I know this topic has been/currently is/will always be in discussion, and if there is another thread already (my apologies) then please feel free to merge. I did not see a search function and did not want to click through years of threads. While I have been searching through Basketball-reference.com and organizing my own NBA cards into HOF players and cleaning out the rest to downsize, I have come across what (on paper) looks to be the GOAT NBA team. Now I don't agree that this IS actually THE greatest team of all time, I really would like to hear your thoughts. Surely HOF players need to have at least a 50.0 win share in order to be recognized, so this is simply basing it off of players with a 200.0+ WS. I know that this is not at all what truly makes a team, and to not have several star players on this list is crazy, but it is what it is. Search for yourself, but these 9 are THE players with 200.0+ win shares and the team while controversial is pretty impressive. The Team? PG: Paul (209.4), Stockton (207.7) SG: Jordan (214.0) SF: Lebron (263.7) PF: Malone (234.6). Duncan (206.4), Dirk (206.3) C: Kareem (273.4), Wilt (247.3) My first takeaway is...damn...no Shaq? AI just posted a video saying he would have Shaq. Clearly he knows WAY more than I do. Would Shaq truly win a spot over Kareem or Wilt? I probably would take him, but I am biased. I still have his Orlando poster hanging (now in my garage cause I am an adult....slow clap), but yeah is it just nostalgia for some who choose the GOAT players/team, or is there really a science behind it? On this team for example, would Malone and Stockton even make it? Individually the Mailman is the GOAT PF by WS, but not having Rodman or Barkley on the list is also crazy. Would Mailman beat them out of a spot? To me having Stockton and Malone on this team is what even potentially COULD make this team so great. Just having that connection would be huge. Okay, now go ahead...pick it apart, just don't hate on the post. Either merge if needed, offer advice/insight, or let us know what your GOAT team would be. Thanks and have a good day!
PG: Stockton SG: Jordan SF: Lebron PF: Duncan C: Walton Stockton and Walton are two of the best passers in history. They get the ball to the 2 hot dogs. Timmy's just the best 2-way pf of all time. These guys don't need the ball to be successful, which is why Malone, Shaq, ... not on my TEAM.
Thank you, Wizard Mentor! So you DO have Stockton on your list, and even over CP3, okay, and yes I could definitely agree with that. His passing skills, let alone court vision were iconic. I HATED when Blazers played Malone and Stockton, but yeah respect for sure. Also, Duncan (actually currently holding his rookie card oddly enough), was definitely someone I would have chosen over Malone, too, since he is Mr. Fundamental. I can't exactly say about Walton...though I personally never saw him play. I don't know about him over Kareem, but I suppose with the notion that Jordan and Bron are just going to be ball dominate anyways (which they should), then having pure passers would def make sense. What about Sabas though (if we are sticking Blazers)?
PG Stockton SG Jordan SF Lebron PF Duncan C Wemby Edit: After posting, I noticed my list is same as Wizard Mentor's except Center
No cp3 or Curry because of my "1-asshole" rule, and MJ is already on the team. Of course, Stockton is STILL the all-time leader in BOTH assists and steals. Prime Sabas was awesome, but he was never that while in the NBA. The blazers were 50-10 with Walton after winning the championship. I don't think any other C in history could get that team to 50-10.
I think Steph is overrated but he's also the best shooter of all time, so if I surround him with defenders... PG: Steph SG: MJ SF: LeBron PF: Duncan C: Joker
Yeah, I can see that being a team for sure, too. Although...Joker over Hakeem? (in regards to D)...I suppose the 3 ball does it. I just recently read an article (can't recall the HOF player), but they said The Dream would dominate Jokic and it wouldn't be close.
Some very good points. I love the "1-asshole" rule and certainly MJ takes the cake on that one, lol. I didn't know Stockton also led in steals. How cool! What a great player he was. Yeah, I do suppose Sabas is such a "what if" situation. How he would have played during his prime in the NBA and what could have happened.
No worries about having the same list. Great minds think alike? I guess you and Wizard have more in common now
Okay, so I am starting to see that while Malone has the WS #'s, the trend is showing Duncan as the PF option. I def agree. The bank is open all day... Also, you are the first to choose Magic over Stockton, and I believe there was another article I recently read that had a HOF say the same thing essentially (choosing Magic as THE PG).
I love that! though, over Magic? Ok. I can respect that one too. Here is some food for thought. While I was looking at the "what if" drafts I have been creating I saw that Pippen was drafted by Seattle and traded. I just wonder if potentially the Blazers could have got in on that, or if anyone recalls that draft specifically and what happened? The Beak being on the list too is debatable, but absolutely understood. Man was a walking bucket.
Okay, now two for Bird...is the saying two in the hand and a bird in the bush....???? Anyways...(I know I'm odd). I like that you have him at SF and have Duncan and Hakeem with Magic. What a TALL team that would be.
Pippen over Magic cause of the defense. Although we also know Magic could play center, so maybe I go smallball and swap him in over Wilt.
So now here comes the point of discussion for does team chemistry take precedence over individual play? In my opinion (like arseholes), Jordan, Malone, CP3 couldn't be on the same team due to just drama and I would consider having chemistry or a player(s) that can have ice in their veins, yet be killers while also controlling their emotions and being able to coexist with others. Hard to find Stars that truly can fit that mold.
From what I know, Magic was a kind person that other players got along with on/off the court, so he could be that "mold" for PG. What about Stockton? Most of you have him as your PG, but how was his on/off court demeanor? I just remember not liking him (Utah in general)...but that is because I was a young little hater that didn't understand anything non-Blazers (I'm still pretty biased).
No idea what he was like as a player, but I know that he's an RFK-supporting anti-vaxxer now, so there's a decent chance that he might have clashed with some of the other stars mentioned. He and Karl Malone worked well, but Malone is a well-known Republican. If I'm going with a traditional PG (instead of Pippen) and chemistry is a consideration, I'm definitely putting Magic and CP3 ahead of Stockton.
