What would the NBA look like if every team had their best player of all time? Part 3/3 (10–1).
The league is full of superstars and some teams have more than one. However, what would happen if every team gained the best player to ever lace up for them in their prime. Here are the 10–1 rankings and a breakdown of those teams.
10-Los Angeles Clippers
PG-Reggie Jackson
SG-Eric Bledsoe
SF-Paul George
PF-Elton Brand
C-Ivica Zubac
The Clippers are currently 11h but this is mainly due to Kawhi’s injury. Elton Brand only recently retired, meaning he is already suited to the way the league plays and he won’t have to make any changes to his game. The Clippers have struggled on offense because Kawhi is gone so now everyone has to put in more effort on defense. Brand is a very strong defender and rebounder who can also give you 20 points a night. Not to say he is a direct replacement for Kawhi, but his skill set will account for most of what they are missing out on.
The next 9 teams are all interchangeable so I mainly based it on current form/position and the talent of their legend.
9-Miami Heat
PG-Kyle Lowry
SG-Dwyane Wade
SF-Tyler Herro
PF-Jimmy Butler
C-Bam Adebayo
The Heat are 9th and this loss is mainly because they have been losing form recently due to injuries and they have struggled offensively, coming 17th in the league in points per game. Wade is a previous scoring champ but even with his ability improving the Heat, the teams above would be improving at even better rates due to their additions. Like I said before though, these top 9 are very flexible in where they could finish.
8-Utah Jazz
PG-Mike Conley
SG-Donovan Mitchell
SF-Bojan Bogdanović
PF-Karl Malone
C-Rudy Gobert
The Jazz are 3rd and are one of the best offensive and defensive teams in the league. With a 3-time Defensive Player of the Year (Rudy Gobert) and a 25-year-old averaging 23.5 points per game (Donovan Mitchell), the Jazz are in a supreme position. Add a 2 time MVP, in Karl Malone, hunting for his first championship and you create a title contender. Even though I have put them in 8th, that does not take away from their case for the title.
7-Phoenix Suns
PG-Chris Paul
SG-Devin Booker
SF-Mikal Bridges
PF-Charles Barkley
C-Deandre Ayton
Last year runners-up are once again impressing everyone by sitting in 2nd place with 21 wins. No doubt, Charles Barkley brings a lot of help to the Suns but with the addition that the other teams ahead get, Barkley doesn't help enough. What the Suns truly need is some championship DNA but sadly Barkley doesn't bring that to the team. Barkley is one of the greatest 2-way players to ever grace the court but the Suns are 5th in points per game and points conceded per game so they aren’t lacking in those departments.
6-Boston Celtics
PG-Marcus Smart
SG-Jaylen Brown
SF-Jayson Tatum
PF-Robert Williams
C-Bill Russell
The Celtics have had a horrible year so far but find themselves in the same place they finished last year in 16th place. One positive has been the addition of Dennis Schröder who is averaging 17.5 points and 4.9 assists. The Celtics have been average on both sides of the floor coming 15th in points per game and 16th in points conceded per game. Bill Russell can improve offenses by playing defense as he allows his teammates to get a head start on the fast break with his uncanny ability to rebound and block the ball. The 6–10 monster averaged a handy 15.1 points per game and is renowned for his defensive ability. The only problem is that Bill might struggle to adjust to the fast-paced setting of the game and with more 3s being shot, he may become slightly less efficient.
5-Los Angeles Lakers
PG-Russell Westbrook
SG-Kobe Bryant
SF-Carmelo Anthony
PF-LeBron James
C-Anthony Davis
When I first came up with this idea earlier on in the season, I assumed that the Lakers would be 2nd on this list. However, their current form, finding themselves in 14th place, has changed this drastically and they could even drop lower than this in the state they are in right now. This rise is still very substantial as they gain 9 places. The Lakers are doing fine on offense coming 5th in the league in points per game but their aging team have been lazy on defense. Merge that with 12x all-defensive team, mentality monster, Kobe Bryant, and this team gets the breath of fresh air. The Lakers would only get better in the Finals, with Westbrook and Melo searching for their first ring and 10 championships between Bron, Kobe, and AD, it is the perfect storm for a championship run.
4-Milwaukee Bucks
PG-Grayson Allen
SG-Jrue Holiday
SF-Khris Middleton
PF-Giannis Antetokounmpo
C-Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
The reigning champs are in 6th place and are surprisingly struggling on defense coming 14th in the league for points conceded per game. Kareem, Giannis, and Jrue would most likely be the best defensive duo to ever play, whilst allowing Khris Middleton to unlock his full potential and give Grayson Allen a chance to prove himself in the league. With DiVincenzo out for the season so far, I don’t see them winning the championship with an inexperienced point guard.
3-Brooklyn Nets
PG-Jason Kidd
SG-James Harden
SF-Joe Harris
PF-Kevin Durant
C-Blake Griffin
The Nets are 4th, missing their 3rd star in Kyrie Irving. This has meant that KD and Harden have had to take on more of an important role than they would have assumed at the start of the season. Recently, Harden has had to become the main playmaker of the team, putting a dent in his scoring alongside the new rule changes bringing in strict calls on the court. However, with one of the best playmakers, Jason Kidd, coming into the team, Harden can focus on returning to his ruthless scoring from his time in Houston. Kidd also shoots a decent 3 meaning the spacing of the Nets remains immaculate.
2-Golden State Warriors
PG-Steph Curry
SG-Jordan Poole
SF-Andrew Wiggins
PF-Draymond Green
C-Wilt Chamberlain
The Warriors are dethroned of the number one spot even after the addition of Wilt Chamberlain. The Warriors already have a primary ball-handler in Steph Curry. Wilt Chamberlain is renowned for his selfishness on the offensive side and could be lazy on the defensive end if they were out of the game. However, it is still Wilt Chamberlain who once averaged 50.4 points in a season and holds the record for most points in a game (100). Whether Wilt would be able to change his ways and become more of a traditional center for the Warriors is difficult to predict but if you tell him there is almost a guaranteed championship at the end, he could find a way to adapt.
1-Chicago Bulls
PG-Lonzo Ball
SG-Zach Lavine
SF-Michael Jordan
PF-DeMar DeRozan
C-Nikola Vučević
The Bulls are currently 5th. Just thinking about the possibility of this team would make every basketball fan excited. not only would this be the best team in the league but they would be the most exciting team we have seen since Lob City Clippers. Lonzo would comfortably become one of the best playmakers in the league, dishing passes to the second-best player of all time (I said what I said). Zach Lavine and DeMar DeRozan are already both averaging 20+ points per game, but with the freedom that Jordan brings to the team, these 2 are allowed to be as free as they want on offense.
