SI asked 137 NBA players who they would choose first if starting a team from scratch.

KD all the way. Youth, loyalty, elite, mature. He's a baller.

 

This list doesn't make sense from 10 and lower. I'm not buying it.

 

lol @ the guys here not includin Bron on their list or as a pick.

 

...with existing contract? Durant.

 

Looks like they asked the racist players.

NO LIN? THIS IS AN OUTRAGE.

 

Rubio, Gordon and Rondo over Kyrie Irving is a joke if you want to start from scratch.

 

rubio is a sold role player but not showing much as a franchise player.

 

solid*

 

Depends on how you want to build your team. Elite playmaking and defense(Rubio, Rondo) or scoring PG with okay allround game(Kyrie).
Gordon has to be off the list of course.

 

It makes sense for big men to want Rubio and Rondo because those guys can get you the ball, it makes less sense for guys like Lebron and Kobe because they dominate the ball already.

However, as Dwight Howard, even if Rubio and Rondo could get you the ball, they can't relieve double team pressure because they can't shoot the ball at all, which allows the PGs to double team every time. Plus, for guys like Dwight, getting the ball to him is pretty easy.

For guys like Lebron and Kobe, since they already have the ball so much in their hands and because they naturally draw so much attention, it makes more sense if they also had a PG who could shoot the ball efficiently if they were ever double teamed.

 

Agreed.

I would like to see the distribution of votes. Probably a humongous dropoff after the top 5 or 6 (or at some point) which means the ranking after the dropoff means little or nothing.

For Kyrie Irving not to be in the top 14 is crazy.

 

You naturally surround Dwight and Bron with shooters at PG, but that's not a given that your franchise has one of them.

What about a PG to team up with shooters like Durant or Melo? You would want a guy like Rondo that always finds them instead of a guy like Kyrie that looks to score more.

That's why this poll is a bit off, it all depends on the roster and plans you make.

 

The other thing I think is interesting is that there aren't many big men on the list. Only:

2. Dwight Howard
8. Blake Griffin
10. Pau
14. Bynum

I'm still of the opinion that you'd ideally want to build your franchise around a talented big (or sometimes a transcendent distributor). But the top of this list is dominated by swingmen.

 

Did some players vote for Pau and Bynum just to piss off Kobe?

 

I want to see a poll asking the current star players which coach they would want to play for.

 

Durant is unique in that he is probably the only superstar in the league who is extremely effective without the ball, so yes guys like Rubio and Rondo could benefit him a lot.

Melo on the other hand not so much because he dominates the ball, as we are seeing right now he and Lin are struggling to co-exist.

But in the end, if you want to start a franchise from scratch, it would make sense to start with a guy who could score the ball efficiently over a guy who could pass the ball efficiently. Because no matter how well you pass, it won't get you anywhere if your teammates can't finish.

 

No respect for the reigning Finals MVP.

 

No Dirk?

 

Where's Rudy Gay? He should be right there with Durant.

 

I would build around yao