Your starting five NBA all time.........

[JIHawg]

Center-Bill Russell, got to start with defense and rebounding and toughness.  He could shut down a team by himself.

PG-Magic-creates matchup problems, great passer
SG-MJ-the greatest player ever
Power Forward-tough call, I'd put Dr. J here, he's got to be on the team.
S. F.-Larry Bird-Nobody ever stopped him.

[T-Wacker]

Wow, Chamberlain was by far a better defender, rebounder, and scorer than Russell. Russell had the luxury of playing with a loaded team, Chamberlain was by himself most years. Calling MJ the greatest ever is odd considering Chamberlain actually made the NBA change rules to slow him down while MJ benefitted from the NBA protecting stars. No way to compare players from the early years due to the obvious protection. MJ was bailed out countless times by the league to boost attendance and build the league. Magic and Bird probably started the trend, but MJ benefitted greatly. You see it now with LaBron, Bryant, etc. Any best 5 ever players without Wilt is ridiculous. When Chamberlain, The Big O, etc. played, defense was still a part of the game. During the MJ era, scores were the only important stat. Teams never played defense and the scores were always in triple digits.

[Beaverfever]

No way Shaq isn't the center. 

[Oliver]

My starting five NBA All Time would be...

C - Oliver Miller
PF - Shawn Kemp
PF - Gheorghe "My Giant" Muresan
SG - Šarūnas Marčiulionis
SG - "Thunder" Dan Majerle

[Oliver]

Two fat men, a giant and a dead man. Impressive.

A dead man?

[Oliver]

My bad. I suppose I got Sarunas Marciulionis confused with another European that died back in the day. Wasn't there one that died while on Golden State's roster?

I can't blame you at all for thinking that somebody from the Golden State Warriors was dead.  Somebody from today's team could die and I doubt even Golden State fans would realize it. 

It was really hard for me to leave Bryant "Big Country" Reeves off my starting 5.  I almost slashlisted him with Muresan as the starting PF.

[Oliver]

This is going to drive me nuts. I'm not thinking of Drazen Petrovic, but I swear another European died sometime in the offseason in the mid 90s. I will not rest until I figure out why I think this.

Petrovic is the only one I can think of.

[kingofdequeen]

C - Chamberlain
PF - Barkley
SF - Le Bron
SG - Jordan
PG - oscar robertson

[Pork Twain]

Starting 5
C - Shaq
PF - Karl Malone
SF - Larry Bird
SG - MJ
PG - Magic

Bench
C -  Kareem
PF - Charles Barkley
SF - Lebron
SG - Kobe
PG - John Stockton

[Pork Twain]

Dražen Petrović

[ErieHog]

I'd flip things around a little, and go with complementary skill sets for my 12 man roster:

PG-  John Stockton;   yes, Magic was flashier, but was never the defender or shooter that Stockton was; I need a PG who makes the most of limited scoring opportunities, and who will run the set offense as well as he runs the break.  Magic on the bench gives me the ultimate in versatility --- a guy who I can bring off the bench to play any of the 1-3 spots very well against almost anyone.

SG- Jordan:  Clutch guy;  fantastic coming off screens, and working smaller guards to the baseline.   Selfish enough to take the ball when you need the shot, even around other great players.

SF- Charles Barkley:  Tenacious rebounder;  moved extremely well for his size and speed, especially early in his career; an underrated defender, even if he could have trouble with elite guys off of the bounce.

PF- Bird:  Devastating on the pick and roll; dangerous on the pick and pop.  Solid rebounder, phenomenal passer, and a second big-shot option for this squad.   Outstanding decisions with the ball in the open floor.

C- Russell:  The ultimate team player and winner; great rebounder and defender.   Made others much better, without having to have the ball run through him, like so many other great 5s.


Bench:
G: Magic
G: Bob Cousy
SG/SF: Oscar Robertson
F: Garnett
F: Duncan
C: Hakeem, Wilt


Some guys are omitted, obviously, due to playing style.  Shaq, at his prime, could not function as a team's 3rd option.   LeBron may be on his way to the list.  Malone didn't defend enough, and couldn't be counted on under pressure.   Dwight Howard is the one guy in the league with the potential to really shake the list up, if he plays long enough and lives up to his potential.

Oh-- and someone, no, probably everyone on this team would take Kobe out back after the first practice, and kick the sh*t out of him.

[kingofdequeen]

I agree about Howard. If he can somehow develop anything close to a consistent offensive game, he will be unstoppable.

kinda like Shaq for a decade?

[ErieHog]

kinda like Shaq for a decade?

Nah.  Shaq had to be 'the guy' to get his offense in;  Howard, if he ever develops an offensive game, will do it within the framework of the Orlando offense, not as the centerpiece.

He's a much better defender than Shaq ever was, and is a more consistent rebounder on both ends of the court.  He needs to improve on passing out of the double down, and develop a drop step, but  that's nitpicking at this point.

[kibster]

C:  Kareem
PF: McHale
SF: Bird
SG: Jordan
PG:  Magic

BENCH:
C:  Wilt,  David Robinson (in his prime the man put up quadruple doubles)
PF:  Barkley
SF:  Lebron, Oscar Robertson
SG: Jerry West
PG: Stockton, Bob Cousey

[ErieHog]

First and foremost, he needs to learn to keep the damn ball up and away from pesky little defenders like Derek Fisher. AHHH!!!!

See the 'pass out of the double down' ?  No ball, no worries about the likes of Fisher.

[kingofdequeen]

Nah.  Shaq had to be 'the guy' to get his offense in;  Howard, if he ever develops an offensive game, will do it within the framework of the Orlando offense, not as the centerpiece.

He's a much better defender than Shaq ever was, and is a more consistent rebounder on both ends of the court.  He needs to improve on passing out of the double down, and develop a drop step, but  that's nitpicking at this point.

if howard were to develop said game, he'd BE the centerpiece.  Shaq was THE guy...and not just because he had to be.   Shaq has won championships w/ 2 different squads, and played within the framework of both offenses.  Don't confuse Shaq at PHX w/ Shaq elsewhare.

He also won a lot at Orlando w/ a crap squad (sans Penny at times, and Nick Anderson, who was a pretty solid player).

Howard isn't the centerpiece of his offense b/c that offense is based on the 3.  That offense is based on Turkoglu and Lewis w/ howard playing garbageman.

[ErieHog]

if howard were to develop said game, he'd BE the centerpiece.  Shaq was THE guy...and not just because he had to be.   Shaq has won championships w/ 2 different squads, and played within the framework of both offenses.  Don't confuse Shaq at PHX w/ Shaq elsewhare.

He also won a lot at Orlando w/ a crap squad (sans Penny at times, and Nick Anderson, who was a pretty solid player).

Howard isn't the centerpiece of his offense b/c that offense is based on the 3.  That offense is based on Turkoglu and Lewis w/ howard playing garbageman.

I'd disagree;  even if he suddenly had a drop step and a reliable jump hook, the Orlando offense is not designed to go through him, nor would it change to do so.

Shaq, even the youngest Shaq, simply wasn't the same caliber of defender-- and that's saying a lot more about Howard, than it is about Shaq.    Unlike Shaq, who was a beefy, powerful on-the-man defender in the post,  Howard plays the ball much better,  and is a similar quality of on-man defender.

[bd93]

Starting 5
PG:Stockton
SG:MJ
SF: Larry Bird(best white man to ever play the game)
PF: Sir Charles Barkley
C: Wilt Chamberneezie

Bench
PG: Magic Johnson
SG: Oscar Robinson/Kobe
SF: Dr.J/ Lebron
PF: Timmy Duncan
C:  Karrem Abdul-Jabbar

[Niels Boar]

I can't believe how many people left Kareem off the team.  The single most unstoppable halfcourt shot in the history of the NBA is the sky hook.  With all due respect to the great Bill Russell, he was only 6' 10''.  In the modern game he would be more of a PF/C combo, I suspect.  He would not have been able to guard Kareem.  I love his intelligence and ferocity, but he was a career 44% from the field, which is poor for a center.  Kareem actually had a higher FG% than Wilt against better overall competition at center and was career 72% at the line.  Shaq, Russell, and Wilt barely broke 50%.  You could give Kareem the ball in crunch time and fouling him wasn't an option.  As for Shaq, if the NBA would call the charge as it appears in the rule book, he would not be on this list, though his career stats say he does belong.  Shaq seems like a good guy but is my least favorite player to watch in NBA history.   

C - Kareem (Wilt, Olajuwon, Moses)
PF - Duncan (Russell, McHale, Barkley) 
SF - Bird (Lebron, Erving, Worthy)
SG - Jordan (Robertson, Kobe, West)
PG - Magic (Stockton, Thomas, Cousy)

true sixth men - Havlicek (Micheal Cooper, Bobby Jones)

[HawgAdvocate]

C- The Dream
PF - The Big Ticket
SF - King James
SG - MJ
PG - The Big O

Unstoppable

[clifflee4mvp]

Wilt the Stilt
Duncan
Lebron
Jordan
Magic

bench
Shaq
Barkley
Bird
Kobe
Maravich

[ruarealhogfan]

PG- Magic
SG- Jordan
SF- Dr. J
PF- Bird
C- Wilt

Bench
Kobe
Lebron
Russell
Oscar
Shaq

Can you imagine Jordan & Dr. J running the floor waiting for one of those sweet no-look passes from Magic.  Wilt could more than handle the boards & Bird can shoot from anywhere...

[Overtheroadtruckdriver]

C- wilt.             Pf- russell.         Sf-bird.             Sg- jordan.          Pg-magic.             No way can anyone say there's a better starting five. Defense, all can pass and all proved they were capable of sacrificing stats for team success (wilt lead the league in assists one year, didn't he?) No reason to have to choose between russell amd wilt. Put them both out there.

[Section B]

C- Kareem
PG- Magic
SG- Jordan
SF- Dr J
PF- Bird

[Beaverfever]

I'll admit I never saw Chamberlain or Russell play but they'd have to be pretty damn good to be better than Shaq was in his prime.  Shaq is the most dominant offensive player I have ever seen and that includes Kobe and Jordan.  I am about as big of a Kobe fan as they come, but he was the sidekick in the lakers run.  The 3peat was all about Shaq.

[ErieHog]

I'll admit I never saw Chamberlain or Russell play but they'd have to be pretty damn good to be better than Shaq was in his prime.  Shaq is the most dominant offensive player I have ever seen and that includes Kobe and Jordan.  I am about as big of a Kobe fan as they come, but he was the sidekick in the lakers run.  The 3peat was all about Shaq.

Shaq barely cracks the Top 5 all-time at C.

I'd take Russel, Chamberlain, Kareem, and Hakeem over him.

[Pork Twain]

I would take Shaq in his prime over any of them.  Of course comparing them all is difficult do to the era they played in.

[Beaverfever]

Shaq barely cracks the Top 5 all-time at C.

I'd take Russel, Chamberlain, Kareem, and Hakeem over him.

How many of those guys did you see play?

[Pork Twain]

He probably watched them all as rookies.

[ruarealhogfan]

Shaq barely cracks the Top 5 all-time at C.

I'd take Russel, Chamberlain, Kareem, and Hakeem over him.

Russell is a PF at best in these times, imagine a 6'9 maybe even 6'10 215-220 lb Bill Russell trying to stop Shaq down low...

[bao187]

PG-Magic Johnson
SG-Michael Jordan
SF-Julius Erving
PF-Tim Duncan
C-Shaquille O'neal

Bench
PG-Isaiah Thomas, John Stockton
SG-Kobe Bryant
SF-Larry Bird
PF-Karl Malone, Charles Barkley
C-Bill Russell

[Pork Twain]

Russell is a PF at best in these times, imagine a 6'9 maybe even 6'10 215-220 lb Bill Russell trying to stop Shaq down low...

That is why I say there is no "right" answer, just everyone's favorite.  Different times, different competition levels, different types of play.

[ErieHog]

Russell is a PF at best in these times, imagine a 6'9 maybe even 6'10 215-220 lb Bill Russell trying to stop Shaq down low...

He'd own Shaq.  Wilt was the Shaq of his day-- and would match up extremely favorably with Shaq in most regards-- and Russell owned him too.

[clifflee4mvp]

He'd own Shaq.  Wilt was the Shaq of his day-- and would match up extremely favorably with Shaq in most regards-- and Russell owned him too.

you are comparing a guy nicknamed the stilt (tall, but not huge) to a guy nicknamed Diesel(tall and huge)?

[ErieHog]

you are comparing a guy nicknamed the stilt (tall, but not huge) to a guy nicknamed Diesel(tall and huge)?

Absolutely-- and Shaq loses every single comparison, save weight;  both were 7'1;  Wilt was by far the more refined offensive player, and Russel owned him in every regard.

This 'Shaq is one of the three elite players of all time' stuff is absolute garbage.

[Overtheroadtruckdriver]

Wilt bench pressed 500 pounds when he worked out with arnold for a conan movie. I doubt many seven footers could match that weight ever, including shaq. Old timers like johnny red kerr talked about how strong wilt was and one time red kerr had his toe broken as wilt threw down a dunk (the ball came through the net so hard it broke his toe). Wilt averaged 50 in a season, lead the league in assists one season, and is generally regarded as the single strongest player in nba history. I'd take wilt, russell, kareem long before shaq, even though I'm a big fan of his. He wasted many years due to excessive weight. I'd bet that basketball people would all agree that shaq would be fourth at best, and I'm not sure I wouldn't rather have hakeem or david robinson if I had to choose a center, as well as maybe bill walton when he was healthy.

[UAalumUALRlaw]

Starting Five: PG-Magic SG-Jordan SF-LeBron PF-Karl Malone C-Shaq

Bench: SF-Elgin Baylor SG-Kobe Bryant C-Wilt Chamberlin PG-John Stockton PG-Jerry West SF-Larry Bird PF-Kevin Garnett

[UAalumUALRlaw]

C- wilt.             Pf- russell.         Sf-bird.             Sg- jordan.          Pg-magic.             No way can anyone say there's a better starting five. Defense, all can pass and all proved they were capable of sacrificing stats for team success (wilt lead the league in assists one year, didn't he?) No reason to have to choose between russell amd wilt. Put them both out there.

The only two that I disagree with you on are pretty subjective anyway I guess. The Shaq v. Wilt debate can never be objectively proven and I wouldn't try to say that either choice is wrong. I grew up watching Bird and I've also been watching LeBron for a few years. Again, impossible choice. The reason I went with LeBron is simply because he is a bigger, more athletic version of Bird, I don't know how to objectively say that either is more talented than the other.

[ErieHog]

The only two that I disagree with you on are pretty subjective anyway I guess. The Shaq v. Wilt debate can never be objectively proven and I wouldn't try to say that either choice is wrong. I grew up watching Bird and I've also been watching LeBron for a few years. Again, impossible choice. The reason I went with LeBron is simply because he is a bigger, more athletic version of Bird, I don't know how to objectively say that either is more talented than the other.

A couple of notes on Lebron v. Bird:  Lebron is shorter (6'8 vs 6'10);  Lebron also has much higher turnover-to-assist rates, and isn't in the same league as a passer at the 3.

[UAalumUALRlaw]

A couple of notes on Lebron v. Bird:  Lebron is shorter (6'8 vs 6'10);  Lebron also has much higher turnover-to-assist rates, and isn't in the same league as a passer at the 3.

And LeBron is faster and has 30 lbs on Bird. Again, I can't argue that Bird isn't the better choice, but I don't really think that I can argue that LeBron isn't either. Utter coin toss.

[Overtheroadtruckdriver]

Bird had game sense, court vision. Passing ability, and was clutch in the clutch like no one else, and could score at will from outside or inside. I hated him when he played because I loved the lakers and magic, but looking back, you've got to give him his due as the best small forward ever in his prime. Lebron is great, but in a game that meant my life, I'd take bird. He would find a way to beat you.

[G-HOG]

Bird had game sense, court vision. Passing ability, and was clutch in the clutch like no one else, and could score at will from outside or inside. I hated him when he played because I loved the lakers and magic, but looking back, you've got to give him his due as the best small forward ever in his prime. Lebron is great, but in a game that meant my life, I'd take bird. He would find a way to beat you.

The "Hick from French Lick" could also talk a mean trash game and back it up.

[Overtheroadtruckdriver]

Bird v. Michael cooper match-ups were classics. Coop was perhaps the most tenacious one on one defender of all time. Bird was slow, couldn't jump, and wasn't half the athlete cooper was. Yet he still found ways to score. Then you had magic on the other side. He was a brilliant floor leader, to me the greatest player ever as far as making his teammates better through his ability to pass. It didn't get any better than that. Not even when jordan had his run.

[husker71]

I've always been a Wilt fan.  When at Kansas he was on the track team and  high jumped 6'6" (the old style) ran legs of their sprint relay and threw the shot and discus.  Also, when he started the league had what 8 teams.  That means some of the other 7 starting centers included Bill Russell, Nate Thurmond (they were teamates for a short time) Willis Reed, Walt Bellamy and Wayne Embry.  That means at least 6 of the 8 starting centers are in the HOF!!

[ruarealhogfan]

A couple of notes on Lebron v. Bird:  Lebron is shorter (6'8 vs 6'10);  Lebron also has much higher turnover-to-assist rates, and isn't in the same league as a passer at the 3.

Bird averaged 6.3 apg & 3.1 to's per game & had 3 seasons with 7+ apg.  Lebron has averaged until this point 6.7 apg & 3.3 topg & already has 3 seasons with 7+ apg.  Those #'s look pretty similar to me, but other than that they are totally different players, I picked Bird on my team as the PF (who for the first time in my life I've seen listed at 6'10) only b/c I had Jordan & Dr. J @ the 2 & 3 to run the floor with Magic & Bird can undoubtedly fill it up from anywhere...

[Beaverfever]

I'd probably take Garnett over Malone and Tim Duncan at Power Forward.  But that's considering I'm building the best team possible and not just picking the most accomplished players at each position.

[UAalumUALRlaw]

I thought about putting Bird at the 4 spot too. The problem with that though, is that Bird would get destroyed down low by K. Malone, M. Malone, Duncan, Garnett, Russell, etc. . .

Bird averaged 6.3 apg & 3.1 to's per game & had 3 seasons with 7+ apg.  Lebron has averaged until this point 6.7 apg & 3.3 topg & already has 3 seasons with 7+ apg.  Those #'s look pretty similar to me, but other than that they are totally different players, I picked Bird on my team as the PF (who for the first time in my life I've seen listed at 6'10) only b/c I had Jordan & Dr. J @ the 2 & 3 to run the floor with Magic & Bird can undoubtedly fill it up from anywhere...

[Pork Twain]

Absolutely-- and Shaq loses every single comparison, save weight;  both were 7'1;  Wilt was by far the more refined offensive player, and Russel owned him in every regard.

This 'Shaq is one of the three elite players of all time' stuff is absolute garbage.

That is your opinion and can in no way be proven.  Just like those with a different opinion.

[RedSatinHog]

Sidney Moncrief would make my lineup.  He was one of the most fierce defenders and competitors in the history of the NBA. 

Don't believe me?  Ask Michael Jordan.

[Amityvillehogger]

C - Shaquille O'Neal
PF - Tim Duncan
SF - Larry Bird
SG - Michael Jordan
PG - John Stockton