc. And it isn't like Shaq was a model teammate or leader. 

This type of thing is made for a player like Wilt.

Wilt, Duncan, James, Jordan, Stockton

While Magic is clearly better than Stockton, I think Stockton would fit better. I like Duncan's personality and skill set next to Wilt better than other players and I think Jordan and James would be a better version of MJ and Pip or LBJ and Wade.

If you are going to put Duncan at PF, why not put Russell there?  Russell > Duncan in my opinion.  As to Center, that is the toughest one.  You could make an argument for Wilt, Shaq, Kareem, Jokic, and maybe a few others.  No right or wrong answer at Center.

because Wilt and Bill aren't as good a fit.

Alright then, I will take Jokic and Russell to go against Wilt and Duncan.  I just feel that Russell is not given enough credit due to many not even being alive when he played.  I would have Russell as my PF over Duncan and then if you are concerned about fit, just pick Jokic or Kareem or Olajuwon or whoever you think fits best.

Again, I understand we are splitting hairs, especially with the Centers.

Bill is maybe the greatest leader ever and an all time great defender and rebounder, but he was a bad offensive player.  Bill was essentially a bit taller and less crazy version of Dennis Rodman.  He'd be hard to pair with most of the other great centers because he'd mostly just be in the way offensively.  Jokic is probably the only one he'd be ok next to because Joker doesn't need to be in the paint offensively. The problem with Joker though is he would get brutalized on defense and Bill for as good as he was couldn't really handle Wilt or the other big centers of their time.  That is why Wilt almost always demolished Bill in head to head stats.  Bill couldn't stop him so the C's just focused on everyone else and won because no one else was good enough to step up (except when Wilt had Greer, Cunningham, and Walker in their prime).

[liam]

Not necessarily my all-time team, but this team would be fun:

Magic
Jordan
Bird
Lebron
Jokic

Great passing team...