If you could pick 5 players in their prime for the ultimate NBA fantasy dream team, who would it be? And do you go old school or new school with active players, or a mixed team? The possibilities are endless though I believe some of my picks should be universal.
Here's my old school dream team with one active player:
Michael Jordan - shooting guard. The consensus greatest all-around player.
Born: 2/17/63 in Brooklyn, N.Y.
High School: Laney (Wilmington, N.C.)
College: North Carolina (won NCAA championship 1982)
Drafted: Chicago Bulls (1984, 1st round - 3rd pick)
Height: 6-6; Weight: 216 lbs.
Honors: Six-time NBA champion (1991-93, '96-98); Five-time NBA MVP (1988, '91, '92, '96, '98); Ten-time NBA First Team (1987-93, 1996-98); Nine-time All-Defensive First Team (1988-93, 1996-98); Fourteen-time All-Star; Rookie of the Year (1985); Olympic gold medalist (1984, '92). In the 1982 NCAA championship he hit the game-winning shot as a freshman for a North Carolina win over Georgetown.
Here's my old school dream team with one active player:
Born: 2/17/63 in Brooklyn, N.Y.
High School: Laney (Wilmington, N.C.)
College: North Carolina (won NCAA championship 1982)
Drafted: Chicago Bulls (1984, 1st round - 3rd pick)
Height: 6-6; Weight: 216 lbs.
Honors: Six-time NBA champion (1991-93, '96-98); Five-time NBA MVP (1988, '91, '92, '96, '98); Ten-time NBA First Team (1987-93, 1996-98); Nine-time All-Defensive First Team (1988-93, 1996-98); Fourteen-time All-Star; Rookie of the Year (1985); Olympic gold medalist (1984, '92). In the 1982 NCAA championship he hit the game-winning shot as a freshman for a North Carolina win over Georgetown.
Magic Johnson - point guard. Magic put the show in the "Showtime" Lakers.
Born: 8/14/59 in Lansing, Michigan
High School: Everett (Lansing)
College: Michigan State (won NCAA championship 1979)
Drafted: L.A. Lakers (1979, 1st round - 1st pick)
Height: 6-9; Weight: 255 lbs.
Honors: Five-time NBA champion (1980, '82, '85, '87-88); Three-time NBA MVP (1987, '89, '90); Nine-time NBA First Team (1983-91); Twelve-time All-Star; Olympic gold medalist (1992). The 1979 NCAA championship featured the beginning of the rivalry between future Hall of Famers Johnson and Larry Bird, remains the highest-rated game in the history of televised college basketball.
Tim Duncan - power forward. The Big Fundamental.
Born: 4/25/76 in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
High School: Saint Dunstan's Episcopal (St. Croix)
College: Wake Forest
Drafted: San Antonio Spurs (1997, 1st round - 1st pick)
Height: 6-11; Weight: 250 lbs.
Honors: Five-time NBA champion (1999, '03, '05, '07, '14); Two-time NBA MVP (2002-03); Ten-time NBA First Team (1998-2005, '07, '13); Eight-time All-Defensive First Team (1999-2003, '05, 2007-08); Fifteen-time All-Star; Rookie of the Year (1998).
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - center. NBA all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points.
Born: 8/16/47 in New York City
High School: Power Memorial (N.Y.)
College: UCLA (won 3 NCAA championships 1967-69)
Drafted: Milwaukee Bucks (1969, 1st round - 1st pick)
Height: 7-2; Weight: 267 lbs.
Honors: Six-time NBA champion (1971, '80, '82, '85, '87-88); Six-time NBA MVP (1971, '72, '74, '76, '77, '80); Ten-time NBA First Team; Five-time All-Defensive First Team; Nineteen-time All-Star; Rookie of the Year (1970).
LeBron James - small forward. Numerous "youngest to" distinctions including youngest player to score 25,000 career points.
Born: 12/30/84 in Akron, Ohio
High School: St. Vincent - St. Mary (Akron)
College: none
Drafted: Cleveland Cavaliers (2003, 1st round - 1st pick)
Height: 6-8; Weight: 250 lbs.
Honors: Three-time NBA champion (2012-13, 16); Four-time NBA MVP (2009, '10, '12, '13); Twelve-time NBA First Team (2006, '08-'16); Five-time All-Defensive First Team (2009-13); Fourteen-time All-Star; Rookie of the Year (2004); Olympic gold medalist (2008, '12).
Here's an active players lineup that is a bit smaller and lighter, but could probably beat anybody because of their athleticism and skills. It's possible that the greatest players of all time are playing now.
Imagine a lineup with Anthony Davis, Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant and LeBron James.
Imagine a lineup with Anthony Davis, Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant and LeBron James.
Other nominees include: Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Oscar Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Pete Maravich, Larry Bird, Julius Erving, Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard and more.
