To Kenny and everyone else, forget who the best ever's are for a second. I will turn the tables and just ask, who would your all-time starting 5 would be? That would probably show where most people's real thinking really is.
My perfect Starting 5 would be:
PG Magic Johnson
SG Michael Jordan - By a hair over Kobe. I cant have Kobe and Jordan both by putting one at SF, chemistry would stink.
SF Larry Bird - He can spread the floor by shooting 3's as LeBron cant. I would need 3 point shooter to be dominant, especially in today's game!
PF Karl Malone - He is a True PF, Duncan isn't, Duncan is really a Center.
C Kareem Abdul-Jabbar over Wilt, Russell or Shaq, Kareem could shoot FT's consistently. No Hack-a-Cap to worry about!
-With this lineup, I have 3 of the smartest/high Basketball IQ/clutch/kill throat players of all-time in Magic, Jordan, and Larry. This chemistry would work because Magic and Bird loved to pass and make people around them better. Jordan would get the majority of the shots! I have a Great 3 point shooter in Larry to spread the floor and match anyone with 3's when needed. I have a Center who is 7'2 so he can protect the rim and he has the most unstoppable shot in the history of the game = the Skyhook + he was a decent FT shooter. Magic would get out and run and feed guys like Jordan and Malone for dunks all day!