Allen Iverson is a basketball legend who will always be remembered for two reasons: his incredible performance for a decade with the Philadelphia 76ers, and the cultural influence he had on basketball fans everywhere.
On the floor, Iverson was an 11-time All-Star, a seven-time All-NBA selection, and the 2001 NBA MVP award winner. He averaged a stellar 27.6 points and 6.1 assists per game in 12 seasons with the Sixers, and his 26.7 career PPG ranks ninth all-time. "The Answer" is one of the top-five shooting guards of all-time, but his effect on the game goes far beyond that.
AI's cultural influence off the floor is what made him iconic. His style on and off the court, moments of honesty with the media, and entertaining playstyle at just six-feet tall gave kids from every walk of life hope that they could accomplish their dreams, basketball or otherwise, regardless of their circumstances.
Iverson's most memorable season was his 2001 MVP campaign, where he stole the show every night with 31.1 points per game on some of the most difficult moves and shots you'll ever see from a small guard. He carried an undermanned Philly roster to the NBA Finals, where he created arguably the most iconic moment in NBA history, stepping over Tyronn Lue after icing Game 1.
Ironically, Iverson put his pride aside and gave love to members of the Los Angeles Lakers team that stomped his Sixers in five games. Here is his all-time NBA starting five, which he gave on Shaquille O'Neal's " The Big Podcast".
It's one of the most respectable and well-built lineups that a former player has given, with most guys letting biases from their playing days cloud their judgment.
PG: Stephen Curry
Golden State Warriors' point guard Stephen Curry during Game 4 of the second round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Credit: Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images
At the point guard position, Iverson chose the best-fitting player over the most accomplished player by choosing Stephen Curry over Magic Johnson. Both guys fit very well in this lineup (and both are extremely accomplished), but Curry's off-ball marksmanship and spacing threat is just what a team of legends needs around them.
Johnson is also somewhat redundant for a squad that features another point-forward who can run the offense. More on that later. Iverson gave Curry the nod in the all-time point guard debate, a controversial but very fair choice. Like Iverson, Curry is also arguably the most influential basketball player ever.
As I mentioned, Curry's placement in this lineup is less about career achievements and more about how he would mesh with his teammates and fill the needed role. Steph is arguably the greatest face of the franchise you could have because of his unselfish nature.
He welcomed Kevin Durant to the Warriors after winning back-to-back MVPs, because he knew they'd win more, despite losing much of the shine for three seasons. Curry is a player who doesn't care about his statistics or who gets credit, but rather how he can help his team create the best shots on offense. Guys featured later on this list couldn't always say the same.
Curry's fit next to two isolation scorers, a point-forward, and a dominant paint center is perfect. He provides spacing, off-ball movement, and will grease the wheels for a ball-movement offense if they so choose. Steph would elevate this squad to new heights.
SG: Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant
At shooting guard, Iverson chose a player who's ahead of him on the all-time SG list, Kobe Bryant. Bryant, who defeated Iverson in the 2001 NBA Finals in five games, shared mutual respect with AI from their battles on the court and somewhat similar games.
Although Kobe's Lakers took down Iverson's Sixers in five, AI's stellar performance as a one-man show must've intrigued him, as the Black Mamba had to do similar things later in his career.
Bryant earns the starting two spot because he's one of the greatest two-way players of all-time. From 2001 to 2013, Bryant averaged 28.1 points and 5.2 assists while making 11 All-Defensive teams. His relentless work ethic and obsession with detail allowed him to be a mid-range magician on offense and lock down the opponent's best player in the same game, every game.
For an all-time lineup lacking defense at the point guard position (although Curry is an underrated defender), it's a smart move to fill out the backcourt with one of the best defenders ever. The Curry-Bryant tandem would be a joy to watch.
Kobe earned his spot on the team in every way: accolades, winning, defense, and insane competitive fire.
SF: Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan in a Chicago Bulls jersey with a red NBA-themed background
If you were wondering whether Iverson left off the greatest shooting guard ever for the second-best, no he didn't. Michael Jordan is not only the best ever at his position, he's also considered by most to be the GOAT. It makes sense that Iverson would put both of the no-doubt selections above him at his position in his all-time starting lineup.
AI idolized Jordan, and even enjoyed a moment at his expense in March 1997, when he hit MJ with a double crossover to make him wobble, and cashed the jumper. Mike almost never let his opponents get the better of him, especially those who looked up to him or were ascending stars, but a young Allen Iverson did.
However, Jordan is also a no-doubt selection for this lineup. If Kobe is one of the greatest two-way players in league history, then MJ is arguably the best. His 30.1 career PPG ranks first all-time, and he's won 10 scoring titles, but also earned nine All-Defensive selections and took home the 1988 Defensive Player of the Year award.
On this particular team, Jordan and Kobe would likely take turns at isolation scoring in the mid-range, but both were underrated passers when they wanted to. The narrative that neither were skilled playmakers was false; they just preferred to take the shot themselves instead of lesser teammates. Well, on this squad, they don't have to worry about such an issue.
PF: LeBron James
LeBron James
The reason choosing Curry over Magic was a no-brainer is because at power forward, Iverson took the greatest point-forward to ever play the game, LeBron James. James, whose playstyle is inspired by the six-nine Johnson, is a forward in name but is actually a point guard.
At six-nine, 250 pounds, King James is an absolute freight train of a downhill athlete, both in half-court and transition. While he uses this talent to be the best paint scorer ever, James' true gift is his ability to playmake for his teammates once he's broken down the defense.
LeBron would run the show for this squad as the de-facto point guard, bringing the ball up the floor and getting his fellow legends into their offensive actions. James creates offense at a better rate than perhaps anyone besides Nikola Jokic currently, and would it almost too easy to get his guys open shots.
Oh, and he's also the most versatile defender to ever play the game. James could serve as the team's best on-ball defender, a lockdown post guy, or their rim protector. The best strategy would likely be placing James off-ball at the basket, as Iverson's pick for his starting center is a different archetype.
C: Shaquille O'Neal
Allen Iverson Shaquille O'Neal Kobe Bryant
Iverson's choice at center once again credits the 2001 Lakers team that beat him in his only shot at an NBA championship. Again, this shows maturity that many former NBA legends lack, but Iverson often gives flowers to those who deserve it, in rankings or otherwise.
Depending on which version of Shaquille O'Neal you choose, James could serve as the rim protector. In O'Neal's Orlando days, he was much thinner and more athletic, but perhaps less dominant in the paint offensively. Still, that version would be a stellar rim defender who could also run the floor on both ends of the court.
Although Iverson is clearly selecting the version of Shaq that averaged 33.0 points and 15.8 rebounds on 57.3% from the field to beat him in five games, the younger Orlando version might actually be a better fit for this team.
A group of four legends who can score the ball as effectively as Shaq can would rather have a rim-running, versatile defender at center than O'Neal clogging up the paint with his post touches. That could be bias towards the modern game, and it depends on which era you're playing in.