http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ime/index.html
Well deserved Iam Thompsen puts him as a starter with Bird, Russell, Jordan, Magic. (I like the reserve selections as well, although it might be a tough call to leave off Kobe but he gives a decent reason.)
My All-Time Team
Russell anchors starting lineup; Wilt, Kobe miss cut
Posted: Thursday August 16, 2007 12:24PM; Updated: Thursday August 16, 2007 3:43PM
By Ian Thomsen
This week SI.com let four writers live out a GM's dream. The assignment? Pick three Dream Teams in each of the four major team sports: one for the best of all-time, one built to win right now and one built for five years from now. Each team features a complete roster of players, including reserves, as well as coaches. Check out our experts' picks, then weigh in with your thoughts.
The league has changed drastically from the time of Bill Russell to that of Kobe Bryant, so I looked for dominance within eras, with the emphasis on winning championships. In this league, the best players dominate the playoffs, which is why Shaquille O'Neal makes it and Wilt Chamberlain doesn't: The former ruled his era, while the latter finished a distant second in the postseason to Russell.
Every player on this list won a championship and 10 of them were league MVPs -- the exceptions being John Havlicek and Jerry West, whose inclusions are beyond question. The tough call was Bryant, who was on my original list. But I couldn't include him at the expense of Bob Cousy, who won All-NBA first-team honors for 10 straight years, including the four prior to Russell's arrival in Boston.
FRONTCOURT
SF | Larry Bird | Boston Celtics (1979-92)
More athletic in the open court over the first half of his career than legend has it, Bird was a threat to score or assist from any spot on the floor. He is arguably the greatest clutch shooter in history.
PF | Tim Duncan | San Antonio Spurs (1997-present)
The greatest power forward in history, he has become the Bill Russell of his generation. In an era when power forward is the NBA's best position, Duncan is at the top of the list as the league's most versatile player at both ends of the court.
C | Bill Russell | Boston Celtics (1956-69)
Eleven championships in 13 years, including eight in a row. He invented the blocked shot and established the precedent that rings were more important than scoring les. Russell is far and away the most important and influential player in the history of the game.
BACKCOURT
PG | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers (1979-91, '95-96)
With an unprecedented blend of size, open-floor athleticism and leadership, he led the Lakers to five championships and nine NBA Finals in 12 years -- a run that is second only to Russell's.
SG | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls (1984-93, '94-98), Washington Wizards (2001-03)
He led the league in scoring each of the six years that he led the Bulls to a championship. Only George Mikan (twice, in 1949-50 and '51-52), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970-71) and Shaquille O'Neal (1999-2000) have been able to pull off that trick.
COACH
Coach | Red Auerbach | Washington Capitols (1946-49), Tri-Cities Blackhawks (1949-50), Boston Celtics (1950-66)
I'm going with Red on the basis of originality and courage, for putting forth the first all-black starting five in racist Boston. His relationships with players set the standard for future generations of coaches, as did his offensive and defensive systems. Phil Jackson has faced an entirely different set of cir stances in his era, and has done practically as well -- so no argument here for those who would prefer to put Jackson in this chair.
RESERVES
POSITION PLAYER
C Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal
F Bob Pet , John Havlicek
G Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Bob Cousy
ibtl
Hmph, my beef is only at the C spot. Shaq doesn't belong there, certainly not over Hakeem.
Whoosh- Go Timmy!
Haha. Shaq made it and Kobe didn't.
Each of the starters are/were the dominant player(s) of their respective decades. Go Timmy - no wonder it is such a joy to watch him play.Whoosh- Go Timmy!
Haha. Shaq made it and Kobe didn't.
I am not sure why Kobe is even in this discussion. He has never won a regular season or Finals MVP. As a pure scorer Dominique Wilkins and George Gervin were as good or better. Bryant is a cancer who does not value winning enough.
Lol @ Kobe.
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