For some reason I decided to try to figure out who would make the All-Time All-Star Team for both the East and the West. I used one stat to help me figure it out: Basketball-Reference.com's Win Share stat. I know this stat, like any singular stat, isn't perfect, but it does a good job of rewarding both production and efficiency. It also rewards winning and is more comparable across years than ppg or other counting stats.
When considering who the best all-time might be, I'm often conflicted when judging between consistent solid production and limited, yet profound performance. To this end, I've created a scoring system to reward both number of years at all-star level production and also credit those seasons that were truly great. Having a 10+ win share season is almost always enough to reward you with an all-NBA team, and may even get you a few MVP votes. Receiving 12+ wins normally means you are one of 4 or 5 of the best players in the league. Having 15+ win shares places you among the top 1 or 2 players in the league in most seasons. Having a +20 win share season means you had a historic season equaled by less than 10 players ever. This is how I've arranged my scoring system. Players receive 1 point for each season of 10+ win shares, and the a bonus point for every season for every season over 12+, another for 15+ season, and yet another for 20+ seasons. I've also added another bonus point for leading the league in win shares.
Mainly to keep things from being dominated by centers, I've kept the old-school all-star rosters with two guards, two forwards and a center. I mirror this with the bench, but have added a utility player. I have tried to have diversity among the guards and forwards. I want a point guard type and a shooting guard type. I want a forward who can operate inside and out, and one who is primary an inside player. I've had to make some decisions on which players were east vs. west. Oscar Robertson was the most difficult. I have him on the east. Wilt is on the east too.
So here are my teams with their scores. I'm interest in peoples reactions/thoughts.
East | |||||||
Position | Player | 10+ Ws | 12+ Ws | 15+ Ws | 20+ Ws | Led Ws | Total Points |
Guard | Oscar Robertson | 11 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 28 |
Guard | Michael Jordan | 11 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 44 |
Forward | Lebron James | 9 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 30 |
Forward | Bill Rusell | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
Center | Wilt Chamberlain | 13 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 51 |
Bench-Guard | Walt Frazier | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Bench-Guard | Reggie Miller | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
Bench-Forward | Larry Bird | 9 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 22 |
Bench-Forward | Julius Erving | 9 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 22 |
Bench-Center | Moses Malone | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 16 |
Bench-Utility | Charles Barkley | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
West | |||||||
Position | Player | 10+ Ws | 12+ Ws | 15+ Ws | 20+ Ws | Led Ws | Total Points |
Guard | Magic Johnson | 11 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
Guard | Jerry West | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 21 |
Forward | Dirk Nowitski | 11 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 25 |
Forward | Karl Malone | 14 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 37 |
Center | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 16 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 46 |
Bench-Guard | John Stockton | 13 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
Bench-Guard | Kobe Bryant | 11 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
Bench-Forward | Kevin Durrant | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
Bench-Forward | Tim Duncan | 12 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 23 |
Bench-Center | David Robinson | 11 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 29 |
Bench-Utility | Kevin Garnett | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 20 |
If you buy into how I compiled this list there are a few things that are hard to deny.
1. There are only 3 players that should be considered GOAT: Wilt, Kareem and Michael. Lebron may force himself on to that list.
2. The West is really strong with Big Men yet weak with Small Forwards.
3. Karl Malone was better than I remember, but he's the only starter without a ring. If you're into that.
4. Kobe should never be considered in the GOAT conversation, and probably not even in the best guards of all-time discussion.
5. Kareem was so good for so long. We may never see that again.
6. Sixers are well-represented: Wilt, Dr. J, Moses, and Charles. AI didn't stack up well.
Others considered | Player | 10+ Ws | 12+ Ws | 15+ Ws | 20+ Ws | Led Ws | Total Points |
Pippen | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |
Hakeem | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | |
Pettit | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | |
Ewing | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |
Paul | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 14 | |
Shaq | 9 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 19 | |
Wade | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |
AI | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |