Back in high school my friends and I would sit around our lunch table and discuss who deserves to be in the NBA’s all time starting lineup. Being a Celtics fan, my starting five greatly differed from the Laker dominated contingency that made up my friends. Well, to no avail, here’s my All-Time NBA First Team.
Point Guard: Magic Johnson
Shooting Guard: Michael Jordan
Small Forward: Larry Bird
Power Forward: Bill Russell
Center: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
The three positions that are automatic locks for me are point, shooting, and small forward. However, I have trouble with the main front court positions, power forward and center. One way or another Bill Russell was going to be on this First Team list, however, I had to put him at power rather than his natural position at center. This was done so I could make room for the hook-shot shooting, dominant big man, Kareem. Just to throw in a little back-up for Russell’s selection - he has 11 championship rings, won 2 as a player-coach, 5 MVP awards, a gold medal, and the best beard out of all the retired players. Now onto my Second Team:
Point Guard: John Stockton
Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant
Small Forward: Julius Erving
Power Forward: Karl Malone
Center: Wilt Chamberlain
Stockton, with the most assists in NBA history, has to be Second Team, while Kobe’s four rings and 24,000 points at the age of 31 give him the notch at shooting guard. Julius, averaging 24.2 points with 8.5 rebounds per game grabs my attention; Karl Malone has scored the second most points in the history of the game. Wilt at center needs no explanation - the man averaged 50 and 25 one season. Oh yeah, and don’t forget that 100 point game. Lastly, the Third Team:
Point Guard: Oscar Robertson
Shooting Guard: Sam Jones
Small Forward: John Havlicek
Power Forward: Moses Malone
Center: Shaquille O’Neal
Break out the peanut gallery, because this third team gets the birds chirping. Some say Oscar’s triple-double season was overrated, I say not - lock at point. At shooting guard is probably the most underrated player in NBA history. Here’s a snapshot of the Celtics’ own Sam Jones: 10 rings in 12 seasons, 5 time All Star, averaged an efficient 17.7 ppg and 4.9 rpg. Havlicek has scored the most points in Celts history, and there's some history with the organization, as you may know. Moses Malone at power has 3 MVP awards, 27,000+ points, and 16,000+ rebounds. And last but not least, the big Shaq diesel at center, no real surprise there. Come on, he’s got some of the best nicknames in history - The Big Shaqtus, The Big Daddy, Superman, and my favorite, Wilt Chamberneezy.
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