What is your All-NBA Team using only players in the 21st century?

Glorified KC · May 2023

I'm feeling nostalgic given it's playoff time. If you were to have a starting five and six man using only players in the 21st century who would they be. One disclaimer, if you choose Michael Jordan you are choosing his two years as a Wizard, not in his prime with the Bulls.

1 - Steph Curry

2 - Kobe Bryant

3 - Lebron James

4 - Giannis Antetokounmpo

5 - Nikola Jokic

Sixth Man - Kevin Durant

(the numbers are positions, not rankings)

eeriepadave · May 2023

Steph Curry

LeBron James

Kobe Bryant

Tim Duncan

Dirk Nowitski

Allen Iverson

Poncier · May 2023

Going by position like the All NBA team does:
First team:
PG: Steph Curry
SG: Kobe Bryant
SF: LeBron James
PF: Tim Duncan
C: Shaquille O'Neal

2nd team:
PG: Allen Iverson
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Nikola Jokic

Ledbetterman10 · May 2023

Rather than go by the traditional positions (they're kinda meaningless these days anyway), I'm gonna just make my best possible starting five....

PG: LeBron James
SG: Steph Curry
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: Tim Duncan
C: Shaq

I think this works. LeBron already does the point-forward thing that Pippen used to do. Durant is a "power forward" in height only. Otherwise he totally plays like a small forward. And they can list Steph as a point guard all they want, but nobody in league history should have "shooting" in their title more than he should.

Poncier · May 2023

PG: Ben Simmons
SG: Markelle Fultz
SF: Anthony Bennett
PF: Kwame Brown
C: Greg Oden

A team made up purely of #1 overall picks since 2000. Let's see any team beat that starting 5.

markymark550 · May 2023

Poncier said:

Going by position like the All NBA team does:
First team:
PG: Steph Curry
SG: Kobe Bryant
SF: LeBron James
PF: Tim Duncan
C: Shaquille O'Neal

2nd team:
PG: Allen Iverson
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Nikola Jokic

I have the same first team with Nowitzki as the 6th man.

Glorified KC · May 2023

Poncier said:

PG: Ben Simmons
SG: Markelle Fultz
SF: Anthony Bennett
PF: Kwame Brown
C: Greg Oden

A team made up purely of #1 overall picks since 2000. Let's see any team beat that starting 5.

Andrew Bogut as the sixth man. Man Ben Simmons has fallen.

tempo_n_groove · May 2023

Poncier said:

PG: Ben Simmons
SG: Markelle Fultz
SF: Anthony Bennett
PF: Kwame Brown
C: Greg Oden

A team made up purely of #1 overall picks since 2000. Let's see any team beat that starting 5.

Oden is still the pick and Darko, that I scratch my head at. Why on earth pick them when you know they have damaged parts?

tempo_n_groove · May 2023

Ledbetterman10 said:

Rather than go by the traditional positions (they're kinda meaningless these days anyway), I'm gonna just make my best possible starting five....

PG: LeBron James
SG: Steph Curry
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: Tim Duncan
C: Shaq

I think this works. LeBron already does the point-forward thing that Pippen used to do. Durant is a "power forward" in height only. Otherwise he totally plays like a small forward. And they can list Steph as a point guard all they want, but nobody in league history should have "shooting" in their title more than he should.

I like your 4 but Shaq is a liability in todays game.

tempo_n_groove · May 2023

Steph Curry
Lebron
Tim Duncan
Kevin Garnett
Kobe Bryant

6th Man Chris Paul

I want every one of my guys to D up. I almost picked Kawhi too.

tempo_n_groove · May 2023

Glorified KC said:

I'm feeling nostalgic given it's playoff time. If you were to have a starting five and six man using only players in the 21st century who would they be. One disclaimer, if you choose Michael Jordan you are choosing his two years as a Wizard, not in his prime with the Bulls.

1 - Steph Curry
2 - Kobe Bryant
3 - Lebron James
4 - Giannis Antetokounmpo
5 - Nikola Jokic
Sixth Man - Kevin Durant
(the numbers are positions, not rankings)

Solid list.

Glorified KC · May 2023

tempo_n_groove said:

Steph Curry
Lebron
Tim Duncan
Kevin Garnett
Kobe Bryant

6th Man Chris Paul

I want every one of my guys to D up. I almost picked Kawhi too.

If Kawhi wasn't hurt all of the time I would have considered him on my team, not just for his defense.

Wobbie · May 2023

Glorified KC said:

Poncier said:

PG: Ben Simmons
SG: Markelle Fultz
SF: Anthony Bennett
PF: Kwame Brown
C: Greg Oden

A team made up purely of #1 overall picks since 2000. Let's see any team beat that starting 5.

Andrew Bogut as the sixth man. Man Ben Simmons has fallen.

bogut was nowhere near the bust as those other dudes.

Glorified KC · May 2023

Wobbie said:

Glorified KC said:

Poncier said:

PG: Ben Simmons
SG: Markelle Fultz
SF: Anthony Bennett
PF: Kwame Brown
C: Greg Oden

A team made up purely of #1 overall picks since 2000. Let's see any team beat that starting 5.

Andrew Bogut as the sixth man. Man Ben Simmons has fallen.

bogut was nowhere near the bust as those other dudes.

Still not worth the #1 overall pick.

Wobbie · May 2023

Glorified KC said:

Wobbie said:

Glorified KC said:

Poncier said:

PG: Ben Simmons
SG: Markelle Fultz
SF: Anthony Bennett
PF: Kwame Brown
C: Greg Oden

A team made up purely of #1 overall picks since 2000. Let's see any team beat that starting 5.

Andrew Bogut as the sixth man. Man Ben Simmons has fallen.

bogut was nowhere near the bust as those other dudes.

Still not worth the #1 overall pick.

agree.

Ledbetterman10 · May 2023

tempo_n_groove said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

Rather than go by the traditional positions (they're kinda meaningless these days anyway), I'm gonna just make my best possible starting five....

PG: LeBron James
SG: Steph Curry
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: Tim Duncan
C: Shaq

I think this works. LeBron already does the point-forward thing that Pippen used to do. Durant is a "power forward" in height only. Otherwise he totally plays like a small forward. And they can list Steph as a point guard all they want, but nobody in league history should have "shooting" in their title more than he should.

I like your 4 but Shaq is a liability in todays game.

I actually think it's possible that he'd be more dominant now. Who even knows how to defend a guy in the low post these days? Even the guys that knew how to do it back in in the day (Mourning, Mutumbo, etc.) got dominated by Shaq regularly.

I also just watched a four-part Shaq documentary on HBO Max so I'm just kinda in a Shaq "mood." Fun doc. Worth checking out.

Shaq versus Jokic would be a fun match-up. Neither would have any clue how to guard the other. They'd probably both drop 50.

Glorified KC · May 2023

Ledbetterman10 said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

Rather than go by the traditional positions (they're kinda meaningless these days anyway), I'm gonna just make my best possible starting five....

PG: LeBron James
SG: Steph Curry
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: Tim Duncan
C: Shaq

I think this works. LeBron already does the point-forward thing that Pippen used to do. Durant is a "power forward" in height only. Otherwise he totally plays like a small forward. And they can list Steph as a point guard all they want, but nobody in league history should have "shooting" in their title more than he should.

I like your 4 but Shaq is a liability in todays game.

I actually think it's possible that he'd be more dominant now. Who even knows how to defend a guy in the low post these days? Even the guys that knew how to do it back in in the day (Mourning, Mutumbo, etc.) got dominated by Shaq regularly.

I also just watched a four-part Shaq documentary on HBO Max so I'm just kinda in a Shaq "mood." Fun doc. Worth checking out.

Shaq versus Jokic would be a fun match-up. Neither would have any clue how to guard the other. They'd probably both drop 50.

Shaq was throwing a lot of love at Jokic last night on Inside the NBA. Shaq in the 90's may do all right in today's game. He was young and extremely athletic. He would also not have to deal with the "Hack a Shaq" strategy in the game as it currently is in all likelihood.

Poncier · May 2023

Shaq with his size and athleticism would do fine in any era.
Anyone who thinks he wouldn't succeed in today's NBA is just forgetting (or maybe didn't witness) what a dominating presence he was in his prime.

Glorified KC · May 2023

Poncier said:

Shaq with his size and athleticism would do fine in any era.
Anyone who thinks he wouldn't succeed in today's NBA is just forgetting (or maybe didn't witness) what a dominating presence he was in his prime.

It's more of the ball-handling aspect and inability to step into a jump shot or catch and shoot. Would he get his inside? Probably, but to have him constantly running up-and-down the court (like the Suns/Nugs game last night)? I'm not so sure. He's more effective in a half court game rather than in transition.

tempo_n_groove · May 2023

Hack a Shaq would most definitely still be used. He had like a 50% FT percentage. I'd foul his ass all day and make him run up and down the court.

Shaq would absolutely dominate in the paint. By all means go ahead and get your two as my team comes back down and shoots a 3. I'll take 3 over 2 every day.

The game has changed as the traditional center isn't just clogging up the lane anymore. They come out beyond the 3 point line and have way better handling skills. I remember coaches cringing when he would want to take the ball up court, lol.

It's not that he wouldn't be dominant it's to what point is he effective? Teams don't scout these type of players anymore.

If you'd take Shaq you might as well take Wilt as he was a bigger freak of nature for athleticism.

Great conversation, keep em coming.

Poncier · May 2023

tempo_n_groove said:

Shaq would absolutely dominate in the paint. By all means go ahead and get your two as my team comes back down and shoots a 3. I'll take 3 over 2 every day.

Of course he'd shoot like 65% from 2 while you shot 34% from 3 and he'd win out in the end.

What is your All-NBA Team using only players in the 21st century?

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