Unrivaled Picks Starting Five From NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team
Feb 25, 2022, 1:49 PM
John Stockton releases a game-winning three against the Houston Rockets in Game 6 May 29, 1997. (Glenn James, Getty Images)
(Glenn James, Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The NBA announced its 75th-anniversary team – which includes 76 players. It features the best of the best all-time in NBA history.
There are so many great names, including a pair of Utah Jazz greats in Karl Malone and John Stockton.
The NBA did not rank these players but some publications did and put Stockton and Malone back-to-back at No. 24 and No. 23.
The complete NBA 75th Anniversary Team ⬇️ #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/v8Tz5ixaab
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) October 21, 2021
To have some fun, Alex Kirry and Scott Mitchell decided to pick their starting five out of the best players in NBA history. This was a difficult task. Mitchell and Kirry’s home team (the Utah Jazz) may have played a role in the choices.
“John Stockton has to be your point guard,” Mitchell said. “All of these other guys are going to score the heck out the basketball. I know people will say ‘no, no, no’ and put Magic (Johnson) there. There is not just a better point guard than John Stockton? Is it Chris Paul? Is he more of a scorer but he is up there in assists? To me, it’s John Stockton. I might be overrating him but I just don’t believe there is another point guard in the history of the NBA that would be better?”
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Mitchell jokingly discounts Magic Johnson due to his height at 6-foot-9-inches, saying he is too tall to be his starting point gaurd. He also wants to go traditional with his lineup without any small ball and wants a true center. He chose between Wilt Chamberlin and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Mitchell ultimately settled on Abdul-Jabbar, and his starting five is rounded out with Kevin Durrant and LeBron James.
Kirry went with a pair of Jazz players by taking Malone and Stockton. He also went with a big lineup with no true small forward by adding Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shaquille O’Neal.
Here are the completed lists.
Who would you pick for your all-time starting five from the #NBA75 list? pic.twitter.com/Wnnn5VvbQt
— Unrivaled w/Alex Kirry & Scott Mitchell (@KSLunrivaled) February 24, 2022
Who would be in your starting five?
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