It is always a hot topic when NBA legends weigh in on their all-time starting five. After all, assembling the perfect lineup requires balancing offense, defense, versatility and pure dominance.<\/p>\n
Shaquille O’Neal<\/a>, a four-time champion and one of the most colossal forces the game has ever seen, understood that when he unveiled his all-time starting five \u2014 and he made it clear that no team in history would stand a chance against it.<\/p>\n O’Neals five<\/p>\n O’Neal’s ultimate squad includes Allen Iverson, LeBron James<\/a>, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant<\/a> and, of course, himself. That’s four Hall of Famers and one future Hall of Famer, combining for a list of accolades that few other lineups couldn’t even dream of matching.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n View the original article<\/a> to see embedded media.<\/p>\n This team has offense \u2014 the five players have a combined 19 scoring titles. They have defense, with a combined 30 All-Defensive Team selections. And dominance with a combined 12 league MVPs.<\/p>\n Jordan alone holds 10 scoring titles, the most in NBA history. Bryant added two and Iverson racked up four during his career. James, despite being more of a playmaker, still secured one scoring title in 2008 and is among the top five all-time in points per game despite taking a lower volume of shots per game.<\/p>\n That’s four elite scorers who could take over a game at any moment. O’Neal also led the league in scoring twice, something, especially during his era and before, is quite impressive for a center.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Defensively, the lineup is just as terrifying. Jordan and Bryant were named to the All-Defensive First Team nine times each, while James has five total All-Defensive selections. Iverson, though not known for his defense, made up for it with his ability to disrupt passing lanes, leading the league in steals three times.<\/p>\n O’Neal himself earned three All-Defensive selections \u2014 but his presence alone in the paint altered countless shots and forced opponents to rethink their entire offensive approach.<\/p>\n Related: “I just got tired of hearing it and just thought it was best for me to move on” – Patrick Ewing admits he regrets leaving the Knicks out of spite<\/a><\/p>\n Floor chemistry<\/p>\n Pairing Iverson with a six-time NBA champion in the backcourt would be a nightmare for any opponent. On the wings, the iconic big man chose a pair of his former teammates in Los Angeles and Cleveland. Two players whose resumes are unquestioned. Bryant, a five-time NBA champion, won two Finals MVPs and finished his career with over 33,000 points.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n His competitive edge and ability to hit clutch shots made him one of the most feared players in NBA history, while James, one of his arch rivals, brings versatility, all-around dominance and unparalleled longevity.<\/p>\n Of course, O’Neal placed himself at center \u2014 and rightfully so. At his peak, he was the league’s most unsolvable puzzle. He had guys moonlighting as brute centers trying to stop him. Never before seen stuff. The three-time Finals MVP averaged 30.7 points, 15.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in the 2000 NBA Finals, leading the Lakers to the first of three straight titles.<\/p>\n His size and power made him nearly unstoppable in the paint and his defensive presence anchored one of the most successful dynasties in NBA history.<\/p>\n Interestingly, O’Neal’s lineup leaves out several all-time greats, including Magic Johnson, Larry Bird<\/a> and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar<\/a>. But he prioritized dominance, scoring versatility and defensive prowess over positional balance. This lineup would stretch the floor, lock down on defense and physically overpower any team from any era.<\/p>\n