With the high drama of the NBA Finals in full swing, I can't think of a better time to come out with my ALL NBA teams.
A couple ground rules before we start. First, I don't differentiate between point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, etc. The best players are capable of playing multiple positions, so there are 2 guards, 2 forwards, and a center. Also, my picks are not based on likes, because there are several players on these teams that I hated to watch play and almost always rooted against. But that doesn't necessarily mean that particular player wasn't effective. Feel free to weigh in on this, because if there're players I missed I definitely want to hear about it. So without further adou, here it is.
ALL NBA 1ST TEAM:
G) Kobe Bryant: The spot normally reserved for Magic now goes to"Darth Kobe". 3 titles with another possibility for a 4th this year proves he's a winner. Kobe can lock down the toughest players on D, score points in prolific fashion, and he's an assassin when it comes to finishing games. In the triangle offense LA runs, Kobe regularly brings the ball up the floor so handling those duties won't be a problem. In my opinion, Kobe's offensive arsenal is the 2nd best ever, he can shoot, cross over, post up, pull up mid-range J, and dunk nasty too. I love Magic, but I simply can't leave Kobe off this team any longer. It's to the point where I actually wonder if Kobe is somehow related to Mike, how can one player resemble another so much.
• G) Michael Jordan: I don't need to say anything here, if you disagree please find the nearest bridge and jump off it.
• F) Larry Bird: Bird won't have this spot for long because as soon as Lebron James wins a title and/or becomes clutch, Bird will have to go to the bench.
Career averages of 25ppg 10 rebounds and 6 assists along with 3 titles gets Bird the nod. He hit so many game winners his nickname should be the "Iceman". At 6'9" and one of the greatest shooters ever, there are only a few players I would rather have the ball at the end of the game.
My favorite Bird moment was when, with 3 seconds remaining in the game and down a point, he told Xavier McDaniel, at that time on the Seattle Supersonics, that he was going to dribble left, pull back, and shoot it in his face. McDaniel said he was ready, the ball was inbounded and Bird dribbled left, pulled back, and shot it in his face.
• F) Tim Duncan: I can't think of another player that I've ever liked less than Duncan. He's so fundamentally sound that he comes across as a robot. He gripes virtually every time he shoots. Is there another player ever, other than Karl Malone that has done more moaning and groaning to the refs than Duncan? With that being said he's taken ordinary teams to titles and is so consistent it's scary. He owns the paint, if KG had some of Duncan's intangibles; I believe he would have a ring already.
• C) Kareem-Abdul Jabbar: I initially wanted to go with Shaq or Wilt, but Kareem is the all-time leading scorer in NBA history and they had to outlaw the dunk while he was in college so he wouldn't score 100 pts every game. Also, he's one of the very few centers who over his career connected on 75%-80% of his foul shots, so you definitely can't do hack-a-Kareem, like you could do with Wilt and Shaq at the end of games.
2nd TEAM ALL NBA
• G) Magic Johnson: Tough to keep him off the 1st team, no one in history made their teammates better.
• G) Jerry West: The best pure shooter in history, with a whole lot of clutch in his arsenal. The fact that he played with Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor disguised some of his weaknesses, but the goal is to put the ball through the hoop and no one did it better.
• F) Oscar Robertson: I used to think that averaging a triple double that year would last as long as Joe DiMaggio's 56 game hitting streak, but now that Lebron has come along I'm not so sure.
• F) Karl Malone: The most hated NBA player ever, also the 2nd leading scorer in NBA history. He took what looked like pretty average teams to two Finals in a row, and anyone that had to play with Greg Ostertag and Jeff Foster that long gets my sympathy.
• C) Wilt Chamberlain: I feel like if Wilt was on the Celtics they would have won as many titles as Bill Russell, it's just bad luck. No one ever talks about the night Philadelphia played Boston and Wilt had 40 points and 40 rebounds on Russell, in the Eastern Conference Playoffs! Like it or not, Wilt dominated Russell on a regular basis.
3rd TEAM ALL NBA
• G) Isiah Thomas: I feel bad for Isiah, first Mike keeps him off the 1992 Dream Team and now I've got 4 guards ahead of him. It's just not fair.
• G) Allen Iverson: The most heart of any player in NBA history. Put his heart in Vince Carter and you truly have a monster. I can't believe someone 6'0 tall has dominated the NBA like he has. What's more, he's lost 2 steps and was still 3rd in the league in scoring this past year. Every now and then we all need a reminder, so YouTube A.I. tonight and go back in time.
My favorite moment: NCAA tournament, Georgetown vs. UMASS: he does the sick crossover that everyone, including Kobe, tried to copy but were just imitators, then dribbles down, leans in, one hand dunks on Marcus Camby. Wow!
• F) Dr. J: The good doctor revolutionized basketball. He has the greatest move in NBA history: Flashback to Philly vs. L.A. Finals, Dr. J drives the right baseline, cups the ball with his right hand, jumps from one side, re-emerges to the next and uses reverse backspin to make the layup. Even Mike couldn't touch that.
• F) Charles Barkley: The round mound of rebound was amazing. At 6'5" he was able to dominate the boards of people twice his size. Also reinvented his game late in his career and when from being a dunk on your face, scream at you force of nature to a fade shooting, finesse player who would have won a title if it wasn't for Mike.
C) Bill Russell: I have a strong inclination to put Hakeem Olajuwon here, but 11 titles speaks for itself. Even though at 6'9" I doubt he could ever compete with today's centers, we can only go by what history showed us.
I have no problem with your list accept for Kareem who was a great player but he is way below Wilt, Shaq and Russell this is a known fact.
I stopped and had to write my comment as soon as a seen you had a nerve to keep Wilt off the all-time squad. I understand... Wilt was before our time - you just can't grasp how good Wilt was... This is the only logical explanation for his absence. Your forgiven
Wilt is on his 2nd team if you keep reading
Finally some respect
are you crazy LeBron will never be as good as Bird.
You sure about that Kobe pick homie?
Let me correct my statement... I was refering to Wilt not being on the 1st team!! But as I read on my tension was eased a bit when seeing those Sixers players deservingly (imo) get their due.
I am #1 on the who bag the most chicks list with Magic close behind
A solid list
After Game 2 I will be #1
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Scottie pippen is on 1 of these squads. He's too good on both sides of the ball. The year Jordan left (best way to judge pippen) he led ALL OFFENSIVE CATEGORIES AND MADE 1 OF HIS 7 ALL DEFENSE TEAMS. He makes the bench here at least.
6PmJuR
6PmJuR
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