
Here's a look at Joe Posnanski's complete roster and the writer's analysis of his team, including his preferred starting lineup, his pick in the coaches' draft and his assessment of how these players would come together on the court.
| MY PICK | OVERALL | PLAYER | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | C | ![]() | Wilt Chamberlainstarter50.4 ppg, 25.7 rpg in '61-62; 100-point game; four MVPs |
| 2 | 19 | F | ![]() | Julius ErvingstarterFour MVPs (three ABA), three championships (two ABA) |
| 3 | 22 | G | ![]() | Isiah ThomasstarterTwo titles; '90 Finals MVP; No. 5 all time in APG (9.3) |
| 4 | 39 | G | ![]() | John HavlicekstarterEight titles in '60s/'70s; Celtics' all-time scoring leader |
| 5 | 42 | F | ![]() | Dirk Nowitzkistarter'07 MVP; '11 Finals MVP; four-time All-NBA first team |
| 6 | 59 | C | ![]() | Dwight HowardRecord three straight Defensive Player of Year awards |
| 7 | 62 | F | ![]() | Dolph SchayesSix-time All-NBA first team in '50s; 12 consecutive ASGs |
| 8 | 79 | G | ![]() | Mark PriceNo. 1 all time in FT shooting (90.4%); '93 All-NBA first team |
| 9 | 82 | F | ![]() | Grant HillAll-NBA first- or second-team pick from 1995-2000 |
| 10 | 99 | G | ![]() | Vince CarterEight straight '00s All-Star Games; '99 Rookie of the Year |
| 11 | 102 | C | ![]() | Jerry LucasFive-time All-NBA; No. 4 all time in rpg; '64 leader in FG% |
| 12 | 119 | G | ![]() | Michael CooperFive titles with '80s Lakers; '87 Defensive Player of Year |
COACH: Bob Knight, the seventh pick (out of 10) in the coaches' draft. Oh, man, would I love to see what a young Knight would do with a team this talented and versatile -- and whether or not the players would end up killing him. Knight is smart enough to adapt, and in taking his old Ohio State teammate Jerry Lucas, I'm hoping that would ease any tensions.
Photo Gallery: Bob Knight through the years
STYLE OF PLAY: The thing I love about this team is that it really could play any style -- I'll leave that up Knight. This team could put Isiah Thomas, Vince Carter, Julius Erving, Dirk Nowitzki and Wilt Chamberlain out there and run like the wind. This team could put Michael Cooper, John Havlicek, Grant Hill, Lucas and Dwight Howard out there and play a vicious kind of half-court game. This team could put Mark Price, Thomas, Hill, Dolph Schayes and Chamberlain out there and destroy you with three-pointers (while everyone collapsed on poor Wilt). There's no style this team couldn't play, and the players are so versatile that they could easily be moved around to different positions.
Photo Galleries: Wilt Chamberlain | Dwight Howard
BIGGEST CONCERNS: I don't want this to sound wrong ... but I have no concerns. This team is virtually unbeatable, even by the greatest teams of all time. I guess I don't have a lot of size at power forward on the bench, though I think Lucas and Schayes would hold up just fine. And I think the personalities would mesh well.
MY GAME-ON-THE-LINE PLAY: I'd let Knight decide. That's why I hired him.
SCARIEST RIVAL: Alex Wolff's team has Michael Jordan and, as such, is a threat. And Chris Ballard's team, with Bill Russell and LeBron James, would certainly be a monster. But no team scares us. As our coach likes to say: "#^#&$^$&#^."
WHY MY TEAM IS THE BEST: The real question is: How do you feel about Wilt Chamberlain? If you feel that he was somehow an underachiever and lacking in competitive power, well, you will see the team one way. If you feel, like I do, that he was the most dynamic offensive force ever, then you realize that nobody is going to beat this team. With Wilt at center, Hall of Famers all around him and Knight calling the shots, nobody's touching these guys.