1
/
31
-
Who best represents your franchise?
That's right, it's time to name each NBA franchise's all-time starting five. This was no easy task, but to make things more interesting we added a couple of rules.
(PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE RIPPING US ON TWITTER):
1) In order to represent a team, a player must have played for the franchise for at least five seasons.
2) A player can only represent one team. For example, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar can either be a Laker or a Buck, but not both.
The rules led to some excruciating decisions, but they also opened up the door for more players to be selected. The idea was to come up with five players who best represent your franchise and your franchise alone.
We tried as best we could to stick to the five traditional positions, but there had to be some leeway in order to get the best players in. Basically look at it this way: Could these five players be on the court together at the same time? In all cases the answer is yes, and in most cases it would lead to some incredibly entertaining results.
Let the debate begin.
Credit: CBS Sports graphic -
Atlanta Hawks
All-time starting five:
PG: Lenny Wilkens
SG: Lou Hudson
SF: Dominique Wilkins
PF: Bob Pettit
C: Dikembe Mutombo
Close calls: Al Horford has a legitimate case at center, having played nine seasons with the team and making four All-Star appearances, but Mutombo won three Defensive Player of the Year awards and made two All-NBA teams during his five seasons in Atlanta.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Boston Celtics
All-time starting five:
PG: Bob Cousy
SG: John Havlicek
SF: Larry Bird
PF: Paul Pierce
C: Bill Russell
Close calls: Kevin McHale and Sam Jones would have made it if we were more strict about the positions, but sliding Havlicek to two and Paul Pierce to four seemed reasonable given their size and skill sets. Dave Cowens also makes a strong case, but the Celtics are just too loaded.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Brooklyn Nets
All-time starting five:
PG: Jason Kidd
SG: Otis Birdsong
SF: Richard Jefferson
PF: Buck Williams
C: Brook Lopez
Close calls: Derrick Coleman has a case at power forward, but Williams made three All-Star teams as a Net and Coleman's legacy in New Jersey/Brooklyn is one of disappointment.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Charlotte Hornets
All-time starting five:
PG: Muggsy Bogues
SG: Kemba Walker
SF: Dell Curry
PF: Larry Johnson
C: Emeka Okafor
Close calls: The Hornets/Bobcats history makes it a bit tricky, but Gerald Wallace certainly has a case at small forward. Glen Rice and Alonzo Mourning are fondly remembered as Hornets, but each only played three seasons in Charlotte. Walker's scoring ability would allow him to play shooting guard alongside Bogues in perhaps the smallest backcourt in NBA history.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Chicago Bulls
All-time starting five:
PG: Derrick Rose
SG: Michael Jordan
SF: Scottie Pippen
PF: Bob Love
C: Artis Gilmore
Close calls: Shooting guard was a tough one, but outside of that the list pretty much wrote itself (kidding, in case sarcasm doesn't come through in slideshows). Jordan wasn't the only obvious pick, as Pippen and Gilmore are both Hall of Famers. Rose was on his way there until devastating injuries hit, and Love was a three-time All-Star. If you're wondering where Dennis Rodman is, he only played three seasons in Chicago. Chet Walker was a four-time All-Star for the Bulls in the early 1970s, but he couldn't unseat Pippen.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Cleveland Cavaliers
All-time starting five:
PG: Mark Price
SG: Kyrie Irving
SF: LeBron James
PF: Larry Nance
C: Brad Daugherty
Close calls: LeBron only played four seasons in Miami, so there was no debate about putting him on the Cavs' all-time team. Austin Carr has a case at shooting guard, but Kyrie had four All-Star appearances as a Cav to Carr's one, and helped bring the Cavs their only title. Irving is more than capable of playing off the ball, as he displayed in three seasons with LeBron, so we'll put him alongside Price.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Dallas Mavericks
All-time starting five:
PG: Derek Harper
SG: Rolando Blackman
SF: Mark Aguirre
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Sam Perkins
Close calls: Steve Nash was more than worthy at point guard, but he had to be placed on the Suns' all-time squad. Michael Finley was considered at shooting guard, but Blackman made one more All-Star Game and played two more seasons in Dallas. Perkins was more of a power forward in his days with the Mavs, but we know he could have been an excellent stretch-five. His stiffest competition at center was Shawn Bradley, so ... yeah.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Denver Nuggets
All-time starting five:
PG: Fat Lever
SG: David Thompson
SF: Alex English
PF: Carmelo Anthony
C: Dan Issel
Close calls: Dikembe Mutombo could be the Nuggets' most famous center, but his best years were in Atlanta and Issel may have beaten him out anyway with his Hall of Fame credentials. Anthony and English would be one of the best scoring frontcourts in NBA history, with Thompson and Lever providing excitement from the backcourt. This would be a fun team to watch.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Detroit Pistons
All-time starting five:
PG: Isiah Thomas
SG: Joe Dumars
SF: Grant Hill
PF: Bob Lanier
C: Bill Laimbeer
Close calls: It seems like a crime to leave Chauncey Billups off the squad, but there's just no room for him with Thomas and Dumars. It was super tight between Ben Wallace and Bill Laimbeer (both four-time All-Stars), but ultimately Laimbeer's two-way ability made him slightly more qualified than the defensive specialist Wallace. Laimbeer's shooting makes him a better fit alongside the out-of-position Lanier as well.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Golden State Warriors
All-time starting five:
PG: Stephen Curry
SG: Klay Thompson
SF: Rick Barry
PF: Paul Arizin
C: Wilt Chamberlain
Close calls: Talk about an offensive juggernaut. The only spot up for debate was power forward, where Nate Thurmond has a very strong case, and Draymond Green is a couple more great seasons away from being in the conversation. Since the Warriors have perfected small-ball, it's only fitting that their all-time starting five would employ the same strategy, so we went with Arizin, a 10-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection, alongside Barry.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Houston Rockets
All-time starting five:
PG: Calvin Murphy
SG: James Harden
SF: Tracy McGrady
PF: Moses Malone
C: Hakeem Olajuwon
Close calls: Malone is probably best remembered as a 76er, but he only had four great seasons there as opposed to five in Houston, and his best individual season was in Houston (31.1 ppg, 14.7 rpg, MVP) in 1980-81. His fit alongside Olajuwon would be incredibly fun to watch. Rudy Tomjanovich was considered at small forward, but ultimately couldn't compete with McGrady's peak seasons.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Indiana Pacers
All-time starting five:
PG: Mark Jackson
SG: Reggie Miller
SF: Paul George
PF: Jermaine O'Neal
C: Rik Smits
Close calls: Chuck Person was knocking at the door at small forward or even power forward, but ultimately the two-way ability of George and O'Neal won out. It's a toss-up at point guard between Jackson and Vern Fleming, but Jackson led the team to its only NBA Finals appearance while ranking consistently among the league leaders in assists.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Los Angeles Clippers
All-time starting five:
PG: Randy Smith
SG: Ron Harper
SF: Danny Manning
PF: Blake Griffin
C: Bob McAdoo
Close calls: It was a close call, but we decided to put Chris Paul on the Pelicans/Hornets, which cleared the way for Smith, a two-time All-Star with the Buffalo Braves before they moved to California. Elton Brand deserves to be on this list, but Griffin's multiple All-Star appearances and All-NBA selections give him the edge. Corey Maggette also gets an honorable mention at small forward.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Los Angeles Lakers
All-time starting five:
PG: Magic Johnson
SG: Jerry West
SF: Kobe Bryant
PF: Elgin Baylor
C: Shaquille O'Neal
Close calls: Were it not for Kareem's brilliance with the Bucks, he'd be the center here. Instead we go with Shaq, who had three of the most dominant years of any big man in NBA history while leading the Lakers to back-to-back-to-back titles from 2000-2002. There's some positional finagling going on with West, Bryant and Baylor, but there's no way we could leave any of them off. Snubs include George Mikan, James Worthy, Pau Gasol, Jamaal Wilkes and Gail Goodrich, but there's just no room in this franchise.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Memphis Grizzlies
All-time starting five:
PG: Mike Conley
SG: Tony Allen
SF: Mike Miller
PF: Zach Randolph
C: Marc Gasol
Close calls: No surprise that four of the five members come from the "Grit N' Grind" era, the only period of sustained success in Grizzlies history. Pau Gasol had better statistical years than Randolph, but Z-Bo probably means more to the franchise and played on better teams. Rudy Gay also has a case at small forward, but isn't remembered nearly as fondly as Miller.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Miami Heat
All-time starting five:
PG: Tim Hardaway
SG: Dwyane Wade
SF: Glen Rice
PF: Udonis Haslem
C: Alonzo Mourning
Close calls: Chris Bosh is obviously much better than Haslem, but Bosh had to be on the Raptors. So that meant it was between Haslem and Grant Long for power forward, and Haslem easily wins that one. One could argue for Eddie Jones over Rice, but it's a tough sell.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Milwaukee Bucks
All-time starting five:
PG: Sidney Moncrief
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Marques Johnson
PF: Bob Dandridge
C: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Close calls: Bucks fans get to claim Kareem, who is placed here instead of the Lakers for his six thoroughly dominant seasons, including three MVP awards and leading Milwaukee to its only NBA title in 1971. Two-time All-Star Glenn Robinson has a case at small forward, and Sam Cassell was excellent in his five seasons in Milwaukee, but ultimately Johnson and Moncrief are more iconic Bucks. Oscar Robertson only played four seasons with the Bucks to end his career.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Minnesota Timberwolves
All-time starting five:
PG: Ricky Rubio
SG: Doug West
SF: Wally Szczerbiak
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Kevin Love
Close calls: Only 16 players have spent at least five seasons in Minnesota, so it was slim pickings outside of the Kevins. Sam Mitchell gets the longevity award at small forward, but ultimately Szczerbiak was more effective. As for the guards, the only other real options were Corey Brewer, Anthony Peeler, Troy Hudson and Micheal Williams. Yikes. At least Andrew Wiggins is entering his fifth season, so he can make next year's list.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
New Orleans Pelicans
All-time starting five:
PG: Chris Paul
SG: Jrue Holiday
SF: Eric Gordon
PF: David West
C: Anthony Davis
Close calls: Again, because of the strange Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets history, we only get to choose from New Orleans Hornets and Pelicans, not the old Charlotte Hornets, even though that's actually the same franchise. Confused yet? Long story short, it limited the options to six players who have played at least five seasons, and Peja Stojakovic made the Kings' all-time lineup, so voila! There's your starting five. As a result, we had to move Gordon to small forward, but he's played there with the Rockets for stretches so we know he's capable. It's easy when there's no debate.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
New York Knicks
All-time starting five:
PG: Walt Frazier
SG: Richie Guerin
SF: Bernard King
PF: Willis Reed
C: Patrick Ewing
Close calls: Earl Monroe has a place in Knicks history, but his better years were with the Bullets so we put him there. Technically King only played four seasons in New York, but he was on the team for five seasons (missed one due to injury) so we'll count it. Allan Houston has a case at shooting guard, but he only had two All-Star appearances compared to five from the Hall of Famer Guerin. Harry Gallatin had a great career, but just ran into too much competition from King and Reed.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Oklahoma City Thunder
All-time starting five:
PG: Gary Payton
SG: Russell Westbrook
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: Shawn Kemp
C: Jack Sikma
Close calls: Lest we forget, the Thunder used to be the Seattle SuperSonics, which gives them a pretty stacked team. Ray Allen had five great seasons in Seattle, but loses out to Westbrook's MVP season and triple-double wizardry. Players like Spencer Haywood, Rashard Lewis and Detlef Schrempf also come to mind, but there's just nowhere to put them.
Credit: Oklahoma City Thunder -
Orlando Magic
All-time starting five:
PG: Jameer Nelson
SG: Anfernee Hardaway
SF: Nick Anderson
PF: Horace Grant
C: Dwight Howard
Close calls: Two of the franchise's best players, Shaquille O'Neal and Tracy McGrady, each only played four seasons in Orlando and were therefore placed on other teams. Darrell Armstrong makes a case at point guard, but Nelson helped lead his team to the Finals. Hedo Turkoglu had some great years with the Magic, but a failed PED test tarnishes his legacy.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Philadelphia 76ers
All-time starting five:
PG: Allen Iverson
SG: Hal Greer
SF: Julius Erving
PF: Charles Barkley
C: Dolph Schayes
Close calls: Moses Malone is the most glaring omission, but he ended up on the Rockets (see Houston's entry for explanation). Other than that, Billy Cunningham probably has the best argument, but he's stuck behind Barkley and Dr. J. Similarly, no chance Mo Cheeks was beating out Iverson or Greer.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Phoenix Suns
All-time starting five:
PG: Steve Nash
SG: Kevin Johnson
SF: Walter Davis
PF: Shawn Marion
C: Amar'e Stoudemire
Close calls: Charles Barkley had his best years with the Suns, including an MVP and a Finals appearance, but he only played four seasons with the team. It was a tough call at shooting guard between Johnson and Paul Westphal, but Johnson averaging over 20 points and 10 assists for multiple seasons is hard to ignore. Alvan Adams is probably the biggest snub here, but Marion (four) and Stoudemire (five) each made more All-Star teams as members of the Suns than Adams' one appearance.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Portland Trail Blazers
All-time starting five:
PG: Damian Lillard
SG: Clyde Drexler
SF: Jerome Kersey
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge
C: Bill Walton
Close calls: Walton gets the five-year qualification even though he only technically played four seasons (he missed one due to injury). Rasheed Wallace has a case at power forward, but Aldridge's four All-Star appearances with Portland trump Wallace's two. Kiki Vandeweghe had five strong years with the Blazers, but Kersey was a key cog on some of the best teams in franchise history. By that logic you could argue for Terry Porter to take Lillard's place, but Lillard's All-NBA selections push him over the edge.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Sacramento Kings
All-time starting five:
PG: Tiny Archibald
SG: Oscar Robertson
SF: Peja Stojakovic
PF: Chris Webber
C: Jerry Lucas
Close calls: Jack Twyman probably has the best case here as a Hall of Famer who put up big scoring numbers in the 1950s, but Stojakovic is associated with those great Kings teams of the early 2000s that were legitimate title contenders. Mitch Richmond had six All-Star seasons in Sacramento, but couldn't unseat Robertson or Archibald. Had DeMarcus Cousins played a few more seasons with the Kings, he'd be in the mix at center.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
San Antonio Spurs
All-time starting five:
PG: Tony Parker
SG: Manu Ginobili
SF: George Gervin
PF: Tim Duncan
C: David Robinson
Close calls: This might be the only franchise where there's pretty much zero debate about the list. The only case you can really make is for Kawhi Leonard over Gervin due to his NBA Finals MVP and two Defensive Player of the Year awards, but Gervin made nine All-Star teams and led the league in scoring four times. Plus, after this summer, you're probably not going to see many Spurs fans going to bat for Leonard.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Toronto Raptors
All-time starting five:
PG: Kyle Lowry
SG: DeMar DeRozan
SF: Vince Carter
PF: Chris Bosh
C: Antonio Davis
Close calls: Not much argument here, with four of the five starters already designated as (young) franchise legends. Jonas Valanciunas could have a case at center, but he has yet to make an All-Star team, which Davis did in 2001.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Utah Jazz
All-time starting five:
PG: John Stockton
SG: Pete Maravich
SF: Adrian Dantley
PF: Karl Malone
C: Mark Eaton
Close calls: Andrei Kirilenko is worthy of inclusion, but where? You could slide Malone to center and dump Eaton, but that would be pushing it. Mehmet Okur was also an All-Star for Utah, but Eaton's shot-blocking prowess gives him the spot.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images -
Washington Wizards
All-time starting five:
PG: John Wall
SG: Earl Monroe
SF: Gus Johnson
PF: Elvin Hayes
C: Wes Unseld
Close calls: Hall of famer Walt Bellamy has a case at center or power forward, but Unseld and Hayes were key members of the Wizards/Bullets' only title in 1978. Gilbert Arenas had some great seasons for Washington, but doesn't have the longevity or Wall or Monroe. Antawn Jamison was also considered at small forward, but Johnson had five All-Star appearances to Jamison's two.
Credit: USATSI/Getty Images
More Slideshows
Around the Web
Promoted by Taboola