RealGM

Team CA can use any player from a season they played for a California team. Team NBA gets its pick from all remaining players at their peak. 12-man teams.

With current rules/refs, who wins a best of 7?

Team CA
1987 Magic / 2016 Steph / 2015 CP3
2006 Kobe / 1966 West
2020 LeBron / 2021 Kawhi
2017 Durant / 2020 AD
1964 Wilt / 2000 Shaq / 1977 Kareem

Other candidates: 1961 Baylor, 1975 Barry, 2016 Draymond

Team NBA
1964 Oscar / 2019 Harden
1991 Jordan / 2009 Wade
1986 Bird / 1976 Dr. J / 1992 Pippen
2004 Garnett / 2011 Dirk
1995 Hakeem / 2003 Duncan / 1962 Russell

Other candidates: 2007 Nash, 1993 Barkley, 1989 Stockton, 2021 Jokic

Suggestions welcome for better peak years or lineup alterations. The center rotation above is meant to be highly variable, as I have no idea who to start between Wilt, Shaq and Kareem.

(a) I'd certainly be starting peak Curry next to Magic over Kobe, probably using West as 3rd guard. Kobe was great for a long time but for Curry's shorter peak/prime, he's better and a better fit off ball with Magic.

(b) For team NBA, I'd be starting Russell if you are considering Wilt. That means you aren't using a time machine approach which means Russell is the most dominant player to ever play the game lessened by however much you are discounting the 60s. Relative to Hakeem, Russell gives you higher BBIQ, better rebounding, probably better defene, and probably a slight passing edge and with all those scorers, Hakeem's big advantage of superior post offense is significantly less important. Don't particularly care for 86 Bird at the 3 defensively, would probably use him as 6th man covering both forward spots with Doc or Wade (Jordan moving to the 3) starting although the spacing issue might convince me.

penbeast0 wrote:(a) I'd certainly be starting peak Curry next to Magic over Kobe, probably using West as 3rd guard. Kobe was great for a long time but for Curry's shorter peak/prime, he's better and a better fit off ball with Magic.

(b) For team NBA, I'd be starting Russell if you are considering Wilt. That means you aren't using a time machine approach which means Russell is the most dominant player to ever play the game lessened by however much you are discounting the 60s. Relative to Hakeem, Russell gives you higher BBIQ, better rebounding, probably better defene, and probably a slight passing edge and with all those scorers, Hakeem's big advantage of superior post offense is significantly less important. Don't particularly care for 86 Bird at the 3 defensively, would probably use him as 6th man covering both forward spots with Doc or Wade (Jordan moving to the 3) starting although the spacing issue might convince me.

I would let Magic lead the bench but move LeBron to run the team.
LeBron/Steph/Kawhi/Durant/Wilt