- Michael Jordan and LeBron James are the greatest players to ever wear the number 23
- Dwyane Wade and Allen Iverson are the greatest players to ever wear the number 3
- This would be one of the greatest matchups in NBA history if all 10 players were in their prime
Our series of hypothetical matchups is back again with a bit of a different look. Instead of selecting lineups based on the teams they played for or the color of the jerseys they represented, we went in a different direction today. Two of the most iconic jersey numbers in NBA history are the numbers three and 23, worn by some of the greatest players to ever step foot on an NBA basketball court.
Below, we have put together two lineups of the greatest players to ever don each number on their jerseys in their NBA career. As is usually the case, we have broken down this bigger matchup into position-by-position matchups in order to lay out the full scope of what should be an amazing seven-game series. We have also laid out each team’s advantages and, in the end, will lay out the full series for you in perfect detail. In the end, we will have one winner and a series MVP to crown to go with it. Get ready for one of the best matchups of this series to date.
All-Time No. 3 Superteam: Chris Paul, Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade, Ben Wallace, Anthony Davis
All-Time No. 23 Superteam: LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Blake Griffin
This is the seven-game series between the all-time No. 3 superteam and the all-time No. 23 Superteam.
Chris Paul vs. LeBron James
Our first matchup features two different players with two completely different playstyles going head-to-head. Chris Paul is one of the better two-way point guards in NBA history. Paul is meticulous and always seems to sniff out an opponent’s weakness quickly and attack it for the duration of the game. He is efficient as a playmaker and passer as well. Paul is also one of the peskiest and most disruptive point guard defenders as well, which will be interesting to see how he defends the much bigger and craftier LeBron James.
There is no doubt that James has the upper hand in this matchup, as he does most matchups in his career. James is much bigger and stronger than Paul, opening the door completely for James to dominate the aspects of the game we have seen him dominate over the last two decades. James will be in attack mode, playing downhill while utilizing the great scorers he has around him. This is where LeBron is most dangerous when he gets into attack mode on the rim because, as a scorer, he is unstoppable, and as a passer or playmaker, there has been nobody better in NBA history.
Allen Iverson vs. Michael Jordan
I know a lot of people who are about to refer back to Allen Iverson’s crossover on Michael Jordan in 1996-97 that left Jordan touching wood and in the dust. However, prime versus prime, it will not be so easy looking for Iverson. Don’t get me wrong, Iverson is as talented of a scorer as there has ever been at the shooting guard spot, but Jordan is the gold standard. Iverson’s speed and off-ball instincts on defense will be his best weapons in any matchup with Jordan, but from the beginning, he will be fighting an uphill battle.
Other than that one clip that shows Iverson getting the best of Jordan, Michael will have a field day with Iverson opposite him for this matchup. Superior height, superior strength, and superior skill will give Jordan a massive advantage in this or any other matchup that gets thrown his way. Jordan will also be in attack mode, which means that the No. 3 will be in for a long night trying to keep up with both James and Jordan, who will be relentless for 48 minutes trying to deliver their team a win.
Dwyane Wade vs. Jimmy Butler
This next matchup may steal the show when it comes to the seven-game series about to take place before us, with two Miami Heat legends taking center stage. Dwyane Wade is a superior offensive player to Butler, and the gap isn’t so big on the defensive end either. To me, Wade holds a sizable advantage in this one, with a more polished offensive game and superior athleticism. Make no mistake about it, this matchup will be full of fireworks and provide enough entertainment for the entire series.
For Jimmy Butler, the key to his success will depend on his stamina. More often than not, when the stakes are high, Butler has come through time and time again for his team, but at the expense of the ability to last deep into a series. We have never known Butler to back down from a challenge, so you can expect the competition and trash-talk to be at an all-time high between these two warriors of the basketball court.
Anthony Davis vs. Draymond Green
Over the last few seasons, we have seen this matchup more than once when it comes to the Lakers and Warriors “rivalry” in the West since 2020. Anthony Davis has usually gained the advantage over Green due to his height and guard-like skillset at times. Davis has the ability to step out and knock down jumpers, but he will most likely stay near the paint to take advantage of those parts of his game that are superior to Green’s. On defense, Davis is even more dangerous because he can allow Green to take outside shots in order to help anchor the interior defense as well. An Anthony Davis that can roam free and do what he wants on defense is the most dangerous Anthony Davis.
The most important parts of Draymond Green’s game will be his playmaking and interior defense against Anthony Davis. Green is patient and methodical as a playmaker and will allow plays to develop rather than force the issue. As a defender, his versatility is nearly unmatched when it comes to being able to switch and help wherever he can. He will not be able to stop Davis, but as we have seen in the past, he will do a well-enough job to slow him down and frustrate him at times.
Ben Wallace vs. Blake Griffin
The fifth and final matchup at the center position will be the most evenly-matched one of the entire series. On one hand, we have Ben Wallace, one of the best big man defenders ever, with four Defensive Player of the Year awards to his name. As an incredible shot-blocker and rim deterrent, Wallace’s defense will be key to slowing down the offensively superior Griffin. If Wallace can manage to keep Griffin further away from the paint, the better things will end up for the No. 3 superteam.
On the opposite end of things, Blake Griffin will have a tough time figuring out how to get Wallace’s defense but does not have too much to worry about on the offensive end. Wallace was never much of a scorer. He has limited shot-creating ability and mostly relies on offensive boards or plays made by his guards to get involved on that end. He will get his fair share of shits thanks to play from Chris Paul, who loves to use his bigs on the inside. However, I would look for both Griffin and Wallace to cancel each other out in this series and be almost non-factors, although the fight for rebounds will be worth the price of admission.
No. 3 Superteam Advantages
For each team, there are distinct advantages that they each hold over the other, which could possibly lead to victory. With the No. 3 superteam, the first one is fairly obvious, and that is the frontcourt duo of Anthony Davis and Ben Wallace. This is an advantage because of a few things. Their size advantage is both noticeable and relevant as both are elite rebounders as well as elite shot-blockers and defenders. Getting around a wall that is built by Wallace and Davis in the paint will be the No. 23 superteam’s toughest task in the whole series.
Another advantage for the No. 3 superteam will be the speed of their guards and small forward. The combination of Paul, Iverson, and Wade will be like watching The Flash, Tasmanian Devil, and Speedy Gonzales all share the court at the same time. All three have incredible speed and control with and without the ball in their hands, which will be something they try to constantly exploit in a matchup they are clearly the underdogs in.
No. 23 Superteam Advantages
The all-time No. 23 superteam has distinct advantages they can use to win any series against the No. 3 superteam as well. The first of which must be the backcourt of LeBron James and Michael Jordan. Anytime that you can put a duo on the court that consists of the two greatest players to ever play the game, it will be a massive advantage for that team, and most likely what leads them to victory. With James’ elite playmaking and scoring combined with Jordan’s elite scoring and defensive skills, this frontcourt duo would be the greatest frontcourt in the history of the league.
Considering the presence of LeBron and MJ should be enough to carry them to victory, the next advantage isn’t as big of one but is still important nonetheless. That advantage would be their offensive chemistry overall as a team. With LeBron James running point, this team is already at a huge advantage. Then, you add in Michael Jordan, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green, and you have some of the most elite two-way players of the past and today on one team. This is going to be a tough uphill climb for the No. 3 superteam in order to overcome the pressure applied by the No. 23 superteam.
Who Will Win This Matchup In A 7-Game Series?
The series would get kicked off in electric fashion with a good ol’ barn-burner in Game 1. For the No.3 superteam, Dwyane Wade took control of the matchup from the opening tip on both sides of the court. He switched back and forth between Butler and Jordan while providing 30 points on the offensive end. For the No. 23 superteam, LeBron James was the star in Game 1 and couldn’t be stopped as a downhill attacker on the rim. James would finish with 33 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists while delivering the game-sealing dagger in the fourth quarter as the No. 23 superteam got out to a 1-0 series lead.
Game 2 would be more of the same from the No. 23 superteam, with Michael Jordan and LeBron James playing perfectly in sync with one another. Allen Iverson would be the lead dog for the No. 3 superteam with a 34-point performance, as Anthony Davis got in on the action with 28 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Unfortunately for them, it was not enough to hang with Jordan’s 43-point night and James’ complete game of 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. The No. 23 Superteam took a 2-0 series lead, 111-99.
Game 3 would finally be the game that the No. 3 superteam needed to break through. The frontcourt of Anthony Davis and Ben Wallace were finally able to come together on the same page and be the defensive stoppers they needed to slow down the No. 23 superteam’s attack. On offense, Chris Paul led the team with 15 assists, while Wade and Iverson reaped the benefits of his vision. Wade would finish with 36 points, and Iverson would finish with 24 as the No. 3 superteam avoided the dreaded 3-0 hole with a 102-96 victory.
It would be another pivotal moment for the No. 3 superteam in Game 4, as a 3-1 hole is just as bad as a 3-0 hole in many ways. Michael Jordan was not going to let the No. 3 superteam climb back into the series so easily, as he was absolutely relentless on both sides of the ball. Jordan would shock everyone with 6 steals on the defensive end, not allowing a single inch of space between him and Iverson. On the offensive end, he completely took over the reign of the offense. With 53 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 6 steals, Jordan led the No. 23 superteam to another victory and a 3-1 series lead.
On the brink of elimination, the No. 3 superteam looked for a hero to save them in Game 5. Who else better to take on that role than Dwyane Wade, who had done it so many other times in his career? Jimmy Butler had zero answers for Wade on the offensive end as Wade sliced his way through the defense on numerous occasions. It got so bad, both LeBron James and Michael Jordan had their turns at him, but to no avail. Wade would finish the game with 41 points and 10 rebounds as the No. 3 superteam kept their hopes alive with a 112-103 win.
The fun would stop right there for the No. 3 superteam. As we all know, Michael Jordan didn’t play in Game 7’s in Finals series, and he wasn’t about to start now. Both James and Jordan would refuse to relinquish the sizable lead in the series they had built together, pouring on a borderline brutal attack in Game 6. Jordan would once again lead the way with 39 points on 62.0% shooting, while James added 31 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists. Anthony Davis did as much as he could for the No. 3 superteam with 38 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 blocks, but his teammates struggled to give him support. The No. 23 superteam would win the game 120-114, and take the series 4-2.
Final Result: All-Time No. 3 Superteam vs. All-Time No. 23 Superteam 2-4
Series MVP: Michael Jordan
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