All-Time One Ring Team: Starting Lineup And Bench

If you ask any NBA Player what their ultimate desire was in their basketball careers, 90% of them would say to win an NBA championship with their brothers in arms. The other 10% might say it’s to make as much money as possible and honestly, who can blame them? Most NBA players work their entire lives to perform on the grandest stage of them all, the NBA Finals. Many players have the opportunity to do so at least once in their careers. As we explained last week in our previous lineup build, there have been so many NBA legends who weren’t so lucky as to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy over their heads as NBA champions.

The point is that winning even just one NBA championship is a gargantuan feat and should be celebrated and honored rather than used in a debate between players. The players that we have constructed the lineup out of today were lucky enough to become an NBA champion once in their careers. This lineup is fast and filled with some of the greatest talents from every era that the NBA has ever seen. At the end of our lineup construction, we will see if this team of champions can go from one-time winners to creating a dynasty.

Here is the starting lineup and bench for the all-time teams of players with one NBA championship.

Guard – Oscar Robertson

Career Stats: 25.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 9.5 APG

Career Achievements: 1x MVP, 1x Rookie Of The Year, 12x All-Star, 3x All-Star Game MVP, 11x All-NBA Team Selection

One of the great point guards in the game’s history, Oscar Robertson was the original king of the triple-double. He recorded the first season averaging a triple-double in 1962 when he averaged 30.8 PPG, 12.5 RPG, and led the league with 11.4 APG. Robertson was a true do-it-all point guard who was a consistent 30.0 PPG scorer and double-digit assist player. He was the first real glimpse at a complete player who could take over the game at hand in any which way that his team needed him to.

Oscar spent 10 seasons with the Cincinnati Royals with no luck as it pertains to an NBA championship. In 1971, Robertson joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with the Milwaukee Bucks and the two would go on to make history. While Kareem was the star of the show, the Bucks relied upon Oscar Robertson to put them over the top as an NBA champion. That is exactly what happened in the 1971 NBA Finals when the Bucks met up with the Washington Bullets. The Bucks would sweep the Bullets with Kareem winning Finals MVP but even he admitted after the series that they couldn’t have done it without Oscar. Robertson averaged 23.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 9.5 APG in the series to help Milwaukee win their first NBA title. Robertson’s all-around dominance is exactly the type of player that we need at the point guard position for this team.

Guard – Jerry West

Career Stats: 27.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 6.7 APG2.6 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Career Achievements: 1x Finals MVP, 14x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 12x All-NBA Team Selection5x All-Defensive Team Selection

Lining up next to Oscar in the backcourt is none other than Jerry West. Jerry West brings scoring, shooting, and perimeter defense to this team as one of the better scorers of his era. West can also run things from a point guard perspective if Robertson wants to take on more of a scoring role as well. West will be a welcome sight from the perimeter as a playmaker and scorer who can shoot the ball at a high clip from anywhere within the arc.

West is the only player to win the Finals MVP award on the losing team in the NBA Finals. In 1969, he averaged 37.9 PPG in the Finals but the Lakers fell to the Celtics in 7 games. This seems to be a theme for West in his career as he led the Lakers to 9 Finals appearances in his career with just 1 victory. That isn’t a knock on West as the Celtics were a powerhouse that was rarely beaten during that time. For this team, we need West’s scoring and shooting to complement Robertson’s playmaking. With that duo as our starting backcourt, wins will come easy and often.

Forward – Julius Erving

Career Stats: 24.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 4.2 APG, 2.0 SPG, 1.7 BPG

Career Achievements: 1x MVP, 10x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 7x All-NBA Team Selection

For our starting small forward, Julius Erving was the only correct selection. Erving brings elite play on both sides of the ball and adds even more scoring to an already-loaded lineup. He is the first player added to our lineup with elite athleticism and an above-the-rim style of play. He will have no problem penetrating the defense and scoring at will. On defense, Erving was tremendous off of the ball accumulating steals and weak-side blocks by the truckload.

Dr. J spent the first 5 seasons of his basketball career playing in the ABA. There, he would become a champion, a multiple-time MVP, and a 3-time scoring champion averaging 28.7 PPG. When he got to the NBA, he brought his electric style of play with him and wowed audiences nightly around the country. He would also go on to become a champion and an MVP in the NBA, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players in history. Adding him to this lineup with the playmaking we have already selected opens up his game to an entirely new level.

Forward – Dirk Nowitzki

Career Stats: 20.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.8 BPG

Career Achievements: 1x Finals MVP, 1x MVP, 14x All-Star, 12x All-NBA Team Selection

Dirk Nowitzki is one of the greatest power forwards to ever play in the NBA. Nowitzki was an offensive mastermind who could score in bunches and in a variety of ways. He could shoot the ball from 3-point land better than any other 7-footer in NBA history. He could put his back to the basket to set up one of the most unblockable shots in his fadeaway. He could also put the ball on the floor and get to the rim with enough space to operate. Nowitzki’s presence gives this team more outside shooting that they desperately need and a big man to spread the floor.

Nowitzki’s path to a title was filled with many speed bumps and tribulations along the way. In 2006, he led the Mavs to the Finals but was defeated in 6 games after building a 2-0 lead. In 2007, he win the MVP award but his Mavs were defeated in the first round by Baron Davis and the “We Believe” Warriors in the first round. Then, in one of the most iconic championship runs ever, Nowitzki finally climbed the mountain top in 2011 when he and the Mavs defeated the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals in 6 games.

Forward – Kevin Garnett

Career Stats: 17.8 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.4 BPG

Career Achievements: 1x MVP, 1x Defensive Player Of The Year, 15x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 9x All-NBA Team Selection, 12x All-Defensive Team Selection

The addition of Kevin Garnett to our starting lineup is the icing on the cake for building a dynasty. Garnett brings an energy and passion for the game that borders the lines of insanity but is welcomed to this squad. He is versatile enough on both offense and defense to play the center position which will prove valuable to a team’s success. He can knock down mid-range jumpers, he can put the ball on the floor and take his man to the rim, and he can guard any position from the 3 to 5 spots on the court

Garnett spent the early parts of his career and most of his prime on less-than-appealing teams with the Minnesota Timberwolves. In 2004, when he won the MVP award, Garnett led that team to the Western Conference Finals before falling in 6 games to the Los Angeles Lakers. After being traded to the Boston Celtics in 2007, Garnett was the piece that Paul Pierce needed next to him to take that team to the next level. Garnett came in and provided the spark that propelled them to the NBA championship in his 1st season in Boston. Someone with Garnett’s impact on both sides of the ball is the only choice to round out our starting lineup.

Bench

Guard – Jason Kidd

Career Stats: 12.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 8.7 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Career Achievements: 1x Rookie Of The Year, 10x All-Star, 6x All-NBA Team Selection, 9x All-Defensive Team Selection

If anyone could rightfully come in off of the bench to take Oscar Robertson’s spot, it is Jason Kidd. There wasn’t a single point guard that was as complete of a player as Jason Kidd was in the 2000s. Kidd was an elite passer and playmaker, making everyone around him better just by playing his brand of basketball. He was a lethal passer in fast break situations and found open shots for players that no one else could have possibly seen. He is also one of the pioneers of rebounding point guards as far as the new eras go. His leadership and comparable play to Oscar fit perfectly off of the bench for our team.

Jason Kidd’s elite play was on full display during the 2000s with the New Jersey Nets. Under Kidd’s leadership, the Nets made the only NBA Finals in their team history in 2002 and 2003. Kidd was the driving force behind those playoff runs, taking teams to the Finals that had no business being there. Kidd acquired his ring well past his prime with the Dalla Mavericks but even then, he still played a big role in their success.

Guard – Gary Payton

Career Stats: 16.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 6.7 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG

Career Achievements: 1x Defensive Player Of The Year, 9x All-Star, 9x All-NBA Team Selection, 9x All-Defensive Team Selection

Are Gary Payton and Kevin Garnett on the same team? The trash-talking will be immaculate. Payton comes in off of the bench as hands down the best perimeter defender that this team has to offer. He brings a physical and rugged on-ball defensive game that will force mistakes from any guard put in front of him. The one thing about Payton that goes significantly underrated is how good he was offensively. Payton could run a fast break extremely well and find his teammates streaking to the basket with ease on lobs or bounce passes.

Payton was so good offensively that he averaged at least 19.0 PPG and 7.0 APG every season from 1996 through 2003. His chemistry with teammates shined through every night he was on the court, especially guys like Shawn Kemp and Detlef Schrempf. Payton will also bring a mental toughness that elevates the play of those around him. He will have zero fear of going right at an opposing team’s best player and scorer and that swagger is contagious.

Guard – Clyde Drexler

Career Stats: 20.4 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 5.6 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Career Achievements: 10x All-Star, 5x All-NBA Team Selection

If I could have anyone with one ring in their career backing up Julius Erving, it would be Clyde Drexler. Clyde is a perfect fit off of the bench who brings abundant scoring and an above-the-rime style just like Erving. Clyde was an exceptional scorer able to get to the rim any which way he wanted to. He was also one of the better rebounding shooting guards in his era, using his athleticism to rise above everybody else for errant rebounds. He could also shoot the ball at an average rate which will be a much-welcomed sight for this team.

Drexler had ample opportunity to win an NBA championship with the Portland Trail Blazers. Unfortunately for him, in the NBA Finals, he ran into 2 of the best teams in the 1990s. Drexler and Portland lost to the “bad Boy” Pistons in 1990 and again to Michael Jordan’s Bulls in 1992. Drexler would get his ring in 1995 when he was traded to the Houston Rockets to pair with Hakeem Olajuwon. While Hakeem was the best player on the floor for Houston, Drexler played a significant role in winning the 1995 NBA championship.

Forward – Bob Pettit

Career Stats: 26.4 PPG, 16.2 RPG, 3.0 APG

Career Achievements: 2x MVP, 1x Rookie Of The Year, 11x All-Star, 4x All-Star Game MVP, 11x All-NBA Team Selection

Bob Pettit was considered to be an elite athlete for his time and era. He was quick off of the dribble whether making a move to the basket or pulling up for a jump shot. He was an aggressive and ruthless rebounder, especially on the offensive side of the ball. He could finish around the rim fairly easily, making his rebounding more dangerous for this team’s lineup. Pettit’s tough playstyle will complement Dirk and Garnett’s perfectly off of the bench when the team decides to switch up the pace.

Bob Pettit was an elite NBA player from his rookie season. In his second season, Pettit won MVP averaging a league-leading 25.7 PPG. He would lead the then St.Louis Hawks to their only championship in team history. Pettit averaged 29.3 PPG and 17.0 RPG in the Finals as the Hawks took down the Celtics in 6 games. Pettit is the only player in Atlanta Hawks history to win both an MVP award and a championship in his career. His winning pedigree and tough playstyle will be an added bonus to this already-stacked lineup.

Center – Moses Malone

Career Stats: 20.6 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.3 BPG

Career Achievements: 1x Finals MVP, 3x MVP, 12x All-Star, 8x All-NBA Team Selection, 2x All-Defensive Team Selection

Our last and final piece of the puzzle of the lineup we have created today is Moses Malone. Moses Malone will serve as the perfect backup center for our lineup, replacing Garnett or Nowitzki when they may need a rest. Malone is a fierce competitor who prided himself on his rebounding and scoring prowess. Malone’s aggression on the offensive glass was second to none during his era, even if some of them were slightly stat-padded. Malone led the NBA in rebounding 6 times during his career, making him the perfect final fit off of our bench to use for something outside of his scoring.

Malone is a 3-time MVP who won those awards in a 4-year span. Malone’s lone championship came in 1983, the same year that he won his last MVP award. In that regular season, Malone averaged 24.5 PPG and 15.3 RPG to lead the Sixers to 65 wins. In the Finals, Malone averaged 25.8 PPG and 18.0 RPG in a 4-game sweep of the Lakers. Malone’s dominance at his peak is an easy metric to use for his selection and makes him the perfect way to wrap up this lineup.

Can This Team Rally To Win More Than One NBA Championship?

The team we have built today is full of guys that know what it takes to win an NBA championship. Each player on this team will play a certain role to maximize the chances of success and deliver more than one piece of hardware to their trophy case. On offense, the scoring is impeccable with guys on the perimeter like Jerry West, Julius Erving, and Oscar Robertson. Oscar will probably take on more of a playmaking role in this lineup to provide ample opportunities to the other scorers. Garnett and Nowitzki play off of each other perfectly in the post with Dirk adding an extra advantage by spreading the floor.

This team is also loaded on the defensive side of the ball. West and Erving will be the best perimeter defenders in the starting lineup with 2 elite defenders backing them up in Gary Payton and Jason Kidd. The post will be controlled by Kevin Garnett who has the ability to pick up smaller opponents on switches if need be. Moses Malone and Bob Pettit also bring a unique approach to that side of the ball off of the bench. Overall, this team proves to be dangerous in every aspect of the game aside from three-point shooting where Dirk and West are probably the biggest threats from that standpoint. There should be no reason why this team wouldn’t be able to win more than one NBA championship considering it is filled with 10 guys who know how to get the job done.

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