Starting five. Best players you've seen in-person

[taterguy]

Results will vary based on location and age so this might be interesting. Or not.

I'll start:

Center: Arvydas Sabonis

Power forward: Tim Duncan

Small forward: Larry Nance

Shooting guard: Michael Jordan

Point guard: Kenny Smith

[trumad]

1. Larry Bird---Magic Johnson

LeBron---Wade...... and Kareem.

[era veteran]

2. My 5 against yours, who wins?

Dave Cowens-- Center, I think he is a teabagger now.
Dr J -- Small forward/ guard
Dan Issel -- forward
Clem Haskins--point
Pistol Pete --shooting guard

These are the ones that jump out first. Got to see a bunch of old ABA games but never have been to an NBA game.
I played pick up ball with Clem, same hometown, Clem the Gem.

[ProfessorGAC]

4. Although I Loved Pete. . .

. . .(every high school guard in 1970 did) he didn't guard anybody. Neither did Clem Haskins and Dr. J wasn't a strong defender on the wing. So, your team better just run up and down the court, because they aren't going to clamp down on anybody.

[PRETZEL]

That's what the ABA was

all offense, no defense.

I don't know, I've seen Dr. J play more than a few times, his defense wasn't his strong suit, but it wasn't that bad.

[ProfessorGAC]

17. I Didn't Say It Was

I did say he wasn't a strong defender. That's what they had Bobby Jones for. He'd come in, play three positions and shut down the other team's primary threat. NOw, that guy could play D.

And, don't get me wrong. I admired Dr. J.

As to the ABA, don't forget that Pete played years in the NBA too. And, i was an ABA guy. I even had the RWB basketball to play in my driveway!
GAC

[era veteran]

10. Dave Cowans will shut you down though.

Besides, Clem shut me down.

[ProfessorGAC]

18. Good One!

Look, i was a pretty good player, but i know well that there haven't been 10 guys in NBA history that couldn't shut me down if they wanted to.

All the guys in the NBA can play D compared to any lower level player. But, at that level there are so many goods who are REALLY good at defense that the ordinary defenders just look inferior.

And, once again, i loved Pete. I even wore floppy socks in high school because of him!
GAC

[SpiralHawk]

3. Bill Russell, Larry Bird, Dave Cowens

Jo Jo White and The Cooz (With Jungle Jim Luscutoff as The Muscle).

Naturally.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5. Magic, Bird, Jordan, Olajawon, Duncan.

[Iggo]

6. West, Chamberlain, Baylor, Goodrich...

...and I can't remember who the other forward was. Maybe Happy Hairston?

It's been a loooooooong time since I've been to a basketball game.

[wilt the stilt]

7. Jim McMillan- Columbia

and a very good player

[Iggo]

8. Ah, thank you!

[wilt the stilt]

9. this is tough

I saw Walton, Cowens, Shaq and Moses Malone for center.
Power Forward- Mchale and Bob Macadoo(maybe small).
small forward- Havlicek, Dr J, Bird
point guard-Mo cheeks,pistol pete(handled the ball so much you can't place him in any position)Ernie D
shooting guard- MJ, Kobe, JoJo White and for all you 76 lovers and celtic haters Andrew Toney- who consistently beat up Ainge

[Bob Loblaw]

11. I know the premise...

was that the players had to be seen in person. But if Oscar Robertson doesn't appear on a list here then the list is incomplete and inaccurate. Best I ever saw in person...?

Power forward: George McGinnis*
Small forward: Larry Bird
Point guard: Isiah Thomas
Center: Artis Gilmore*
Shooting guard: Reggie Miller

*While playing in the ABA

BTW, if you were a fan of the ABA I highly recommend reading "Loose Balls" by Terry Pluto.

[GaYellowDawg]

12. I haven't seen as much I should have...

I've never been to a pro basketball game in my life, and the only two teams I've ever been fans of are UGA and ETSU. Still, I've seen some good players who have played both on my teams and against them. I did see Shaq play in the opening round of the NCAA tournament when ETSU lost to Georgia Tech's Final 4 team and LSU beat Villanova.

Center: Shaquille O'Neal

Power forward: Tim Duncan (when ETSU played at Wake Forest)

Small forward: Dominique Wilkins

Shooting guard: Shandon Anderson

Point guard: Vern Fleming

[Old and In the Way]

13. My picks....totally objetive, mind you -

Can't do just 1 for each position, too many good ones to choose from.

Center: Cowens/Russell/Parish/Garnett
Forwards: Maxwell/Bird/McHale/Pierce/Jones
Guards: Rondo/Johnson/Cousey/White/Henderson

Weird...all my selections seem to be Celtics.

It would be interesting to match up all the possible line-ups in fantasy games to see how these players would perform amongst themselves.

[HuckleB]

14. All right.

Centers: Kareem/Bill Walton/Sabonis
Guards: Clyde Drexler/Magic Johnson/Kevin Johnson
Forwards: Larry Bird/Maurice Lucas/Walter Davis

I went with three each, but each of the three is a different style of player for the position, IMO.

[ProfessorGAC]

20. Saw Both Kareem and Walton Play

But, Walton was past his prime at the time, and since i could only choose one center, i chose Hakeem because i thought his game complimented the other 4 guys i picked.

However, if you HAD to choose Kareem, you couldn't really go wrong.
GAC

[era veteran]

21. I had always thought Walton the best all time in college but

his injuries messed up his pro playing days.

[HuckleB]

23. Indeed.

Walton was beyond his prime, meaning post his season-ending injury the year after winning the title with the Blazers, when I saw him. But, boy could he pass. Only Sabonis was better at the passing game from center.

[madinmaryland]

15. Here you go, Francis...

Point guard - Charlie Just

Power Forward - Al Donhoff

I'm sure you can figure out the rest of the gang, Francis!

[chelsea0011]

16. For me it would be a starting great five I have never seen but wish I had.

Jerry West and Elgin Baylor and because I don't get the Garden these days...Shaq, Duncan, and yes, James.

[ProfessorGAC]

19. Here's Mine

Jordan, Thomas, Magic, Bird, and Hakeem. Used to go to a lot of Bulls games in the 80's and early 90's.

Lots of great players i didn't put on the list because you said starting five.

I'd put Magic at 4, because he was big enough and smart enough to play just about anywhere.
GAC

[RagAss]

22. I saw Pistol Pete at MSG...may not be a top 5, but I'll never forget that night.

[Redbear]

24. Saw 3 in college, 2 with Mavs

Center: Akeem Olajuwon

Power forward: Dirk Nowitski

Small forward: Clyde Drexler

Shooting guard: Kevin Durant

Point guard: Steve Nash