Your best all time fantasy starting five

[DCasey91]

Alright mate have a good one no use talking to a gaslighter.

[penbeast0]

Despite my last post (sorry) and assuming healthy and willing prime . . .

Frazier
Moncrief
Kawhi
Bobby Jones
Bill Russell

Smartest defense of all time, with ATG point of attack at two points plus great stocks from both bigs, all 5 move the ball well, enough scoring with Frazier, Moncrief, and Kawhi all around 20 ppg plus 15 from Bobby Jones (on near the best fg% in the league with a lot of corner moves he showed when playing and hopefully a developed corner 3 to go with it) and Russell as a facilitator scoring mainly off offensive rebounds and open interior looks.

There are only so many shots to pass out but there is always a need for ATG defenders.

I think both Pippen and Lebron offer more defensively tbh (and by impact data, adjusted or raw) Lebron kind of clears Leonard). especially with the the other players you've picked, think the advantage in terms of paint-protection outweighs the man defense

Probably. Kawhi gave me a 3 point shooter which Pippen isn't and I was trying to avoid the great scorers in favor of good, really efficient scorers or I'd definitely pick LeBron over Bobby Jones, much as I like Jones.

[OhayoKD]

Despite my last post (sorry) and assuming healthy and willing prime . . .

Frazier
Moncrief
Kawhi
Bobby Jones
Bill Russell

Smartest defense of all time, with ATG point of attack at two points plus great stocks from both bigs, all 5 move the ball well, enough scoring with Frazier, Moncrief, and Kawhi all around 20 ppg plus 15 from Bobby Jones (on near the best fg% in the league with a lot of corner moves he showed when playing and hopefully a developed corner 3 to go with it) and Russell as a facilitator scoring mainly off offensive rebounds and open interior looks.

There are only so many shots to pass out but there is always a need for ATG defenders.

I think both Pippen and Lebron offer more defensively tbh (and by impact data, adjusted or raw) Lebron kind of clears Leonard). especially with the the other players you've picked, think the advantage in terms of paint-protection outweighs the man defense

Probably. Kawhi gave me a 3 point shooter which Pippen isn't and I was trying to avoid the great scorers in favor of good, really efficient scorers or I'd definitely pick LeBron over Bobby Jones, much as I like Jones.

Hmm, how about AD?

[penbeast0]

I think both Pippen and Lebron offer more defensively tbh (and by impact data, adjusted or raw) Lebron kind of clears Leonard). especially with the the other players you've picked, think the advantage in terms of paint-protection outweighs the man defense

Probably. Kawhi gave me a 3 point shooter which Pippen isn't and I was trying to avoid the great scorers in favor of good, really efficient scorers or I'd definitely pick LeBron over Bobby Jones, much as I like Jones.

Hmm, how about AD?

Over LeBron or over Russell? I was picking for BBIQ and defense first, AD seems smart but not LeBron/Russell/Jones level of smart.

[OhayoKD]

Probably. Kawhi gave me a 3 point shooter which Pippen isn't and I was trying to avoid the great scorers in favor of good, really efficient scorers or I'd definitely pick LeBron over Bobby Jones, much as I like Jones.

Hmm, how about AD?

Over LeBron or over Russell? I was picking for BBIQ and defense first, AD seems smart but not LeBron/Russell/Jones level of smart.

Over Jones specifically

[penbeast0]

Frankly if I want to run a two big man offense, I'll take Duncan or Garnett over AD. If I want to use a combo forward who can switch out and guard 3's, Bobby Jones or LeBron do a better job at that particular skill.

[DCasey91]

Alright I got it:

PG: Curry
SG: Jordan
SF: Kawhi (Spurs DPOY version)
PF: James
C: Duncan

I get 10+ C&S, still keep the elbow hub through James/Duncan.

Jordan played with Pippen, James played with Wade, Curry played with Green which becomes James respectively (you can see where this is going) and Duncan obviously played with Leonard. Upgraded their counterparts.

I can't find a proper wing that hits 40+++% at that volume from the corners all the while being DPOY standard. Could be wrong but in a funny way I do think Kawhi is automatic if going by best results. Legitimately in that 3&D role there's others that may have a claim but his strength is just superior. Did I mention he is dumb strong?

I don't like twin towers with only one range shooter the same deal with wings or pfs that aren't spreading the court. How is it going to look operationally?
Whose the kickout/valve going to be when Curry is covered? (Which he most certainly can be). Logically Kawhi is the perfect fit

Jordan, Leonard and James can roam when need be or switch and attack double bigs with blitzes. Traditional 3/2 or 4/1 setup. Still got the elbow hub Duncan/James hitting cutters. Defence is great, offence is great. Billups was my other option for a different tempo but Curry's shooting is too hard to pass up.

The other one is more interesting but objectively I think this is the best team just about.

Watch on YouTube

This was a glimpse but yeah 2015-16 version, all 5 players fit seamingless together. It's easy to imagine Curry as the guard and Jordan/Bron as the finisher.

I really can't think of a better team the more I think about it.

At the end of the day wing shooting and pressure kills you doesn't matter what defence there possibly is imho.

[Larry_Russell]

This is quite easy

PG: Steph Curry
----- Greatest shooter of all time, his gravity and off ball ability is great for the SG and the C
SG: Michael Jordan
----- Come one, the goat
SF: Larry Bird
----- Triple double threat, willing to do whatever it took to win, a leader to help Mike, relentless drive, floor spacing and playmaking (could go Kawhi here, or even Durant)
PF: Tim Duncan
----- Greatest PG of all time, his defense and ability to space to the midrange, make the correct play and move the ball is essential next to the C ( I almost went Dirk here, but like the defense in the front court beside Jokic)
C: Nikola Jokic
----- He and Steph and Jordan would be a cheat code offensively and unstoppable.

[uberhikari]

Steph Curry (2017)
Jerry West (1966)
LeBron James (2016)
Kevin Garnett (2004)
David Robinson (1995)

[scrabbarista]

Alright. Seems easy now that '23 (or '25!?!?) Jokic exists.

I'll take

Jokic
Duncan
James
Jordan
Curry

Might not be the best possible five on Day One, but give them a year or more to gel and establish ideal roles, and I like them against anyone.

EDIT: The Kawhi for Duncan and Bird for James above are great picks, too. I ultimately like my team's size, physicality, and IQ over those options.

[spree8]

I think the obvious 1-2-3 is Steph, Jordan, Lebron, but 4-5 is tougher. I’d be torn between KG-Duncan at the 4 and Dream-Joker at the 5. I’d prob lean KG-Dream, but the idea of Joker with all those guys, man, that’s prob 200 points a night.

Steph
Jordan
LeBron
Garnett
Jokić

Lawd

[OhayoKD]

Frankly if I want to run a two big man offense, I'll take Duncan or Garnett over AD. If I want to use a combo forward who can switch out and guard 3's, Bobby Jones or LeBron do a better job at that particular skill.

Not so sure on that. From LA-Por tracking in 2020, AD did very well as the primary guy on one Damian Lillard with minimal help. AD also rolls better than all 4 which is nice add next to Frazier.

[penbeast0]

Frankly if I want to run a two big man offense, I'll take Duncan or Garnett over AD. If I want to use a combo forward who can switch out and guard 3's, Bobby Jones or LeBron do a better job at that particular skill.

Not so sure on that. From LA-Por tracking in 2020, AD did very well as the primary guy on one Damian Lillard with minimal help. AD also rolls better than all 4 which is nice add next to Frazier.

I'll go back and watch that series, thanks.

[Gibson22]

Not gonna lie my team is better than you guys'

[Ol Roy]

Not gonna lie my team is better than you guys'

West is a great pick. I don't think people realize how good his defense was. And his shooting would absolutely translate today.

I personally don't pick Leonard for these exercises because his peak is shorter than I feel comfortable with. But, if you go that route, you might also want to pick Bill Walton. He was a legitimately great defender and opens up so much with his passing. He'd be a strong counter to those picking Jokic.

[CodeBreaker]

West
Jordan
Durant
Giannis
Jokic

My team is beating any team by at least 15 points.

[MacGill]

Magic
MJ
Pip
KG
Shaq

Takes as many 3's as you like, it won't even matter!

[SlimShady83]

My all defense 5 by position
Payton, Jordan, Pippen (was tough but went with Pippen), Rodman (also tough but like Rodman), Russell

My all offense 5 by position
Iverson, Jordan, Bird, Nowitzki, Shaq

My all 3point shooting 5 by position
Curry, Miller, KD??, Nowitzki, Lopez?

My all favourite 5 by position
Jason Williams, Black Mamba, Carter, Nowitzki, Shaq

[Djoker]

PG: Curry
SG: Jordan
SF: Bird
PF: Russell
C: Kareem

And yep I went with Bill Russell at PF! If he played on the same team as Kareem he would be one.

[flaco]

This is quite easy

PG: Steph Curry
----- Greatest shooter of all time, his gravity and off ball ability is great for the SG and the C
SG: Michael Jordan
----- Come one, the goat
SF: Larry Bird
----- Triple double threat, willing to do whatever it took to win, a leader to help Mike, relentless drive, floor spacing and playmaking (could go Kawhi here, or even Durant)
PF: Tim Duncan
----- Greatest PG of all time, his defense and ability to space to the midrange, make the correct play and move the ball is essential next to the C ( I almost went Dirk here, but like the defense in the front court beside Jokic)
C: Nikola Jokic
----- He and Steph and Jordan would be a cheat code offensively and unstoppable.

Can't start 2 drop bigs in the modern era. Neither Jokic nor Timmy can defend the perimeter. If they drop, they allow the open 3. If they close out to contest, they risk getting exposed off the dribble. I believe Timmy would have been strictly a 5 in the modern game.

Steph
Jordan
Kawhi
KG
Jokic

Opting for Kawhi over Larry cause I think an elite defender would prove more helpful than yet another shot creator. Seems more balanced this way: 3 elite defenders, 3 elite scoring options, 1 elite facilitator.