Michael Jordan’s all-time starting five ‘leaves out a lot of people’ with no room for Shaq or Charles Barkley and surprise sixth man

Michael Jordan played with, and against, some of the greats.

The Chicago Bulls memoir dominated the NBA the 1990s, a hit six NBA titles and six Finals MVPs whereas cementing his status as the greatest of all time.

No.23 saw it all and did it all, which makes him more than qualified enough to name an all-time NBA starting five.

Throughout an interview with Cigar Aficionado founder Marvin R. Shanken in 2005, MJ explained who his dream point guard, small forward, energy forward and center can be, with ‘His Airness’ himself naturally filling the taking pictures guard state.

First up was his center.

MJ admitted there was stiff competition, however ultimately plumped for legendary Houston Rockets titanic man Hakeem Olajuwon, who obtained back-to-back titles in ’94 and ’95 moral within the center of Jordan’s two separate three-peats.

“It’s going to be somewhat biased because I didn’t play back in the days of Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, some of the great stars prior to me. And it’s very tough because I’m friends with a lot of players today,” Jordan explained.

“But if I had to pick a center, I would take [Hakeem] Olajuwon. That leaves out Shaq, Patrick Ewing. It leaves out Wilt Chamberlain. It leaves out a lot of people.

“And the reason I would take Olajuwon is terribly easy: he is so versatile because of what he can offer you from that state. Or not it’s not legal his scoring, not legal his rebounding or not legal his blocked shots. Individuals don’t realize he was within the prime seven in steals. He always made great decisions on the court docket. For all facets of the game, I have to give it to him.

Subsequent up was his energy forward. While Jordan gave props to a bevvy of fantastic 4s, he had to give the nod to the man who persistently bested him on the grandest stage of all.

That man was the great Larry Bird, the Boston Celtics icon who loved a 6-0 record against MJ within the playoffs.

A younger Jordan may have dropped a playoff record 63 parts on Boston within the 1986 playoffs, however Larry Memoir dominated the decade and boasted a 17-11 against his Chicago counterpart.

“There’s James Worthy, whom I love, and he is a North Carolina guy,” Mike explained.

“Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, whom I adore and is a good friend, and Charles Oakley. But in terms again of versatility, it has to be Larry Bird. The things he could provide to you all around: his demeanor, his work ethic and his versatility once again.

“The idea right here is I would invent a versatile, multitalented team able to accomplish so many varied issues. When the protection comes at you, they have to guard a lot of varied areas, and that makes Larry Bird the need for me.”

Then it was the turn of the small forwards. Jordan admitted there had been a number of excellent small forwards, including Julius Erving and Dominique Wilkins, but ultimately it was hard to look past his Bulls running mate Scottie Pippen, whom he won six titles alongside.

“That is the toughest part because I played with one of the handiest small forwards, Scottie Pippen.

“He is as versatile as it comes. He handles the ball. He’s a good defensive rebounder. I would be hard-pressed to pick someone else at the small forward position, even though I know Dr. J [Julius Erving] is sitting right there, too, especially in terms of excitement.

“And there may be Dominique Wilkins, too. And you may have to mediate about Elgin Baylor, regardless that I by no means saw Baylor play, or played with him.

“But from what I know, and what he could provide, it’s Scottie Pippen. I know that’s being biased to some degree. But I can’t help it.

Last but not least was the point guard, perhaps the easiest decision MJ had to make.

“That’s easy. Magic Johnson,” Jordan said without hesitation.

“Because of his peak, you may have a tricky time defending him. Or not it’s a beautiful factor to explore a 6-foot 9-poke guy rebound the ball and start the break.

“It would be the all-time tallest team, putting me at the two guard.”

The ten-time scoring champion then rounded off his team with the surprise inclusion of a sixth man, the ‘logo’ himself, Jerry West.

“And coming off the bench would be Jerry West to replace me. I love Jerry West,” MJ added.