One of the things that NBA media often likes to do is talk about building their ultimate teams from the players that have gone before. Everyone has their all-time starting fives, but there are also more specific lists, things like building the best teams from a certain era or from players that only played for one franchise.
Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe recently built their team using $15 which included players that starred in the 2000s were given assigned values. Sharpe had LeBron James on his team, along with Kevin Durant, while Bayless built his around Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.
Shannon and I chose our $15 team of the century. Which is better? His: LeBron, KD, Kawhi, Giannis, Iverson. Mine: Shaq, Kobe, Giannis, JKidd, Paul Pierce. All I know is I got Shaq/Kobe in their primes. He doesn't.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) June 21, 2022
“Shannon and I chose our $15 team of the century. Which is better? His: LeBron, KD, Kawhi, Giannis, Iverson. Mine: Shaq, Kobe, Giannis, JKidd, Paul Pierce. All I know is I got Shaq/Kobe in their primes. He doesn’t.”
Both teams are certainly elite and have a great balance, but Bayless went for stars from the 00s while Sharpe seemingly focused mostly on players that are elite even today. As with any list of this kind, fans had a lot to say about which one was better, and their comments were generally split.
“Shaq and Kobe are better than LeBron and KD.”
“Shaq clogging the lane for Giannis.”
“I’m choosing Shannon’s team all day, it’s more balanced.”
“Skip 100% has the better team. Tf AI doing on Shannon’s team? Waiting for the ball to swing to him for a catch & shoot?”
“Man really said Paul Pierce over Lebron.”
“He got LeBron and KD in their prime. You don’t.”
“Skip Bayless usually grinds my gears, but he’s got the edge here.”
“I don’t care what anyone says, nobody on that team can stop Shaq.”
“I like Shannon’s team a lot more, scoring, playmaking and defense all involved.
“You are getting cooked – Peak Kawhi, Giannis, Lebron defensively? Your half court offensive gonna be nasty.”
“Not betting against a team with prime Shaq, Kobe, AND Giannis lmao.”
“Paul Pierce?? Skips team is getting absolutely cooked.”
There’s no real way to tell which of these teams would be better, but it’s safe to say that both line-ups have their merits. Notably, both have Giannis Antetokounmpo on their teams as well, something that speaks to his unique skillset. One way or another, it’s safe to say that this hypothetical matchup of everyone in their primes would be insanely good to watch. If only it were possible.
