Your all time NBA starting 5
- Thread starter Chupacabra
- Start date
I was under the same misconception about The Dream for years. I don't know why I thought he was only 6'9". Up until about two or three years ago...
Gargamel
Starter
I think his listed height is off by 1.5 inches or so. He looked shorter than Shaq and company. Either that or we're just 3 more people fooled by his actual height (and I don't think we are).
They're standing on a level stage.
http://estaticos02.cache.el-mundo.net/elmundodeporte/imagenes/2008/04/07/1207596480_0.jpg
http://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/08/s...f-dancer-touch-of-surgeon-and-a-shot-too.html
PurpleHaze
All-Star
Hakeem was always listed at 7'0" 255 lbs by the Rockets and NBA. He wasn't a 7-footer by at least a couple inches. I'm a pretty good judge of height since I'm 6'4 3/4" in bare feet. I remember standing right next to "The Dream" at Confetti Nightclub in ancient times and no question he was at least 6'9" to maybe add half-inch taller round up to 6'10." Back then he was "Akeem" and a few years later became (or corrected it) to Hakeem - but remained same height
Polite, reserved guy (non-drinker) and here's a tid bit of true gossip. The night I met him (introduced by my good friend Robert "Bobby Joe" Reid) he left the club squished into a tiny sedan with an incredibly beautiful 19-year-old model who I knew very well and later married actor Eddie Murphy. Her mother was driving since she had chaperoned Miss Int'l Super Model to the club which was suppose to be 21-over only
Hakeem as an NBA center was absolutely amazing and totally dominant in his era. I was always a big fan going back to his Phi-Slama-Jama days in college. To me, one of his most incredible individual records is being one of only four players in NBA history to get a quadruple double (since complete modern stats). Actually, he did it twice according to some but first time, NBA official scorer later took away an assist so it did not go down as a quad. I guess Olajuwon got mad because he went out less than a month later and did it again! He was also close to doing it at least 4 other times, so with a bit of luck might have pulled off astounding 6 quadruple doubles in his awesome NBA career!
The official stat lines night they both happened (w/only against Milwaukee in the record book): Hakeem Olajuwon, March 3, 1990, Houston vs. Golden State; 29 points, 18 rebounds, 10 assists, 11 blocks.
Hakeem Olajuwon, March 29, 1990, Houston vs. Milwaukee; 18 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, 11 blocks.
Ryan
I like turtles
Except when he played Bill Russell...
Gargamel
Starter
Consensus is that he put up giant numbers on him too. Russ and Wilt had a Kobe/Bron thing. I think what separated the two was Russell's drive to win being a lot stronger than Wilts...coupled w/ superior teammates.
There just wasn't anything he couldn't do. His highlight reel is my absolute favorite of all time, better than MJ's, Jason Williams', or anyone else. I loved watching him play. My favorite big man of all time, hands down.Hakeem was always listed at 7'0" 255 lbs by the Rockets and NBA. He wasn't a 7-footer by at least a couple inches. I'm a pretty good judge of height since I'm 6'4 3/4" in bare feet. I remember standing right next to "The Dream" at Confetti Nightclub in ancient times and no question he was at least 6'9" to maybe add half-inch taller round up to 6'10." Back then he was "Akeem" and a few years later became (or corrected it) to Hakeem - but remained same height
Polite, reserved guy (non-drinker) and here's a tid bit of true gossip. The night I met him (introduced by my good friend Robert "Bobby Joe" Reid) he left the club squished into a tiny sedan with an incredibly beautiful 19-year-old model who I knew very well and later married actor Eddie Murphy. Her mother was driving since she had chaperoned Miss Int'l Super Model to the club which was suppose to be 21-over only
Hakeem as an NBA center was absolutely amazing and totally dominant in his era. I was always a big fan going back to his Phi-Slama-Jama days in college. To me, one of his most incredible individual records is being one of only four players in NBA history to get a quadruple double (since complete modern stats). Actually, he did it twice according to some but first time, NBA official scorer later took away an assist so it did not go down as a quad. I guess Olajuwon got mad because he went out less than a month later and did it again! He was also close to doing it at least 4 other times, so with a bit of luck might have pulled off astounding 6 quadruple doubles in his awesome NBA career!
Hakeem Olajuwon, March 3, 1990, Houston vs. Golden State; 29 points, 18 rebounds, 10 assists, 11 blocks.
Hakeem Olajuwon, March 29, 1990, Houston vs. Milwaukee; 18 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, 11 blocks.
DocHolliday
Starter
Ok I know generationally there is a huge argument here, but let me explain first. Yes Wilt Chamberlin was the most dominant center.........of his time. If he competed against Shaq in his prime he would not be able to compete with the Athleticism of today's players, or the size.. Shaq in 2001-2004 was virtually unstoppable. That being said, here we go.
PG: Magic Johnson - At 6' 9" he is a mis-match for every PG in the league ever pretty much.
G: Michael Jordan - He's an ***, but he's the Greatest of All Time.
F: Larry Bird - He wasn't the most athletic, but he could shoot the hell out of the ball. I like my 3 to be able to stretch the defense with his outside shooting. There weren't many comparable to this guy.
PF: Kevin Garnett- I am very torn with not putting Tim Duncan here, but I wanted the team to Run a little more, and the type of ball I want to see has a bit more excitement that Tim Duncan brings. So I chose the forward with a little more sizzle. He's still a great defender rebounder, and cand definitely score inside and out.
C: Shaquille O'Neal - Simply the most powerful and explosive Center of all time. Hes a freak of nature. Someone at his height and weight should have never been able to move the way he did in his prime.
PG: Magic Johnson - At 6' 9" he is a mis-match for every PG in the league ever pretty much.
G: Michael Jordan - He's an ***, but he's the Greatest of All Time.
F: Larry Bird - He wasn't the most athletic, but he could shoot the hell out of the ball. I like my 3 to be able to stretch the defense with his outside shooting. There weren't many comparable to this guy.
PF: Kevin Garnett- I am very torn with not putting Tim Duncan here, but I wanted the team to Run a little more, and the type of ball I want to see has a bit more excitement that Tim Duncan brings. So I chose the forward with a little more sizzle. He's still a great defender rebounder, and cand definitely score inside and out.
C: Shaquille O'Neal - Simply the most powerful and explosive Center of all time. Hes a freak of nature. Someone at his height and weight should have never been able to move the way he did in his prime.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Wilt's a bad example for that -- he might still be the most atheltic 7'1" player to ever play the game. This is a guy who famously could pluck a quarter off the top of the backboard. Many of the other old time players sure. And of course Wilt wouldn't have been AS effective against gfuys closer to being his equals. But old Wilt battle young Kareem and did well. Old Kareem battled young Hakeem and did well. There is a constant stream there.
Old Hakeem battled young Shaq...
DocHolliday
Starter
You might be right Brick. My only thing is, it's too hard to guage, because he was ahead of his time. He was genetically a freak for the period. As we move forward in time people are becoming stronger, more athletic, etc. His leaping ability can't be questioned, but when you put people around him that are equals or greater athletically, all of a sudden the person doesn't seem like such a freak anymore. If you put Shaw or Wilt on your team at Center, I thin either way you'd be doing mighty fine. But, I had to make a judgement call there.
AleksandarN
Starter
Here is mine. Try getting an easy basket. Might have a problem fouling out though.
PG:Calvin Murphy
SG:Ron Artest
SF:Kermit Washington
PF:Charles Oakley
C: Bill Laimbeer
PG:Calvin Murphy
SG:Ron Artest
SF:Kermit Washington
PF:Charles Oakley
C: Bill Laimbeer
DoDiGaG0
Bench
C - Bill Russell -- the guy was just a beast, totally dominant on the defensive end of the floor, as Aurbauch said..he could guard all 5 positions and shut them all down too. He also didn't really need the ball on offense to be affective, he scored most of his points on putbacks/dunks...
PF - Tim Duncan -- mr. reliable, the guy just does it all and so well. Hes a proven 20/10 guy who is also a great defender that would make a really, really, brutal front court with Russell.
SF - Larry Bird -- with Duncan and Jordan on the team were going to see a lot of double teams and Bird is one of the greatest shooters to ever play the game, the guy just spreads the floor so well and can be counted on to score when needed.
SG - Michael Jordan - the GOAT, unguardable, could score at will and was an offensive defensive player to boot.
PG - John Stockton - unbelievable PG, the perfect PG, did everything well, great defensive player, awesome passing ability and could also hit the open 3 when left unguarded.
PF - Tim Duncan -- mr. reliable, the guy just does it all and so well. Hes a proven 20/10 guy who is also a great defender that would make a really, really, brutal front court with Russell.
SF - Larry Bird -- with Duncan and Jordan on the team were going to see a lot of double teams and Bird is one of the greatest shooters to ever play the game, the guy just spreads the floor so well and can be counted on to score when needed.
SG - Michael Jordan - the GOAT, unguardable, could score at will and was an offensive defensive player to boot.
PG - John Stockton - unbelievable PG, the perfect PG, did everything well, great defensive player, awesome passing ability and could also hit the open 3 when left unguarded.
Purple Reign
Starter
C Bill Russell, Boston
The most dominating defensive force in the history of the game of basketball. If you need a block shot or a rebound, Russell was your man. 11 Championship Rings
Bench - K.A. Jabbar (6 rings)
PF - Kevin Garnett, Boston/Minny
The most versatile "4" to ever play the position. Can shoot outside, inside, defend all 5 positions on the floor. One of the most intense passionate players the game has ever seen. 1 Championship Ring
Bench - T. Duncan (4)
SF - Larry Bird, Boston
When it comes to clutch, Larry Legend was money. The bigger the game, the better Bird was. The best passing big man the game has ever produced. 3 Championship Rings
Bench - E. Baylor (1)
SG - Michael Jordan, Chicago
The G.O.A.T!! Had a fire in his belly that just destroyed opponents. Besides Wilt, the greatest offensive force in the game ever. The greatest closer in the history of the game. 6 Championship Rings.
Bench - J. West (1)
PG - Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Los Angeles
The Biggest and greatest mismatch in American Team Sports history. There will never ever be a player like Magic. 6'9" point guard who was the leader of his team the very second he stepped onto the floor. Played the game with a flair and showmanship never seen before and I don't think we will ever see again. 5 Championship Rings
Bench - I. Thomas (2)
Eleventh and Twelve Men - Oscar Robinson, Wilt Chamberlain
Coach - Phil Jackson, Chicago/Los Angeles
I know this pick may be controversial, but in my mind, Jackson is heads and shoulders above almost every coach he faced when it comes to game and roster management. Most people feel if you have rosters like Phil had anybody could win. I look at it the opposite way. If you can manage egos like Bryant, Jordan, O'Neal, Rodman, Pippen and the like and win 10 rings, you are an incredible manager of people.
The most dominating defensive force in the history of the game of basketball. If you need a block shot or a rebound, Russell was your man. 11 Championship Rings
Bench - K.A. Jabbar (6 rings)
PF - Kevin Garnett, Boston/Minny
The most versatile "4" to ever play the position. Can shoot outside, inside, defend all 5 positions on the floor. One of the most intense passionate players the game has ever seen. 1 Championship Ring
Bench - T. Duncan (4)
SF - Larry Bird, Boston
When it comes to clutch, Larry Legend was money. The bigger the game, the better Bird was. The best passing big man the game has ever produced. 3 Championship Rings
Bench - E. Baylor (1)
SG - Michael Jordan, Chicago
The G.O.A.T!! Had a fire in his belly that just destroyed opponents. Besides Wilt, the greatest offensive force in the game ever. The greatest closer in the history of the game. 6 Championship Rings.
Bench - J. West (1)
PG - Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Los Angeles
The Biggest and greatest mismatch in American Team Sports history. There will never ever be a player like Magic. 6'9" point guard who was the leader of his team the very second he stepped onto the floor. Played the game with a flair and showmanship never seen before and I don't think we will ever see again. 5 Championship Rings
Bench - I. Thomas (2)
Eleventh and Twelve Men - Oscar Robinson, Wilt Chamberlain
Coach - Phil Jackson, Chicago/Los Angeles
I know this pick may be controversial, but in my mind, Jackson is heads and shoulders above almost every coach he faced when it comes to game and roster management. Most people feel if you have rosters like Phil had anybody could win. I look at it the opposite way. If you can manage egos like Bryant, Jordan, O'Neal, Rodman, Pippen and the like and win 10 rings, you are an incredible manager of people.
mcsluggo
Starter
is this really the story?
Russell always gets the nod over Wilt in many discussions because of "scoreboard"... but the Celtics had like 17 hall-of famers on their roster. Russell's job against Wilt was to slow him down just enough so that Wilt could not singlehandedly beat the entire Celtic team.
this is a croc, in my opinion.
Vlade4GM
All-Star
C - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (I don't think I need an explanation, KAJ is without a doubt the greatest center of all time.)
PF- Karl Malone (Even though Duncan can play PF, he has spent too much time as a C for it to be clear enough to give him the edge over Malone. Garnett is good, but he's not a true no.1 like Malone was.)
SF- Larry Bird (Played on a great team for sure, but he's a proven winner, efficient, can shoot/score/rebound/pass, and clutch performer. Way too early to give this to LeBron.)
SG- Michael Jordan (I'm probably choosing MJ though because I'm too chicken to put Kobe here on this board, but I felt that I can comfortably say at this point in time MJ is still GOAT SG, but I do think that when Kobe's career is done that he'll move to no.1 in my book.)
PG- Magic Johnson (Easiest decision here. Of all the players in the history of basketball, if I had my pick of any of them to start a franchise with, I'd take Magic.)
PF- Karl Malone (Even though Duncan can play PF, he has spent too much time as a C for it to be clear enough to give him the edge over Malone. Garnett is good, but he's not a true no.1 like Malone was.)
SF- Larry Bird (Played on a great team for sure, but he's a proven winner, efficient, can shoot/score/rebound/pass, and clutch performer. Way too early to give this to LeBron.)
SG- Michael Jordan (I'm probably choosing MJ though because I'm too chicken to put Kobe here on this board, but I felt that I can comfortably say at this point in time MJ is still GOAT SG, but I do think that when Kobe's career is done that he'll move to no.1 in my book.)
PG- Magic Johnson (Easiest decision here. Of all the players in the history of basketball, if I had my pick of any of them to start a franchise with, I'd take Magic.)
Chupacabra
Starter
I must be the only person in the world that thinks Magic Johnson is overrated. How can you be an all time greatest player at your position when you dont have any impact on the game defensively? To be the greatest all time at your position you have to play well on both ends of the floor.
Gargamel
Starter
Haha, if Magic was overrated, then about 98% of all players in league history are garbage because he was a savant on the hardwood. His supposed lack of D is overplayed because it's the only thing that he didn't obviously excel at (and it's usually a Jordan fan's 1st go-to defense), but whenever it's said, it's always, "he had NO impact" or "he played NO defense". Steve Nash plays no defense, George Gervin played no defense, Magic was just mediocre 1:1 and was OK as a team defender. Note that the same thing is never said about Bird, who wasn't a lockdown defender either and he's consensus top 10 too.
Younger viewers who didn't watch him are the ones who most often seem to harp on his defense in retrospect when it was never considered a fault during his actual playing days. What was discussed then was how he was the smartest player in the league and so on.
RE: Stockton -- pretty good defender, but not a transcendent player, not a game changer, never won a title, overshadowed by real superstars like Magic (aka: the Drexler syndrome). In your original post you said he would've won 2 titles if not for Jordan. Exactly. Stockton isn't on the same tier as either guy.
Proof is in the pudding. Magic's accomplishments speak for themselves. He's not in everyone's top 10 just because of fancy passes.
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Chupacabra
Starter
The point of my post that you quoted was to point out that to be the GREATEST EVER at a respective position you must impact the game on both ends of the floor. A savant on the hardwood he was and the offense that he brought to his team is legendary. However, he was only on that level for half of the game. Being a mediocre defender simply doesnt cut it. If you see/hear people repeatedly knock Magic for his defense then its because he really wasnt much of a defender.
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Gargamel
Starter
Being a fairly decent defender doesn't pull Stockton above him either way, imo. Isiah Thomas had a better career than Johnny and he was no defender either. You're putting too much emphasis on a singular skill and neglecting everything else, imo.
Like I said, the people I see/hear saying that about his defense are usually Jordan fans arguing w/ people over who is the better player (to be in the discussion is proof enough that there are more things to consider than whether he locked down Spud Webb on a given night). The others are young fans who didn't see him live and think that individual defense must've been as important then as it is now -- nope. It's revisionism to a large degree, applying today's standards to that time.
At any rate, I'm sure neither of us will change each other's mind, so I have no prob w/ agreeing to disagree. I just think calling Magic of all players overrated because of one facet of his game is overkill. Derek Harper just recently stated his firm belief that Magic isn't any less of a player than Jordan himself. Gervin said the same thing. Bird has said it for yrs. Overrated = overkill.
And Santa Claus is fat.
Sorry but when you're talking about a player as great as Magic Johnson, you don't quibble over what he couldn't or didn't do. Nobody is perfect.
Kings Fan Gerard
Bench
Here's my all time starting 5:
C - Bill Russel
PF - Kevin Garnett
SF - Larry Bird
SG - Michael Jordan
PG - John Stockton
Wish the kings had these 5 guys at 1 point, we'd have 20 rings.
C - Bill Russel
PF - Kevin Garnett
SF - Larry Bird
SG - Michael Jordan
PG - John Stockton
Wish the kings had these 5 guys at 1 point, we'd have 20 rings.
Jespher
Starter
Well they did have Bill Russell, but he wasn't much of a coach
.
Aenadin
Starter
Pg: Magic : 6foot9 point guard get real! whos going to guard him!? the only reason why i still have SOME (a little exaggeration, or hyperbole) respect to the laker franchise.
SG: Michael Jeffrey "His Airness, Air Jordan, GOAT" Jordan : His Airness of course no one comes close to this spot 23 beats 24 any day. just a supreme athlete and competitor...
SF: Larry "Legend" Bird: best versatile SF hands down! great shooter, leader
PF: Karl Malone: His longevity through out his career is enough for him to garner this spot. he was a great scorer and STRONG as hell! did you look at the mans ARMs!? no wait.. did you check out his GUNS!? though i hated him when he moved to LA for one season! ringless still! and I love the detroit for that moment
C: Hakeem The Dream Olajuwon: he's got the dream shake that could lose defenders at will. great center! great defender, offensive player and a heart of a champion.
SG: Michael Jeffrey "His Airness, Air Jordan, GOAT" Jordan : His Airness of course no one comes close to this spot 23 beats 24 any day. just a supreme athlete and competitor...
SF: Larry "Legend" Bird: best versatile SF hands down! great shooter, leader
PF: Karl Malone: His longevity through out his career is enough for him to garner this spot. he was a great scorer and STRONG as hell! did you look at the mans ARMs!? no wait.. did you check out his GUNS!? though i hated him when he moved to LA for one season! ringless still! and I love the detroit for that moment
C: Hakeem The Dream Olajuwon: he's got the dream shake that could lose defenders at will. great center! great defender, offensive player and a heart of a champion.
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