What Player in NBA History Would You Build a Team Around?

Again, I can't believe people are mentioning defensive role players and not mentioning Michael Cooper.

I feel OLD.

Kids - think Boris Diaw and Bruce Bowen but....better than both combined.

 

Thanks man!

BTW, my favorite one? Micheal Williams (#4).

 

Same here. I wouldn't even think twice.

 

2 HOFers:

Dream
Magic

2 All-Stars:

Buck Williams (Solid defender, great rebounder, wouldn't mind being a role player on a great team)
Chris Mullin (Imagine the looks he'd get with Magic and Dream on the floor)

Role players... guys who never made it to even one All-Star Game:

Guards...
Ron Harper
Kenny Smith
Michael Cooper

Frontcourt...
Cedric Maxwell
James Edwards
Kurt Rambis
Robert Horry
Mitch Kupchak

 

jordan and hakeem and any 3 scrubs is all i need.

 

first player i take is magic johnson. no question about it.

 

kinda like what moses malone said.

 

I'm going with Hakeem and Stockton as my two Hall of Fame picks.

PF- Shawn Kemp (the Reign Man version before he signed that Cavalier contract. I'm still in awe of all the alley-oops and facials he did.)

SF- Robert Horry (simply the best low post entry passer in H-Town history and clutch to boot)

C- Hakeem (No intor required)

SG- Petrovic

PG- Stockton (Magic is an automatic lock but this Hakeem's team)

Bench

PF- Dennis Rodman (The Detroit version)

SF- Shawn Marion

C- Ralph Samson (The Original Twin Towers)

SG- Mario Elie (Always room for the guy with the Kiss of Death shot)

PG- Terry Porter

11th man- Kenny Smith

12th man- Otis Thorpe

 

In the 2 HOFers and 2 All-stars mode (and not picking any rookies that are sure future all-stars) -

Franchise player: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem in his prime was arguably the second greatest center of all time (behind Wilt). In addition to that, he played forever, so you are going to be set at that position for quite a while. No real weaknesses in his game either.

Second HOFer: Larry Bird
Larry Legend has the shooting and passing to be a perfect outside complement to Kareem's inside attack. In addition, he is a very good rebounder, a tenacious defender, and one of the greatest competitors in NBA history.

First All-star: Charles Barkley (he's not in the hall yet )
Rebounding. He would be worth having for that skill alone. His magnificent offense just lets you continue to dominate the inside game when Kareem is on the bench.

Second All-star: John Stockton
I hate the Pasty Gangsta as much as the next Rocket fan, but the man can run the point and shoot the rock like nobody's business. With the Legend and Stock, teams are going to pay for doubling.

Final Starter: Cuttino Mobley
Cat has never been in an All-star game, the closest he came was the earlier events in the weekend. He has all the tools I want in my shooting guard: defense, outside shot, ability to penetrate, competitive fire, love of the game.

Bench:
Andre Miller
A solid passer that plays within himself. Not a lot of range, but has a reliable shot in the midrange game.

Troy Murphy
Solid all around power forward. Good shooting range, so he can play with a dominant post player. Pretty good rebounder.

Mario Elie
I liked his toughness and his determination. He is the kind of bulldog that can be brought in off the bench when the starters aren't clicking to change momentum.

Chris Kaman
I like this young guy from the Clippers. He is comfortable with both hands around the basket, has decent range, and on occasion plays some intimidating defense.

Jon Barry
Great shooter with a good understanding of the game. Good energy guy to bring off the bench. Perhaps most importantly, an excellent locker room presence.

Matt Bullard
With one of Kareem and Barkley in the game at all times, there are going to be a lot of open looks from beyond the arc, and it is nice to have a PF that can extend the defense that far.

Earl Boykins
Very nice as a change of pace point. Like Stockton, he can shoot and pass very well, but instead of relying on an incredible understanding of the game, Boyknis uses pure speed.

 

AS Jordan , Bird, Johnston & Hakeem are rather past their prime, I must look to getting the best big Man with the best potential of developing along with my new team-YM.

 

Magic was the prototype "5-tool" player. He could do it all.

A guy like him would dominate the classic era and run circles around Nash in today's rules.

With the death of today's center, he could play 4 or 5 on half the nights and win the matchup. Which he did when Kareem went down at the finals during his rookie year in the Golden Age of the NBA...

You get Magic, throw some bums around him and party like it's 1989.