Everyone always gets caught up with "who's the best at this, who's the best at that?"
How about some love for those who are Jacks-of-all trades?
Everyone needs to know that no matter how good John Stockton was, he just couldn't guard Gary Payton or Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway by himself. Same with Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Shaquille O'Neal—those four great centers just do not have the skill set to keep up with the hybrid centers of today's game.
I am going to pick my “All-NBA Anything Team.” I am going to put a collection of players together who played not one, not two, but up to three different positions at any given time in any given situation, and create one of the most dynamic collection of talents ever assembled.
The goal of the selections I've made is to create a great team committed to winning. No one can ever argue the ultimate goal of any NBA player is to win the big one—ask Karl Malone, Allen Iverson, and Charles Barkley.
The team also has to make sense (e.g. I won't be assembling all guards and hoping for the best), the players need to have established some kind of name for themselves on a basketball court (sorry, Jonathan Bender), and last, but not least—character matters!
With all that in mind, let's get the ball rolling!
PG: Magic Johnson
36.7 MPG 19.5 PTS 52% FG 84.8% FT 7.2 REB 11.2 AST 1.9 STL
Height: 6'9” Weight: 240 lbs.
Best Season: 1988-89
We can talk all night about what he means to the Los Angeles Lakers. We can talk all night about his charitable acts, too. I want to talk about his on-court accomplishments, though.
Paul Westhead, the Lakers' coach during the 1980 NBA Finals, decided to place Magic Johnson in at center when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar suffered a sprained ankle and couldn't play the rest of the series.
Johnson recorded 42 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and three steals. He played guard, forward and center at different points in the game, and lifted the Lakers to a 123–107 win. Magic Johnson, the true measuring stick of versatility!
SG: Tracy McGrady
35.1 MPG 22.4 PPG 44% FG 75% FT 6.2 REB 4.7 AST 1.3 STL
Height: 6'8” Weight: 225 lbs.
Best Season: 2002-03
This was without question the closest call of this entire team. Michael Jordan never really played point guard, like Scottie Pippen did. George Gervin never slid to that pivotal third position needed to make this list.
Tracy McGrady has had one heck of a run in front of him, and still does. The only question with this guy is his health.
During McGrady's last year in Toronto, he played a lot of point guard, due to the injuries to Alvin Williams and the fact the Raps didn't want to play Muggsy Bogues for extended minutes.
I still remember the Orlando Magic years when he brought that team back from nothing after Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway had moved on. Now teamed with Yao Ming and Ron Artest, McGrady is poised to go far in the playoffs and being justifying the two scoring titles and other personal accolades he's won already.
SF: Scottie Pippen
34.9 MPG 16.1 PPG 47% FG 70% FT 6.4 REB 5.2 AST 2.0 STL
Height: 6'8” Weight: 228 lbs.
Best Season: 1994-95
I wanted to give this spot to LeBron James, but I couldn't. Scottie Pippen was the second-largest part of the best NBA team in history. Not to mention a lot of people forget how great he was that one full season Michael Jordan was retired.
He earned NBA first-team honors that season, and also was the best player on the team, which won 55 games that season. Everyone knew how great he was, Michael Jordan threatened to retired again—this time earlier than planned—if Jerry Krause traded Pippen.
Between guarding the opposing team's best wing/guard and setting up the best team's offense how could he be denied this spot?
PF: Kevin Garnett
37.9 MPG 20.4 PPG 49% FG 78% FT 11.2 REB 4.4 AST 1.4 STL
Height: 6'11” Weight: 220 lbs.
Best Season: 2003-04
Kevin, you're not fooling anyone with your 6'11”, 220-pound nonsense. 7'1”, 245—easily.
The Minnesota Timberwolves' organization was ugly before Garnett was drafted. They were talking about relocation, moving, and just plan closing the doors on the organization itself. No offense to Glen Taylor, but he is the reason the Wolves still play in Minnesota today.
In the 1998 playoffs against the Seattle SuperSonics, the Wolves found themselves in quite the predicament. Stephon Marbury and Terry Porter couldn't play effectively, and the Wolves were left with their best option at point guard being Kevin Garnett.
He brought the ball up and led the offense the rest of the game, creating havoc in the matchups for the Sonics.
Kevin Garnett and Magic Johnson are the only two players, to my knowledge, who have the ability and size to play every position on offense and defense.
Garnett has countless awards and records. He finally won a ring last year—and when all is said and done, top five of all time is not outside the realm of possibility.
C: Rasheed Wallace
34.0 MPG 15.2 PPG 47% FG 72% FT 6.9 REB 1.9 AST 1.0 STL
Height: 6'11” Weight: 235
Best Season: 2001-02
Rasheed Wallace was a part of one of the most dominant defensive championship teams in history. Teamed with Ben Wallace and Antonio McDyess, he helped made up the front court that completely eliminated the paint for opposing teams' offenses.
There isn't a bigger match-up problem for most teams than Wallace. With his three-point shooting ability and quickness, he's unlike any center the NBA has seen. Rasheed Wallace used to start at small forward for the Portland “Jailblazers”, as well.
He's always struggled with his temper and showing he cares about being the best he can be. No one can doubt his ability or his value to the teams he's been on.
Anfernee Hardaway
Height: 6'7”
Weight: 210 lbs.
Best Season: 1995-96
Boris Diaw
Height: 6'8”
Weight: 215 lbs.
Best Season: 2005-06
Grant Hill
Height: 6'8”
Weight: 225 lbs.
Best Season: 1996-97
Robert Horry
Height: 6'10”
Weight: 230 ;bs/
Best Season: 1995-96
