Stephen Curry has just been named Sports Illustrated’s 2022 Sportsperson of the Year and was asked to put together his starting lineup so far during a conversation with SI. There was one stipulation: Curry had to include himself.
“I’m in PG, I’m going to Magic [Johnson]I’ll be playing a hybrid guard,” Curry told SI. [Michael] Jordan, you got the dark [Nowitzki] Space out on the floor, shoot the ball and you got the big guy, diesel [Shaquille O’Neal], and hold it down. So I think it’s a solid lineup. “
Curry started this dream with 5 on the fly, so let’s not throw too much into this one. It’s a minor detail, but I can’t believe LeBron doesn’t take it lightly. Curry and LeBron are the faces of this post-Jordan era. No one else is competing with either, and LeBron has a solid claim to being the greatest player of all time.
Curry’s lineup fits pretty well, which is the only way spacing alone can justify Nowitzki over James. Curry’s former teammate. If I wanted a traditional center, I’d go for Tim Duncan (don’t get me started on the “he was a power forward!” semantics), but Shaq certainly deserves this kind of recognition.
What can’t be justified is Magic Johnson against LeBron. LeBron is basically a bigger, stronger, faster, more athletic, better scoring, better shooting, better defensive version of Magic.On the basketball court, Magic Johnson is better than James. There’s only one thing I can say was that he was even better. Anyone who prioritizes Magic over LeBron lives in nostalgic dreamland.
The Curry-Jordan backcourt with LeBron as point forward is arguably the best perimeter trio ever formed. From there, we can discuss the fourth and his fifth player. But leaving LeBron out of the five-man starting lineup can’t be justified, even if it’s listed on the top of your head.
