Inspired by this post: https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1vlsq4j/best_starting_5s_by_last_name_initial_az/
I decided to spin off the idea to include ALL NBA players in history. I used the old All-NBA rules (2 guards, 2 forwards, 1 center) instead of 1-5. There were obvious holes in certain teams if we followed the 1-5 rule, and that wouldn’t be fun or competitive :)
Anyway, which team takes it all?
The As
- Nate Archibald, Ray Allen
- Carmelo Anthony, Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Lew Alcindor still works!)
The Bs
- Chauncey Billups (Brunson may get there eventually), Kobe Bryant
- Larry Bird, Charles Barkley
- Chris Bosh
The Cs
- Steph Curry, Bob Cousy
- Vince Carter, Dave Cowens
- Wilt Chamberlain
The Ds
- Luka Dončić, Clyde Drexler
- Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis
- Tim Duncan
The Es
- Anthony Edwards, Dale Ellis
- Julius Erving, Patrick Ewing (played PF for one season)
- Joel Embiid
The Fs
- Walt Frazier, World B. Free
- Michael Finley, Joe Fulks
- Larry Foust
The Gs
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Paul George (some are arguing for Manu Ginóbili over PG)
- George Gervin, Kevin Garnett
- Pau Gasol
The Hs
- James Harden, John Havlicek
- Grant Hill, Elvin Hayes
- Dwight Howard
The Is
- Kyrie Irving, Allen Iverson
- Andre Iguodala, Serge Ibaka
- Žydrūnas Ilgauskas
The Js
- Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan
- LeBron James, Bobby Jones
- Nikola Jokić
The Ks
- Jason Kidd, Kyle Korver
- Bernard King, Shawn Kemp
- Red Kerr
The Ls
- Damian Lillard, Fat Lever
- Kawhi Leonard, Jerry Lucas
- Bob Lanier
The Ms
- Pete Maravich, Reggie Miller
- Tracy McGrady, Karl Malone
- Moses Malone
The Ns
- Steve Nash, Norm Nixon
- Dirk Nowitzki, Larry Nance Sr.
- Joakim Noah
The Os
- Don Ohl, Victor Oladipo
- Lamar Odom, Jermaine O’Neal
- Shaquille O’Neal (Hakeem Olajuwon might be the greatest 6th man in this league)
The Ps
- Chris Paul (Gary Payton is a close 2nd), Paul Pierce
- Scottie Pippen, Bob Pettit
- Robert Parish
The Qs
- Immanuel Quickley, Chris Quinn
- Bob Quick, Derik Queen
- Neemias Queta
- Somehow the Q team was able to field a starting lineup of 2 guards, 2 forwards, and a center…
The Rs
- Oscar Robertson, Mitch Richmond
- Dennis Rodman, Willis Reed
- Bill Russell (David Robinson is a respectable 2nd)
The Ss
- John Stockton, Bill Sharman
- Domantas Sabonis, Amar’e Stoudemire
- Arvydas Sabonis
The Ts
- Isiah Thomas, Klay Thompson
- Jayson Tatum, Karl-Anthony Towns
- Nate Thurmond
The Us
- Beno Udrih, Tyler Ulis
- Ime Udoka, Ekpe Udoh
- Wes Unseld
- Only 15 players ever whose last name starts with U
The Vs
- Nick Van Exel, Fred VanVleet
- Kiki Vandeweghe, Keith Van Horn
- Nikola Vučević
The Ws
- Jerry West, Dwyane Wade
- James Worthy, Chris Webber
- Victor Wembanyama (Bill Walton and Ben Wallace were considered)
The Xs
- Not enough players to field 5 players. Xue Yuyang is the only player. In Chinese culture, the surname comes first.
The Ys
- Danny Young, Nick Young
- George Yardley, Thaddeus Young
- Yao Ming (just like Xue, Yao is his last name)
The Zs
- Bill Zopf, Max Zaslofsky
- Cody Zeller, Paul Zipser
- Ivica Zubac