If you could start a team with ONE player in his prime, who would it be?

No love for Arvydas Sabonis? Bill Russell quoted him to be a "7'3 Larry Bird." The dude could literally do everything. After a tiring international career, the guy came into the NBA and averaged 14.5 points on 55% shooting and 8.1 rebounds in under 24 minutes. When playoff time came, he was posting 23.6 points and 10.2 rebounds. He was already 31 when he first entered in the NBA, imagine the man if he was in his prime.

 

Dream.

 

Yes, I fully agree... a young healthy Sabonis in the NBA would've dominated. Too bad things didn't pan out for him. He would've played in the same era as Olajuwon, Robinson, Ewing etc.

I could see him giving Olajuwon A LOT of fits back in the day.

 

Of all time, I'd have to say Magic Johnson. To this day, I've never seen a player control the entire game the way Magic did and he is able to cover for any deficiencies the team has because he can play any position on the court. Starting at center in the finals after Kareem went down and winning that close out Game 6 is probably among the greatest moments in NBA history. But after Magic, here are the others I'd pick:

1. Magic Johnson
2. Shaq
3. Michael Jordan
4. Kareem Abdul Jabbar
5. Lebron
6. Larry Bird
7. Kobe
8. Tim Duncan
9. Hakeem Olajuwon
10. Kevin McHale

I left guys like Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Elgin Baylor, and Jerry West off because I just think the level of competition they played against was a bit lacking.

 

Wilt or Russell

 

Hakeem Olajuwon is still the only player to win Defensive Player of the Year, Regular Season MVP, and Finals MVP in one year. Bill Russell would've definitely done this, as well. However, his offensive game wasn't close to Olajuwon's.

The Dream.

Second choice would be Wilt Chamberlain.

 

In his prime?

Ill take the Dream.

 

Jeremy Lin in his prime > all

 

Since we're starting the team built around 1 player, you gotta go with the ones who will let you win right away and still be the best player when you finish assembling your championship team.

1) Magic - Made everyone around him better and could fill in at all positions.

2) Dream - Incredibly versatile, athletic, and one of the very few players who carried a bunch of role players to a championship.

3) Jordan - A heart of a champion with tons of killer instinct. Who cares that he benefited from special ref treatment. He would probably benefit from them on our imaginary team too.

4) Larry Bird (I can't believe more people don't have him on their lists) - Another fearless prime time player who was arguably one of the most clutch shooters in the game.

5) Tim Duncan - The big fundamental played consistently and deadly. You can't argue with the Spurs record (# of years in the playoffs and # of championships), since they got him.

 

Jordan or Shaq, all other responses are incorrect.

 

The answer is on your shoe.

 

I would pick Dream or Magic. Dream is best skilled unselfish center at his prime that owns every single player and even winning MJ's Bulls often. Picking Magic because he can be any position and play at the top level, that flexibility gives the team building much more easier.

 

Perry Ellis... hmmm....Monta Ellis?

 

Fat. Injured. Overpaid. Overrated. Old.

Welcome the new 2014-2015 Dallas Mavericks! Mediocrity or Bust!!!

 

Haha how did this end up here. Wrong thread!

 

Lebron. Athletes have evolved, the game has evolved. Mike Trout > Babe Ruth, Usain Bolt would smoke Carl Lewis.

 

Hard to pick against centers who controls so much of offense and defense. But how can you pick against MJ, Magic and James?

Really hard to pick out of the following group.

Kareem
Magic
Jordan
Wilt
Dream
Shaq
the King

Everyone of the center on the list were great at offense and defense in their prime

I might just have to go with Kareem, the sky hook is the most accurate shot ever in basketball, plus he rebounds and play defense.

 

Hodor.

 

and to think, coach hasnt even reached his prime! /faint