NBA's all-time starting 5

[slamtheking]

C: Russell
PF: Bird
SF: Lebron (that hurts me to say that)
SG: Jordan
PG: Magic

torn between putting Duncan/KG at PF and moving Bird to SF instead of having Bron but Bird's best defensive position was PF.

terrific defensive team as well as a deadly fast break and offensive team as well.

[rickyfan3.0...]

Stockton
Jordan
Lebron
Duncan
Wilt

[rickyfan3.0...]

C: Russell
PF: Bird
SF: Lebron (that hurts me to say that)
SG: Jordan
PG: Magic



terrific defensive team except for Larry Bird covering opponents Power Forwards. It would be a fun modern day lineup to watch.

[Moranis]

As far as relating Wilt and Russ to players since the Bird/Magic era it's pretty simple. Basketball is about putting the ball through the hoop and conversely stopping your opponent from doing the same. Wilt was better at scoring the ball then anyone every and Russ was better at stopping opponents then anyone ever. It's really pretty easy to compare.

Yes, but would Wilt be like Dwight Howard today?  Big and strong but with so many great athletes and big 7 footers would it be harder for him to dominate today?

Nope.  Wilt is the center version of Lebron James.  He could do whatever he wanted against anyone because he was not only bigger and stronger, but was faster and more athletic.  There have been very few players in history that were the combination of size, strength, and speed of Wilt.  In fact outside of Wilt and Lebron I really can't think of another player that was that sort of physical specimen.  Russell didn't have the size, but was every bit the athlete Wilt was, but the size is where Wilt got him and what truly set them apart. 

Wilt was a combination of Shaq and Dwight.  The pure muscle and strength of Shaq, but the speed and quickness of Dwight.  Wilt would have dominated any era.  He was just that physically gifted.

[Who]

First Team

G: Magic
G: Jordan
F: Bird
F: Olajuwon
C: Russell

Second Team

G: Oscar
G: West
F: LeBron
F: Duncan
C: Kareem

Third Team

G: Kidd
G: Kobe
F: Garnett
F: Barkley
C: Shaq

[stb]

Larry Bird
Bill Russell
Bill Walton
John Stockton
Michael Jordan

[sofutomygaha]

I think that Magic-Jordan-Lebron-Duncan-Russell is the right answer in terms of the five best all-around players at their positions.

It would be interesting to try to come up with the starting 5 that would actually make the best team. On this team, if you put Bird in for Lebron or Magic, the team would play better because they could create so much more space, even though Lebron is the better all around player.

So what starting 5 would be the best actual team?

[edwardjkasche]

Magic
Jordon
Bird
Duncan
Russell

Besides misspelling Jordan's name, this is the closest to perfect.

The team's only issue is that Russell is a 6'9" center who is a bit of a beanpole.  If this team is going against modern centers, he may have some issues despite his winner's heart.  Duncan helps compensate for Russell's lack of size, but it may be better to go with a center like Wilt, Kareem, or Hakeem (all 7-fts and all winners in their own rights).

The BALL MOVEMENT on this team would be beyond amazing.  Magic, Bird, and Duncan are possibly the three best passers at their respective positions in NBA history, and Jordan and Russell are no slouches to finding open teammates.

p.s. It's a bit of Boston sacrilege to have Duncan and not KG, but honestly it is a toss-up between the two.

[CelticConcourse]

Third Team

G: Kidd
G: Kobe
F: Garnett
F: Barkley
C: Shaq

Kidd??

[Roy H.]

The team's only issue is that Russell is a 6'9" center who is a bit of a beanpole.  If this team is going against modern centers, he may have some issues despite his winner's heart.  Duncan helps compensate for Russell's lack of size, but it may be better to go with a center like Wilt, Kareem, or Hakeem (all 7-fts and all winners in their own rights).

A couple of quibbles here.  First, Hakeem wasn't 7'0", even though you'll see him listed at that height.  He's commonly regarded as being anywhere from 6'8" to 6'10".  Second, if Ben Wallace can contain modern centers, why should we believe that Russell couldn't?

[KGs Knee]

Here's a question I ponder.  How would a combo of Duncan/KG fair against Wilt/Russ?

Or Wilt/KG v Duncan/Russ?

Or Russ/KG v Wilt/Duncan?

[Who]

Third Team

G: Kidd
G: Kobe
F: Garnett
F: Barkley
C: Shaq

Kidd??

Sure. Terrific player.

I just didn't like the idea of Isiah on that team. Too high usage a scorer. Shaq and Kobe already there so I went with a lower usage PG like Kidd instead. But I would rate Isiah higher than Kidd for his role in winning two titles with the Pistons.

I thought Kidd had a higher peak than Stockton. Walt Frazier and Gary Payton were the two other choices in competition with Kidd. Little between those players but I went with Kidd. I just love the way he plays.

[Moranis]

Third Team

G: Kidd
G: Kobe
F: Garnett
F: Barkley
C: Shaq

Kidd??

Sure. Terrific player.

I just didn't like the idea of Isiah on that team. Too high usage a scorer. Shaq and Kobe already there so I went with a lower usage PG like Kidd instead. But I would rate Isiah higher than Kidd for his role in winning two titles with the Pistons.

I thought Kidd had a higher peak than Stockton. Walt Frazier and Gary Payton were the two other choices in competition with Kidd. Little between those players but I went with Kidd. I just love the way he plays.

you had 4.5 centers and not one of them was Wilt.  I have a bigger issue than that than with Kidd.

[Who]

Third Team

G: Kidd
G: Kobe
F: Garnett
F: Barkley
C: Shaq

Kidd??

Sure. Terrific player.

I just didn't like the idea of Isiah on that team. Too high usage a scorer. Shaq and Kobe already there so I went with a lower usage PG like Kidd instead. But I would rate Isiah higher than Kidd for his role in winning two titles with the Pistons.

I thought Kidd had a higher peak than Stockton. Walt Frazier and Gary Payton were the two other choices in competition with Kidd. Little between those players but I went with Kidd. I just love the way he plays.

you had 4.5 centers and not one of them was Wilt.  I have a bigger issue than that than with Kidd.

I have Russell, Kareem and Shaq ahead of Wilt.

I am not sure how I would rank the next tier of Wilt, Moses, Duncan and Olajuwon.

[Moranis]

Third Team

G: Kidd
G: Kobe
F: Garnett
F: Barkley
C: Shaq

Kidd??

Sure. Terrific player.

I just didn't like the idea of Isiah on that team. Too high usage a scorer. Shaq and Kobe already there so I went with a lower usage PG like Kidd instead. But I would rate Isiah higher than Kidd for his role in winning two titles with the Pistons.

I thought Kidd had a higher peak than Stockton. Walt Frazier and Gary Payton were the two other choices in competition with Kidd. Little between those players but I went with Kidd. I just love the way he plays.

you had 4.5 centers and not one of them was Wilt.  I have a bigger issue than that than with Kidd.

I have Russell, Kareem and Shaq ahead of Wilt.

I am not sure how I would rank the next tier of Wilt, Moses, Duncan and Olajuwon.

You also had Olajuwon playing PF and Duncan (who was the half) playing PF.