When players, fans or analysts debate the NBA’s all-time starting five, it’s rare for Michael Jordan or LeBron James to be excluded. Yet Kevin Garnett, the legendary power forward who won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008, made his picks without including either player.
In a 2021 appearance on MILLION DOLLAZ WORTH OF GAME podcast, Garnett didn’t hesitate to name Magic Johnson as his point guard. “Magic at one, just because he’s 6’9″, he can see everybody,” Garnett explained.
Surprisingly, he chose Kobe Bryant over Jordan at shooting guard. “Now I got to go MJ. Matter of fact, I’m going to put Kobe on my two. I know you’re gonna say MJ, I’m supposed to take MJ because he’s the guard, and we copied him and s—, but I got Kobe at my two,” he said.
Rounding out his starting five, Garnett included himself, Kevin Durant, and Wilt Chamberlain. Although he considered Allen Iverson, he ultimately left him off the roster. “I really want to put AI in here somewhere, but I got all the team because I’m gonna switch everything. You know what I’m saying? I’m putting KD at my three, KD’s like a real fade. You know what I’m saying? And then I’m going with Wilt. I’m playing the four,” Garnett added.
Kevin Garnett #5 of the Boston Celtics during their game at Time Warner Cable Arena. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Garnett’s backup team
Garnett also excluded Jordan and James from his backup roster. Instead, he went with a more unconventional lineup, headlined by Pete Maravich. “My backup point guard going to be Pete Maravich,” he said.
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“All right, then I’m going to go AI coming off the bench, because he’s buckets all day. All right? Big Dog (Glenn Robinson) at the three. Sheed (Rasheed Wallace)at four,” he continued. “Then I’m going Shaq at five. Coming off the bench. And then if I need two more to come off, I’m gonna go get VC (Vince Carter) because he was a bucket in Georgia”.
Garnett’s greatest player
Though Garnett omitted LeBron James from his starting five, he expressed deep admiration for James during a 2023 interview with Stephen A. Smith. “He’s my GOAT of all of this—the business, everything,” Garnett said. “We’ve never seen a 6’9″, 265-pound player run the joint”.
Garnett praised James not only for his on-court dominance but also for his impact beyond basketball. “He’s the vision of what every black man should aspire for,” Garnett explained. “Being a billionaire, having your own labels—he set the tone”.
