So how do you separate the mere All-Stars from the true best of the best? No easy task, that's for sure. But ultimately, the NBA's true legends are the ones who stand the test of time. Not the one-season wonders, but the ones who wow us with their abilities year in and year out. The true mainstays of the game.
If you could only have one All-Star Game for all time, who would make the cut? Only the very best.
Only these 10.
Eastern Conference
Point guard: Oscar Robertson. A 12-time All-Star and a three-time MVP of the February game, Oscar was the most dominant point guard in the game in the 1960s and '70s. Statistically, he was off the charts — he was a statistical machine in his early years, even averaging a triple-double (30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, 11.4 assists) for an entire season at age 23. He still sits fifth on the all-time assist list. One of the most incredible players in NBA history, and he put up numbers unlike anything the NBA had ever seen until… well, the next guy on this list.
Shooting guard: Michael Jordan. What can you say? The single greatest star in the history of American sports. Jordan was the ultimate competitor, the ultimate winner, the ultimate athlete. He commanded the attention of everyone in the room, everyone in the arena, everyone on the planet. MJ revolutionized the game of basketball, and he ushered in a generation of fans that will never, ever forget him. A six-time champion, a five-time MVP, a 14-time All-Star — Jordan had it all. He was the greatest.
Small forward: LeBron James. Don't call him the next MJ. But he is the best in the game today, and it's scary to think that he's still only 25 and hasn't stopped getting better. His athleticism is freakish; his basketball acumen is amazing. He hasn't won a championship yet, but he's about to make the sixth All-Star Game of his career, and he has the potential to be the best player in the NBA for the next decade. Will he ever be considered the greatest ever? Maybe not. But LeBron is the King right now. Don't you forget it.
Power forward: Larry Bird. Larry Legend wasn't just a fantastic individual scorer and rebounder; he was the ultimate teammate. He made stops on defense. He made game-changing hustle plays. He made perfect passes when the situation called for it. He rose to the occasion and carried his team in big games. It was never about himself, but he did manage to earn himself 13 consecutive All-Star appearances, and that's no small feat. Bird was a great team leader on the 1980s Celtics — he could play that same role on the East's all-time team.
Center: Bill Russell. When you think of winning, you think of Bill Russell. Eight straight titles and 11 out of 13 — it's difficult to grasp just how incredible a feat that is. No one cared more than Bill Russell. No one wanted it more. No one dedicated himself to winning championships the way he did. He was extraordinarily gifted physically and had all the talent in the world for the game of basketball, but what truly set Bill Russell apart was a desire to win and a desire to be the best. And for more than a decade, he absolutely was the best.
Western Conference
Point guard: Magic Johnson. Magic was what a point guard should be. He revolutionized the position in the 1980s – at 6-foot-8, he had the bulky frame of a power forward, and he could not only run the floor but also dominate against bigger, tougher defenders. Like LeBron, Magic had the physical gifts to play any position he wanted, but at the point, he was able to carry his Lakers teams by becoming a vocal leader offensively and stepping up to make things happen in big games. He was never the dominating individual force, never the "leading scorer" type, but always a superstar and always a winner.
Shooting guard: Kobe Bryant. How many times can one player reinvent himself? Kobe began his career as a sidekick to Shaquille O'Neal; he then alienated Shaq and became a frustrated loner on a disappointing Lakers team; he then brought the Lakers back to glory as the leader of a team that won the Finals in 2009. He's been through a lot in his career, on and off the basketball court, but there's no doubt that he's always cared more and always worked harder than everyone around him. That's what makes him one of the all-time greats — love him or hate him, he's earned his place in the conversation.
Small forward: Charles Barkley. Sir Charles is the only player on this list to retire without an NBA championship ring. That hurts his case, definitely, but the 11-time All-Star belongs in this lineup because he accomplished so much with so little. Barkley was listed at 6-foot-6, but many would tell you he wasn't a hair taller than 6-foot-2 or 6-foot-3. He became one of the best rebounders in NBA history on heart, tenacity and hard work. Some would hesitate to place Barkley among the game's all-time legends, but he earned this spot. He was one of the greats.
Power forward: Tim Duncan. Duncan has been so amazingly reliable, so amazingly consistent, that he sometimes forget he's still there. And we certainly don't pay enough attention to how good he is. He's not just a guaranteed 20 points per game every season — he's also a great rebounder, a great defender, a great facilitator, a great leader, a great teammate and a great winner. Duncan is about to start his 11th consecutive All-Star Game, and we've taken him for granted all this time. Someday, we'll look back and realize how amazing he really was.
Center: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Nineteen All-Star selections. Six MVPs. Eleven All-Defense selections. More points (38,387) than anyone in the history of the game. He was a truly great NBA big man for two decades, he won six titles with two different teams, and he always dominated when his teams needed him most. Kareem wasn't just a legend — he was a pioneer. Basketball was never the same after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
A lot of great players have graced the All-Star Game with their presence over the years. But only a few stand out as the true best of the best. If only we could see these mythical teams go five-on-five in an All-Star Game for the ages… that would be truly special. But instead, you'll have to settle for the game Sunday night. Enjoy it.
