Okay, so we've had the threads about the best all-time players at each position. After watching some videos of Shawn Kemp just now, I thought about posting my all-time most entertaining players and would like to know what your team would be. Of course, it has to be filled with only players that you have seen play and it doesn't have to be necessarily the "best". PG: Allen Iverson - During his glory days with the Sixers, I thought he was a blast to watch. Had phenomenal footwork, speed, athleticism and handles. Sure, he was a volume shooter, but watching him break down defenders and get an occasional dunk on someone was always fun to watch. Jason Williams during his early years in Sacramento were fun, too. SG: Clyde Drexler - My eyes were always glued to him when he was on the court. Seeing him plow his way through defenders with his head down, running full speed was fantastic. Highlight real kind of guy. SF: LeBron James - Explosive. PF: Shawn Kemp - Probably one of the most athletic big men ever. The guy could really sky and took it to the rim with absolute aggression. The lockout season hurt his career as we all know. But in his prime, he was my favorite player to watch. C: Arvydas Sabonis - Although not the super athlete like the others on this list, he was a magician with the ball for a man his size. The bowling ball passes and no looks were a thing of beauty.
PG - Magic Johnson - The "reason" they were called the "showtime" Lakers. SG - George Gervin - No one guard in NBA history had more go to moves and nothing was sweeter than the finger roll SF - Elgin Baylor - Baylor was a scoring machine that had it all. PF - Kevin McHale - Post Move Messiah C - Hakeem Olajuwon(in his prime) - The Dream Shake
I know you said only players that you've seen play but eff that. Here's my list: Pistol Pete, Vince Carter, Dr. J, Shawn Kemp, Kareem
PG - Magic Johnson: He was really fun to watch on the break SG - Michael Jordan: I am not sure how you can pick anyone else SF - Larry Bird: I liked his grit and hustle, It was fun to see a HOFer flying all over the floor PF - Charles Barkley: Loved when he grabbed a rebound and went the distance with it C - Shaq: Has a huge personality, that showed(s) on the court Bench Pete Maravich George Gervin Shawn Kemp Arvydas Sabonis Julius Erving Dominique Williams Hakeem Olajuwon With the right to change some of my reserves if I forgot someone
PG: Magic Johnson - Also my pick for best ever, but that's just coincidence! I don't think anyone was a more entertaining play-maker in history...definitely not in my viewing lifetime, which began in the early-80s. The ultimate in a free-flowing creator, he could and did push the pace or play in the half-court...but either way, he was continuously making amazing passes with a court vision and awareness that's unmatched SG: Michael Jordan - Also my pick for best ever, but...again...coincidence. In his young prime, no one has ever accumulated the highlight reel of twisting, slashing, floating attacks on the hoop. He made baskets where it seemed no opportunity existed. In addition, he was an exciting defender...capable of picking pockets and taking it the other way for a dunk. SF: Scottie Pippen - I could have gone with Julius Erving or Dominique Wilkins here, but a young Pippen was not only an exciting, athletic scorer, he was also a creative passer and, most of all, a tremendously exciting defender. He played an active, constant motion defense that had him roving around the court and jumping passing lanes all without compromising his man defense duties. The amount of disruptive havoc he created on defense was unprecedented for a perimeter player and he and Jordan created a number of fast breaks off their thefts each game. PF: Kevin Garnett - Probably the most athletic power forward ever and one of the best athletes ever, he's been a do-it-all marvel. He could score out of the post, on jumpers and on the break. He could pass. And he's one of the best and most versatile big man defenders ever, someone who could even hound a point guard on defense for short stretches. Definitely among the most spectacular players I've ever seen. C: Hakeem Olajuwon - A dazzling array of post moves on offense and a player who could swat opposing players or pick their pocket on the defensive end. Another amazing hybrid of jaw-dropping athleticism and stunning skill. No other center that I've seen has competed with Olajuwon for pure entertainment value on the floor. The final lineup would be an exceptional ball-hawking and shot-blocking unit that would get into transition constantly off the turnovers they forced, and all of them had exciting games in the half-court. A perfect, to me, blend of forced turnovers, ball-handling, passing and finishing.
PG - Maravich Hard not to pick Magic, but Maravich was the flashiest passer and an outright magician with the ball. He was a prolific scorer (44PPG career college average) as well. He was even entertaining on defense - he'd just wave his hands at his man as he went by him to the basket. SG - Jordan Great at every phase of the game. When he stuck out his tongue, look out! Flashy dunker, made entire teams on defense look like statues as he went around all of them for dunks. The "take off from the FT line" dunk in the dunk contest is just one of many highlight reel plays. Dr. J Another magician with the basketball and flashy dunker. Even when he didn't dunk, his array of behind the basket spin-on-the-ball bank type shots were common and unlike any you really see from anyone else. When he was in the ABA, the games weren't televised but you'd hear all kinds of stories about this amazing shot or that amazing shot from the guy. His competition with David Thompson in an ABA dunk contest is a classic. Cornbread Maxwell For a big guy, he had all the skills before big men were supposed to. He was so good, McHale was relegated to 6th man status. In college, the guy routinely broke presses and dribbled the ball upcourt, often with an array of flashy ballhandling skills. Darryl Dawkins The guy named his dunks, broke backboards, and was clearly the most colorful of characters to ever play C. Nobody said I had to pick a guy who was top 50 otherwise ;-)
PG: Magic I could go for CP3 as well but for godsake he was 6 foot 9! SG: Jordan The G.O.A.T any other selection is just silly SF: Dominique "The Human Highlight Film" Wilkins PF: Shawn "Reignman" Kemp C: Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon (my vote for best Center of all time due to size [6'10 by some measures!] and skills)
PG: Magic. They called him that for a reason - spectactularly entertaining. SG: Michael Jordan. No contest. No comment needed. SF: Pippen. I like my players savvy, and Scottie was a seriously plugged in guy on the court. Thinking man's basketball. PF: Rodman was always entertaining. So was Karl Malone. But if we want *entertainment*, nothing matches the Round Mound of reBound. On the court or off it, Sir Charles was always hysterical. C: Sabonis. For all those "how did he *do* that?" no-look passes. You always had to watch him, because he was the trickiest 7'3" dude ever. iWatas
Pistol Pete Allen Iverson Julius Erving Kevin Garnett Hakeem Olajuwon (mutombo a very close second, just for the finger wave alone) This team would RULE at running the break
The most entertaining thing on this thread for me was moving Bird out of position so you could start VC there.
This is my triangle team, no need for a traditional point: Most entertaining from just those I have seen play Kobe, Jordan, Pau Gasol ;] (silky smooth moves), Rodman (funny antics), and probably Artest (also makes me laugh). I was too young to watch Magic play and I don't really have a favorite point guard. LA has gotten by on almost any PG with the triangle, so it is not vital at all to have a traditional ball handler there.
Point Guard - Magic Shooting Guard - Tie between MJ and Reggie Miller (You just never knew in those games in New York when he would bust out with some unreal shooting). Small Forward - Dominique Wilkins, the Human Highlight Film. Power Forward - Barkley of the 76'ers or Kemp. Center - The man from planet Love-o-tron, Chocolate Thunder, Darryl Dawkins. I am viewing entertaining as both on and off the court.
Okay... players that I've seen play (I started watching in 1992 but I was 7 years old. I started paying attention in like, 1999.) Think entertaining... not "the best." PG - Nash: the hair, the running, the passing, the intensity. SG - Roy: I can't keep a shit eating grin off my face every time he gets to the hoop and lays it in when the entire opposing team has the objective of stopping him. Seriously, there's nothing more entertaining. SF - Adam Morrison in college. Hey, you didn't say "NBA" . PF - KG: He's so tall and lanky, in his younger years it was like watching a man made out of fucking tree branches completely dominate a game. Hilarious. C - Jamaal Magloire. He was just so butt-clumsy and awkward, and when he did that covered eyes dunk for like half the season it cracked me up so hard.
PG- Magic Johnson (uhh..Showtime) SG- Micheal Jordan SF- Clyde Drexler PF- Shawn Kemp C- Hakeem Olajuwon
