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  • 06/19/2012, 05:46AM ET

All-time NBA Starting 5

Hyped78 (236-23-6) vs Aminkoff31 (6-4-1)
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Myself and Aminkoff31 had talked about this TD topic in advance, hence the direct challenge.

Straightforward TD, choose your all-time NBA starting 5 and defend it.

Mine is:

PG - Magic Johnson

SG - Michael Jordan

SF - Larry Bird

PF - Tim Duncan

C - Wilt Chamberlain


This is a who's who of basketball players, all were very dominant in their respective eras.

While I am obviously waiting for my opponent's starting 5 to see and debate the differences, I feel this is the best starting 5 one can pick.

Wilt Chamberlain brings 4 MVPs and his dominance on both sides of the board made me pick him over the likes of Bill Russell or Kareem.

Duncan is seen as "boring" by many, but truth of the matter is that he's been a player with great fundamentals and a model of consistency throughout his career. Edges Karl Malone.

Larry Bird and Magic dominated the 80s, 8 championships between the 2.

Bird was an excellent shooting big man and a fiery leader.

Magic was able to play all positions and basically revolutionized the PG position by himself.

Oh, and Michael Jordan owned the 90s and is arguably the all-time most recognizable NBA player.


So I am going to go with Oscar Robertson over Larry Bird.

Robertson's stats:
25.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 9.5 APG

Birds stats:
24.3 PPG, 10 RPG, 6.3 APG

Robertson has the slight edge there.

I love WIlt Chamberlin, and he was terrific. But Bill Russell is the better center. Average 15.1 PPG and 22.5 RPG plus 11 rings in 13 years, there is no beating his dominance.

So my squad is:
1-Magic
2-Jordan
3-Oscar Robertson
4-Tim Duncan
5-Bill Russell


Check Oscar Roberton's NBA.COM Bio. The Big O was a PG/SG, not a SF, and you put him in Bird's place as an SF.

So I won't even directly compare them, because you haven't respected positions for that specific player.

I will just summarize why Bird:

3-time MVP, 3 times NBA champ, 2 MVP finals
12 time all-star, 9-time all-nba first team

And this is just a part of his accolades.

His rivalry with Magic's Lakers basically defined an entire NBA decade, and eventually culminated with both playing on the original Dream Team.

Again: you didn't select an SF.

Wilt vs Bill, the rivalry of giants.

Russell was the leading NBA center, but only up until Chamberlain came along.

Wilt was taller, stronger and just as quick as Bill.

The Stilt rewrote the NBA record books by himself and, have no doubts about it, was the best NBA player during those years.

I say let's compare head to head games between the two centers:

- They played 142 times against each other, 10 years

- Wilt averaged exactly 28.7 points and 28.7 rpg in those games

- Russell averaged 14.5 points and 23.7 rpg

Head to head, Wilt was better than Russell.

Comments (100) Add A Comment

June 19, 2012  08:20 AM ET
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Only see one position that I would be able to argue a change. Nice list Hyped.....

Comment #2 has been removed
June 19, 2012  09:19 AM ET
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can't argue with any of this, though I also though Frazier and Marivich as guards wouldn't be bad too!

June 19, 2012  09:26 AM ET
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My opponent asked me to start the TD, so I got the 5 positions down to the guys I feel are the best of the best, even if everything can be argued.

June 19, 2012  09:43 AM ET
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PG - John Stockton
SG- Michael Jordan
SF - Larry Bird
PF - Karl Malone
C - Bill Russell

My favorites, anyway.

June 19, 2012  10:08 AM ET
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QUOTE(#5):
Originally posted 09:43 AM ET  06.19 by ...the best policy

PG - John StocktonSG- Michael JordanSF - Larry BirdPF - Karl MaloneC - Bill RussellMy favorites, anyway.

Very solid

June 19, 2012  10:11 AM ET
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I like the list, especially Wilt over Russell. You could never convince me that Russell was a better pure player then Wilt was.

The only exception I have to your list is at SF, but I will hold off on that till after your opponent makes an argument.

June 19, 2012  10:24 AM ET
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QUOTE(#7):
Originally posted 10:11 AM ET  06.19 by we_are___

I like the list, especially Wilt over Russell. You could never convince me that Russell was a better pure player then Wilt was. The only exception I have to your list is at SF, but I will hold off on that till after your opponent makes an argument.

Russell has the rings, but I do think Wilt was a better player.

As for SF, can you fanmail me with your pick, just out of curiosity?

Pippen? Lebron? Baylor? Havlicek? Dr. J? Dominique?

June 19, 2012  10:27 AM ET
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Two changes:

SF: Jerry West -- basically another PG with more speed than Bird
C: Bill Russell -- Maybe not the complete athlete that was Wilt, but more even keeled

June 19, 2012  10:30 AM ET
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QUOTE(#9):
Originally posted 10:27 AM ET  06.19 by blosch

Two changes:SF: Jerry West -- basically another PG with more speed than BirdC: Bill Russell -- Maybe not the complete athlete that was Wilt, but more even keeled

Jerry West at SF?

June 19, 2012  11:47 AM ET
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I like Kareem or Hakeem over Wilt. I just think they were more rounded players.

June 19, 2012  11:51 AM ET
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QUOTE(#11):
Originally posted 11:47 AM ET  06.19 by MattUSA

I like Kareem or Hakeem over Wilt. I just think they were more rounded players.

I see what you mean. But we also need to have the different eras in perspective.

June 19, 2012  11:56 AM ET
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QUOTE(#12):
Originally posted 11:51 AM ET  06.19 by Hyped78

I see what you mean. But we also need to have the different eras in perspective.

If right doesn't go with a different Center, I give you my reasoning as to why I wouldn't want Wilt as my Center.

June 19, 2012  12:04 PM ET
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QUOTE(#13):
Originally posted 11:56 AM ET  06.19 by MattUSA

If right doesn't go with a different Center, I give you my reasoning as to why I wouldn't want Wilt as my Center.

Regardless you can fanmail me.

June 20, 2012  02:45 AM ET
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Aminkoff?

Comment #16 has been removed
Comment #17 has been removed
June 20, 2012  05:19 AM ET
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I don't want to go on the record as saying Magic isn't the GOAT PG, HOWEVER...If this were an actual team you were putting together to go play 5 other great players, Magic would not be my 1st choice at PG.

I think John Stockton would be a better compliment to MJ in the back court and a better 3 shooter to spread the court a little more.

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