It’s always a fascinating exercise when a publication attempts to distill the immense history of the NBA into neat, ranked lists. The latest endeavor from Sporting News, which focuses on the greatest single-season performances by constructing all-time All-NBA teams, certainly sparks debate. What makes this ranking particularly interesting is its strict rule: no player can appear more than once. This constraint, while necessary to ensure variety, immediately forces some incredibly tough omissions, and in my opinion, it’s where the real fun – and frustration – begins.
Bird's Brilliance Takes Flight
One thing that immediately stands out is Larry Bird's prominent placement on the all-time First Team, thanks to his stellar 1983-84 season. Personally, I think this is a well-deserved nod. Bird's ability to dominate across scoring, passing, and rebounding, all while leading his team to a championship and earning MVP honors, is a testament to his all-around greatness. What makes this particular season so compelling is that it showcases Bird's game as being remarkably adaptable to any era. He possessed the shooting, the court vision, the tenacity, and the mental fortitude that we still value in today's game, even before the term "positionless basketball" was a common phrase. For Celtics fans, seeing Bird honored this way is, of course, a moment of pride, a validation of his legendary status.
The Lakers' Shadow Looms Large
What elevates this ranking beyond just a simple list of greats is the narrative that emerges, especially when it involves the perennial rivalry with the Lakers. The fact that Kobe Bryant's 2007-08 season, a phenomenal individual effort, lands on the Second Team only to be overshadowed by the Lakers' eventual loss to the Celtics in the Finals that year is a detail I find especially poignant. It’s a reminder that individual brilliance, while crucial, doesn't always equate to ultimate team success, and in this context, Boston gets the last laugh. Similarly, Magic Johnson's inclusion for his 1986-87 season, while impressive, is immediately juxtaposed with the memory of that iconic sky hook against the Celtics. From my perspective, these Lakers-centric moments, even when celebrated, are intrinsically linked to their defeats against Boston, adding a layer of historical resonance that transcends mere statistics.
The Russell Conundrum
Now, for the biggest eyebrow-raiser: Bill Russell's complete omission from any of these all-time teams. The Sporting News acknowledges that centers were a difficult category, with luminaries like Shaq and Jokic also left out in favor of Kareem, Hakeem, and Wilt. While that trio is undeniably legendary, leaving Russell off any all-time list, in my opinion, feels like a significant oversight. Russell's impact on the game, particularly his revolutionary defense and unparalleled winning pedigree, is so foundational to the NBA's history. What many people don't realize is that his influence extended far beyond individual stats; he fundamentally changed how the game was played and won. This omission, while understandable given the constraints, still feels like a missed opportunity to fully acknowledge one of the sport's most transformative figures.
The Enduring Celtics Narrative
Ultimately, what this ranking underscores for me is the enduring power of the Celtics' historical narrative in the NBA. Whether it's Bird at his absolute peak, Kobe's brilliance being ultimately thwarted by Boston, or even Kevin Garnett's pre-Celtics MVP season foreshadowing his future impact, the green and white seem to weave through the league's most significant moments. If you take a step back and think about it, the conversation around the NBA's greatest achievements and players still seems to circle back to the Celtics in a profound way. This ranking, despite its subjective nature, serves as a compelling reminder of that legacy. It makes me wonder, what other historical narratives are subtly shaped by these kinds of rankings, and how do they influence our perception of the game's past and future?
.jpg.webp?itok=V1Hj3e1G)
