I was a fan of the Sonics in the 90s and remember the battles between him and Payton fondly, but I think Jason Kidd's defense is slightly better, and the starting line-up needed that more than Stockton's passing, but you could certainly go the other way.
I feel dumb, because I'd been trying to think of who would fit with Nash/Shaq, but I didn't think of Shawn Kemp, despite being a fan of the Sonics in the 90s.
Also Sidney Moncrief would be a nice piece off the bench.
Also Shawn Marion might be even better at the 4 than Kemp (that's close).
The thing that's great about Klay in this kind of exercise is he doesn't need the ball in his hands to provide value. He provides good off-ball offense and spacing, and solid defense (assuming you get pre-injury Klay). Also he'd be the most easygoing guy on the K team by a mile.
The all-Kevin team is unfairly spectacular, honestly. I think it can take at least half the first-letter teams in the alphabet.
It doesn't have _as_ much talent as the K's but the J's do pretty well (which makes me feel like we're in men-in-black world)
Jason Kidd
Jerry West
James Harden
Julius Erving
Joel Embiid
With John Stockton, John Havlicek, Jack Sikma off the bench
It looks good on paper, but once Harden starts feeling slighted and stops playing, it's going to go to shit in a hurry.
*quickly checks b-r.com again*
When that happens we'll make "big game" James Worthy a starter.
You know who else I forgot about -- Jrue Holiday. It would be a good defensive team, even with Harden.
Depending on how liberal the nickname rule is, Joker Jokic over Embiid.
I was a fan of the Sonics in the 90s and remember the battles between him and Payton fondly, but I think Jason Kidd's defense is slightly better, and the starting line-up needed that more than Stockton's passing, but you could certainly go the other way.
This starts out great, but goes off the rails when you disallow "Lew Alcindor"...
I'd probably go Sam Perkins over Kerr, but that's a solid team.
I was going to say Scottie Pippen. Kerr can coach the team.
*slaps forehead* Of course, Pippen...
I feel dumb, because I'd been trying to think of who would fit with Nash/Shaq, but I didn't think of Shawn Kemp, despite being a fan of the Sonics in the 90s.
Also Sidney Moncrief would be a nice piece off the bench.
Also Shawn Marion might be even better at the 4 than Kemp (that's close).
He's great, but I don't think he's better than Kawhi or Kobe. He can come off the bench with Karl Malone.
The thing that's great about Klay in this kind of exercise is he doesn't need the ball in his hands to provide value. He provides good off-ball offense and spacing, and solid defense (assuming you get pre-injury Klay). Also he'd be the most easygoing guy on the K team by a mile.