The All Whatevers

About 3 summers ago I was taking U.S. History at College of the Canyons with my boys Kevin Mendoza and JJ Min. Class was pretty boring as all our professor did was lecture on and on about what happened in (I'm assuming, I can't really say for sure) the history of the United States. Meanwhile, we would be hard at work comparing notes about different all star teams, like our 1st team All NBA History team, where we picked 5 guys that have played in the NBA in any era to make the team. Basically, the best player in the history of the league at each position. And we did more such fantasy lineups and whatnot. This is how we got through 5 solid weeks of Professor Murray telling us about how many historical American figures "went through the ruff!" (or roof as it is more commonly pronounced). NBA Summer League and an enthralling offseason thus far still has basketball on my brain, so I bring to you my collection of various and completely random all star teams (current players only unless otherwise noted). Comment with your own teams at the bottom. Here we go:

The "All International Team"
This is more than just a starting lineup, it's an entire team. As in the 12 guys that would make the active roster if we played a USA vs. World game similar to how the NHL all star game was (or is? Someone ask Matt Leon).

Point Guard- No doubt about it, the starting point would have to be Steve Nash. In my opinion, Nash is the best offensive point guard in the league still today. Say what you want about Chris Paul or Deron Williams, but Nash has better vision, is a better passer, a better shooter, and a better leader than either of those guys in my eyes. There's a reason he's a 2-time MVP in this league (should be 3, the Warriors gave Dirk what he deserved after he robbed Nash of his third straight award back in '07) and he is a very underrated clutch player as any Suns fan can attest to.
There are a couple guys very deserving of backing up Nash on this squad. One of them has won 3 titles as the starting point guard of the San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, while the other led the Spanish national team to a silver medal in the 2008 Olympics (it could have been a gold if he had played in the gold-medal game), Jose Calderon. Parker has been doing it for much longer, but to me Calderon is more of a true point guard. On a team like this, I think that makes the difference. Calderon is a little bit like Nash in the sense that he distributes the ball to his teammates extremely well and can knock down open shots, while Parker is more of a flashy slasher and scorer and less of a passer with not as much range and shooting ability as the other two. On this team, the point guard doesn't have to do a lot of scoring and the ability to knock down open threes is a boon. So I'm going with Calderon as the primary backup for Nash. Keep Parker on the side though, he still can grab one of the final two roster spots.

Shooting Guard- Here is a position that international players have yet to have a major impact on. I suspect it's mostly due to their slight disadvantage in athleticism, though guys like Rudy Fernandez are closing that gap. One guy that has broken through as a major force from this spot though is the Spurs' Manu Ginobli. Ginobli has won the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award before and is considered one of the top shooting guards in the league. His unique brand of basketball makes him a tough cover (for anyone not named Sasha Vujacic- see the 2008 Western Conference Finals) as does his left-handedness. Yes that is an asset to be sure. Ginobli has always been able to slither his way into the lane and finish around the basket, but since tacking on a reliable outside jumper to his game, he has become especially dangerous. He would make a great second scoring option on this team.
To back him up, there's not much. My heart puts Sasha Vujacic in this spot, but if my life was on the line in a game like this....maybe not. At least not the way he played this past season. The aforementioned Rudy Fernandez has a bundle of talent that was on display in the Olympics. In the gold-medal game against Team USA he went off for 23 points on bold slashes to the rim, step-back three pointers and a mammoth hammer dunk on Dwight Howard's head before he fouled out late in the final period. That's the kind of talent I want coming off the bench in this slot.

Small Forward- As recently as two years ago, Peja Stojakovic had this spot on lockdown. Today...not so much. Hedo Turkoglu has to be the selection here. He's shown over the past 2 seasons why he's worth the money he'll be getting paid now. Turkoglu has great size for the position along with an array of offensive weapons. He can get to the rim, step back for the jumper, or create for his teammates. He may not get as many touches as he's used to on this team, but with guys like Nash and his new real-life teammate Calderon setting the table, he can fill it up with ease.
Backing him would probably be Stojakovic. Andrea Bargnani played well enough last season to draw some consideration for this spot, but Peja has done more for longer. At worst, he's a deadly sniper off the bench, and he'd get plenty of open opportunities with the point guards on this team.

Power Forward- The only other international league MVP gets this spot. It goes to Dirk Nowitzki. He's already great friends and former teammates with Nash so they know how to play together. Dirk can easily step into his natural role as the number one scoring option on this team and he's another top notch shooter from the perimeter.
Nowitzki's backup is a guy who deserves a starting spot and will probably play starter's minutes on a team like this. It's the third Spaniard to make the squad, Pau Gasol. He was terrific all year and especially in the postseason for a title winning Lakers team and he will be one of the few guys on this team who can dial it up on defense and on the boards. These two power forwards are too good, and some other notable guys must be left off, such as Argentina's Luis Scola.

Center- Starting at center will be the same guy who always starts at center for the Western Conference all star team, Yao Ming. Yao is used to not getting a ton of touches, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem to let the other guys get the ball a lot more. Yao is the best offensive center in the league today, and he's also a tremendous free throw shooter.
Pau Gasol will be the guy taking Yao's spot when he gets injured...I mean...gets tired. But the official backup center will be Andris Biedrins. Mehmet Okur may be a more talented player, but this is a team almost entirely devoid of defense, and lacking a dominant big man to protect the rim. Biedrins can fill that void. Okur can't. If only Darko Milicic wasn't a bust...

The last 2 roster spots are still up for grabs. One of them has to go to Tony Parker for his championship experience and dynamic abilities, though finding minutes for him will be difficult. Also making the cut is Luis Scola, who can fill a big man role very well with his low-post scoring and rebounding abilities.

The "All White (American) Team"
No, this is absolutely not racist so don't even go there. It's just fun and challenging to think of fielding a competitive team filled with only white American players, the key word being "American", meaning that none of the guys who made the All International Team qualify here even though they meet the pigment requirement. Also, mixed race guys who look white don't count (i.e. Jason Kidd). This one goes in reverse order of positions, because it's much easier for white guys to be 7 feet tall than it is for them to be athletic.

Center- Chris Kaman: Two years ago he was putting up a 18-13 with 3 blocks for the Clips before getting injured. He's got the talent, he's just got to stay healthy.
Backup- Brad Miller: Old reliable Brad. He's got toughness, size, rebounding ability, and a solid offensive skill set. His advancing age keeps him out of the starting lineup, just like in real-life.

Power Forward- Troy Murphy: He would be a great compliment to Kaman as he's a perimeter guy on offense who specializes in spacing the floor and drilling threes. He's also a terrific and underrated rebounder.
Backup- David Lee: He was a walking double-double for the Knicks last year (he led the NBA in that category) and he's one of the best role players in the league. He can score 10 points without having a single play called for him and his hustle and energy always has him picking up loose balls and rebounds.

Small Forward- Mike Dunleavy: Now it's getting tougher to find guys to fill these spots, but Dunleavy has put up some really nice numbers the past couple seasons when healthy. He can score 16-18 a game with good percentages.
Backup- Jason Kapono: What? You really thought I would put Luke Walton on this team? HAH! In all fairness, Kapono is currently tied for the best career three point percentage in the history of the NBA. I'd rather have that coming off the bench than an occasional pretty pass followed by 2 turnovers, 3 missed shots, 4 fouls, and 5 fingers to the face from yours truly (SLAP! I'M RICK JAMES BITCH!!!!)

Shooting Guard- Mike Miller: This guy can flat out stroke the basketball from deep. Miller though, as few people know, can do much more than just catch and shoot. He is also a terrific rebounder for a guard and can create looks for teammates. He averaged 7.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game over the final 3 months of last season from the 2-guard spot.
Backup- J.J. Redick: What? You really though I would put Adam Morrison on this team? HAH! No way. Ammo's only good for ripping up the Summer League. While Redick isn't the star some thought he would be in this league, he has improved his game and was at least in the rotation of the Eastern Conference champs last season. And he can still shoot it.

Point Guard- Kirk Hinrich: Sadly Steve Nash doesn't qualify for this team. Oh well. Hinrich has solid starting experience and he was a key component of some young Bulls teams that have made the playoffs the last few seasons. He's a tough defender, good shooter, and good distributor which is really all you need from a point guard.
Backup- Steve Blake: Blake was the starting point for a young Blazers squad that made their first trip to the postseason this past year. He's a solid lead guard who can pass and knock down open jumpers.

11th Man- Chris Andersen: Who better to play garbage time minutes than a guy who's image can define "white trash"?
12th Man- Luke Ridnour: He scored 77 points in an NBA Live game against Raymond Paseman. Yes that's enough for him to get a spot over Walton and Morrison.

1st Team "All Left Handed"
G- Manu Ginobli: His unique angles and drives have made him difficult to guard for years.
G- Michael Redd: One of the best scorers in the NBA does it with a slingshot left-handed launch.
F- Lamar Odom: His long left hand can finger roll basketballs into the hoop from the 3 point line.
F- Troy Murphy: He can shoot threes off that left hand like few bigs can with their right. And he can board it.
C- Chris Bosh: He's got a silky smooth jumper or he can put it on the deck and blow by you.

2nd Team "All Left Handed"
G- Derek Fisher: His left hand has released more big shots than just about anyone else's in history.
G- Delonte West: Had a real nice year for Cleveland this past season. A tough defender and good outside shooter.
F- Tayshaun Prince: Still regarded as an elite defensive stopper and picked up his offensive game last year too.
F- Anthony Randolph: Hasn't made many headlines yet but watch out for him this year.
C- Andris Biedrins- Randolph's teammate has established himself as an elite rebounder and good inside defender.

1st Team "All Overrated"
G- Mo Williams: He went from underrated to overrated in a heartbeat. His assists dropped significantly last year and any half decent shooter could knock down the open looks he got playing with LeBron. Too bad he couldn't make them in the conference finals. Why was he an All Star again?
G- Chauncey Billups: Just hear me out. Billups got way more credit than he deserved for the Nuggets' breakthrough this season. Sure he's a great leader and a great player and he certainly helped Denver out a lot with that, but the biggest help he provided for them was that he was just a better fit for the Nuggets than Allen Iverson. Just because he was a more willing passer, better outside shooter, and took less shots than A.I., it naturally opened up more opportunities for Melo, J.R. Smith, Nene, and the rest of the team to shine. That was the biggest difference. Also, "Mr. Big Shot" isn't as great in the clutch as people portray. Last season, among the top 30 players in the league in points per 48 minutes of clutch time, Billups ranked 25th out of the 30 in clutch field goal percentage at a pedestrian 40.4%. Compare that to teammate Carmelo Anthony who shot an astounding 56.5% in the clutch on more attempts than Billups and you tell me who should take the "big shots" for that team. And he was always an overrated defender when he played for those great defensive Pistons teams. It's like saying Hedo Turkoglu is a lockdown defender because Orlando had the best defense in the league last year. Just stop it okay? Good.
F- Josh Howard: He used to be all the rave when people found out he was a little better than the 30th pick in the draft, and he was rewarded with an All Star appearance. Does anyone want to make that mistake again? Since then Howard has gone from the future of the Mavericks to now possibly just the 5th most important player on the team. Oh and he admittedly smokes weed all day and hates on the national anthem too. You stay classy Josh.
F- Josh Smith: All the high-fying aerial acrobatics makes Smith more of a highlight reel than a complete player. Smith has no offense to speak of other than dunk the ball when he's open near the rim (and sometimes even that doesn't work like when he tried the between-the-legs jam in the middle of a game). For some inexplicable reason he attempts 1.3 3-pointers a game even though he's a 27% career shooter from downtown. You can talk about his elite shot blocking skills, but know that last season he posted his lowest per game blocked shot totals in his career at just 1.6 a game. Not to mention the fact that he shot worse from the free throw line than both Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard last season.
C- Tyson Chandler: I would have loved to put Dwight Howard here, but after the NBA Finals, it seems people finally agree with me on Howard's total lack of an offensive game. And besides, the guy is still the premiere defensive force in the league. So I turn to Chandler. What can he do on offense besides throw down lob passes from Chris Paul? You guessed it. Squadoosh. He has averaged double digit points per game only once in his career. People say he has a ton of value as a rebounder and a shot blocker. Well, in an 8 year career, Chandler has only averaged double digit rebounds per game twice (just 8.7 per game last year) and his blocked shots per 36 minutes have steadily declined over that span, from 2.4 per 36 minutes as a rookie to 1.1 per 36 minutes in '08 (and just 1.4 last year). Oh and he was even worse than Josh Smith from the free throw line last season.

1st Team "All Underrated"
This team is for those players whose names are recognizable, but people still don't give them the accolades they deserve:
G- Jose Calderon: Nobody knew who this guy was until a year and a half ago when he got the starting gig in Toronto after TJ Ford was carried off on a stretcher. Calderon averaged 9.8 assists per game in his first 45 starts and even though he started just 56 games on the year, he still finished with an 8.3 assist per game average over the whole 82. As the full-time starter last season, Calderon quietly put up 13 points and 9 assists per game on 50% from the field, 40% from three, and a staggering 98% from the line.
G- Jamal Crawford: All people seem to know about Crawford is that teams ship him off every couple season. His new employer, the Hawks, are his 4th NBA franchise. What people don't know is how effective Crawford has been in his three previous stops in the league. He's one of the most underrated scorers in the game and can also rack up the assist totals. In the 2007-2008 season, he was just one of a handful of non-point guards to average 20 points and 5 assists per game. He has also scored 50 points in a game for 3 different teams. How many people can say that?
F- Andre Iguodala: The first thing that probably comes to most peoples' minds about Iggy is his sick dunk in the Slam Dunk Contest a few years back (a contest he would have won if Nate Robinson didn't get 25 tries and still got a 50), but he's the total package. Philly's new A.I. is a dynamic scorer from the wing. He can slash, finish, and make big jumpers. His most underrated quality is his excellent defense. He guards the other team's best perimeter scorer night in and night out, does a really good job, and still carries the woeful Sixers offense on the other end. He's proven to be cool in the clutch too, with a pair of buzzer-beating game winners on the road last season, against the two NBA Finals participants no less.
F- Troy Murphy: Murphy has gone unnoticed his whole career, but he shouldn't be. He has the rare ability as a big man to absolutely stroke the ball, but still be a dominant force on the glass. He has basically the same career 3-point percentage as Ray Allen and shot it at a 45% clip last year. He has also averaged a double-double in 4 different seasons including this past one, where he put up 14 and 12.
C- Al Jefferson: Unfortunately for Jefferson, he does not get much exposure. He played on some terrible Celtics teams and was in the Kevin Garnett deal that sent him to a terrible Minnesota team where people hardly see him play. They're missing out on a real treat. Jefferson is probably the most unheralded high school success story. He has put up 3 straight seasons of 11+ rebounds per game, back to back 21-11 years, and last year was the only player in the NBA to average 23 points and 11 rebounds a game. He's already one of the best, if not the best, low post scorer in the league. I hope for his sake he gets to play for a contender some day.

2nd Team "All Underrated"
This one is for the guys people don't hear about but should.
G- Ramon Sessions: Sessions came out of the D-League to put up big numbers, particularly in assists. At the end of the '08 season, Sessions averaged about 8 assists a game as a starter, including one 24 assist performance, something Chris Paul, Steve Nash, and Deron Williams have not achieved. He's proven he can score too. In one game last season he dropped 44 points to go along with 12 assists, the only player in the league to put up such lofty numbers in those two categories in the same game. I have no idea what he has to do to secure a starting role in this league.
G- Francisco Garcia: A real deep sleeper here. I've always liked Garcia since his college days at Louisville. Playing now for the Sacramento Kings, he definitely doesn't garner the attention he should. Garcia is a lights-out shooter who can also be a defensive stopper. He has shot over 39% from downtown each of the last 2 seasons and was one of a handful of players in the league last season to average 1 three, 1 steal, and 1 block per game. That kind of versatility is extremely valuable.
F- Thaddeus Young: He's still developing and getting a feel for the game, but Young made a huge impact in Philadelphia last season. His size and versatility make him an asset, as well as his unique skill set. A little bit like Lamar Odom in terms of the left-handedness, the perimeter skills in a sizable body, the length, and the tools to be a great defender. Young averaged over 15 points a game as a 20 year old, and in his last 14 games in which he saw double digit minutes on the court, he averaged over 22 a game.
F- Anthony Randolph: Here's a guy who didn't even play much his rookie season but I have to put him on this list because of his tantalizing upside. Randolph's raw talent was good enough to make him look beastly towards the end of last season when eccentric coach Don Nelson finally let him loose. In the last 10 games of the '09 season, Randolph averaged 14 points and 11 boards per game and he just tied a Summer League record with 42 points in a game. The league better be on notice about this kid, especially in a system like Golden State's.
C- Joel Przybilla: This guy does yeoman's work for the Potland Trailblazers practically unnoticed. Over the last 2 seasons he's made the Blazers' selection of Greg Oden over Kevin Durant look even more questionable as he has proved himself to be a more than serviceable starting center. Przybilla averaged 13.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per 36 minutes last year, and 12.8/1.8 in '08. Who wouldn't take that from their starting center?

1st Team "All Second Rounders"
2nd round picks who really should not have been:
G- Gilbert Arenas: A lot of teams, including the one that drafted Arenas, wish they had taken a harder look at Hibachi. Drafted with the 2nd pick of the 2nd round (30th overall) in 2001. Players taken before him include: Raul Lopez (24), Jeryl Sasser (22), Joseph Forte (21), Kirk Haston (16), Kedrick Brown (11), Rodney White (9), Desagna Diop (8), Eddie Griffin (7), Eddy Curry (4), Kwame Brown (1)
G- Mo Williams: Yes I may have said he's overrated but I also said he used to be underrated. He definitely should not have been a 2nd rounder, even in such a strong draft class. Drafted with the 18th pick of the second round (47th overall) in 2003. Players taken before him include: Travis Hansen (37), Luke Walton (32), Maciej Lampe (30), Brian Cook (24), Sasha Pavlovic (19), Luke Ridnour (14), Marcus Banks (13), Jarvis Hayes (10), Michael Sweetney (9), Darko Milicic (2)
G/F- Michael Redd: He came into the league as a supposed defensive stopper. Little did people know that not only would he play no defense, but he would become one of the best shooters/scorers in the league. Drafted with the 14th pick of the second round (43rd overall) in 2000. Players taken before him include: Marko Jaric (30), Mark Madsen (29), Speedy Claxton (20), Jamaal Magloire (19), Chris Mihm (7), DerMarr Johnson (6), Marcus Fizer (4), Darius Miles (3), Stromile Swift (2)
F- Rashard Lewis: People didn't want to take a chance on this future All Star right out of high school. Bad idea. Drafted with the 3rd pick of the second round (32nd overall) in 1998. Players taken before him include: Nazr Mohammed (29), Tyronn Lue (23), Brian Skinner (22), Rasho Nesterovic (17), Matt Harpring (15), Bonzi Wells (11), Larry Hughes (8), Robert Traylor (6), Raef LaFrentz (3), Michael Olowokandi (1)
F/C- Carlos Boozer: 2 of his college teammates were top 3 picks in his draft. Neither one of them have been an All Star like Boozer though. Drafted with the 6th pick of the second round (34th overall) in 2002. Players taken before him include: Dan Dickau (28), Kareem Rush (20), Juan Dixon (17), Fred Jones (14), Melvin Ely (12), Jared Jeffries (11), DaJuan Wagner (6), Nikoloz Tskitishvili (5), Drew Gooden (4), Jay Williams (2)

1st Team "All Bust"
Top draft picks who absolutely should not have been. Guys must have played this decade to qualify. Players whose careers were altered by freak injuries (i.e. Jay Williams, Shaun Livingston, Jonathan Bender) get a pass, but inability to stay healthy otherwise is taken into consideration.
G- DaJuan Wagner: There was a lot of hype surounding Wagner coming out of college, though most people don't remember that now. Needless to say, he failed live up to that hype. Drafted 6th overall in 2002. Playes taken after him include: Nene (7), Chris Wilcox (8), Amar'e Stoudamire (9), Caron Butler (10), Tayshaun Prince (23), John Salmons (26), Roger Mason (30), Carlos Boozer (34), Juan Carlos Navarro (39), Flip Murray (41), Matt Barnes (45), Luis Scola (55)
G- Adam Morrison: He had a great college career but you had to know it wasn't going to translate to the NBA right? Well, apparently Michael Jordan didn't know that. The silver lining for Ammo is that he was part of a pretty bad draft class. Drafted 3rd overall in 2006. Players taken after him include: Tyrus Thomas (4), Brandon Roy (6), Randy Foye (7), Rudy Gay (8), Ronnie Brewer (14), Rajon Rondo (21), Daniel Gibson (42), Paul Millsap (47)
F- Darko Milicic: In what could end up as the greatest draft class ever depending upon what these players do over the next decade or so, one player will stand out from the rest. That is Darko Milicic for his complete inability to make an impact on an NBA roster. People gave Joe Dumars a lot of credit for what he did with the Pistons. They seem to forget how he drafted Darko. Drafted 2nd overall in 2003. Players taken after him include: Carmelo Anthony (3), Chris Bosh (4), Dwyane Wade (5), Chis Kaman (6), Kirk Hinrich (7), TJ Ford (8), David West (18), Boris Diaw (21), Travis Outlaw (23), Kendrick Perkins (27), Leandro Barbosa (28), Josh Howard (29), Mo Williams (47)
F/C- Kwame Brown: Drafted straight out of high school by none other than the G.O.A.T. himself , MJ, Kwame was supposed to be the next Shaq. But he fumbled away his opportunity the way he fumbles away most entry passes into him. He's already played for 4 different franchises and once skipped a playoff game to attend a rap concert. Drafted 1st overall (FIRST!!!) in 2001. Players taken after him include: Tyson Chandler (2), Pau Gasol (3), Jason Richardson (5), Shane Battier (6), Joe Johnson (10), Richard Jefferson (13), Troy Murphy (14), Zach Randolph (19), Gerald Wallace (25), Samuel Dalembert (26), Tony Parker (28), Gilbert Arenas (31), Mehmet Okur (37)
C- Michael Olowokandi: The Kandi Man was, in my opinion, the worst #1 pick in the history of the league. He was already 23 when he came into the league and he only had 1 good season in college, at the University of the Pacific of all schools. Only the Clippers could make a pick like this. Drafted 1st overall in 1998. Players taken after him include: Mike Bibby (2), Antawn Jamison (4), Vince Carter (5), Jason Williams (7), Larry Hughes (8), Dirk Nowitzki (9), Paul Pierce (10), Al Harrington (25), Rashard Lewis (32), Rafer Alston (39), Cuttino Mobley (41)
(Did anyone notice that 2 of the 5 biggest busts this decade were selected by the greatest player in NBA history? Ironic isn't it?)

1st Team "All Time"
I started off by describing this one. This is with the assumption that all players are in their prime and would be playing with today's rules against players of today's caliber.
PG- Magic Johnson: Greatest point guard ever. Could make any play, ran the break to perfection with the Showtime Lakers, and is probably the greatest teammate ever. Career stats: 19.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 11.2 apg (best all time), 1.9 spg, 52% fg, 85% ft, 12-time All Star, 3-time NBA MVP, 3-time Finals MVP, 9-time All-NBA 1st Team, 5-time NBA champion
SG- Michael Jordan: G.O.A.T. Nuff said. Career stats: 30.1 ppg (best all time), 6.2 rpg, 5.3 apg, 2.3 spg (3rd best all time), 50% fg, 83.5% ft, 14-time All Star, Rookie of the Year, 5-time NBA MVP, 6-time Finals MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, 9-time All-Defensive 1st Team, 10-time All-NBA 1st Team, 6-time NBA champion
SF- Larry Bird: Basketball Jesus was one of the greatest players of all time. There wasn't anything on the court he couldn't do, and given his lack of athleticism, that is quite amazing. One of the greatest shooters of all time as well and the only player in history to average 10+ rebounds and 6+ assists per game over a career. Career stats: 24.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 6.3 apg, 1.7 spg, 50% fg, 89% ft, 12-time All Star, Rookie of the Year, 3-time NBA MVP, 2-time Finals MVP, 3-time All-Defensive 2nd Team, 9-time All-NBA 1st Team, 3-time NBA champion
PF- Tim Duncan: The most underrated superstar of all time. People don't notice the way he dominates games with fundamentals instead of flash. He doesn't go for stats, but he always leads his team to victory. He's been arguably the most consistent superstar of all time, putting up basically the same great numbers for 12 straight seasons. Career stats: 21.4 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.4 bpg, 51% fg, 11-time All Star, Rookie of the Year, 2-time NBA MVP, 3-time Finals MVP, 8-time All-Defensive 1st team, 8-time All-NBA 1st team, 4-time NBA champion
C- Shaquille O'Neal: In his prime he was nothing short of unstoppable, and against better competition than Wilt Chamberlain. That led to the Hack-a-Shaq, because there was just no other way to slow him down. He's also a dominant rebounder and great teammate (though Kobe Bryant would beg to differ). Career stats: 24.7 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2.4 bpg, 58% fg, 15-time All Star, Rookie of the Year, 1 NBA MVP, 3-time Finals MVP, 3-time All-Defensive 2nd Team, 8-time All-NBA 1st Team, 4-time NBA champion
(There are 64 All Star appearances, 4 Rookie of the Year Awards (Magic and Bird were rookies in the same season so only one of them could win it), 14 NBA MVPs, 17 NBA Finals MVPs, 44 All-NBA 1st Team selections, and 22 NBA championships among these 5 players. Wow...)

There you have it. If you have any other ideas or differing opinions drop it as a comment.