Jan 14, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Jan 14, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson has not only had the opportunity to play against some of the greatest players in NBA history, but also to play alongside them. Having faced the likes of LeBron James and Kobe Bryant while partnering with Stephen Curry, Thompson has gained a unique experience that only a few can relate to.
Needless to say, this experience has given Klay Thompson a different perspective on NBA players and their legacies. Hence, when discussing his all-time starting five on a livestream with PlaqueBoyMax, the four-time NBA champion made selections that would largely resonate with the fan base. Still, some would argue that he made a glaring omission.
Thompson revealed his all-time starting lineup by stating:
“At center, I’m going with Shaq. Yeah, I grew up watching Shaq. You know how Steph warped the game as far as spacing? Shaq did the opposite. Teams used to keep three fodders on the bench just so they could hack Shaq. So I’ll go Shaq at the five.”
Selecting Shaquille O’Neal as the starting center is something every fan would agree with. As one of the most dominant big men in NBA history, O’Neal is routinely mentioned in all-time lists as one of the league’s best centers.
Given how impactful he was in changing the rules in the NBA, Thompson’s selection seems justified. On that note, Klay Thompson announced his pick for the power forward position.
“Gotta go with Tim Duncan, Big Fundamental, at the four,” Thompson added. “The man is just the definition of consistency. His game is quiet, but his legacy is loud.”
As Thompson mentioned, the mention of Tim Duncan is one most fans will understand. Aside from being one of the most successful players of all time, Duncan’s consistency and his ability to impact games on both ends of the floor, even late in his career, cement his reputation as the greatest power forward in NBA history.
“He’s a beast. Timmy D is a beast,” Thompson shared. “There’s no weaknesses in his game. Most All-Defensive selections in the history of the game, too, with 15. So, I’ve got to go with Timmy D.”
With the big man positions allotted to two of the best in history, Klay Thompson proceeded to fill out the remaining positions in the starting lineup, beginning with the small forward.
“At the three, it’s so hard to pick between Larry, LeBron, or KD,” he debated. “But it’s hard not to pick LeBron, bro. Year 22 (23)? What is it, like 22 All-Star appearances? Come on, man. Whatever that is. I thought five was a lot. Multiply that by four? LeBron at the three.”
Although Klay Thompson was torn while making this pick, primarily since the game has seen so many great wings, at this point, selecting LeBron James seems completely reasonable. Even at 41, James remains one of the most impactful and versatile players in NBA history.
Given Thompson’s own opinion of James being one of the toughest players to guard, this pick seems fitting. As a paragon of longevity and consistency, there is no doubt why he is also considered one of the greatest the game has ever seen.
For the most part, these three picks would align with most NBA fans. However, Thompson’s pick for the shooting guard could rub some people the wrong way.
“I’ve got to go with the Kobe at the two,” Thompson admitted reluctantly. “I love Mike. But I’ve just got to. I grew up watching Kobe. Got to play against him. 81 (points), 12 threes, gold medals. God, I love MJ. But Kobe’s like a carbon copy of Mike, so I’m going to go with Kobe just because that’s my era.”
Thompson’s pick for the point guard position was bound to be Stephen Curry. Given his relationship with the Warriors’ superstar and Curry’s impact on the game, it is difficult not to pick him. However, the decision to select Kobe Bryant ahead of Michael Jordan, while debatable, seems to be a personal one.
As great as Michael Jordan is, boasting arguably one of the greatest legacies in NBA history, Kobe Bryant seems to have been a bigger influence on Klay Thompson. Aside from facing Bryant, Thompson also grew up watching the Lakers’ legend. Given that the veteran guard also placed Bryant on his Mount Rushmore of NBA players, it is evident how significant he was.
Overall, there may be some room to debate over Klay Thompson’s backcourt, but his justification seems to dismiss every argument. Given the quality of talent across the board, Thompson safely created a truly solid starting lineup.
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