25. North Carolina
This team will look a whole lot different in 2023-24. Six players — including Caleb Love — have entered the transfer portal (the others include Will Shaver, Puff Johnson, Dontrez Styles, Tyler Nickel, Justin McKoy). Pete Nance and Leaky Black have exhausted their respective eligibilities. However, there’s some sense of optimism for the program.
Armando Bacot is returning to school yet again for another year. R.J. Davis will lead the backcourt, and will be flanked by Seth Trimble and Jalen Washington. Incoming freshmen Simeon Wilcher and Zayden High are both much-ballyhooed. Plus, they’ve added four transfers in sharpshooter Paxson Wojick (Brown), Cormac Ryan (Notre Dame), Stanford forward Harrison Ingram and forward Jae’Lyn Withers (Louisville).
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24. Houston
Kelvin Sampson’s team may take somewhat of a step back next year. Jarace Walker will leave to be a lottery pick. Marcus Sasser and Reggie Chaney are gone, and Tramon Mark transferred to Arkansas.
With that said, Sampson was able to coax elite Baylor transfer L.J. Cryer to join the program. One of the country’s top sharpshooters, Cryer is expected to play a bit more on the ball for the Cougars rather than just being a guy coming off screens. Jamal Shead, Temple transfer Damian Dunn, Terrance Arceneaux, and J’Wan Roberts make up the remainder of what should be a very solid team next season.
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23. Texas A&M
Remember the name Wade Taylor. He could be among the best players in the SEC next season. Essentially, A&M will return much of its team from a year ago. Buzz Williams had the Aggies playing with purpose, energy, and effectiveness.
Getting guard Tyrece Radford to stay will be the top item on the proverbial agenda for Texas A&M. Watch out for the Aggies in the portal…it wouldn’t be a shock to see the team add multiple players. 3-star IMG Academy combo guard Bryce Lindsay is the only incoming freshman. He chose the Aggies over reported offers from DePaul, South Carolina, Marquette, VCU, Oklahoma State, Xavier, and Mississippi State (among others).
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22. Auburn
Auburn fans should be elated over the addition of Aden Holloway. The top-30 guard nationally will immediately shore up some turnover issues the Tigers have had in recent years. In terms of a comparison for Holloway, think Tyger Campbell with better athleticism. It’s not too shabby when you consider Campbell — a three-time All-Conference PG — was one of the country’s best at not turning the rock over.
Bruce Pearl will hit the portal hard — and already has FIU SG Denver Jones in the fold. Yohan Traore’s bizarre freshman year led to him transferring from the program. If Pearl can keep Johni Broome, K.D. Johnson, and Jaylin Williams in the fold, this team could be a darkhorse threat in the SEC.
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21. Tennessee
The injury to lead guard Zakai Zeigler really left a ‘what if’ feeling for the Vols — who upended a much more talented Duke team en route to a decent NCAA Tournament run. While Zeigler will be back at some point next year, the Vols have some work to do.
Former 5-star player Julian Phillips is reportedly undecided on whether he’ll enter the NBA Draft or not. Should he return, you’re looking at an all-conference level talent. Jonas Aidoo and Jahmai Mashack should be back — along with a good recruiting class led by 4-star big man J.P. Estrella. Transfers Chris Ledlum (Harvard), Jordan Gainey (Utah State), and Dalton Knecht (Northern Colorado) all should help the backcourt considerably. Even then, Tennessee and Rick Barnes have to account for the loss of multiple guys (Olivier Nkamhoua, Josiah-Jordan James, Uros Plavsic, Santiago Vescovi) who were core performers for the program.
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20. Baylor
Losing L.J. Cryer to the portal (and eventually Houston) was a massive blow for Scott Drew. It was expected to see Keyonte George enter the NBA Draft. Along with that, the Bears must replace stalwart Adam Flagler and the veteran big man duo of Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua and Flo Thamba. Not all is lost, however.
Jalen Bridges and Langston Love return — and respectively each should make a big jump. Ja’Kobe Walter and Miro Little both follow in the footsteps of recent Baylor players as being potential big-time guards. Walter is a 5-star prospect with terrific size, and Little — a 6’4″ PG hailing from Finland — is already a member of his country’s national team. VCU transfer Jayden Nunn should also help in the backcourt.
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19. Maryland
Kevin Willard guided the Terps to the Big Dance last year. He’s currently in the midst of a program rebuild, where he’s aiming to get ‘his guys’ in — where the culture can be built. He has a four-man recruiting class coming into town. It includes three 4-star prospects — all of which are wing-types.
Three starters will be back next year for Maryland. Jahmir Young, Julian Reese, and Donta Scott will make up the core of the group. Los Angeles native Chance Stephens — known as a three-point shooter — will also transfer into the program from Loyola Marymount.
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18. USC
While Drew Peterson has exhausted his eligibility and Reese Dixon-Waters transferred to SDSU, USC got word that Boogie Ellis will be coming back to school. The Trojans are thrilled by this decision — as they can now pair one of the conference’s most explosive guards with the No. 1 prep player in the country in Isaiah Collier. A big point guard with terrific size, feel, and skill, this duo could eventually become one of the country’s top backcourts.
On top of that, USC will return two very good glue guys in Josh Morgan and Kobe Johnson. Former 5-star center Vince Iwuchukwu — a player with insane upside — is also coming back (barring his heart issues). When you then throw in 4-star big man Arrinten Page, former McDonald’s All-American Kijani Wright, and incoming frosh Bronny James, this team has the look of a top-10 program if everything clicks properly.
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17. Texas
The team is losing the likes of Marcus Carr, Arterio Morris, Rowan Brumbaugh, Timmy Allen, Sir’Jabari Rice, Dylan Disu, Brock Cunningham, and Christian Bishop. On the other hand, the team is going to have four good transfers entering the program. The obvious headliner is Max Abmas — one of the most explosive guards in the country. Virginia big man Kadin Shedrick should see a role right away as well.
It would behoove new head man Rodney Terry to try and get both Cunningham and Disu to stick around for one more year (each has an extra year of eligibility). If those two come back, along with guard Tyrese Hunter, the ceiling of this team is pretty high.
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16. FAU
FAU will no longer creep up on anyone. This is a program that proved it belonged among the big boys in the sport. Head coach Dusty May has to be elated over the fact that he’s returning eight of nine players from his Final Four rotation. We’ll see how Florida Atlantic navigates the newfound expectations placed upon the program. Still, it probably has now built up enough buzz to the point it could be a transfer portal destination.
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15. Colorado
Colorado could have one of its best teams in school history next year. For one thing, Tad Boyle is a highly underrated coach. Colorado always plays hard, and is exceptional at turning teams over with pressure and length.
Personnel-wise, the Buffs essentially traded in lightly productive center Lawson Lovering for former TCU big man Eddie Lampkin. While Lampkin’s season a year ago was tumultuous, he’s still a very gifted player. The more exciting thing for CU is the talent projected to play alongside of him. 6-foot-9 wing Tristan Da Silva is an All-Conference player with a terrific motor. He can score inside and out. Combo guard TJ Simpson is a walking bucket, and off-guard Julian Hammond is no slouch, either.
However, the most intriguing player is Cody Williams. The brother of Jalen (currently in the NBA), Williams shocked everyone by signing with the Buffaloes over the likes of UCLA and Arizona. A 5-star prospect oozing with potential, he can function as either a jumbo wing or as a point forward. Many mock drafts have him going in the top-three next season. If you throw this projected starting five together, few in the country will be able to match it from a talent standpoint.
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14. Ohio State
Chris Holtmann is too good of a coach to have another subpar season. Ohio State underachieved relative to expectations a year ago. Knowing he needed to ‘up’ the talent within the program, he went out and signed three top-50 prospects nationally — including one combo guard (Taison Chatman), a small forward (Scotty Middleton) and a power forward (Devin Royal). Plus — the Buckeyes have added power forward Jamison Battle from rival Minnesota, Dale Bonner (Baylor) and Evan Mahaffey (Penn State) in the process.
While it’s expected that Brice Sensabaugh will stay in the NBA draft, there’s still a lot returning to the team. Zed Key, Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, and Felix Okpara will all return to Columbus.
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13. Arkansas
Between now and the start of the season, the Arkansas roster will probably look a whole lot different. Remember, Eric Musselman is the king of the transfer portal. He has no qualms in turning over his roster year after year (we saw him sustain this model at Nevada). Nick Smith and Anthony Black are gone to the NBA. Makhi Mitchell is transferring out, and Ricky Council is also leaving for the professional ranks.
Needing to replenish the backcourt, Arkansas immediately secured the commitments of former Temple wing Khalif Battle, Washington PG Keyon Menifield, Cincinnati wing Jeremiah Davenport, Louisville guard El Ellis, and Houston guard Tramon Mark. 5-star PG Layden Blocker is coming in to play heavy minutes, and fellow 5-star big man Baye Fall spurned a plethora of schools in order to play for Musselman. While things look a bit cloudy as currently constituted, soon the program will gain its roster clarity.
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12. Gonzaga
Gonzaga has reached the Elite Eight five times over the last eight seasons. Without a doubt, it’s among the most consistent programs in the entire country. Mark Few seemingly reloads year after year with a mixture of high school recruits, international recruits, and transfers. While we can’t ever count Few or the Bulldogs out, this upcoming year might be among the more challenging for the Zags.
Wing Julian Strawther declared for the NBA Draft. One of the team’s best scorers a season ago, it’s unknown as to whether he’ll be back. Shockingly, All-American Drew Timme still has one more year of eligibility — though it would be a massive surprise if he came back to Spokane. Hunter Sallis and Efton Reid — both former 5-star prospects — have transferred out of the program. Rasir Bolton has also exhausted his eligibility.
The only frontcourt player officially returning with any level of experience is Ben Gregg. The Bulldogs hit the portal hard with the additions of Wyoming center Graham Ike and Creighton guard Ryan Nembhard. These additions will be augmented by three incoming freshmen. One is a highly-prized wing from Los Angeles (Dusty Stromer). The other two (Alex Toohey, Jun Seok Yeo) hail from Australia and South Korea, respectively. EWU wing/Big Sky Player of the Year Steele Venters has also joined the team via the portal. Few is also hoping he can convince Anton Watson and Malachi Smith to stick around for yet another year.
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11. Purdue
If Zach Edey returns to Purdue, the team should still be highly competitive. I’ll stop short in calling them a title contender after this year’s embarrassing result in the NCAA Tournament. His decision is the difference between this team being able to compete for a Big Ten title…or potentially falling towards the bottom of the league.
Virtually everyone will be back on this team from last year’s group (save for David Jenkins). You’d think that a sense of wanting to right the proverbial ship could very well exist with this group.
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10. Miami
Miami could be positioned much higher assuming things break its way. IF Isaiah Wong and Nijel Pack both return, this team is unquestionably going to be a title contender. Norchad Omier proved to be a real force for this group during its Final Four run.
While losing Anthony Walker and Jordan Miller wasn’t ideal, the Canes landed uber-talented wing Matthew Cleveland in the portal (via Florida State). Plus, incoming freshman Michael Nwoko is a smart yet rugged athlete with some high-end potential.
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9. Creighton
This has been a rough offseason for the Blue Jays. Creighton (in theory) could have returned a major core of a group which went to the Elite 8. We’re talking about Baylor Scheierman, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Arthur Kaluma, and Trey Alexander.
However, the team lost Nembhard and Kaluma shockingly to the portal. Not only that, but Scheierman could opt to move on — either to play professionally or presumably with another program. The other three starters could also opt to test their respective stocks with NBA personnel. To make matters worse, Shereef Mitchell, John Christofilis, Ben Shtolzberg and Zander Yates all joined Nembhard in the portal.
Landing former 4-star power forward Isaac Traudt from Virginia was a nice start. The team also picked up two more transfers in Johnathan Lawson (Memphis) and Steven Ashworth (Utah State).
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8. Arizona
Arizona’s full roster hasn’t yet been fleshed out.
We do know Courtney Ramey, Cedric Henderson, Kerr Kriisa, and Adama Bal are gone. In general Tommy Lloyd wants to get a more dynamic, athletic roster. Replacing Kriisa is highly promising sophomore guard Kylan Boswell. He’s not only a shot maker, but a future NBA player.
Assuming Azuolas Tubelis leaves (which looks likely), the front court will be manned by Oumar Ballo. Pelle Larsson also will be back as the ideal glue guy. As for transfer targets, the Wildcats nabbed former Alabama transfer Jaden Bradley. They also added two Lithuanian prospects — including 7-foot-2 center Motiejus Krivas.
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7. Michigan State
Watch out for Michigan State.
Last year’s team willed itself to the Sweet 16 with a team that wasn’t all that talented. That’s suddenly about to change. According to 247Sports, Michigan State signed the country’s No. 3 recruiting class. Indianapolis big man Xavier Booker is ranked as the No. 8 player in the country. He’ll surely start from Day 1 — as he’s drawn comparisons to Jaren Jackson Jr. Fellow 5-star PG Jeremy Fears will bolster the backcourt with his speed and quickness. Dipping down to South Carolina, Izzo also signed 6-foot-7 power forward Coen Carr — a player with a crazy motor and positional versatility.
Making matters even better, Malik Hall and Tyson Walker opted to return to school for one final run at a National Title. As we’ve seen with other Michigan State squads who’ve won at the highest level under Izzo, this one has a terrific blend of veterans and high-impact freshmen.
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6. Kentucky
Even though Oscar Tshiebwe seemingly has been in college for 10 years, he does technically have one year left of eligibility. While not projected to be a high draft choice, he could still opt to bypass his college career in favor of starting one in the pros.
If he opts to come back….Kentucky’s fortunes improve significantly. Once again, Coach Cal has signed an elite recruiting class — highlighted by Dajuan Wagner’s son, D.J. Wagner. Wing Justin Edwards is a walking bucket, and center Aaron Bradshaw is very talented in his own right (as is guard Robert Dillingham).
Kentucky will surely be active in the transfer portal yet again. If this is a team reliant upon first and second year players, it likely won’t reach its full potential. However, if Tshiebwe and Antonio Reeves come back, the ceiling is much higher. Regardless, this team figures to be competitive nonetheless. Wagner will immediately assume the role as the team’s prominent scoring threat. Also — keep an eye out on the development of sophomore Chris Livingston. He’s an NBA exec’s dream with a combination of length, toughness, and high basketball I.Q.
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5. UCLA
On the surface, many would project UCLA to be worse than it was this year. Tyger Campbell, Jaime Jaquez, and David Singleton — the core of a Final Four team — are gone. However, IF everything breaks the way in which it’s trending for the Bruins, this year’s team has a chance to be the most talented in all of college basketball.
As of mid-April, the thought is Adem Bona will return for his sophomore season. Jaylen Clark — the National Defensive Player of the Year — also stands to return next season (at some point) after recovering from his Achilles injury. Ultra-athletic PG Dylan Andrews will assume the role as the team’s primary facilitator. Amari Bailey did declare for the draft, and it’ll be interesting to see whether he sticks in or comes back to Westwood.
Here’s where thing’s get interesting. In addition to a three-man recruiting class comprised of all 4-star prospects (Brandon Williams, Sebastian Mack, Devin Williams), UCLA is on the cusp of securing the services of 7-foot-3 Spanish big man Aday Mara Gomez and 6-foot-6 French wing Ilane Fibleuil. Both are sure-fire NBA prospects, and potential one-and-done types. Additionally, UCLA received the commitment of former Utah double-digit scorer Lazar Stefanovic.
If all of these dominos fall into place…UCLA will be loaded.
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4. Marquette
Under the leadership of lauded head coach Shaka Smart, the Golden Eagles had a very good year in 2022-23. Arguably the best team in the Big East, Marquette crashed out of the tournament earlier than expected. However, this should only provide the team with some real motivation moving forward.
Tyler Kolek, David Joplin, Kam Jones, and five other top rotation pieces from this year will all be back in Milwaukee. Additionally, freshman guard Tre Norman looks talented enough to play from Day 1. On the other side of the coin, the most noteworthy loss to the draft is Olivier-Maxence Prosper.
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3. Kansas
Kansas will be going through a bit of change. Jalen Wilson and Gradey Dick will be gone — and those were the team’s top two players from a year ago. Kevin McCullar also should be departing, as will Joseph Yesufu, M.J. Rice, Ernest Udeh, and Bobby Pettiford via transfer (though McCullar could come back after testing the NBA waters).
As such, the team will be built around transfers Nick Timberlake and Hunter Dickinson, point guard Dajuan Harris, springy big man KJ Adams, and a plethora of first-year players. Landing Dickinson was a major coup. One of College Basketball’s most talented players, he immediately makes the Jayhawks title contenders. In terms of freshmen, guard Elmarko Jackson has a chance to be really good right away. Los Angeles native Marcus Adams is essentially a Jalen Wilson clone (with a better perimeter shot).
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2. Duke
Duke got some big news recently — as both Kyle Filipowski and Tyrese Proctor will return to school. On the surface, you’re looking at perhaps the best player in the ACC next year (Filipowski) along with the most talented guard-big duo. Mark Mitchell and his tantalizing potential will also be back in Durham. On the other side of the proverbial coin, Dereck Lively entered the draft.
A monster recruiting class was slightly impacted, as Duke’s most highly-rated signee Mackenzie Mgbako asked out of his letter of intent (presumably because Filipowski returned to school). He then landed with Indiana. Even then, the Blue Devils are bringing in two studs from the California high school ranks (Caleb Foster, Jared McCain). They’re also set to return productive center Ryan Young.
Without a doubt, Duke looks to be a favorite next year — largely due to the unexpected return of its star player for a second (and likely final) college season.
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1. UConn
We must pay respect to the reigning National Champions. UCONN will start off the season ranked as the country’s No. 1 team. Dan Hurley was able to build a pliable roster rooted in toughness, skill, shooting, size, and athleticism.
Losing Jordan Hawkins to the NBA Draft is a blow. He was a force for UCONN as a perimeter shooter and scorer. However, he is slated to be replaced by 5-star incoming freshman guard Stephon Castle. At 6’6″, the Georgia native headlines a very good 5-man recruiting class (which also features two other top-100 wing talents in Solomon Ball and Seattle native Jaylin Stewart).
We don’t yet know if Adama Sanogo will leave for the pros. However, promising big man Donovan Clingan has determined that he’ll stay put. This is a kid with ridiculous upside, and one which should be a real force this year as a sophomore. Assuming Andre Jackson also returns, the Huskies will be the easy pick to win the Big East in 2023-24.
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Every NBA Franchise’s All-Time Starting Five
Atlanta Hawks
Point Guard — Lenny Wilkens
Shooting Guard — Lou Hudson
Small Forward — Dominique Wilkins
Power Forward — Bob Pettit
Center — Dikembe Mutombo
What better way to kick off than with a lineup featuring five Hall of Famers? Wilkens, Hudson and Pettit carried the then St. Louis Hawks through the 1960s, collecting 26 All-Star nods between them. Though, the most popular Hawk of all-time is perhaps Slam Dunk Champion and seven-time All-NBA selection Dominique Wilkins — who leads the franchise in both games played (882) and points scored (23,292). Rounding out this group is big man Dikembe Mutombo. The shot-blocking savant only played four and a half seasons in Atlanta, but earned three Defensive Player of the Year honors (’97, ’98, ’01) during that stretch.
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Charlotte Hornets
Point Guard — Kemba Walker
Shooting Guard — Glen Rice
Small Forward — Gerald Wallace
Power Forward — Larry Johnson
Center — Alonzo Mourning
The Hornets aren’t exactly pulling from a deep pool of historically great talents. It’s been a franchise in constant rebuild ever since it reentered the league in 2004. Before that, Charlotte appeared to be a team on the rise following a span of seven postseason appearances in 10 years. In that span, the three players which defined Hornets basketball were the rim protecting, two-time Defensive Player of the Year Alonzo Mourning, the sharp-shooting three-point champion Glen Rice, and the bruising forward Larry Johnson. Though the team has struggled mightily over the past two decades, two bright spots include Gerald Wallace — who led the team to its only postseason appearance during the Bobcats era — and four-time All-Star Kemba Walker.
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Miami Heat
Point Guard — LeBron James
Shooting Guard — Dwyane Wade
Small Forward — Jimmy Butler
Power Forward — Chris Bosh
Center — Alonzo Mourning
A fairly straight-forward lineup as this five-man group highlights the past, present and golden age of the Miami Heat. Alonzo Mourning’s arrival in Miami helped kickstart a run of successful seasons, as the Heat reached the playoffs in each of the center’s first six years with the club. In 2006, a young shooting guard named Dwyane Wade helped the team capture its first NBA title. He was later joined by two close friends — LeBron James and Chris Bosh — who led the team to two additional championships. While the Heat experienced a bit of a lull following James’ departure and Wade’s retirement, six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler has helped guide the franchise back to relevancy — most notably leading the Heat to an NBA Finals appearance in 2020.
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Orlando Magic
Point Guard — Penny Hardaway
Shooting Guard — Tracy McGrady
Small Forward — Nick Anderson
Power Forward — Dwight Howard
Center — Shaquille O’Neal
In the case of the Orlando Magic, this is a franchise whose two best players were exclusively centers. Orlando has made the most out of winning the NBA Draft Lottery, selecting two all-time big men with the No. 1 overall pick. Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard may have each exited Orlando on rocky terms, but both players were completely dominant while donning a Magic uniform. Penny Hardaway and Tracy McGrady made a combined eight All-Star appearances (in just 10 years) with Orlando despite each dealing with a bevy of injuries throughout their tenures. Nick Anderson earns the final spot as an underrated contributor throughout the 90s. He’s Orlando’s all-time leader in games played (692) and steals (1,004), and trails only Dwight Howard for the franchise leader in points.
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Washington Wizards
Point Guard — John Wall
Shooting Guard — Bradley Beal
Small Forward — Gus Johnson
Power Forward — Elvin Hayes
Center — Wes Unseld
Without a doubt, a Washington all-time lineup must begin with the dynamic duo of Wes Unseld and Elvin Hayes. Two members of the NBA 75th Anniversary team, Unseld and Hayes led Washington to its most recent title in 1978. Though, we would be remissed if we did not mention another legend of the franchise in Gus Johnson who led the team during its days in Baltimore. The backcourt comes down to three more recent guards — John Wall, Bradley Beal and Gilbert Arenas. While Arenas may have had the highest ceiling, he also had the lowest floor and quickest departure. Wall was a five-time All-Star with the Wizards. Beal has been with the franchise for 11 years and averaged over 30 PPG during the ’20 and ’21 seasons.
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Denver Nuggets
Point Guard — Fat Lever
Shooting Guard — David Thompson
Small Forward — Alex English
Power Forward — Carmelo Anthony
Center — Nikola Jokic
Denver’s team is headlined by a trio of gifted scorers, a traditional point guard, and a two-time MVP. Thompson, English, and Anthony all knew how to score the basketball at a high rate. David Thompson’s 73-point single game effort has only been bested by Wilt Chamberlain and Kobe Bryant, Alex English was the league’s Scoring Champion in 1983, and Carmelo Anthony is the ninth all-time leading scorer. Lever played for the Nuggets during the high-scoring 80s, and was routinely among the league leaders in assists and steals. And then there’s Nikola Jokic, the greatest passing big man of all-time who has already won two regular season MVP’s and looking for a third.
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Minnesota Timberwolves
Guard — Anthony Edwards
Guard — Andrew Wiggins
Small Forward — Kevin Love
Power Forward — Kevin Garnett
Center — Karl-Anthony Towns
Minnesota’s frontcourt spots seem fairly locked into place. Kevin Garnett is an obvious choice as he’s the franchise’s only MVP and a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary team. While he never led Minnesota to a postseason appearance, Kevin Love posted monstrous individual numbers and made three All-Star teams with the T’Wolves. Karl-Anthony Towns was a key member in ending the 14-year playoff drought, and was a home run No. 1 overall pick for the franchise back in 2015. The team’s two other No. 1 overall picks — Andrew Wiggins (technically drafted by Cleveland) and Anthony Edwards — take up the last two spots. Wiggins due to production (third most points scored in franchise history) and Edwards based on early returns (named an All-Star at 21 years old).
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Oklahoma City Thunder / Seattle SuperSonics
Guard — Gary Payton
Guard — Russell Westbrook
Small Forward — Kevin Durant
Power Forward — Shawn Kemp
Center — Jack Sikma
Seattle still isn’t over losing its basketball team, as the franchise developed a rather rich history playing under the “Sonics” name for 40 seasons. The three defining players of Seattle’s NBA run are Jack Sikma, Gary Payton, and Shawn Kemp. The latter two led Seattle during the 90s — which saw the Sonics reach the postseason eight years in a row. Sikma was the team’s best player in the 80s, and was named a Hall of Famer after an illustrious 14-year career which included nine seasons with the Sonics. Since the team moved to Oklahoma City, two league MVP’s have highlighted the Thunder era. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are two of the great players of the last 20 years, and would have been extremely fun to watch run alongside the likes of Payton and Kemp.
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Portland Trail Blazers
Guard — Terry Porter
Guard — Damian Lillard
Small Forward — Clyde Drexler
Power Forward — LaMarcus Aldridge
Center — Bill Walton
While the Blazers have been struck with rotten injury luck over the years — Brandon Roy, Greg Oden, etc. — the team has had its fair share of breathtaking talents. Perhaps none more impactful than Bill Walton, who despite only playing four years in Portland (due to multiple injuries of his own) led the franchise to its only championship in 1977. Joining Walton in the frontcourt is LaMarcus Aldridge who logged nine fruitful seasons with the Blazers before continuing his successful career with the Spurs and Nets.
With the backcourt consisting of two point guards, a natural 2-guard in Clyde Drexler is asked to step into the small forward role here. The 10-time All-Star went toe-to-toe with all of the elite guards of the 90s. Same goes for Terry Porter who wasn’t an elite player by any means, but a steady hand for 10 years and was able to make two All-Star teams with the Blazers. With Porter running the point, current Blazer Damian Lillard is free to launch deep three-pointers to his heart’s content. Lillard has played his entire career in Portland and will undoubtedly be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when he decides to call it quits.
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Utah Jazz
Point Guard — John Stockton
Shooting Guard — Pete Maravich
Small Forward — Adrian Dantley
Power Forward — Karl Malone
Center — Rudy Gobert
Of course, the Jazz lineup must start off with Karl Malone and John Stockton — the dominant pick-and-roll combo who defined the best stretch of Utah basketball. The duo combined to play 37 seasons with the Jazz. Stockton is No. 1 all-time in career assists (and steals) and Malone ranks third in points all-time behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James.
The other three spots in the lineup are a bit trickier. ‘Pistol’ Pete Maravich enjoyed his best years with the New Orleans Jazz (25.7 PPG over five seasons) before the team moved to Utah during his final year. Adrian Dantley also had no trouble scoring, averaging just under 30 PPG during his seven years in Utah. All six of Dantley’s All-Star nods occurred during his time with the Jazz. Rounding out the lineup is three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert who ended up being a steal for the Jazz — the French native was the 27th pick of the 2013 NBA Draft.
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Dallas Mavericks
Guard — Jason Kidd
Guard — Luka Doncic
Small Forward — Rolando Blackmon
Power Forward — Mark Aguirre
Center — Dirk Nowitzki
While this Dallas lineup might be lacking in rebounding and rim protection, there’s plenty of offensive firepower and playmaking savvy to go around. Nobody exemplifies those traits more than current Dallas star Luka Doncic who is already well on his way to an all-time great career. Of course, Doncic still has a ways to go to catch Dirk Nowitzki for “Greatest Maverick Ever.” Nowitzki cemented himself as such after leading Dallas to an NBA title in 2011. Though, he couldn’t do it alone as fellow Hall of Famer Jason Kidd was a stabilizing force for the title-winning club. Kidd played eight total seasons in Dallas — the most of any team during his career. Rolando Blackmon and Mark Aguirre were stars of the 80s who combined to make seven All-Star teams. The pair were the top two players on the 1988 Mavericks team that was one game away from making the NBA Finals.
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Houston Rockets
Point Guard — James Harden
Shooting Guard — Tracy McGrady
Forward — Moses Malone
Forward — Hakeem Olajuwon
Center — Yao Ming
Houston has been home to some of the most unique and era-defining players over the years. Absolutely nobody would want to face this team. Playmaking savant James Harden surrounded by a scoring machine in Tracy McGrady and three of the most dominant big men of their eras. The four retired stars are all in the Hall of Fame. Harden will join them shortly after his career comes to a close. In total, this five-man group have a combined 50 All-Star appearances, 39 All-NBA selections, five MVP’s, and five scoring titles. Olajuwon and Ming played (virtually) their entire careers in Houston, while the other three each had their longest NBA tenure with the Rockets.
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Memphis Grizzlies
Guard — Mike Conley
Guard — Ja Morant
Forward — Zach Randolph
Forward — Pau Gasol
Center — Marc Gasol
Memphis’ lineup shakes out a bit like Miami’s team — a modern star, a former star, and the trio which defined the team’s best run. The modern star, of course, is two-time All-Star Ja Morant. The star point guard appears to be a franchise cornerstone for a team still in search of its first NBA Finals appearance. If you can believe it, Pau Gasol actually played more regular season games with the Grizzlies than he did with the Lakers. When Pau was drafted in ’01, the Grizzlies had never made the postseason. He eventually led them to three playoff berths.
The team cannot be complete without some mention of the “Grit ‘n’ Grind” era. In this case, Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph and Mike Conley all deserve a spot in the starting lineup as they each played an integral role during a run which saw Memphis make seven-straight playoff appearances.
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New Orleans Pelicans
Point Guard — Chris Paul
Shooting Guard — Jrue Holiday
Forward — David West
Forward — Zion Williamson
Center — Anthony Davis
The Pelicans’ history stretches just 21 seasons and includes eight postseason appearances. The team hasn’t had a whole lot of time to develop a rich history. Though, there’s been no shortage of talent in New Orleans. Chris Paul, Jrue Holiday, and Anthony Davis are former Hornets/Pelicans who are still among some of the best players in the league today. Same goes for Zion Williamson when he’s healthy. While he’s played just over 100 career games, Williamson is the most electrifying star in team history and key to the franchise’s future. Filling in the final spot, David West gets the slightest edge over current All-Star Brandon Ingram. West spent eight years in New Orleans and was a pivotal piece during the two best seasons in team history (’08 and ’09).
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San Antonio Spurs
Point Guard — Tony Parker
Shooting Guard — George Gervin
Small Forward — Kawhi Leonard
Power Forward — Tim Duncan
Center — David Robinson
You can’t discuss the Spurs without starting with Tim Duncan. The five-time NBA Champion completely transformed the team as soon as he was drafted No. 1 overall in 1997. He joined 10-time All-NBA selection David Robinson who would go on to be a key member of the two early title teams. Later on, Duncan got help in the form of French point guard Tony Parker. The 2007 NBA Finals MVP, Parker’s speed and craft made him the perfect compliment to Duncan’s ground-bound game. In their most recent Finals run in 2014, Finals MVP honors went to Kawhi Leonard. Leonard played seven seasons in San Antonio and is one of the greatest development stories in league history. Taking the final spot in the starting lineup is George Gervin, one of the most brilliant offensive players the game has seen. This allows four-time NBA Champion Manu Ginobili to slide into his familiar Sixth Man role.
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Chicago Bulls
Point Guard — Derrick Rose
Shooting Guard — Michael Jordan
Small Forward — Scottie Pippen
Power Forward — Dennis Rodman
Center — Artis Gilmore
Chicago won six titles with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen at the helm. There inclusions are obviously a no-brainer. Dennis Rodman joined that group for the final three titles, and led the league in rebounding each season he was with the Bulls. Derrick Rose became the youngest MVP in league history in 2008, and is the only Chicago Bull to win the award other than Jordan. After a strong career in the ABA, 7-foot-2 Hall of Fame center Artis Gilmore spent his first six NBA seasons with the Bulls.
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Cleveland Cavaliers
Point Guard — Mark Price
Shooting Guard — Kyrie Irving
Small Forward — LeBron James
Power Forward — Kevin Love
Center — Brad Daugherty
The second lineup to feature LeBron James (who is Cleveland’s all-time leader in points, assists, rebounds, steals, among several other categories), this Cleveland outfit is a bit more guard heavy with an emphasis on outside shooting. Former teammates of James, both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love played a huge part in ending the team’s 40-year title drought. While they never reached the NBA Finals, the Mark Price and Brad Daugherty-led Cavs teams of the 90s were very competitive. Price and Daugherty were each All-Stars several times and played a combined 17 seasons with the Cavs. A supporting cast like this around James would have resulted in a ton of titles for Cleveland.
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Detroit Pistons
Point Guard — Isiah Thomas
Shooting Guard — Joe Dumars
Small Forward — Grant Hill
Power Forward — Ben Wallace
Center — Bob Lanier
A team rich in history, this seems like a fair balance of Detroit’s top talents. The guard spots cannot be altered. Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars are among the best backcourts in league history, and were the driving force for back-to-back title-winning teams. All five players in this lineup are Hall of Famers, including recent inductee Ben Wallace — a four-time Defensive Player of the Year that served as the defensive backbone for Detroit’s run through the 2000s. Grant Hill is perhaps the most talented individual player in team history, winning Rookie of the Year honors in 1995 and earning an All-NBA spot each of his final five seasons with the Pistons. Bob Lanier was a top center during the 70s, making seven All-Star appearances with the Pistons.
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Indiana Pacers
Guard — Paul George
Shooting Guard — Reggie Miller
Small Forward — Roger Brown
Power Forward — Jermaine O’Neal
Center — Mel Daniels
We’re stretching it a bit with this lineup, as it features no traditional point guard. However, this configuration is the only way to include the five most impactful Indiana Pacers in team history. Roger Brown and Mel Daniels are likely unfamiliar to newer fans of the game, but the two Hall of Famers dominated for Indiana during the team’s days in the ABA. After being one of the most iconic teams of the ABA, the Pacers found it difficult to transition to the NBA. That is until Reggie Miller was drafted and led Indiana to 15 playoff appearances in 16 seasons — including a trip to the 2000 NBA Finals. Jermaine O’Neal and Paul George are tied with Miler for the most All-NBA selections for a Pacer (3). O’Neal is the only Pacer to be named to an All-NBA Second Team.
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Milwaukee Bucks
Point Guard — Oscar Robertson
Shooting Guard — Sidney Moncrief
Small Forward — Khris Middleton
Power Forward — Giannis Antetokounmpo
Center — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Milwaukee’s two NBA Championships came 50 years apart, and this lineup features each duo that led the Bucks to an ultimate victory. It doesn’t get much better than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson. The duo only played ten total seasons in Milwaukee (the start of Abdul-Jabbar’s career and the end of Robertson’s), but delivered the franchise a title and are among the greatest players to ever live. Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was the driving force for the ’21 championship, but he couldn’t have gotten it done without three-time All-Star Khris Middleton. Middleton hit several clutch shots down the stretch of Milwaukee’s title run. The last spot goes to one of the best defenders in league history — no, not Jrue Holiday — two-time Defensive Player of the Year Sidney Moncrief.
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Boston Celtics
Point Guard — Bob Cousy
Shooting Guard — John Havlicek
Small Forward — Paul Pierce
Power Forward — Larry Bird
Center — Bill Russell
While the Celtics have a deep pool of players to choose from, making these selection didn’t end up being overly complicated. Four of the five spots are set-in-stone. Russell won 11 NBA titles, Cousy was the league’s premier point guard during the NBA’s infancy, Bird was a three-time NBA MVP and Havlicek served as a bridge between the franchise’s eras. Paul Pierce’s spot could be contentious among some Celtics fans. However, this is a franchise that is tied for the most championships in NBA history (17), but has just one title since 1986. Pierce earned MVP honors for the 2008 NBA Finals, helped end a 30-year drought, and played 15 seasons with the Celtics. That is more than enough for him to earn a spot in Boston’s starting lineup.
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Brooklyn Nets
Point Guard — Jason Kidd
Shooting Guard — Julius Erving
Small Forward — Kevin Durant
Power Forward — Buck Williams
Center — Brook Lopez
When most basketball fans think of the Nets, the first player that comes to mind is typically Julius Erving. The man known as “Dr. J” was the star of the ABA, leading the Nets to two titles during the 70s. Following Erving’s departure, the team’s next star was Buck Williams who was named to four All-Defensive teams — all with the Nets. New Jersey had not made it to the NBA Finals until Jason Kidd took over at point guard in 2001. The Hall of Fame guard played more games with the Nets than any other team in his career. Believe it or not, the Nets’ all-time leading scorer is Brook Lopez. He also leads the franchise in blocked shots. With a rather shallow pool of players to choose from, we’ll round out the lineup with Kevin Durant. Durant brought relevancy to a Nets team that had been flailing since the move to Brooklyn.
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New York Knicks
Point Guard — Walt Frazier
Shooting Guard — Carmelo Anthony
Small Forward — Bernard King
Power Forward — Willis Reed
Center — Patrick Ewing
Patrick Ewing headlines a Knicks lineup which embodies each period in the team’s history. Ewing is the team’s all-time leader in points, rebounds and blocks — and second-place isn’t particularly close in any of those categories. Willis Reed was awarded both Finals MVP’s during the Knicks two title runs, but he got a lot of help from lead guard Walt Frazier. Frazier was a seven-time All-Star with the Knicks and routinely upped his play in the postseason. The last two spots go to two all-time great scorers — Carmelo Anthony and Bernard King.
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Philadelphia 76ers
Point Guard — Allen Iverson
Shooting Guard — Julius Erving
Forward — Charles Barkley
Forward — Joel Embiid
Center — Wilt Chamberlain
This 76ers outfit would not back down from anyone. Wilt Chamberlain and Joel Embiid have drastically different styles of play, but both became two-way phenoms due to their elite athleticism and fluidity at the center position. Charles Barkley was a matchup nightmare waiting to happen. Though shorter than a traditional power forward at the time, Barkley dominated the interior and was name an All-Star in each of his final six seasons with the 76ers.
Erving played his entire NBA career with the 76ers (11 seasons), making the All-Star team each year and winning a title in ’83. Over the last 40 years, the closest Philadelphia has been to an NBA title was during the 2001 season when league MVP Allen Iverson led the 76ers to a Finals appearance. Iverson played 12 years in Philadelphia, and no athlete has ever embodied the city’s relentless attitude better.
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Toronto Raptors
Point Guard — Kyle Lowry
Shooting Guard — DeMar DeRozan
Forward — Vince Carter
Forward — Kawhi Leonard
Center — Chris Bosh
The first 17 years of Raptors history didn’t exactly go too well. The two biggest names produced from that era are Vince Carter and Chris Bosh. At one point, Carter was one of the top wings in the league and was named to six All-Star teams in seven years with the Raptors. Bosh nearly matched Carter with five All-Star appearances in seven years, but neither player won a ton of games for the Raptors. Two players who seriously helped turn the franchise around occupy the backcourt — Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan.
Under the two All-Stars, the Raptors made five-straight playoff appearances and led the Eastern Conference with 59 wins in 2018. However, the team didn’t finally get over the hump until Kawhi Leonard came to town. Leonard is the only player featured on this entire list who played just one year with the team he’s representing. However, Leonard deserves a spot in this starting lineup. Without him, the Raptors would still be without a title.
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Golden State Warriors
Point Guard — Steph Curry
Shooting Guard — Klay Thompson
Small Forward — Rick Barry
Power Forward — Draymond Green
Center — Wilt Chamberlain
There isn’t too much to discuss about this lineup. Except, if you believe that Kevin Durant deserves a spot for basically sealing two title wins. However, the trio of Curry, Thompson and Green are locks for the team. Each one was drafted by the Warriors and played a major role in building a dynasty. Chamberlain has to make the team based on numbers alone. This is a guy who averaged 41.5 PPG and 25.1 RPG over six seasons with the Warriors. And, Durant can’t take Rick Barry’s spot. Barry was solidified when he took home MVP honors after his performance in the 1975 NBA Finals.
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LA Clippers
Point Guard — Chris Paul
Shooting Guard — Paul George
Small Forward — Kawhi Leonard
Power Forward — Blake Griffin
Center — Bob McAdoo
For nearly 40 years, Bob McAdoo was the only All-NBA First Team selection in Clippers history. The all-time great center earned that distinction in 1975 — the same year he won NBA MVP. In 2012, Chris Paul became the second All-NBA First Team player in Clippers history, and helped revitalize a pitiful franchise alongside high-flying power forward Blake Griffin. The pair engineered five-straight 50-win seasons after the franchise had never passed that bench mark previously. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George joining the team gave the Clippers hope of finally getting over the title hump. While they haven’t quite reached that milestone yet, they’re undoubtedly two of the most talented players to don a Clippers uniform. And, they helped the franchise reach its first ever Conference Finals. Baby steps.
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Los Angeles Lakers
Point Guard — Magic Johnson
Shooting Guard — Jerry West
Small Forward — Kobe Bryant
Power Forward — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Center — Shaquille O’Neal
The Lakers have what seems like an unlimited supply of Hall of Famers to select from. Elgin Baylor, Michael Cooper, Pau Gasol, Gail Goodrich, Jamal Wilkes, George Mikan, Anthony Davis and other great players in NBA history are left off the most exclusive lineup in this exercise. Not to mention, the game’s all-time leading scorer — LeBron James — must give up his spot to longer tenured veterans. The end result is a five-man group that won a combined 19 titles during their time in Los Angeles. Magic Johnson, Jerry West, and Kobe Bryant are among the greatest guards to ever play the game — and each only suited up for the Lakers during their professional careers. Abdul-Jabbar and O’Neal joined the Lakers later in their careers, but both were dominant for title-winning teams. The Lakers’ backups would likely take down most of the other teams featured on this list.
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Phoenix Suns
Point Guard — Steve Nash
Shooting Guard — Walter Davis
Small Forward — Shawn Marion
Power Forward — Charles Barkley
Center — Amar’e Stoudemire
Two former MVP’s headline a Suns all-time lineup which would have no trouble scoring the basketball. Barkley was awarded league MVP in his first year with the Suns in ’93, and led the team to the NBA Finals that year. Nash won back-to-back MVP’s in ’04 and ’05 as he helped engineer one of the most memorable teams of that era alongside Shawn Marion and Amar’e Stoudemire. Taking the final spot is Walter Davis, a six-time All-Star who is the Suns all-time leader in points scored (15,666).
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Sacramento Kings
Point Guard — Tiny Archibald
Shooting Guard — Oscar Robertson
Small Forward — Mitch Richmond
Power Forward — Chris Webber
Center — Jerry Lucas
While Oscar Robertson gets a ton of credit for his run with the Bucks, he was at his absolute best as a Cincinnati Royal. It was with the Royals (before they were known as the Kings) that Robertson became the first player to average a triple-double for a full season. Robertson won league MVP in 1964 alongside teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Jerry Lucas. Lucas made three All-NBA First Team appearances with the Royals and was a member of the 75th Anniversary Team. Nate “Tiny” Archibald earned three All-NBA First Team selections, as well. Chris Webber is the most recent All-NBA First Team selection, becoming one of just five players in team history to earn that distinction. The last spot goes to Mitch Richmond who played seven years in Sacramento and made the All-Star Game in six of those seasons.
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