Best NBA Starting 5 of All Time
The greatest five-man lineups ever assembled, compared head to head. Then build your own on Lock The Lineup and simulate the season.
The Contenders
'96 Chicago Bulls
1990s- PG Ron Harper
- SG Michael Jordan
- SF Scottie Pippen
- PF Dennis Rodman
- C Luc Longley
72 wins, Jordan at his apex, two All-Defensive forwards, the defining lineup of an era.
2017 Golden State Warriors
2010s- PG Stephen Curry
- SG Klay Thompson
- SF Kevin Durant
- PF Draymond Green
- C Zaza Pachulia
Four future Hall of Famers on the floor at once, +13.5 net rating, a 16-1 playoff run.
Showtime Lakers (1987)
1980s- PG Magic Johnson
- SG Byron Scott
- SF James Worthy
- PF A.C. Green
- C Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
The most aesthetically dominant offense of the decade, anchored by the all-time skyhook.
1992 Dream Team
1990s- PG Magic Johnson
- SG Michael Jordan
- SF Larry Bird
- PF Karl Malone
- C David Robinson
Not an NBA team — but five first-ballot Hall of Famers is the ceiling of the exercise.
How to pick your own all-time starting five
- Anchor with a top-3 all-time scorer at the position you trust most.
- Pair a primary creator with two off-ball gravity wings.
- Sacrifice raw stats at one spot for defense — Rodman, Draymond, Bowen.
- Match eras: pace and spacing matter as much as raw counting stats.
- Run it 82 times. The simulator rewards balance, not just star power.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best NBA starting 5 of all time?
Most analysts settle on a Magic/Jordan/LeBron/Bird/Kareem (or Hakeem) five — three primary creators, two-way wing depth, and a top-three all-time center. The 1992 Dream Team starting five is the realistic ceiling.
What was the best real starting 5 ever?
The 1996 Bulls (Harper-Jordan-Pippen-Rodman-Longley) get the nod for combined regular-season dominance (72 wins) and defensive identity. The 2017 Warriors (Curry-Klay-Durant-Draymond-Pachulia) are the analytics favorite at +13.5 net rating.
Should you draft for talent or fit?
Fit wins simulated seasons. A lineup of five top-20 players with overlapping skill sets routinely loses to a balanced four-star plus glue guy roster in Lock The Lineup's 82-game sim.
How do I draft an all-time five myself?
Pick an anchor (rim protector), a primary creator, two two-way wings, and a floor spacer. Avoid stacking two non-shooters unless one is a generational rebounder or passer.