Greatest NBA Starting Five

Throughout NBA history, there have been many players that have come and gone.  This is started debates on what players the greatest starting five would consist of.  First you need to break down the five positions of basketball.  First, is the 1 guard position which is the point guard.  The point guard’s roll is to start the play and make sure that the offense is running smoothly.  Sometimes as the shot clock is running down, the point guard finds the ball in his hand and has to take a long range shot, or create some kind of shot.  Next, is the 2 guard position known as the shooting guard.  This guard is sometimes one of the top scorers of his team, and helps the point guard run the offense smoothly.  The shooting guard either has to know how to drain shots or how to drive to the basket and make something happen.  The next position is the 3, which is the small forward.  The small forward’s job is to either score, or make others score.  Small forwards need to be versatile in order to be great.  The 4 position is the power forward.  His job is to crash the boards and fight inside, but is more versatile than the center.  The last position, 5, is the center.  He simply dominates inside offensively and defensively.  He needs to block shots, grab rebounds, use post moves and dominate.

Let’s start with the point guard position.  The greatest point guard of the game was Magic Johnson.  Magic Johnson was just a special player.  It was unusual to find a guard of his height and that had those point guard skills.  He could play any position.  He was the definition of a versatile player.  He gave the great Celtics trouble and won a couple of championships for the Lakers.  There may never be another big point guard like him.  Now, for shooting guard, the greatest 2 guard ever was Oscar Robertson.  Now I know for a fact that when you read this, you will deny what I said.  You will probably go and say how Kobe Bryant is great, and you will say look what Kobe Bryant did this season, and etc.  The truth is that, even the amazing Kobe Bryant never did what Oscar Robertson did.  Sure, Kobe Bryant scored over 70 points one game, but did he do what the big O did?  In one season, Oscar Robertson averaged a triple double.  That is simply unheard of.  None of these big players today can do that, not Lebron James, not Kobe Bryant, not Joe Johnson, etc.  In fact, Oscar Robertson almost repeated the triple double season the very next season.  There was no one like him then and there is no one like him now.  He is one of the greatest versatile players ever; he could do anything.

Those of you who know basketball, can guess who I’m going to pick for small forward:  Michael Jordan.  There is no arguments here.  No one scored like him, or dominated like him.  You can argue with Lebron James all you want.  Go look up Michael Jordan and his amazing plays on Youtube.  It is ridiculous.  He is any basketball player’s idol.  He was so determined to make it.  He was a man on a mission to be the best he could be and guess what?  He is probably the best player ever to walk this Earth and play this game of basketball.  This discussion for small forward is done.  For power forward, one player sticks out from the rest.  His name is Kevin Garnett.  He defined the power forward position.  He is a versatile player who can do it all.  He invented the KG fadeaway and constantly abuses players with that move.  What seperates him from the rest is his passion for the game.  He inspires other to perfect their skills (and is very vocal about it).  He is almost possessed.

Last, I will end with the greatest center of all-time.  Centers need to be able to use post moves, but more importantly clean up the glass and help their team win any way possible inside the paint.  The man that did that the best was Bill Russell.  He played for the Celtics when the Celtics won 6 straight.  No other team will ever do that (sorry Laker’s fans).  Will there ever be someone who wins as much as Bill?  He cleaned up the glass and competed against the best of the best (Wilt Chamberlain is a good example).  If you are still arguing with me, than listen to this.  Bill Russell has 11 NBA championship rings, end of discussion.