The NBA is filled with elite talent across the board, with stars originating out of different parts of the United States. We have named the top current player who comes from different cities, which yielded some interesting responses from the fanbase. What about the all-time great players coming from each city in America? It is always interesting to see which top players came from which cities currently and throughout history. Interestingly enough, we might have a superteam of players coming from one city. The likes of the youngest MVP ever, Derrick Rose, two-time NBA champion Isiah Thomas, 5-time All-Star Tim Hardaway, 3-time NBA champion Dwyane Wade, and All-NBA 75th Anniversary Team inclusion Anthony Davis all form a dynamic starting five. What do these players have in common?
They are native to Chi-Town. Rose was born in Chicago and eventually became the most electric player for the Bulls since Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas ended up becoming a Detroit Pistons legend after being born in Chicago. Tim Hardaway is one of the greatest ball-handlers ever and was another elite player born in Illinois, while Wade and Davis are clearly two of the most talented players ever at their positions. This starting five would be incredible together, especially when competing against another city filled with talented natives like New York.
Some current All-Stars and former superstars that were born in New York could create an even more dominant starting five. With regards to current stars, Donovan Mitchell is a 4-time All-Star and budding superstar who already has some playoff experience under his belt and now has a new side to lead with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Carmelo Anthony might not have a job in the NBA anymore, but he is a 10-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer who is one of the greatest offensive players ever.
Other legends born in New York include the greatest of all-time, Michael Jordan, the most iconic dunker ever in Julius Erving, and 6-time NBA champion Kareem-Abdul Jabbar. These five players will make up the iconic New York Natives superteam to challenge a Chicago Natives superteam with five stars of their own.
The Chicago Natives sport a solid starting five, these players would easily form a championship team, but do they have enough to actually defeat the dominant New York Natives? Let’s find out.
Derrick Rose vs. Donovan Mitchell
Derrick Rose, in his prime, was unguardable. Reports have come out about how much opponents used to fear him because he could take over games through sheer athleticism at any time. His knees died on him, but he did enough to cement his legacy as one of the greatest players in Chicago Bulls history. Against another elite offensive player in Mitchell, D. Rose will have to bring his slashing game to the forefront to help his side win.
This matchup brings plenty of excitement, athleticism, and offensive firepower. Donovan Mitchell will want to combat the opponent with exceptional offensive firepower and will likely continue to take his level up a notch against the former MVP. Mitchell can attack the paint, shoot the three, and has plenty of bounce to bring a ton of pressure at the point guard spot.
Isiah Thomas vs. Michael Jordan
Isiah Thomas is one of the most fearless competitors the NBA has ever seen. Standing 6’1”, Thomas was normally one of the smallest players on the court yet dominated it through leadership, scoring, and playmaking ability. Thomas was known to uplift his teammates on both ends of the floor, which is why he won two NBA titles and a Finals MVP award with the Pistons. Even if he is a Detroit Pistons legend, he was born in Chicago, the home of his enemy, Michael Jordan. The battles Thomas had with Jordan and the Bulls were historic, and we will get another look at that again.
Michael Jordan is known for his time in Chicago for obvious reasons, but he was born in New York. Unfortunately for the Chicago Natives, Jordan tends to feast on other shooting guards who are smaller than him because he is simply the most unstoppable force in NBA history from the perimeter. The GOAT will lead all scorers in the series, even ahead of Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose, and Dwyane Wade, because Thomas will have a lot of trouble defending Jordan in certain one-on-one positions, although he will get help from his teammates.
Tim Hardaway vs. Julius Erving
Tim Hardaway was a point guard for most of his career, although he was always capable of playing at the other two guard spot due to his incredible skill. Hardaway could score inside and outside while creating chances for his teammates to get buckets as well. Even against bigger opponents than himself, Tim would always be successful because his basketball IQ will be off the charts. Having four other star players around him will elevate his game, as the 5-time All-Star showed throughout his career in his prime.
At the perimeter, Julius Erving and Tim Hardaway will go head-to-head on both ends of the floor. Erving can fly with the best of them and will be unstoppable on the fast break alongside Jordan and Mitchell. Creating some of the best plays in the series, Erving will also make a ton of highlights while putting up 21 PPG and 10 RPG. Dr. J. will also have an iconic Game 6 where he drops 30 points without even attempting a single three-pointer.
Dwyane Wade vs. Carmelo Anthony
Dwyane Wade will start at power forward, mainly because he will be tasked with handling Carmelo Anthony. Wade is one of the greatest defensive guards of all time, as evidenced by his three All-Defensive Team selections. Wade is the greatest shot-blocking guard ever, who posted a career 0.8 BPG, so he won’t be a pushover on defense even if he is smaller than the 6’7” Anthony. On offense, Wade will be the slasher alongside Rose, that makes countless highlights.
At the power forward position, Carmelo Anthony will be the perfect stretch-4 alongside the dominant Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Anthony is and will always be a force on the offensive end and will have a big series by averaging 25 PPG. Carmelo will utilize a mix of inside and outside scoring, often taking his big body down low to punish Dwyane Wade. Wade is a very crafty defender, even if he is smaller at 6’4”, so Anthony will have turnovers throughout the series and lead his team in that regard.
Anthony Davis vs. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Anthony Davis should have achieved so much more in his career than he actually did. At 6’11”, Davis can compete on both ends and hardly puts a foot wrong on the offensive end. He can score inside, outside, and also draw fouls at a high level. His versatility and speed at his height will also be required against a dynamic New York side that has everything from size to athleticism. Unfortunately for Davis, it won’t be easy battling The Captain down low.
At the center spot, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar dominates his matchup. Anthony Davis is a very talented big man who can score in every way and defend at an above-average level, but he is far too light to stop Kareem from averaging 24 PPG on 60% shooting over the series. Abdul-Jabbar will also chip in 2.0 BPG in the paint, showcasing his all-around greatness. Davis is tall at 6’11’’, but he still won’t be able to stop the skyhook when the New Yorkers feed Kareem down low.
Chicago Natives Advantages
The Chicago crew will have a ton of speed. Rose and Thomas are two of the best at pushing the pace and creating shots for other players, especially when surrounded by other stars. Rose and Thomas are also offensively proficient, so they are always a threat to score, which quickens the pace.
Hardaway and Wade will be undersized compared to the opposition, but they will also be extremely quick when they attack the rim and create offense. Defensively, they can switch on the perimeter and also space the floor for Anthony Davis, who can operate down low. No doubt, the Chicago Natives can play with extreme pace all series long.
New York Natives Advantages
The New Yorkers are bigger, stronger, and more comfortable in their positions. Mitchell and Jordan are a fantastic backcourt due to their offense and athleticism, and can also compete on defense. Dr. J and Carmelo Anthony will be a fantastic forward pairing as the former plays with pace while the latter is a fantastic one-on-one player.
Down low, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be the best big man in the game by a wide margin. Kareem will have no issue releasing his skyhook against Davis and will be the primary point in the paint. The New Yorkers have five superstars in their prime together with Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar headlining, so they will be tough to compete with.
Who Wins A Best-Of-7 Series?
This series will come down to which players can make the right plays at the right times and also which team can get critical defensive stops. At the same time, the team with the most dominance on a physical level and talent overall will prove to be the winner in the end.
Game 1 is a fast-paced game, resulting in both teams shooting close to 48% from the field. Derrick Rose sets the tone early, dropping 10 points in the first quarter and ending the game with 25 points and 10 assists. But New York counters with efficient shooting, as MJ drops 30 points on 49% shooting, and Kareem’s skyhook proves to be the difference as the big man goes 2-2 from the paint in the final two possessions in the game to ice the game for his side, 112-108.
Game 2 goes to Team Chicago because Dwyane Wade and Anthony Davis have spectacular games. The duo combine for a whopping 60 points on 52% shooting and also have critical defensive plays in the fourth quarter. The duo brings it on every level, from three and from mid-range. New York finds it difficult to slow down the stars when they get going, and Wade has the best game out of the bunch by dropping 34 points on 11-20 shooting from the field and 10-11 from the free-throw line. Wade slashes to the rim the entire game, and even a 30-point night from Michael Jordan isn’t enough.
Team New York needs a response, and they get it through Carmelo Anthony and Donovan Mitchell. The duo combine for 55 points and 15 rebounds, keeping the clamps on the Chicago Natives, who were led by Derrick Rose and Isiah Thomas (40 points and 18 assists combined). The three-point shot is key, with each Anthony and Mitchell draining four three-pointers apiece. However, it does come down to the wire. The game is tied with a minute left, but a Carmelo Anthony corner three gives the team a lead that ends up becoming the game-winner as neither side scores after that.
Game 4 goes to Team New York again because there is no stopping Michael Jordan. The superstar shooting guard has his best performance in the series, dropping 37 points on 50% shooting from the field and 90% from the stripe. There was little that Rose, Thomas, and Hardaway could do because they are clearly outmatched from a physical and skill standpoint on defense. Other players have big performances, but this game is all about Jordan because he scores 20 in the first half and 17 in the second half while holding a 10-point lead for most of the game.
Team New York gets out to a convincing 60-45 start at the end of the first half and has to survive a massive comeback by Chicago. They fail to do that, however, and can’t close the opponent out in five games. Wade notches a triple-double, Tim Hardaway drops his series-high 25 points, and Rose hits a long jumper over Donovan Mitchell with 30 seconds to give his team a 2-point lead with 10 seconds left. Michael is double-teamed in the ensuing possession, and a pass to Carmelo in the corner results in the forward failing to get a shot off as he fumbles the ball. New York fails to foul, as Wade cleverly hoists the ball to the other end, where Rose beats everyone up the floor to slam home a dunk and force Game 6.
With their backs on the line, Team Chicago needs to force a Game 7 but cannot manage to do so. They have no answer for Michael Jordan and Dr. J, as each superstar drops 30 points. Carmelo helps with 22 points, and Chicago completely runs out of steam on the defensive end. Jordan and Dr. J attack the paint all game long and use their size to score against the smaller defenders. Only Dwyane Wade and Anthony Davis have solid offensive games, but they can’t stop the dynamic duo on the other end. Erving has a game for the ages as he scores 15 apiece in each half, but MJ led all scorers in the series and proved to be clutch in Game 4, which earns him Finals MVP honors.
Final Result: New York Natives vs. Chicago Natives 4-2
Finals MVP: Michael Jordan
