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When it comes to the NBA's all-time greatest lineup, most fans would probably answer with the "Magic, God, Emperor, Buddha, Shark" combination. However, this is ultimately a subjective topic, and everyone has their own understanding of the strongest lineup, as the saying goes, "A thousand people have a thousand Hamlets." As one of the greatest coaches in history, Popovich has also shared his own list of the all-time greatest lineup. So, let's take a look at who made Popovich's list.
Point Guard: Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson is widely recognized as the greatest point guard in history, known for his excellent basketball IQ and organizational skills. He led the Lakers to five championships in the 1980s, was named FMVP three times, and created the glorious SHOWTIME era.
Shooting Guard: Michael Jordan
Jordan's abilities need no further elaboration; two three-peats, six FMVPs, five MVPs, ten scoring titles—these honors alone are enough to prove why he is called the "Basketball God."
Small Forward: Kobe Bryant
Despite Kobe's multiple playoff victories over the Spurs, Popovich's appreciation and recognition for Kobe is always evident, even publicly stating that aside from Duncan, the player he most wanted to coach was Kobe. Kobe's abilities are undeniable; he led the Lakers to five championships, was named FMVP twice, MVP once, and set records such as 81 points in a single game, 62 points in three quarters, and four consecutive games with 50+ points.
Power Forward: Hakeem Olajuwon
As the leader of the four centers in the 1990s, Olajuwon is known for his incredibly graceful Dream Shake. He led the Rockets to consecutive championships. Olajuwon is also synonymous with "offense and defense in one," as the Defensive Player of the Year award is named after him, and he holds the record for total blocks in history.
Center: Wilt Chamberlain
Chamberlain was an "ancient data harvester," setting records such as 100 points in a single game, an average of 50 points per season, and 55 rebounds in a single game, which later generations could not reach. It's not an exaggeration to say that Chamberlain playing in the league at that time was like a dimensional reduction strike, almost like a BUG.
From this lineup, we can see that Popovich's team building leans more towards old-school basketball, with a greater emphasis on overall defense and interior aggression. So, if we were to select five current players to compete against this lineup, what would you choose? The editor nominates: Curry + Leonard + James + Durant + Jokic.