Let's build the best team in NBA history.
Try to, anyway.
With "The Last Dance" in full swing, we decided to play a game involving two of the most dominant teams in NBA history. On one side, we have the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, who won an NBA record at the time of 72 games in the regular season and went on to win the first of three straight championships. On the other, we have the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, who broke Chicago's all-time record with 73 regular-season wins before losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.
So what's the game? I chose seven players from each of those teams. I then matched them up based on their role and presented their stats side-by-side to three members of our NBA Global Staff for them to choose who they would rather have on their team.
You can play along as well. For each blind resume below, you'll find a poll where you can cast your vote. And at the bottom, each player will be revealed for you to create your own all-time team.
With all that in mind, let's play!
Player 1
Agustín Aboy (@AboyAgustin)
Player A: He shoots better from the perimeter and free-throw line, and he has a better assist-to-turnover ratio.
Scott Rafferty (@crabdribbles)
Player A: The only things Player B does much better than Player A is get to the free-throw line more and turn the ball over less. Those are important, but Player A seems like the more well-rounded and dominant player, so they get my vote.
Plus, Player A is a far superior 3-point shooter. That helps his case.
Sergio Rabinal (@S_Rabinal)
Player A: He makes more 3-pointers at a higher rate and has better statistics across the board. He also has a better assist-to-turnover ratio despite turning the ball over more times per game.
Player 2
Agustín Aboy (@AboyAgustin)
Player B: He is an amazing shooter, clearly. Player A's rebounding differential isn't enough to make up for it.
Scott Rafferty (@crabdribbles)
Player B: Alarm bells are going off in this one. Player B shooting 51.5 percent on 4.4 3-point attempts per game screams small sample size to me. But I'm still going to go with them in the hope that you aren't playing games with me. Based on their stats, I'm guessing they're a role player, so I like how efficiently they're scoring.
Sergio Rabinal (@S_Rabinal)
Player B: Without knowing the actual minutes of both, it is obvious that these players aren't primary options, so their scoring and efficiency matter more than other counting stats.
Player 3
Agustín Aboy (@AboyAgustin)
Player A: Player A is the worse shooter, but I like what he's able to do as a passer and rebounder.
Scott Rafferty (@crabdribbles)
Player A: I like Player B for their scoring and 3-point shooting, but Player A blows them out of the water as a rebounder, passer and defender while still being an efficient scorer — although the free throw shooting scares me a little.
Sergio Rabinal (@S_Rabinal)
Player B: He's the better scorer and is incredibly efficient. He isn't quite as good defensively and is neither the rebounder nor passer, but he makes up for it with better shooting numbers.
Player 4
Agustín Aboy (@AboyAgustin)
Player A: He is more complete. Even though he isn't quite as dominant offensively, he makes up for it in other ways.
Scott Rafferty (@crabdribbles)
Player A: Player B seems to be the better scorer, but the gap isn't big enough to make up for all of the things Player A does better than them.
Sergio Rabinal (@S_Rabinal)
Player B: He turns the ball over less and is a better scorer. He doesn't contribute as much in other areas, but I can overlook that.
Player 5
Agustín Aboy (@AboyAgustin)
Player B: Player B has to be Dennis Rodman ... right? Whoever it is, they're a monster on the glass and commit less fouls. They're more limited offensively, but it's not as though Player A is lighting it up on that end of the court.
Scott Rafferty (@crabdribbles)
Player A: I'm 99% sure that Dennis Rodman is Player B. I'm probably going to regret not going with him if it is Rodman, but Player A does more things at a higher level, so they get my vote. The 2.8 blocks per game in particular catches my eye.
Sergio Rabinal (@S_Rabinal)
Player A: The rebounding differential isn't significant and Player A seems to be much better offensively.
Player 6
Agustín Aboy (@AboyAgustin)
Player A: Player B is a fouling machine who can't make a 3-pointer. Player A gets my vote.
Scott Rafferty (@crabdribbles)
Player A: This one might be the toughest yet. Since we're building a team here, I'm going to go with Player A because I already have one non-shooter on my roster, so I don't want to risk having a second.
Sergio Rabinal (@S_Rabinal)
Player A: This is difficult because they have similar counting stats, but I prefer Player A because he commits fewer fouls.
Player 7
Agustín Aboy (@AboyAgustin)
Player B: They are similar, but I'm drawn to Player B's passing.
Scott Rafferty (@crabdribbles)
Player B: They're similar in many ways, but Player B is a more efficient scorer and a better playmaker.
Sergio Rabinal (@S_Rabinal)
Player B: He appears to be more aware of his strengths and weaknesses based on how reluctant he is to shoot 3s than Player A.
So who are the players?
Drum roll, please...
Player 1: Player A is Stephen Curry, Player B is Michael Jordan.
Where else to begin?
These were MVP seasons for Curry and Jordan. In the case of Curry, he was named the first unanimous MVP in NBA history. For Jordan, it marked the fourth of five MVP awards he won in his Hall of Fame career.
Player 2: Player A is Andre Iguodala, Player B is Steve Kerr.
The sixth man.
Although his stats don't jump off the page, Iguodala helped tie everything together for the Warriors during his time with Golden State. He peaked in 2014-15 when he was named Finals MVP for helping the Warriors win their first title of the modern era.
Currently the head coach of the Warriors, Kerr was Chicago's shooter off the bench. He led the NBA in 3-point percentage twice in his career, although this particular season wasn't one of them.
Player 3: Player A is Scottie Pippen, Player B is Klay Thompson.
Thompson has the reputation of being one of the best 3-point shooters in NBA history, but he's also developed into one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, even though he might not have the raw stats to show for it.
What else is there to say about Pippen? He might be the best No. 2 the game has ever seen, someone who was capable of dominating both ends of the court.
Player 4: Player A is Draymond Green, Player B is Toni Kukoc.
Two incredible versatile players who excel in very different ways.
At the peak of his powers, Green was the most dominant defensive player in the league, the rare player who could protect the rim like a centre while still being able to guard multiple positions.
Kukoc never reached the heights that Green did as a player, but he played a key role on the Bulls and would thrive in today's NBA as a 6-foot-11 forward who could handle the ball and space the floor.
Player 5: Player A is Andrew Bogut, Player B is Dennis Rodman.
Rodman was a defensive monster who led the league in rebounding for seven straight seasons, giving him the second-most rebounding titles in NBA history behind only Wilt Chamberlain.
Bogut, meanwhile, became a valuable piece on the Warriors thanks to his rim protection, rebounding and passing from the centre position.
Player 6: Player A is Harrison Barnes, Player B is Luc Longley.
They don't play the same position, but Barnes and Longley posted similar numbers as role players on their respective teams.
Player 7: Player A is Ron Harper, Player B is Shaun Livingston.
Harper started in almost every game he appeared in with the Bulls, whereas Livington came off the bench during Golden State's championship runs.
The final teams
Team Aboy: Stephen Curry, Steve Kerr, Scottie Pippen, Draymond Green, Dennis Rodman, Harrison Barnes, Shaun Livingston.
Team Rafferty: Stephen Curry, Steve Kerr, Scottie Pippen, Draymond Green, Andrew Bogut, Harrison Barnes, Shaun Livingston.
Team Rabinal: Stephen Curry, Steve Kerr, Klay Thompson, Tony Kukoc, Andrew Bogut, Harrison Barnes, Shaun Livingston.
That's right — nobody picked Michael Jordan. Do you think they regret it?
This has been translated from NBA Argentina: "Desafío a ciegas: ¿cómo armar tu plantel ideal eligiendo entre los jugadores de los mejores equipos de la historia?"
The views expressed here do not represent those of the NBA or its clubs.
