The Best Starting Lineup From The 1984 NBA Draft Class

I do not envy NBA head coaches, as creating the best and most successful lineups is never easy. In order to be successful, lineups in the NBA can’t always include the five best players on the team. Each player in an NBA lineup must be able to play their part to near perfection in order for the team as a whole to reach their ultimate goal of winning an NBA championship. That is why whenever we build a lineup here, we take a look at the entire picture rather than just the stats and accolades that each one of these players produced.

The 1984 NBA Draft class is one of the greatest draft classes in NBA history. From top to bottom, the 1984 draft class is filled with MVPs, All-Stars, and champions who left their mark on the game and carved their own path en route to achieving NBA greatness. Today, we will build the perfect starting lineup from players selected in the 1984 NBA Draft based on fit, production, and career paths. These players are among the highest-scoring players from their class and will produce an electric lineup. This kicks off a series that will continue until we have built a lineup from every draft class in NBA history and let you, the fans, decide on which lineup is best.

This is the best starting lineup that we can create from players drafted in the 1984 NBA Draft.

Guard – John Stockton

We start off our dream 1984 draft lineup with one of the greatest point guards of all time, John Stockton. Whenever you hear former players who went up against Stockton, you hear them praise him for his underrated strength and extremely high basketball IQ. Stockton was an elite floor general who consistently made plays on both sides of the ball. He was an extremely talented passer and playmaker who made any player on his team better. In transition, Stockton was one of the best who could find any passing lane at any moment. If there was an inch of space, you better believe Stockton was going to make the pass happen.

Stockton’s peak performance came between the 1988 and 1998 seasons. During this time, Stockton averaged 15.3 PPG, 12.5 APG, and 2.5 SPG. He won 9 straight assists titles over this time period and took home 2 steals titles as well. Stockton would go on to become the all-time leader in both assists and steals, with totals so far ahead of any other player in NBA history; the records will probably remain for the rest of time. Stockton is the perfect way to start our 1984 draft lineup.

Guard – Alvin Robertson

Alvin Robertson is one of the most underrated players in NBA history. He certainly is underrated based on what he accomplished in the 1990s and how he is almost never mentioned among the best defensive guards even in that era. Robertson is the only player in NBA history to record a quadruple-double with points, rebounds, assists and steals. His defensive instincts and IQ were on par with the best of the 80s and 90s, but I bet you didn’t know that because most people don’t. Michael Jordan even once named him the best perimeter defender he ever faced, the highest compliment that can be paid from a man who went against some of the greatest defenders in league history.

In his 12-year NBA career, Robertson was a 4-time All-Star and a 6-time All-Defensive Team selection. He won the 1986 Defensive Player of the Year award after leading the NBA in steals with 3.7 SPG. He ranks 10th on the NBA’s all-time steals list and first in SPG with 2.7. From 1986 thru 1990, Robertson averaged 17.2 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 5.8 APG, and 3.1 SPG. It is one of the greatest two-way peaks for a guard in NBA history, and with his addition to this backcourt, the 1984 NBA Draft starting lineup is dangerous defensively.

Guard – Michael Jordan

Did you really think we were going to leave out the greatest player from the 1984 NBA Draft and the greatest player of all time? Michael Jordan is an easy addition to this starting lineup as the greatest scorer who ever lived and one of the best defenders in NBA history. As a scorer, Jordan was relentless on his way to 10 scoring titles and 6 NBA championships. He was a master at the art of the mid-range jumper and corner fadeaway jumper, as well as an attacker on the basket. With his 48-inch vertical, Jordan soared over defenders and was nearly impossible to stop when he got going.

Jordan was the same way on the defensive side of the ball. When off the ball, he could read passing lanes better than almost anybody in the league. On the ball, Jordan was a swarming defender who left little to no room for an opponent to go to work on that side of the ball. Jordan’s resume speaks for itself as far as an addition to this lineup, with 5 MVP awards and a host of other accomplishments. He would be a no-brainer addition to any lineup despite what the younger generation tries to do by discrediting his competition. Jordan’s place in this lineup only adds to the defensive prowess of this lineup while giving some explosive offense as well.

Forward – Charles Barkley

We kick things off in our front court with one of the toughest and most physical players of his era, Charles Barkley. Many people forget how talented of an offensive player Barkley was during his prime. Barkley could handle the ball extremely well for his size and, on more than one occasion, could take it coact-to-coast for a score. Barkley was one of the best rebounders in basketball as well, giving this lineup some much-needed presence on the interior. Barkley adds to the defensive juggernaut that is this lineup with his ability to contain big men in the paint as well as frustrate forwards and guards on the perimeter.

From 1987 thru 1997, Charles Barkley was one of the best forwards in basketball and became one of the best forwards ever. In these 11 seasons, Barkley averaged 24.3 PPG, 11.9 RPG, and 1.6 SPG. He became the MVP in 1993 and led the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals along with Kevin Johnson and Dan Majerle. Barkley’s addition to this lineup gives the team an edge on both ends of the floor over any lineup that comes up against them.

Center – Hakeem Olajuwon

The player that ties everything together with this lineup is Hakeem Olajuwon. As arguably the best interior defender in NBA history, Olajuwon will be vital to the success of this squad. On offense, Olajuwon can take some pressure off Jordan with his dazzling post moves and footwork. On defense, Olajuwon provides stifling rim protection and the containment of any big that opposes him. He will send shots into the stands at an incredible rate, as well as gets his chances to score on the offensive end. Besides, we all know how well Stockton and Jordan will work with an all-time great as their big man.

Aside from the defensive and offensive accomplishments during his career, Olajuwon solidified his status as one of the greats during not one but two championship runs in the 1990s. In 1994 and 1995, Olajuwon led a Houston Rockets team that nobody thought belonged in the NBA Finals for back-to-back championship seasons. Olajuwon won both Finals MVP awards and averaged 26.7 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 1.7 SPG, and 3.9 BPG over those 2 seasons. Olajuwon rounds out a lineup that will be hard to beat in any 7-game series as a defensive powerhouse across the board.

How Would This Team Perform On The Court?

The makeup of this lineup is an issue for any opponent that steps on the court with them. Let’s start with the defense. Up front, we have 2 Defensive Player of the Year award winners, along with the player that recorded the most steals in NBA history. Just getting into the paint will be an issue, but the problems for opponents do not stop there. We have 2 great interior defenders, including the one who can be claimed as the best in that role. Hakeem Olajuwon will handle any and all rim protection for the 1984 draft class, while Charles Barkley can be the physical and tough defender this lineup needs him to be.

As tough as it will be to score on this lineup, it will also be nearly impossible to stop. This lineup will be led by John Stockton as the floor general and passer they need him to be. As for scoring, the greatest of all time, Michael Jordan, will be the main offensive option but will not have to carry the entire workload. While Jordan attacks or gets to the mid-range level, he can hand it off to great finishers like Barkley and Hakeem, who are as talented as any bigs offensively from the 80s and 90s. In an 82-game season, the lineup from the 1984 Draft class might win 75 games or even more, considering what they bring on both sides of the ball.  

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