It is always fun to create dominant superteams based on specific skill sets. After all, we are in the era of superteams where elite offensive players are teaming up together to win multiple championships. LeBron James was the first one to truly form a superteam on his own terms when he joined Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami.
Since then, we saw Kevin Durant jump ship to join a 73-9 Golden State Warriors team that dominated the league in 2015 and 2016. Now, players requesting trades and jumping teams to win titles is the norm, as we have seen from Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden among others. Players love taking their careers into their own hands these days, and for good reason. Although, it must be mentioned how joining superteams does affect a player’s legacy, which is why Michael Jordan is often considered the greatest player ever.
However, we want to take matters into our own hands and create three separate dominant superteams. The first one will be the Smart Superteam led by five players who have elite basketball IQ and team skills that scream unselfishness and winning together. The second superteam will be known as the Intensity Superteam, which will be led by players who dominate mainly through their mentality and aggression.
The final superteam will be the Dominant Superteam which is led by five men who are at the top of their games in particular skill sets and offer a game-changing impact. Obviously, each superteam will be unbeatable if they existed in an NBA season, and we have already created some superteams that would be undefeated in the regular season and playoffs, but let’s dive deeper as to just how great these would be.
All-Time ‘Smart’ Superteam
Starting Lineup: Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, LeBron James, Tim Duncan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Magic Johnson headlines the Smart Superteam because he is the single greatest point guard of all time. Magic, like almost every player that will be mentioned, can fit into the other superteams, but his smarts make him the head of the team. The greatest playmaker ever with four assist titles, he is the smartest point guard by far and will lead the offense.
Larry Bird was a natural small forward but joins Magic in the backcourt due to his unbelievable basketball IQ. Bird can shoot the ball at an elite level but is also one of the best passers and rebounders ever at his position, making him an easy inclusion to the Smart Superteam as he can fit in any position. Bird will be required to be the primary shooter and wing rebounder for this team.
LeBron James is the epitome of a smart basketball player because of his photographic memory of basketball plays and also his ability to affect the games in multiple ways. James excels in every aspect of the game and will share ball-handling duties with Magic Johnson while being the primary scorer and attacker of the basketball. Oftentimes, The King will be a one-man fast break after grabbing defensive rebounds.
Tim Duncan was dominant while being smart, but his brain often gets the most recognition. The power forward was not exciting to watch for most casual basketball fans because he played below the rim and was a team player. His two-way dominance came as a result of his genius, and he is an easy inclusion as the greatest power forward ever. The key two-way player down low, Duncan, will form a twin-tower pairing with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was also dominant and intense in his own way, although his basketball IQ was off the charts. The superstar center and six-time NBA champion figured out that no player could stop the sky hook shot and used that to play for 20 years in the NBA. Defensively, Kareem was just as dominant with 11 All-Defensive Team selections despite retiring as the game’s all-time leading scorer.
All-Time ‘Intensity’ Superteam
Starting Lineup: Isiah Thomas, Kobe Bryant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Garnett, Hakeem Olajuwon
Isiah Thomas was the epitome of intensity. He stood only 6’1” and 180 lbs yet was able to dominate the game with the iconic “Bad Boy” Pistons teams that won back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990. Thomas’ intensity was so surreal that he led the charge against the dominant Michael Jordan and the up-and-coming Chicago Bulls year after year in the 1980s. For his side, Thomas will be required to lead the offense and provide toughness at the point guard spot.
Who else would appear at the shooting guard spot? Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan are almost the same player and can be subbed in for each other on either Superteam. Kobe was tremendously skilled and talented, but his intensity allowed him to outwork almost every player in NBA history, and that is why he achieved greatness, including five NBA titles and two Finals MVPs. As the best scorer on the team, Kobe will lead his side in scoring and also be the go-to clutch performer.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has an old-school mentality on the court. Knowing he is the most genetically freakish athlete in NBA history in terms of length and ability, he has worked hard to become a two-time MVP through his mentality. The Greek Freak knows he came from nothing and has a mindset to get better every year, which is why he is the most impressive current player right now. Giannis will carry the defense while crashing the boards with his team.
Kevin Garnett built his career and legacy by being the most intense power forward of all time. Garnett wasn’t the bulkiest player and was of a slender build, but he used his trash-talk aggression and mind games to retire as one of the all-time greats regardless of position. Garnett will be the defensive star for the Intensity Superteam, along with being the trash-talker that makes the difference on both ends.
Hakeem Olajuwon is known for being humbled by his religion, which is true, but the center was not one to be crossed. The Dream’s buttons were easy to push, and once that happened, it was normally game over. Olajuwon did not play with many star players, and if he had, he would have won more than two NBA titles. Whether it came to demoralizing defenders or dominating on defense, Hakeem was an intense competitor, and he will be the best big man on the team for his side, that has a ton of scoring already.
All-Time ‘Dominant’ Superteam
Starting Lineup: Stephen Curry, Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant, Karl Malone, Shaquille O’Neal
Stephen Curry is not the most intense player, which means he either fits into the Smart of Dominant Superteam. Curry starts at point guard for the Dominant Superteam because his shooting could literally blow teams out of the water in just a few possessions. We saw countless times when the point guard dominated an NBA game, and he will space the floor alongside four other dominant scorers.
Michael Jordan was the full package as a superstar, but he starts at the dominant shooting guard spot because he was the greatest player of all time. Whether it meant scoring 30 PPG or playing lockdown defense, the Chicago Bulls superstar influenced the game time and time again through skill, IQ, and intensity. Jordan could have started for any Superteam but will be required to make up for Curry’s defensive deficiencies in the backcourt.
Kevin Durant is not an intense player because of his rather demure attitude, but he is certainly dominant as a scorer. Despite being extremely slender, KD can literally shoot over defenders because he is 6’10” and armed with elite handles and shooting ability. The superstar forward will be a fantastic forward on a team that already has Curry and Jordan and will also be required to use his length on defense.
One of the greatest power forwards ever, Karl Malone, was absolutely dominant in his prime. The Mailman is the third-highest scorer of all-time and was automatic down low and from mid-range year after year. The Utah Jazz legend captured two MVP awards, made 14 All-Star Teams, and played in two NBA Finals due to his greatness. No doubt, Malone’s presence as a scorer and physical specimen will help make up for Curry and Durant’s thin frames.
Down low, Shaquille O’Neal joins Michael Jordan as the most dominant star ever. O’Neal did not have shooting ability and was often out of shape over his career, but he was unstoppable and completely unguardable. The superstar center could not be defended by any single defender in NBA history, and that is why he has to be the second-most dominant player ever after Jordan. The beast who will feast inside, Shaq will be the greatest big man for his Dominant Superteam.
Which Superteam Is The Best?
The greatest side has to be the Dominant Superteam. The amount of offense they have is incredible, considering they have two of the 10 greatest shooters ever in, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant alongside the greatest scorer ever in Michael Jordan. Jordan will generate a ton of defensive attention which will lead to open looks from the superstar marksmen. The most athletic player among all players, Jordan will normally have the most impact out of any player. At the same time, having Karl Malone spacing the floor from mid-range alongside the most dominant player ever in Shaquille O’Neal makes this overkill. Nobody can stop Jordan, and certainly, no one can stop the big man down low. This team would go a perfect 98-0 throughout the regular season and playoffs because of their dominance, hence their name.
The Smart Superteam will play fantastic basketball through playmaking, teamwork, and size. Magic, LeBron, and Bird are all oversized for their positions and will be tough to handle when they get out on the break. The same goes for Duncan and Kareem, two of the most dominant bigs ever. Both stars are unselfish and will allow Magic and LeBron to lead the offense, making jobs easier for everyone else. This side will be tough to handle, and expect them to lose at the most three games through the regular season and playoffs combined.
Credit should also go to the Intensity Superteam. Isiah and Kobe would be a tough backcourt to deal with on both ends of the court because of the way they compete with force and aggression, along with supreme skill. Kobe is the second coming of Jordan, so that also provides a massive boost. The frontcourt of Giannis, Garnett, and Hakeem means this team has tremendous size and defense that will be difficult to handle while Bryant takes over the offense. We already saw how great Kobe’s teams were when he had an elite big man, so imagine having three. This team would likely lose no more than four or five games in the regular season and playoffs combined, mainly due to the fact that the lane will be more clogged than usual.
Overall, these teams would be unbeatable over the regular season and playoffs. The Dominant Superteam would realistically go 98-0, even if there were a massive target on the players’ backs. The Smart Superteam would probably go 95-3, losing games due to luck and lack of floor-spacing at times. Still, losing three games is absolutely ridiculous. The same goes for the Intensity Supertream, as they would go 93-5 or 94-4 at the most because the bigs will clog up the lane a little more than normal. That means the Dominant Superteam is clearly the best because each player is in their natural position, and they have elite floor-spacing alongside dominant scorers and the best player of all time in Michael Jordan.
