Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this idea of creating the ultimate “starting lineup” featuring Michael Jordan, and let me tell you, it’s been a rabbit hole of stats, highlights, and “what ifs.”
I started by, you know, just thinking about it. Like, who would really complement MJ? Who wouldn’t get in his way, but also wouldn’t just be a stand-in? It’s a tough balance.
The Initial Brain Dump
My first go-around was pretty basic:
- Point Guard: I went with Magic Johnson. Seemed obvious, right? Two GOATs, incredible passing, vision…
- Shooting Guard: Obviously, MJ.
- Small Forward: I put in Larry Bird. Another legend, amazing shooter, great basketball IQ.
- Power Forward: Initially, I had Charles Barkley here. Pure power, rebounding machine.
- Center: Hakeem Olajuwon. The Dream Shake, defensive beast.
But then I started digging deeper. Watching old game footage, reading articles, you know, the whole nine yards. And I realized my initial lineup, while stacked, might have some issues.
Re-evaluating and Refining
For example, put too much passing and ball dominate players.
Magic, while amazing, needs the ball. So does Jordan. And Bird, to a lesser extent. Barkley too! It’s a lot of mouths to feed. So, I started making some changes.
- Point Guard: Swapped Magic for John Stockton. Still an incredible passer, but more of a facilitator, less likely to clash with MJ’s style.
- Power Forward: Replaced Barkley with Dennis Rodman. Controversial, I know, but hear me out. Rodman doesn’t need the ball to be effective. He’s all about rebounds, defense, and hustle – exactly what this team needs.
The (Almost) Final Lineup
So, here’s where I’m at right now:
- Point Guard: John Stockton
- Shooting Guard: Michael Jordan
- Small Forward: Larry Bird
- Power Forward: Dennis Rodman
- Center: Hakeem Olajuwon
I’m feeling pretty good about this. It’s a mix of scoring, playmaking, defense, and rebounding. There’s star power, but also guys who are willing to do the dirty work. It’s not perfect, I’m sure. I’ll keep tinkering, keep watching, keep learning. But for now, this is my ultimate Michael Jordan starting lineup.
Might try out some different centers next, maybe a young Shaq, and see how that feels.
