The other night I watched “Air”. It remind me how fucking awesome the 1984 draft class was, and how mental a starting five from it would be. Jordan, Stockton, Dream and Barkley. It got me thinking, could any other draft class put together a 5 that could even compete with that? Right away I thought of Kobe and Brons years, because I knew those ones are a pretty great group, but how would the stars from a class fit together? I mean the 84 year has a phenomenal piece at every position. After doing some research I ranked the top 6 I found, of course each team needs one true guy, who played that position at some point in their career. Take 2007 for example. Conley, Durant, Horford, Gasol, Noah. Not a true legit five, too many players out of position so unfortunately its not in here. I also ranked these fives based upon everyone being in their primes, and who I think would win in an NBA playoff style tournament. Let’s go.
Team 6: 2009
PG: Steph Curry
SG: James Harden
SF: Demar DeRozen
PF: Blake Griffin
C: Jordan Hill
Gonna be honest I have no clue who Jordan hill is. This team looks great on paper but I don’t think it will pan out that well. Not a lick of any legit defensive ability. Steph and Harden seem to have the potential to be lethal but I’m a doubter. Derozan and Blake are quality pieces in this competition. This team is good but is getting washed by anyone else below them.
Team 5: 2011
PG: Kyrie Irving
SG: Jimmy Butler
SF: Klay Thompson
PF: Kawhi Leonard
C: Jonas Valanciunas
I love this team. I really love how this team ends up. Works out perfectly. I feel like this would fucking rock right? I really want to put this team higher but I just dont think I can. Defensively sound and can score like motherfuckers too. This team just looks like it would click the best to me. I don’t really see a weakness in any way, this team just has straight winners. They will 3 and D you to shit with ferocity and make you not even realize how you’re down 15 points at halftime. This team and the next would be a fucking insane matchup. So physical and would probably be my favorite series to watch and see how it would pan out.
Team 4: 1987
PG: Kevin Johnson
SG: Reggie Miller
SF: Scottie Pippen
PF: Horace Grant
C: David Robinson
This one may fly under the radar. Very solid defensively and has some knockdown shooters. This team is tough, really tough. Old heads would probably throw this one as the second strongest team here, but I think the following teams would prevail against them in a full game with todays NBA. I didnt know KJ was the fucking mayor of Sacramento. Pippen is as good as it gets here. A duo of Reggie Miller and David Robinson alone could have gone toe to toe with anyone in the 90s. Like I said before, I think this team and the prior would be an interesting matchup and entertaining seven game series with team before.
Team 3: 1996
PG: Steve Nash
SG: Allen Iverson or Ray Allen
SF: Kobe Bryant
PF: Peja Stojakovic or Jermaine O’Neal
C: Ben Wallace
This has to be the most interesting team. There’s two decisions To be made, determining how this team would play. You could argue that Ray Allen would fit better with Kob and Steven Nash as he would play off the ball better, but man… Kob and AI? Fuck you’d have to see that shit man. Then picking between Peja and Jermaine O’Neal would obviously determine how this team would come out. I think I’d rock with Peja just for the hell of it and leave Ben Wallace with the lone defensive responsibility. Man that would be fucking so sick. Dude like!! This team would be fucking scary if it got clicking. A bit undersized at every position but not shying away from anyone. The thing about this team is on paper, they dont necessarily look like they’d click/mesh well together, but fuck it, it would be a fun time. Bring the smoke.
Team 2: 2003
PG: LeBron James
SG: Dwyane Wade
SF: Melo Anthony
PF: David West
C: Chris Bosh
Definitely the longest team we got. The most infamous draft year. So great this team would still be fine with Darko Millicic at forward over West. The OG first five picks. This team is longer then everyone and can stretch you out to the three point line too. I’d really want this team to win it all, but I just dont think theyd out last team 1. This is definitely my favorite team here. Prime Melo cold mother fucker. Wade dicing you up and Chris Bosh would be sick here sort of a wildcard stretching the floor, something that none of these other teams can do with their Centers. Bron would also be a fucking tank, being with his boys, am I crazy to think he would buy in harder to this then anyone? Hed go fucking mental he loves his 03 draft class.
Team 1: 1984
PG: John Stockton
SG: Michael Jordan
SF: Otis Thorpe
PF: Charles Barkley
C: Hakeem Olajuwon
No clue who Ortis Thorpe is. Doesn’t matter at all. Who’s stopping this team? Where and how? Stocking PRs with Barkley or Dream…. Imagine. Then Mike. Holy fuck. You got Mike and Dream on the defensive side taking your best and shutting them down as soon as possible. Mike being Mike just running the show. Barkley is sort of a wild card and could bust anyone’s ass I guess, even take over one of these sorts of games. Stockton getting everyone involved. The energy and tenacity of this team is like a walking adderall. Wall scratchers these guys are ready to go like dogs on rabies bouncing around waiting for a head to rip off and not think twice about it. The down part about this team is that I think MJ hates everyone from his draft class, just out of spite and him wanting to dog anyone ever compared to him. Whatever, this team eats nails and your not getting fucking shit in the lane. Goodluck.
Overall my ranking goes, 1984, 2003, 1996, 1987, 2011 and 2009. I think if there was a serious tournament, seven game series that any of those top five could prevail. Interested to see what draft classes of the past 10 years will hold up over time.