An NBA Fantasy Tournament

Normally in late April, people wouldn't be obsessively analyzing Michael Jordan or going over some of basketball's great what-ifs. Instead, they'd be scrutinizing the NBA Playoffs, speculating on who would take home the Larry O'Brien Trophy and with it, a championship. Unfortunately, this is no normal year. With the COVID-19 pandemic cancelling every upcoming basketball game and leaving nothing but NBA 2K and NBA H-O-R-S-E tournament in its wake, fans have been left to think about the past greats, with only faint glimpses at what the future could hold. With Roger Goodell filling sports fans' TV screens instead of playoff basketball, it's clear that we need some hoops conversation topics. NBA Mount Rushmores and evaluations of greats are a common discussion point among basketball fans. One that I've thought about is dividing players up based on their pre-NBA career, into 4 year college players, fewer than 4 year college players, players who went straight to the league out of high school, and international players. I created starting lineups for each squad, and then pitted them against each other in my imagination. We speculate on which team would win this tournament of legends.

Note:International players who played college in the US counted in their respective college category, not international

Fewer than 4 Year College Players:
PG Magic Johnson
SG Michael Jordan
SF Kawhi Leonard 
PF Kevin Durant
C Shaquille O'Neal
Honorable Mention: James Harden, Steph Curry

Explanation:This starting five was one of the easier to assemble. Shaq at his best and in shape is one of the most dominant athletes that basketball fans have had the privilege of watching. Magic and MJ are the greatest guards not just in this category, but in hoops history. The forward combo doesn't yet have the legend status of the guards, but Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant will give the <4 year team a huge advantage with their trademark blend of length and speed. I excluded Harden and Curry from the list because Magic and MJ make a backcourt that is as difficult to crash as the Oscars. The squad will undoubtedly be anchored by Michael Jordan, but the other 4 provide the best supporting cast since a Mahershala Ali flick.

Team Strategy:I think coming in, other teams will zero in on the GOAT. However, MJ will embrace this and with the help of Magic's dropping of 10 cent coins, the star-studded 20th century backcourt will get the ball to their more contemporary teammates. From there, 3-level scorers Kawhi and KD will blow by their slower forward adversaries and get baskets from any range. Should the opposing center try to bring help on the drive, the position will end on a dunk from the Big Diesel. On defense, they make an ironclad group besides Magic Johnson. The Michigan State alumnus will get burned by speedier guards many times a game. Fortunately, he has some of the best defenders on Earth playing behind him to make up for his mistakes.

How to Beat:This is such a good 1-5 offensive team, there isn't much to do. A lot of gambling on traps, steals, and double-teams could pay off with the sky-high FG% this crew is destined to shoot. If nothing else works, teams may have to resort to Hack-A-Shaq maneuvers to stop one of the greatest offenses imaginable. As I outlined in the previous section, Johnson is the only open door to a basket. If a more nimble opponent can blow by him, they should put up a shot before Kawhi Leonard or Shaquille O'Neal comes to thwart their hopes of stealing a bucket.

4 Year College Players:
PG Oscar Robertson
SG Jerry West
SF Larry Bird
PF Bill Russell
C Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Honorable Mention: Hakeem Olajuwon, Wilt Chamberlain, Tim Duncan
Note: This category refers to players who stayed in college for 4 years, as players like Hakeem Olajuwon and Bill Russell redshirted their freshman year or played on the freshman team.

Explanation: This may not be the most modern team or the coolest, but the 4 year college players share good fundamentals and basketball IQ. The backcourt of Robertson and West is virtually unknown to younger audiences, but they were two great scorers at the time. Oscar won an MVP, while Jerry West was memorable enough to be the silhouette of the NBA logo. The one question is if their games would hold up with the perimeter oriented game today. The big men were the hardest choice to make. Olajuwon, Chamberlain, and Duncan were 3 of the best big men to touch the roundball. However, Russell's incredible defense and rebounding and Kareem's scoring vaulting them over the others. I am cheating a bit putting Bill Russell, a career center at the 4 spot, but he was the best player available who would fit the slot. Larry Bird may be the best of the 5, one of the greatest shooters of all time, and a perfect middle ground between Robertson and West's small ball and the smashmouth interior game of Russell and Abdul-Jabbar. I'd be surprised if any of these guys averages 30 points per night on this squad, but their team basketball could give them a lot of wins.

Team Strategy: On offense, this team will have 5 solid weapons. Leaving Russell and Kareem inside, having West and Bird on the perimeter, and Robertson driving and ball handling would do very well. It would force the defense to make a choice, as if the defense didn't do anything, 2 points would be scored for the Big O. If the defense collapsed, Oscar could swing it out to West or Bird for a 3, and if the big men brought help, the only competition would be between Russell and Abdul-Jabbar for who would score the easy interior basket. On defense, Russell could bail out a lot of people with his knack for shot blocking, but there's only so much one guy can do on a floor of 10. If an adept modern scorer got by a less skilled defender like Larry Bird, the possession would be all but over.

How to beat: On D, the opponents couldn't afford to give either big man many touches, as before they knew it, Kareem or Russell would be hanging on the rim with two more points on the scoreboard. They'd also have to force the ball out of Robertson's hands. Someone would also have to keep their eyes on Larry Legend for 48 minutes, as if he was given an inch, Mike Breen would be exclaiming "Bang!" in a matter of seconds. On offense, a more nimble and speedy wing could take advantage of Bird's lack of defense and athleticism and bury a basket. Oscar Robertson is also an average defender who a brilliant guard could punish.

International:
PG Luka Doncic
SG Manu Ginobili
SF Giannis Antetokounmpo
PF Dirk Nowitzki
C Yao Ming
Honorable Mention: Pau Gasol, Nikola Jokic, Tony Parker

Note: Drazen Petrovic and Arvydas Sabonis didn't get enough time in the NBA spotlight to be judged

Explanation: Giannis and Dirk make one of the best forward combinations the 21st century could give. Luka Doncic is only 21 years old, but his sophomore campaign thrust him into the MVP conversation and made him all but a lock to be voted to the First Team All-NBA. Less than 2 years removed from his teen years, the Slovenian superstar is already the greatest foreign-born point guard that the NBA has had the privilege of hosting. His backcourt teammate is Manu Ginobili, a Spur who would never be a star, but would be worth his weight in gold to any team with championship aspirations. The lineup is filled out with center Yao Ming, a Chinese player who dominated on both ends with his size. This group of spring chickens has 5 players who go together like Roger Goodell and the word boo.

Strategy: Manu and Dirk can participate in one of the NBA's newest traditions, having two guys run to the corners and wait for their chance to shoot. However, they aren't your everyday Ersan Ilyasova. With a decent dish from any of the other three players, either could hit from downtown in the face of a defender. Giannis and Luka are both masterful isolation players who could make a pick and roll combination greater than any other, weaving together Doncic's outside game and Antetokounmpo's interior game like Aunt Wilma's quilt during quarantine. Finally, Yao anchors the paint, filling the much desired role of big man to punish the defense when they zero in on the others. On defense, the Greek Freak can shut down the best player, and Yao can send back a lot of shots. Manu could hold their own, but the 2 Mavericks, Dirk and Luka, might fall behind quicker players. With good rotations from physical beasts Giannis and Yao, they'd make up for the gaffes of some of the others.

How to Beat: Giannis is one of the most dominant athletes to handle the rock, but his Achilles heel may be his shooting. Forcing him to visit three-point land and the charity stripe would be huge. The opposite goes for Luka Doncic. The opposition can't give him any perimeter space, as a drive is far from worst case-scenario. On offense, attacking Luka off the bounce would open William Perry-sized doors for all 5 players. With a speedy forward like Kevin Durant, the same method could be used on Dirk Nowitzki.

High School Players
PG LeBron James
SG Kobe Bryant
SF Tracy McGrady
PF Kevin Garnett
C   Moses Malone
Honorable Mention: Dwight Howard

Explanation: This one was perhaps the easiest to assemble, with Dwight Howard vs Moses Malone being the only debate. The first 3 players players on this list are three of the best players to have if you want a bucket. LeBron James is a candidate for the greatest player of all time, and despite having the body type of a forward, his brilliant passing makes him a better fit running the point. Kobe and Tracy McGrady are practically clones in terms of their body type, but Bryant will suit up at the off guard because of his affinity for shooting, while T-Mac's driving prowess puts him into the small forward position. At the big men position, you have Kevin Garnett and Moses Malone, both former MVPs who lean on their rebounding and defensive abilities. I put Malone above Dwight Howard because he had a similar skillset as Garnett and could mesh well with him.

Strategy: On offense, they should take advantage of their 3 creators, and 2 glass-crashers. LeBron, Kobe, and McGrady can more than create for themselves, and will make a lot of baskets in the process. On the occasional miss, it's worth betting on Garnett or Malone getting a putback slam. On defense, the team has a whopping 33 All-NBA teams between them, so this won't be rocket science. If they just play good team defense with everyone pulling their own weight, they shouldn't have any difficulty.

How to beat: On defense, force the ball out of LeBron's hands. The King can do anything, so it would be dangerous to play with fire. Forcing the Black Mamba and T-Mac to hoist a lot of jumpers would be good, as they're both streaky shooters, where a bad night could give the other team a chance, albeit the same chance that the Minnesota Timberwolves have of signing Giannis. Be sure to block out, as it's inevitable that second chance points will be surrendered with the insane rebounding front this group boasts. On the offensive side, I can't say much more than good luck. Tracy McGrady is your only potential hole, and he's not even a bad defender himself. Pressure McGrady and hope for a friendly rim is the only way to give yourself a chance.

Semifinal #1: Fewer than 4 Year College Players vs 4 Year College Players
Winner Prediction: Fewer than 4 Year Players
Margin of Victory: 16 Points

Explanation:The 4 year college players would be an all time great superteam if they were playing against normal teams, but this isn't a pedestrian tournament. With their most contemporary player retiring in 1992, they just can't combat many of the physical attributes that newer forwards like KD and Kawhi bring. During the recent Last Dance documentary, Michael Jordan has reminded us that nobody can truly stop him. However, Jerry West is one of the only people who has a chance to hold him in check. The other backcourt member, another guard with the initials MJ, may prove harder to handle. For one, Oscar Robertson isn't a good enough defender to keep up with Magic. Also, the former Laker can use his additional size to his advantage and bully Oscar, which will force a lot of favorable switches for the crew that didn't see their senior year of university. The forward positions are where the early departures stretch their lead. History looks more favorably on the Celtic pair of Larry Bird and Bill Russell than the modern duo of Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant, but the newer kids will give their adversaries fits with their speed. Defense won't be a problem either, as Kawhi and KD's length can easily keep them in defensive possessions. At the center position, Kareem may be a more skilled player than Shaq, but I don't think the NBA's all time leading scorer has competed with a physical specimen like the Big Diesel. I wouldn't expect the fewer than four year crew to dominate at the 5, but O'Neal's size will mean it won't be a loss. Sure, Abdul-Jabbar is tall, but he's not BIG like the Big Aristotle. In a tournament as great as this one, this will be the closest thing to a blowout.

Semifinal #2: International Players vs High School Players
Winner Prediction:High School Players
Margin of Victory: 11 Points

Explanation: Here's the difference between these two teams. The international team has three iso masters in Dirk, Giannis, and Luka, but a bad shooting night, a few pesky fouls, or a couple of careless turnovers could halt them. The players who went straight to the NBA after getting their diplomas are different. With 5 players who are all dominant on both sides of the ball, snake eyes or a bad hand won't stop them. Whatever happens, Kobe, T-Mac, or LeBron can take over scoring, and Garnett or Malone can stifle their opponents and grab double digit rebounds. In this matchup, it's just too difficult for the international players, even with a good shooting night. If the high school players play it smart in this matchup, I can't see their FG% dipping below 50.

Final: Fewer than 4 Year College Players vs High School Players
Winner Prediction: High School Players
Margin of Victory: 2 Points

Explanation: It's very difficult to separate these two teams. Both have 5 of the best players in basketball. Each presents a nominee for the GOAT. However, LeBron's crew won out for me. It came down to defense. I knew both teams would score boatloads no matter what, so I figured whichever team could get a few big stops would win. Michael Jordan and Kawhi Leonard were both Defensive Players of the Year, and joined capable defenders in Shaq and Durant. The problem was Magic Johnson. While Tracy McGrady may be an average defender, he's not bad and his defensively skilled teammates can more than cover for him. It's much harder to save Johnson due to his speed, or lack thereof. He just can't keep up with his quick opponents who have used their agility to become the players they are. The high school players won't give a free point, whereas the less than 4 year college players (read as:Magic Johnson) might hand away a few pivotal baskets.

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