If you're the owner of an NBA team, who would you choose as your franchise player?

[giordunk]

I assume most of you guys will be picking someone in the top 10-15ish range.

Obviously, consider their production on the court, but also think about their personalities - Jordan is cutthroat, Shaq is a goofball, Tim Duncan is more low maintenance, LeBron is 'LeGM', etc., etc., etc.,

Also consider other things like finances - a perimeter guy probably means more $$ than a big man.

Will see how some others respond first. I have a few names in mind.

[TT8198]

Giannis pretty easily

Sent from my SM-G975U using RealGM mobile app

[Colbinii]

Duncan or Curry

[penbeast0]

Don't think the money argument holds up. Anyone being chosen at this rate is getting max money at every possible opportunity, even if they are as unassuming as Tim Duncan.

That said, where is my franchise? What are my financial resources?

I'd take a David Robinson over a Hakeem Olujawon for most franchises (excepting LA/NY) despite rating Hakeem higher as he is less likely to threaten to leave, create drama, or otherwise make owning the franchise a less enjoyable experience.

[scrabbarista]

Don't think the money argument holds up. Anyone being chosen at this rate is getting max money at every possible opportunity, even if they are as unassuming as Tim Duncan.

That said, where is my franchise? What are my financial resources?

I'd take a David Robinson over a Hakeem Olujawon for most franchises (excepting LA/NY) despite rating Hakeem higher as he is less likely to threaten to leave, create drama, or otherwise make owning the franchise a less enjoyable experience.

Also less likely to carry a team to a championship.

[scrabbarista]

I got Duncan!!!

Then Jordan, Dirk, Kareem, and LeBron rounding out my top five, respectively.

[LesGrossman]

I would not want to deal with someone who wanted to dictate each and every aspect of my franchise including roster composition, coaching, agent, media policy and so on, just to threaten to leave constantly if i would be unwilling to pay obscene luxury tax. I'd go for someone who stresses himself before stressing everyone else, someone who would see the main purpose in winning, not "growing his brand".

So, Jordan, Bird, Kobe, Dirk, Timmy, KD, Giannis, Steph.

[ardee]

I would take LeBron and actually ensure I do a good job putting a competent team around him.

It took the 2003-10 Cavs management being completely hapless to get LeBron to leave the first time. By not taking him you're basically throwing your hands up from the beginning and declaring that you know you're unable to to do better than that. I'd back myself to hire the right people and back LeBron to win titles for my org.

[Jaivl]

I would not want to deal with someone who wanted to dictate each and every aspect of my franchise including roster composition, coaching, agent, media policy and so on, just to threaten to leave constantly if i would be unwilling to pay obscene luxury tax. I'd go for someone who stresses himself before stressing everyone else, someone who would see the main purpose in winning, not "growing his brand".

So, Jordan, Bird, Kobe, Dirk, Timmy, KD, Giannis, Steph.

LMAO

[jalengreen]

A question like this is always tough for me because on one hand, I don't think that a player like LeBron would spend his entire career with a team even in a strong situation like Steph's Warriors. But I also can't just assume that players like Duncan and Curry would be "lifers" for a bad team.

If I'm an incompetent owner, give me LeBron. Not sure I can be confident in *anyone* staying for an extended period of time and I definitely don't expect him to stick around forever, but LeBron's probably got the best chance to overcome my incompetence and win me a chip in the time I have with him.

If I'm a more competent owner, I'd take Duncan. Probably the best player who I can also be confident in having stick around for their career.

[jalengreen]

I would not want to deal with someone who wanted to dictate each and every aspect of my franchise including roster composition, coaching, agent, media policy and so on, just to threaten to leave constantly if i would be unwilling to pay obscene luxury tax. I'd go for someone who stresses himself before stressing everyone else, someone who would see the main purpose in winning, not "growing his brand".

So, Jordan, Bird, Kobe, Dirk, Timmy, KD, Giannis, Steph.

my GOAT accidentally won four rings while focused on growing his brand. imagine what he could do if he was trying to win?

[Mazter]

I would take LeBron and actually ensure I do a good job putting a competent team around him.

It took the 2003-10 Cavs management being completely hapless to get LeBron to leave the first time. By not taking him you're basically throwing your hands up from the beginning and declaring that you know you're unable to to do better than that. I'd back myself to hire the right people and back LeBron to win titles for my org.

Yeah, I second this. If Lebron had the proper expertise around him from the start he probably wouldn't have felt the need to become LeGM. I mean, Jordan wanted all sort of things early in his career without getting it from Krause. Then Krause hit the jackpot with Pippen, Grant and then Phil/Tex and then Jordan knew he wasn't needed in the FO.

[LesGrossman]

I would not want to deal with someone who wanted to dictate each and every aspect of my franchise including roster composition, coaching, agent, media policy and so on, just to threaten to leave constantly if i would be unwilling to pay obscene luxury tax. I'd go for someone who stresses himself before stressing everyone else, someone who would see the main purpose in winning, not "growing his brand".

So, Jordan, Bird, Kobe, Dirk, Timmy, KD, Giannis, Steph.

my GOAT accidentally won four rings while focused on growing his brand. imagine what he could do if he was trying to win?

Maybe you're too young to remember it. Its something he said himself in a very early interview. As a team owner, do you wnt to deny that he is among the most difficult characters to deal with? Do you think he is low mainteneance?

[jalengreen]

I would not want to deal with someone who wanted to dictate each and every aspect of my franchise including roster composition, coaching, agent, media policy and so on, just to threaten to leave constantly if i would be unwilling to pay obscene luxury tax. I'd go for someone who stresses himself before stressing everyone else, someone who would see the main purpose in winning, not "growing his brand".

So, Jordan, Bird, Kobe, Dirk, Timmy, KD, Giannis, Steph.

my GOAT accidentally won four rings while focused on growing his brand. imagine what he could do if he was trying to win?

Maybe you're too young to remember it. Its something he said himself in a very early interview. As a team owner, do you wnt to deny that he is among the most difficult characters to deal with? Do you think he is low mainteneance?

i just think it's very impressive for someone to win 4 rings if their main purpose isn't to win.

[MartinToVaught]

All-time? LeBron or Duncan.
Right now? Giannis, Kawhi, Jokic or Luka are all great options.

[HeartBreakKid]

All-time? LeBron or Duncan.
Right now? Giannis, Kawhi, Jokic or Luka are all great options.

You think Kawhi is as safe of a pick as those other 3 considering he's insanely injury prone and he left his first franchise which was a well ran one in controversial fashion so he can go to LA? (unless you're assuming you are one of the 2/30 teams that are based in LA)

[HeartBreakKid]

I would not want to deal with someone who wanted to dictate each and every aspect of my franchise including roster composition, coaching, agent, media policy and so on, just to threaten to leave constantly if i would be unwilling to pay obscene luxury tax. I'd go for someone who stresses himself before stressing everyone else, someone who would see the main purpose in winning, not "growing his brand".

So, Jordan, Bird, Kobe, Dirk, Timmy, KD, Giannis, Steph.

Also, lol at thinking there would be ZERO problems with Jordan in the age of social media.

Lebron James...has actually never threaten to leave a franchise. He has never demanded a trade which a ton of players including some of the guys you listed have. He's never even been rumored to demand a trade - becoming a free agent is not demanding a threatening your franchise of leaving.

Jordan absolutely would leave your franchise if you weren't winning with him. Lmao at him being the ultimate competitor and thinking he'd stick around on the Bobcats.

[MartinToVaught]

All-time? LeBron or Duncan.
Right now? Giannis, Kawhi, Jokic or Luka are all great options.

You think Kawhi is as safe of a pick as those other 3 considering he's insanely injury prone and he left his first franchise which was a well ran one in controversial fashion so he can go to LA? (unless you're assuming you are one of the 2/30 teams that are based in LA)

No doubt, injuries are a concern with Kawhi. It's unfortunate, but it is what it is. But he steps up his game in the playoffs and he's not making a fool out of himself in the media or on social media every day like some of these other stars. When he got traded somewhere he didn't want to be, he showed up and led them to a ring with professionalism and class. I've had no complaints with Kawhi as the Clippers' franchise player. You could do a lot worse than him as your main guy.

[RCM88x]

I mean obviously this is Lebron or Jordan or perhaps a Magic Johnson if you consider him to be in that S tier of perimeter player for todays game. Maybe there's a spot for a Curry and Kobe in that place too, but I would put them in a lower tier than the 3 aforementioned guys. Perhaps Bird in past eras when the game wasn't quite as perimeter based and his value for being white might have been higher, Jerry West could be another guy in this tier too bc he's probably the best pure perimeter white guy ever.

In todays game I'd put any pure big in a tier below these guys even if its a Kareem or Duncan, just not as marketable and not quite as easy to put a team around since you're instantly looking for an elite perimeter guy to pair them with.

[Tim Lehrbach]

Four names jump immediately to mind:
Bill Russell
Tim Duncan
Stephen Curry
Dirk Nowitzki