The Best Players I Ever Saw NBA 2nd Team

2nd team you say? Well... yeah - because for my generation (1980-present),

it's pretty obvious who makes the 1st team:

PG - Magic Johnson

SG - Michael Jordan

SF - Larry Bird

PF - Tim Duncan

C - Shaquille O'Neal

...and enough has been written about each of their immortal statuses with the NBA's history (although maybe not this so often: since 1979-1980 - the above 5 brought their teams to a combined 22 NBA titles in 27 seasons - only the Detroit Piston franchise ('89,'90 and '04), Hakeem Olajuwon's Rockets during Jordan's first retirement ('94, '95) and Dr. J's '83 76er team have won the NBA title without one of the above players on their roster)

So instead I bring you the other guys I enjoyed watching after the above 5:

POINT GUARD

Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks/Phoenix Suns/New Jersey Nets):

Yeah, John Stockton has the better career numbers, but I'd still take J-Kid to set up the offense on the court for my team. He's old-school... a throw back to the pure point guards that could handle the ball and distribute. Kidd instantly makes whatever team he's on better because he gets everyone involved. He thinks pass before shoot and that in itself in today's game is unique. Career wise, he's around 15pt, 9 as, 6 reb plus 2 steals a game and around only 3 turnovers a game. Shoots when he needs to and has sank some big shots along the way. Led the Nets to back-to-back Finals in 2002 & 2003 where they lost to Shaq's Lakers and Duncan's Spurs in consecutive seasons.

SHOOTING GUARD

Reggie Miller (Indiana Pacers):

I'm sure you could come up with several players with better stats or more championship rings, but Reggie was an extraodinary 3-point shooters and one of the game's best clutch shooters - other than Larry, Magic & Michael, perhaps no one better. Once the focul point of the team early in his career, he became a pure shooting role player in his later seasons - although his presence on the floor with the game on the line, in itself gave his team the advantage every time. More times than not, he'd sink the shot at the buzzer - only solidifying his place among the best under-pressure performers of his era.

SMALL FOWARD

Lebron James (Cleveland Cavaliers):

I know he's still young, but King James has all the tools both on and off the court to become an immortal. One of the few players who actually should have skipped college altogether, Lebron does everything - and everything good. Run the floor, pass, shoot, post up, dunk on your ass, rebound... you name it. In his first 3 years, he's elevated the Cavaliers to legimate contenders for the conference championship and possibly join the '05 Pistons as the only other non-Shaq or Duncan team to win the NBA title since Michael Jordan retired following the 1997-98 season

POWER FOWARD

Kevin McHale (Boston Celtics):

Charles Barkley and Karl Malone have better career stats, but McHale's got as many rings as the other two have in NBA Finals appearances.... combined! McHale had the perfect frame for a low post player and had them long-ass arms. He could shoot, pass, block shots and handle the ball. During the 1980's with Larry Bird and Robert Parrish, was part of arguably the greatest front-court in NBA history - winning 3 titles along the way ('81, '84, '86).

CENTER

Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets):

Hakeem was just awesome! He had great moves for a big man. He beat back-to-back NBA titles in '94 & '95 (Jordan was playing minor league baseball) against Patrick Ewing's Knicks and a young Shaq's Orlando Magic. Also repeatedly dominated conference rival David Robinson of the San Antonion Spurs. Great moves under the basket to get his shot and always a threat to swat your shot into the seats. He literally carried the 6th-seeded Rockets to the 1995 title. One of the best centers of all-time.