General overall view of a Spalding official NBA basketball - Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
What players deserve to be a part of your favorite team’s all-time starting lineup?
Who is the greatest team of all-time?
You don’t need to know what sport the question is in reference to, it will always be a raging debate among fans in every sport. The argument over which team is the best team in the history of a given sport is not going anywhere and it is just further fueled each year when new teams rise to the top and become the next big thing.
But when it comes to basketball, it’s a much deeper debate than simply being about the greatest team ever. You can dig beyond that and pick out the best lineup ever, as all you need to do is pick five players from throughout the history of your favorite team.
So just what combination of players does make up the best lineup for a given team? What’s the greatest Lakers lineup look like, or the greatest Kings lineup? Sometimes there’s not enough history to judge — looking at you, New Orleans. Other times there’s too much history to get it right — thanks, Los Angeles.
Either way, the debate about the best NBA team of all time is really a debate about the best NBA lineups of all time, from across all eras. What does your favorite team’s best lineup of all time look like?
Dec 21, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; The Charlotte Bobcats unveil their new branding logo as the Charlotte Hornets for the 2014 season at halftime during the game against the Utah Jazz at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 26, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) reacts to a call during the second half against the Houston Rockets in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Rockets 121-109. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Denver Nuggets
Dec 15, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Fans hold signs after the Denver Nuggets defeated the New Orleans Pelicans at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 102-93. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; T-shirts depicting a map of the bay area and the new bay bridge Golden State Warriors logo at Oracle Arena before the game between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Houston Rockets
May 25, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets fans before the game against the Golden State Warriors in game four of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs. at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Indiana Pacers
Apr 14, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers Pacemates wave to the fans as they walk off the floor after player introductions before the game against the Washington Wizards at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Los Angeles Clippers
May 3, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Fans celebrate after the game between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers in game seven of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Golden State Warriors 126-121. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Los Angeles Lakers
Nov 18, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Fans of Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (not pictured) hold up a sign after the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena. The Lakers won 114-109. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies
Apr 24, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; Fans hold up rally towels during the game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Oklahoma City Thunder in game three of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Memphis Grizzlies beat Oklahoma City Thunder in overtime 98 – 95. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Miami Heat
Apr 20, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) motions to fans before a game against the Charlotte Bobcats in game one during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Milwaukee Bucks
Apr 25, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Fans get ready for game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Minnesota Timberwolves
Feb 25, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett (21) waves to fans during a game against the Washington Wizards at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Next: New Orleans Pelicans
Oct 28, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Fans arrive outside prior to tip off of a game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Orlando Magic at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Next: New York Knicks
Oct 13, 2014; New York, NY, USA; The New York Knicks city dancers perform before the start of a game between the New York Knicks and the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Seattle Sonics/OKC Thunder
Feb 9, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Orlando Magic
Mar 4, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic fans cheer during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns at Amway Center. Phoenix Suns won 105-100. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Philadelphia 76ers
Mar 11, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers mascot Franklin entertains fans during a game against the Chicago Bulls at Wells Fargo Center. The Bulls won 104-95. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Orlando Magic
Nov 10, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; The Phoenix Suns Gorilla interacts with fans during the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at US Airways Center. The Suns beat the Pelicans 101-94. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Orlando Magic
Next: Sacramento Kings
Oct 30, 2013; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings fans hold up purple glow sticks before the game between the Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Orlando Magic
Jun 8, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs fans cheer during the game against the Miami Heat in game two of the 2014 NBA Finals at AT&T Center. The Heat beat the Spurs 98-96. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Orlando Magic
Oct 5, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; The Toronto Raptors mascot greats fans before the start of the first half against the Sacramento Kings at Rogers Arena. The Toronto Raptors won 99-94. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Utah Jazz
Apr 4, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Fans dress up as Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder (not pictured) and players during the second half against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. The Suns won 87-85. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Washington Wizards
Apr 27, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards fans hold rally towels in the stands against the Chicago Bulls in the fourth quarter in game four of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 98-89. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Josh Hill is a content director for the FanSided Network, having worked across various brands in both sports and entertainment for over a decade.
Previously, he was Editorial Director of FanSided.com from 2018 until 2022 and has been a content creator covering sports, music, music, and television for FanSided since 2010. His work has been featured on Sports Illustrated, Winter Is Coming, Netflix Life, FOX Sports, Dork Side of the Force, Puckett's Pond, The Pewter Plank, and Yahoo! Sports
