LeBron James is widely regarded as one of the two greatest players in NBA history, but former NBA player Brian Shaw doesn’t have him in his all-time starting five. Here’s who Shaw, who won three titles with the Los Angeles Lakers, went with when asked for his lineup on Byron Scott’s Fast Break podcast.
“I’m taking [Shaquille O’Neal] as the center,” Shaw said. “It’s tough at the power forward. I’m taking Tim Duncan.”
Shaw stated it was difficult to pick for that power forward position, as he considers Boston Celtics icon Bill Russell to be a power forward. He also showered praise on Kevin McHale, another Celtics legend, but decided to stick with Tim Duncan.
“I’ll say Tim Duncan, [Michael] Jordan, Magic [Johnson],” Shaw stated. “… I’ll say [Larry] Bird at the three.”
That is a formidable starting five, and none of those players is out of place. They are some of the very best we’ve seen in the NBA.
Magic Johnson won five titles, three Finals MVPs, three MVPs, and four assists titles in his career with the Lakers. Johnson also made 12 All-Star and 10 All-NBA teams, and is still generally regarded as the best point guard of all time.
Michael Jordan is Johnson’s backcourt partner, and he won six titles, six Finals MVPs, five MVPs, one DPOY, and 10 scoring titles. Jordan made 14 All-Star, 11 All-NBA, and nine All-Defensive teams. He is viewed as not just the greatest shooting guard of all time, but also the greatest player.
James is usually the one who slots in at small forward on these teams, but Shaw went with Larry Bird. Bird won three titles, two Finals MVPs, and three MVPs with the Celtics. He made 12 All-Star, 10 All-NBA, and three All-Defensive teams.
Bird’s resume is incredible, but it’s not better than James’. He won four titles, four Finals MVPs, four MVPs, a scoring title, and an assists title. James has made 21 All-Star, 21 All-NBA, and six All-Defensive teams. He is also the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, and there is a good reason why he is considered to be Jordan’s closest challenger.
Shaw is entitled to his opinion, of course, and there are no arguments when it comes to his pick at power forward. Duncan won five titles, three Finals MVPs, and two MVPs in his career. He made 15 All-Star, 15 All-NBA, and 15 All-Defensive teams. Like Johnson and Jordan, Duncan is viewed as the greatest at his position.
The center spot tends to always be the hardest to pick in these teams, and Shaw went with his former teammate, Shaquille O’Neal. O’Neal won four titles, three Finals MVPs, one MVP, and two scoring titles. He made 15 All-Star, 14 All-NBA, and three All-Defensive teams.
Shaw made some great selections, for the most part. As for his decision not to include James, he isn’t the first former Laker to do so. Earlier this year, O’Neal left James off his all-time starting lineup. If we go back a bit further, James Worthy excluded him from his ultimate starting five in 2024.
James has been a Laker for seven seasons and led the team to a title in 2020, but he hasn’t completely won over some franchise icons yet.
