Let's resume the My List countdown with the most traveled team in NBA history, the Sacramento Kings, who were the Kansas City Kings, who were the Kansas City/Omaha Kings, who were the Cincinnati Royals, who were the Rochester Royals (whew!). So, as you can see, I had a lot of history to look at. Here are the nomad's best players.

Starters:

PG: Oscar Robertson: The "Big O" began his career with his hometown Royals in Cincinnati in 1960 (fresh off teaming with Jerry West for Olympic gold) as the top overall selection that year. Robertson had a brilliant debut, averaging 30.5 PPG, 10.1 RPG and 9.7 APG as the Royals improved by 14 wins over the previous year. The next year was perhaps the best all-around stats year in NBA history; Robertson averaged a triple-double (with 30.8 PPG, 12.5 RPG and 11.4 APG, leading the Royals to the playoffs for the first time since 1958. Robertson averaged over 30 PPG six times as a Royal (top single season average was 31.4 in 1963-64), had five years with over 10 APG, and was selected to the All-Star team ten times as a Royal, was All-NBA 1st team nine straight years (1961-69), and won one regular season MVP (1964), three All-Star game MVPs (1961, 1964, 1969), and is the Kings' all-time leading scorer and assists man.

SG: Mitch Richmond: Richmond was a solid scorer on some pretty poor Kings teams in the 1990s; if only he had played on a more prominent team in his prime. In any case, Richmond, acquired via trade for Billy Owens from the Warriors in 1991, did the best he could in the mess; he averaged better than 20 PPG each year in Sac town (a high of 25.9 in 1996-97), and made the All-Star team five times with them (1995 game MVP). Despite this, RIchmond made the playoffs with the Kings just once (1996), and though he did win a title with the 2002 Lakers, he was past his prime. Again, what could have been if the team was better.

C: Jerry Lucas: Ohio State fans, rejoice! Lucas may have won his only NBA title with the Knicks in 1973, but his greatest NBA stats years came with the Royals in the 60s. Drafted by the team as a territorial pick in 1962, Lucas joined the team a year later, and had a great debut season, with 17.7 PPG and 17.4 RPG, winning ROY honors (as Robertson did in 1961, btw). Lucas averaged a healthy double-double each full season in CIncy (his scoring high was 21.5 in 1965-66 and 1967-68, and his RPG high was 21.1 in 1965-66), as Lucas made the All-Star team six times as a Royal (1965 game MVP). For his career, he averaged 17 PPG and 15.8 RPG, and made the All-NBA 1st team three times (1965-66, 1968).

SF: Peja Stojakovic: Before moving on to the Pacers and now the Hornets, Stojakovic was (and still is) a sweet-shooting (most of the time) forward for the Kings earlier in this decade (and though I think my backup might have been better, I'll bow to pressure). Drafted by the team #14 overall in 1996, Stojakovic joined the team in 1998-99, and within three years, he became a starter. Peja averaged over 20 PPG four times as a King (career best 24.2 in 2003-04), and made three All-Star teams (2002-04) while there. He also was a key player on the team that reached the 2002 Western Conference finals, before being traded to the Pacers in 2005-06.

PF: Chris Webber: Say what you may about Webber's inability to win the big games, the Kings hadn't played in many big games before he came on the scene (in a trade with Washington for Richmond and Otis Thorpe in 1998). Webber led Sacramento to its first winning season since 1982-83 with a 27-23 mark in the lockout year of 1998-99. Within three years, the Kings were in their first Western final since 1981. Webber averaged better than 20 PPG in five of his six full seasons with the team (high of 27.1 in 2000-01), made four All-Star teams for his career, and had a double-double average five times (rebounding high of 13 per in 1998-99), before being traded to Philadelphia in 2005.

Reserves:

PG:(tie) Mike Bibby/Bob Davies: Davies was one of the great early PGs of the NBA in the 40s and early 50s, but Bibby had a big hand in the Kings success in the early part of this decade. So, they both make it. Davies joined the team while it was still in the NBL (a rival of the BAA/NBA before the two leagues merged in 1949) in 1945, and three years later, he joined the NBA when the Royals, Lakers and Pistons jumped to the BAA. Davies was a solid (for that era) assists man (career best 6 per game in 1951-52), and was a steady scorer (double figures each year, high of 16.2 in 1951-52). He made the first four All-Star teams (1951-54) and led Rochester to the only NBA title in team history in 1951 over the Knicks in 7 games (the first seven game final). Bibby, acquired in a trade with the Grizzlies for Jason Williams in 2001, helped the team reach the Western Conference finals in his first year there, and the team reached the playoffs in each of Bibby's first five years there. Bibby averaged a career best 21.1 PPG in 2005-06, and averaged better than 15,9 in each full season there, until being traded to Atlanta this past season.

SG: Ron Artest: I'll admit that I feel conflicted about this choice; when I did this list initially, I put Otis Birdsong in there. But despite Artest's list of dirty deeds, which have put the NBA into such a bad light I can't explain it, his all-around talent gets the nod here. Artest was acquired in a trade with the Pacers in 2006, after his much-publicized meltdown there, and Artest sparked the Kings to the playoffs that year, averaging 16.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 4.2 APG. Artest is considered one of the best individual defenders in the league (2004 Defensive POY, over 2 steals per game every full season since 2001) and has made one All-Star game (2004).

C: Vlade Divac: The original flop artist (before Manu Ginobili made it cool), Divac arrived as a FA from the Hornets in 1998, and helped Sacramento turn into a playoff team right away as Divac averaged a double-double for the third (and final) time in his career with 14.3 PPG and 10 RPG. Divac made one All-Star team while in Sac town, helped them reach the playoffs each year he was there, and started for the team that reached the 2002 Western finals.

SF: Jack Twyman: Twyman's prime years were actually better than Peja's prime years, but I knew I'd hear the wolves howl at me, so Twyman is only a backup. Twyman joined the team in Rochester in 1955 (as the team's first selection), and moved with them to Cincinnati two years later. Twyman's prime years came between 1958-59 and 1961-62, where he averaged better than 22.9 PPG each season, and better than 8 RPG as well, and made the All-Star team three times in that span (1959-60, 1962, with additional appearences in 1957, 1958 and 1963). Overall, his career averages were 19.2 PPG and 6.6 RPG.

PF: Maurice Stokes: There is no telling how great Stokes' career could have been had he not gotten severely sick in 1958. As it was, he had three outstanding years before illness struck. Drafted as the 11th player taken by the Royals in 1955, Stokes showed that the team had gotten a steal, as he averaged 16.8 PPG and 16.3 RPG, winning ROY honors. Stokes averaged 16.4 PPG and 17.3 RPG during his three years with the Royals (winning the rebounding title in 1958) before his illness took over. His career was over, and he eventually passed on in 1970. A truly tragic story.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Les Harrison: I put the first coach of the team here because he is the only one who can boast an NBA title with this team. Harrison, who also owned the team from their existence in the NBL until 1958, led Rochester to two division titles (1949 and 1952), six winning seasons (including a 51 win season in 1949-50), and the NBA title in 1951. During his tenure as owner and coach, the team won 394 games, and he was enshrined into the basketball HOF in 1979.

Assistants: Rick Adelman, Cotton Fitzsimmons: Adelman took over the team in 1998, and led the club to its first winning season in 16 years that year. Overall, Adelman had a winning record each year in Sacramento, won two division titles, and took the team to the 2002 Western finals before leaving the team in 2006. Fitzsimmons coached the team from 1978 to 1984, and had three winning seasons while there, and won a division title in 1978-79. His greatest achievement while there was taking the 40-42 Royals to the 1981 Western Conference finals before losing to the Rockets.

Honorable Mentions:

SG: Otis Birdsong: After being on the original list, I had to mention him as an HM. But he was more of a score-only guy, and that lack of vversitility hurt him.

SF: Scott Wedman: Despite making the All-Star team as a King (1976), he is better known as a Celtic.

SG: Doug Christie: Good defender, but Artest is better.

C; Sam Lacey: Very solid player (six times averaged a double-double), but team wasn't as good during his time as it was with Lucas and Divac.

SF: Eddie Johnson: Gained more acclaim with the Suns and Sonics.

PG: Phil Ford: Three good years, but that was about as far as Ford got in the NBA.

SG: Danny Ainge: Better years with the Celtics, Blazers and Suns. Why? Because they won!

PG: Nate Archibald: Wait, I'd like to amend my backup PG choice; put Bibby and Davies in the HM section, and put Archibald as the backup! Archibald, drafted in the second round in 1970, was the only player to lead the league in scoring and assist in 1972-73 (34 PPG, 11.4 APG). He would make six All-Star teams for his career (1981 game MVP), won an NBA title with the Celtics in 1981, and for his career made three All-NBA 1st teams (1973, 1975-76). There, see, even I make mistakes!

On that note, that's the Kings. Tomorrow comes team #16, the Wizards. Until then, don't forget Nate Archibald!

The countdown on the My List special moves on to team #14, the Denver Nuggets. Here are the best players (in my opinion) from the thin air.

Starters:

PG: Lafayette Lever: "Fat" was the player assigned to make Denver''s frenetic offense go in the 1980s. Acquired from Portland in 1984, Lever helped direct the Nuggets to the conference finals in his first season there. Lever's best stats years came in the late 80s, where he would have three seasons (1987-89) of near triple-double averages. For a 6 foot 3 guard, he could rebound well (two seasons he averaged 9.3 RPG), and he was a two time All-Star (1988, 1990). For his career, he averaged 13.9 PPG, 6 RPG and 6.2 APG.

SG: David Thompson: The original Skywalker was like a shooting star; he burst onto the scene with a flurry, then almost as quickly, he was gone. Thompson was drafted #1 in the NBA draft by the Hawks in 1975, but he decided to accept the Nuggets' offer and jumped to the ABA. In his lone ABA season, Thompson won their ROY award as well as All-Star MVP, and took Denver to the last ABA Finals (losing to the Nets). He then moved with the team to the NBA in 1976, and didn't skip a beat; he averaged over 20 PPG in each of his first five NBA seasons, with a high of 27.2 in 1977-78, as he lost the scoring title to George Gervin on the last day of the season by .07 (the closest race ever for that title). Before injuries ended his career in 1984 (with Seattle by that point), he had made four NBA All-Star games (1979 game MVP) and had career averages of 22.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG and 3.2 APG (not including his ABA season) and had two All-NBA 1st team selections (1977-78).

C: Dan Issel: I can amlost smell the Dikembe Mutombo argument, and he'll be up later, but Issel had more tenure with the team as a player (ten seasons to five for Mutombo), so I give him the nod. Issel joined the team in 1975 after helping the Kentucky Colonels win the ABA title that year, and he nearly helped the team accomplish the same goal in 1976, as they lost to the Nets in the finals. Issel averaged 23 PPG and 11 RPG that year, then became a steady presence when they moved to the NBA. His best NBA season occured in 1977-78, when he averaged 21.3 PPG and 10.1 RPG. Overall, he had one All-Star berth (1977), helped Denver reach the Western Conference finals in 1978 and 1985 (his last year), and averaged 20.4 PPG and 7.9 RPG over his NBA tenure.

SF: Carmelo Anthony: Melo may not have had a long NBA career yet, but Denver hasn't exactly brimmed with top tier SFs (and for those who say Alex English, please look ahead). Anthony was drafted #3 overall in one of the best draft classes in recent history (including LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and the immortal Darko Milicic... whoops, just kidding on Darko!) and immediately helped Denver return to the playoffs after an eight year absence, with averages of 21 PPG and 6.1 RPG. In his young career, he has made two All-Star teams (the last two years), has taken the Nuggets to the playoffs each year (though they haven't had any success), and this summer will try to add Olympic gold as a member of Team USA.

PF: Alex English: English may not have played PF, but I put him here because he should be a starter. Acquired in a trade from the Pacers in 1980, English became the highest scoring player in the NBA in the 1980s (with 19,682 points, including a scoring title in 1982-83 with a 28.4 average), and he was the top dog on the run-and-gun Nuggets of the 80s. Between 1980-81 and 1988-89, English averaged between 23.8 and 29.8 PPG as Denver won two division titles (1985, 1988) and mde the conference finals in 1985. He made eight All-Star teams and was All-NBA second team three times (1982-83, 1986).

Reserves:

PG: Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf: The man formerly known as Chris Jackson had some good moments on the Nuggets in the mid-90s. Drafted #3 overall in 1990, Abdul-Rauf didn't become a starter until his third NBA season, when he averaged a career-best 19.2 PPG. After that season (1992-93), he announced his conversion to Islam and his name change, and was a consistent scorer as Denver became a decent team, including the historic upset of the Sonics in the 1st round of the 1994 playoffs. Abdul-Rauf would play two more seasons with the team until leaving in 1996, and for his career he averaged 15.2 PPG and 3.7 APG.

SG: Allen Iverson: Granted, Iverson has played just one full season and part of another in Denver, but aside from Thompson, Denver hasn't had many great SGs, so Iverson's body of work gets him a backup slot. After ten full seasons and part of an 11th in Philly (which included three scoring titles, an MVP in 2001, and a trip to the Finals), Iverson was traded to Denver for Andre Miller and Co. in 2007. It was thought that an Iverson-Anthony team would be a force in the West. While that hasn't been the case, Iverson's PPG averages (24.8 in the tail end of 2006-07, 26.4 last season) haven't been far off his Philly averages, and he has made the All-Star team each time in Denver. So, it's not been a total wash. Now if only Denver would play some D....

C: Dikembe Mutombo: Mutombo was only 43 years old when he arrived in Denver (I said when I profiled him in Atlanta that I wouldn't do any more age jokes, but I can't resist!) as a rookie in 1991, and immediately he made his mark on D; Mutombo blocked 210 shots as a rookie, to go with 16.6 PPG (sadly, a career high) and 12.3 RPG, making the All-Star team that year. Mutombo went on to lead the league in blocks per game three straight years in Denver (1994-96), the first to do so, and led Denver to two playoff berths and an upset win over Seattle in 1994, before bolting for the Hawks in 1996.

SF: Kiki Vandeweghe: Besides having one of the funniest names in NBA history, Vandeweghe was a high-scoring big man for Denver in the early 80s. Denver got him after Vandeweghe refused to go to the expansion Mavericks in 1980 (after being drafted #11 that year). In his four seasons in Denver, Vandeweghe averaged over 21 PPG three times (a high in Denver of 29.4 in 1983-84), and made both his All-Star game appearences (1983-84) as a Nugget. Vandeweghe also played in the highest scoring game ever (he scored a game high 51 points as Denver lost to the Pistons 186-184 in December 1983, before leaving for Portland after that season.

PF: (tie) Antonio McDyess/Marcus Camby: Until the Nuggets recently traded Camby to the Clippers (for no players!), I was set to give him the lone spot here. As it is, I'll do a tie. McDyess, acquired in a draft day deal for Rodney Rogers in 1995, had two tenures with the team (1995-97, 1998-2002), and in these pre-knee injury days, he was a remarkable physical presence on some bad Denver teams, averaging over 20 PPG twice, and making the 2001 All-Star team before injuries and a deal to the Knicks ended his run there in 2002. Camby, the man the Nuggets got in the McDyess trade, was the only true defensive presence the team has had in recent years; he averaged a double-double in three of his six years there, won Defensive POY in 2007, and led the league in blocks last year.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Doug Moe: If anybody was Don Nelson before Nellie ball was cool, it was Moe. Moe had already been an NBA head coach (with the Spurs from 1976-80) when Denver hired him to replace Donnie Walsh in the middle of the 1980-81 season (yes, the same Walsh now in charge of the Knicks). Moe's teams became famous for their run and gun style; in 1981-82, Denver averaged a league record 126.5 PPG and scored triple digits in all 82 regular season games; in fact, they scored over 100 points in 136 straight games (another record) between January 1981 and December 1982. Moe led the team to the playoffs each full season he coached there, won two division titles, led the team to the conference finals in 1985, and was named COY in 1987-88. Today, his influence (for better or worse) is still there, as he is now an assistant for George Karl.

Assistants: Larry Brown, George Karl: Can anyone believe that this was the vagabond coach's second coaching stop? Brown took the Denver job after leaving the Carolina Cougars of the ABA in 1974, and took the team to the ABA finals in 1976, then, after joining the NBA, he led the Nuggets to a division title that first year, and also repeated that feat (with a conference finals berth) in 1978 before resigning during the following year (reportedly for heart problems, even though he ran a mile before announcing the resignation?)? Amazing, isn't it? Karl, hired during the 2004-05 season, has led Denver to the playoffs each year, with a division title in 2006, and at least 44 wins each full season, but only has a 3-12 playoff mark during that time. Oh well, you can't win them all.

Honorable Mentions:

SG: Walter Davis: Much better known as a Sun.

PF: Bobby Jones: Few people remember Jones began his career in Denver (and made the All-Star team twice in 1977-78) because of his better known stint in Philadelphia.

PF: LaPhonso Ellis: Often injured, and fairly mediocre when he did play.

PF: Calvin Natt: Solid numbers, but only played two healthy seasons in Denver.

PG: Andre Miller: Doing better in Philly than he did in Denver.

PG: Robert Pack: A flash in the pan.

SG: Reggie Williams: Decent stats, but not enough to put ahead of Thompson and Iverson.

PG: Michael Adams: One brilliant year on a terrible team.

SG: Ralph Simpson: See Williams, and his best years were in the ABA.

There are the Nuggets. Tomorrow, team #15 will be the Kings. Take care until then!

The My List special rolls on today... with a team that recently moved. But while Oklahoma City has the team formerly known as the Sonics, Seattle will be represented today. Here, without further ado, is the Sonics' all-time lineup.

Starters:

PG: Gary Payton: The "Glove" was the spark for the Sonics almost from the time he arrived (as the second overall pick in 1990) in Seattle. Becoming a starter as a rookie, Payton began to evolve into an elite PG by the mid-90s, as he first averaged 20+ PPG in 1994-95 (20.6, to be exact) and also was a skilled defender; he stole more than 100 balls each full season in Seattle (1991-2002) and led the league in that category in 1995-96, which led him to winning Defensive POY honors. In addition, he was named All-NBA Defensive 1st team each year from 1994-2002. Payton helped lead Seattle to the 1996 NBA Finals, and the team won four division titles during his tenure.

SG: Dennis Johnson: "DJ" is almost as well known today as a Celtic, but he played some of his best ball as a Sonic. Drafted in the second round by the team in 1976, Johnson feuded with coaches early on, but soon enough, he helped the team reach the 1978 Finals. After shooting a John Starks-esque 0-14 in the deciding game that year, he returned with a vengence, leading Seattle to its only sports championship in 1979 by winning Finals MVP and teaming with Gus Williams to score over half the teams' total points. Johnson had his best Seattle season in 1979-80, scoring 19 PPG and adding 5 RPG and 4 APG, being named All-NBA second team and to his second straight All-NBA Defensive 1st team, but after the Sonics lost to the Lakers in the conference finals, he was traded to Phoenix for Paul Westphal.

C: Jack Sikma: Sikma was a steady interior presence for the Sonics throughout the late 70s and into the 80s. Drafted by the team #8 overall in 1977, Sikma helped the team to the NBA Finals as a rookie with solid averages of 10.7 PPG and 8.3 RPG. When the Sonics allowed Marvin Webster to sign with the Knicks after the season, they moved Sikma into the starting lineup, and he averaged a double-double for the season (15.6 PPG, 12.4 RPG) as the Sonics won the NBA title. It was the first of seven straight seasons with a double-double average (career best averages of 19.6 PPG and 12.7 RPG in 1981-82), and Sikma would make seven All-Star teams for his career.

SF: Ray Allen: Admittedly, Allen is out of position, but after the cries from some bloggers that certain players should be starters regardless of position, I'll make an exception here. Allen, acquired from Milwaukee for Payton in 2003, was as pure a scorer as the team ever saw, averaging at least 23 PPG every full season in Seattle (26.4 per being his best average in 2006-07). Though Allen led Seattle to just one playoff berth overall (in 2005, the team's last division title, as well), his overall body of work (plus the likely pressure to put him there) give him the nod here.

PF: Shawn Kemp: The "ReignMan" may be known today as a prolific producer of children and a fat guy, but back in his Seattle days, Kemp was an absolutely dominant player. Drafted #17 overall in 1989, Kemp took some time to grow (having played very little college ball), but by his third NBA season, he was averaging a double-double (15.5 PPG, 10.4 RPG). He would do this for five straight more seasons (his best averages 19.6 and 11.4 in 1995-96), and he also was a prolific shot blocker; he actually is the all-time Sonics leader in that category. Kemp made five All-Star teams in Seattle, was All-NBA second team three straight years (1994-96), and helped Seattle reach the 1996 Finals.

Reserves:

PG: Gus Williams: The "Wizard" was the compliment to DJ in the great Seattle backcourt of the late 70s and early 80s. Acquired from Golden State in 1977, Williams blossomed as a starter, averaging 18.1 PPG and 3.7 APG as Seattle reached the Finals his first year there. In year two, he helped Seattle win their only NBA title as he and Johnson combined for over half the team's points against Washington. After missing the 1980-81 season, Williams rebounded to score a career-high 23.4 PPG in 1981-82. He averaged over 20 PPG three times as a Sonic (he added a fourth with Washington in 1985), and made two All-Star teams.

SG: Fred Brown: "Downtown" was a legendary figure in Sonics basketball early on in their history. Drafted #6 overall in 1971, Brown averaged over 20 PPG twice as a Sonic (a best of 23.1 in 1975-76, which also marked his lone All-Star game appearence), and he was a consistent scorer as a reserve; he averaged double figures in 11 of his thirteen seasons. Brown was also a member of the 1979 championship team, and he really earned his nickname by being the first 3-point % leader in NBA history (he hit 44.3% of his 88 threes attempts in 1979-80 to lead the league).

C: Spencer Haywood: Again, Haywood certainly isn't a C, but if not him, then who? Jim McIlvaine? Benoit Benjamin? And Haywood had a great run in Seattle. His arrival litterally changed NBA rules; he bolted the Denver Rockets (later the Nuggets) of the ABA, but Seattle couldn't initally sign him because he hadn't been in the NBA draft. Seattle paid a $200,000 fine and Haywood was allowed to join the team, and the NBA revised its eligibility rules a few months later. Haywood averaged a double-double in four of his five Seattle seasons (career bests of 29.2 PPG and 12.9 RPG in 1972-73) and made the All-Star tea, the same amount of times (1972-75). Haywood led the Sonics to their first playoff berth in 1975 before being traded to the Knicks in 1976.

SF: Detlef Schrempf: The player who paved the road for fellow Germans like Dirk Nowitzki, Schrempf had played decently in Dallas and great as a reserve in Indiana (two time Sixth Man winner from 1991-92 while there), he is best remembered as a Sonic. Acquired in a trade for Derrick McKey in 1993, Schrempf had his best scoring season in 1994-95 with a 19.2 PPG average. Schrempf made two All-Star teams (1995, 1997) with Seattle, averaged at least 15 PPF in each season there, and was a starter on the 1996 finalists.

PF: Xavier McDaniel: The "X-Man" helped bring Seattle basketball back to life after a rough patch in the mid-80s. Drafted #4 overall in 1985, McDaniel became a starter immediately, and had nice rookie averages of 17.1 PPG and 8 RPG. In his second year, McDaniel helped spark the 39-43 Sonics to an unlikely conference finals berth after upsetting the Mavericks and Rockets before losing to the Lakers. That year, McDaniel had the first of four straight 20+ PPG scoring seasons (and his 23 PPG average that year was a career best), and he also made the 1988 All-Star team, before being dealt to Phoenix in 1991.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Lenny Wilkens: Wilkens had two tenures as Sonics coach. In his first run (as a player/coach)from 1969-72, he was spotty (he did lead the team to their first winning record in 1971-72), making zero playoffs berths. In his second run from the middle of the 1977-78 season to 1984-85, he more than made up for that. After taking over in 1977, Wilkens led the team to the NBA Finals. In his first full season, the team finished the deal and won the NBA title. Wilkens led the team to 50 or better wins three times in his second run, and also led the team to three conference finals, before stepping down in 1985.

Assistants: George Karl, Bernie Bickerstaff, Bill Russell: Karl stepped into the Seattle job in 1992 and almost immediately made them a contender; in his first full season, the team won 55 games and made the 1993 Western Conference finals. Overall, the team won four division titles, at least 55 wins each year, and a berth in the 1996 Finals. Bickerstaff led the team to an unlikely conference finals berth in his second season, and the team made the playoffs three times in his five years on the job. Russell, while not as successful as in Boston, did lead the team to their first playoff berth in 1975 (and their first playoff series win, against Detroit that year), and had two playoffs berths, despite a 162-166 record while there.

Honorable Mentions:

SG: Hersey Hawkins: Solid, but Brown had more of a legacy in Seattle than Hawkins.

PG: Lenny Wilkens: Good years in Seattle, but better known as a Hawk, and didn't make same impact as player as Payton and Williams.

SG: Dale Ellis: Great scorer, but so was Allen, and he was better than Ellis, to me.

SG: Kendall Gill: Moodiness sullies his Sonics tenure; they were more than happy to see him go.

SF: Rashard Lewis: Not quite as impactful as Schrempf and Allen.

PF: Lonnie Shelton: Good role player, but not all-time good.

PG: Nate McMillan: Solid player, but likw Wilkens, who do you replace with Payton and Williams?

There are the Sonics. Next up tomorrow, the #14 team, the Nuggets. Until then, may Oklahoma City realize what kind of history their crooked owners took from Seattle!

Time to continue the My List special, and, in honor of the blazing heat that grips my neighborhood, we'll unveil team #12, the Phoenix Suns. Here is the Suns' lineup.

Starters:

PG: Steve Nash: When Nash signed with Phoenix for his second tour of duty in 2004 (he also played for the team from 1996-98) after leaving Dallas, no one felt he would be the marquee signing of the year. But Nash sparked the team as the Suns improved from 29 wins the year before he arrived to 62after he came, as Nash won league MVP honors with averages of 15.5 PPG and 11.5 APG. Nash would repeat as MVP in 2005-06, raising his scoring to 18.8 PPG and still averaging 10.5 APG. Nash has led Phoenix to two Western Conference finals, and has made five All-Star teams.

SG: Paul Westphal: Before becoming Suns head coach, Westphal was a solid player for the team in the 1970s. Acquired in a trade from Boston for Charlie Scott in 1975, Westphal helped Phoenix reach the NBA Finals in his first season, and it was his knowledge of the rules (and ways to bend them) that allowed Gar Heard to hit his famous jumper in game 5 of that series to force triple overtime (the rule regarding timeouts called when none are available has since been changed). Westphal averaged better than 20 PPG in each of his five seasons in Phoenix, made five All-Star teams overall, and helped Phoenix to a conference finals berth in 1979 before being traded to Seattle for Dennis Johnson in 1980.

C: Amare Stoudemire: There just wasn't much to choose from here, so Stoudemire makes the cut. Drafted #9 overall in 2002, Stoudemire won ROY that season with averages of 13.5 PPG and 8.8 RPG, hepling Phoenix reach the playoffs. In year three, his averages went up to 26 PPG and 8.9 RPG, before he underwent microfracture surgery and missed most of the 2005-06 season. Some feared that he'd never recover, but Stoudemire proved them wrong, and had a 20.4 PPG, 9.6 RPG season. Just 26 years old, Stoudemire has at least 5-7 more great seasons ahead of him.

SF: Connie Hawkins: In his heyday, Hawkins was the Julius Erving of the day; he was graceful through the air and a class act to boot. However, Hawkins was denied entry into the NBA initially after his name was linked to a gambling scandal in college (for the record, Hawkins was exonorated). After flings in the short-lived ABL, the Globetrotters, and the ABA, Hawkins was allowed into the NBA with the Suns in 1969. Though he wasn't quite the same magnificent athlete, Hawkins made the All-Star team four times in his four full seasons in Phoenix, with his first year there being his best; he averaged 20.9 PPG, 9.1 RPG and 4.5 APG as he helped the Suns make the playoffs for the first time. Hawkins was eventually traded to the Lakers in 1974, and eighteen years later, he was inducted into the HOF.

PF: Charles Barkley: The "Round Mound of Rebound" was invigorated after being traded to Phoenix from the 76ers for three players (including Jeff Hornacek) in 1992. Barkley, freed from a no-win situation in Philly, had the best all-around season in his first year in the valley of the sun, averaging 25.6 PPG, 12.2 RPG and a career high 5.1 APG, as Phoenix finished with the best record in the NBA and made the Finals before losing to the Bulls. Barkley captured his only league MVP that season. Overall, he averaged a double-double each season in Phoenix (four years), made the All-Star team each year, was All-NBA first team in 1993, and led Phoenix to two division titles, before being traded to Houston in 1996.

Reserves:

PG: Kevin Johnson: "KJ" was the motor of the potent Suns teams of the late 80s and through the 90s. Acquired in a trade from Cleveland that sent Larry Nance to Richfield, Johnson exploded after being traded, averaging 20.4 PPG and 12.2 APG (the assists totals would remain his career high) in 1988-89 after averages of 9.2 and 5.5 his rookie year. It was the first of five straight double-double average years for Johnson, who would make three All-Star teams, would be named All-NBA second twice (1989-90), and start for the 1993 finalists.

SG: Walter Davis: The "Grayhound" was a player Michael Jordan looked up to (and why not, they're both former Tar Heels). And Davis had a spectacular career. As a rookie in 1977-78, Davis averaged 24.2 PPG and 6 RPG, winning ROY honors. Davis would average better than 20 PPG five times as a Sun (his rookie year average was his career high), and would make six All-Star teams. He'd also be named All-NBA second team twice (1978-79) and help Phoenix reach two Western finals (1979, 1984).

C: Alvan Adams: Again, not much to choose from, but Adams was a solid center for Phoenix. Adams would win ROY honors in 1975-76 with averages of 19 PPG and 9.1 RPG (ironically, both would be his career best averages) as Phoenix advanced to the Finals that year. Over his 13 year career, Adams made one All-Star team (1976), and would average 14.1 PPG and 7 RPG. And he would help Phoenix reach two more conference finals.

SF: Dan Majerle: Some may clamor for Shawn Marion, but how can you completely ignore "Thunder Dan"? Majerle, drafted #14 overall in 1988 (he wasn't the Suns' first choice; Tim Perry was), was a spark plug off the bench, and would play his best basketball in the mid-90s; he averaged at least 15.6 PPG each year from 1992-95, and would make three All-Star teams (1992-93, 1995). He also would tie a then-Finals record of six three pointers in game 3 of the 1993 Finals, as the Suns won in triple overtime. Majerle would finish his career with the Suns in 2004 and became a local basketball analyst.

PF: Tom Chambers: Chambers would have some of his best stats years after being traded to the Suns from Seattle in 1988. In his first year there, Chambers averaged 25.7 PPG and 8.4 RPG (the rebounds would be a career high) as Phoenix reahced the conference finals. The follwing year, he had a career high 27.2 PPG as the Suns once again reached the third round. Chambers made the All-Star team three times in Phoenix (1989-91), was All-NBA second team twice (1989-90) and was a reserve on the team that reached the 1993 Finals.

Coaches:

Head Coach: John MacLeod: MacLeod wasd an unknown coach when Phoenix tapped him to replace Jerry Colangelo in 1973, but within three years, MacLeod piloted the Suns to their first ever NBA Finals against the Celtics. MacLeod would help Phoenix reach the conference finals on two other occsions, and the team had seven winning seasons (and four with 50 or more) in his 13 full seasons there. For his career, he won 707 games.

Assistants: Cotton Fitzsimmons, Paul Westphal, Mike D'Antoni: Fitzsimmons coached the Suns on three seperate occasions (1970-72, 1988-92, and 1995-96), and in each full season he coached there, the team won at least 48 games. He also coached the team to two conference finals (1989-90). Westphal, the former star player, took over for Cotton in 1992, and in his first season, Westphal directed the team to the NBA Finals and won 62 games. Westphal won at least 56 games in each of his three full seasons, and won two Pacific division titles. D'Antoni, hired as an interim coach in 2003-04, was named COY in his first full season as the Suns went from 29 to 62 wins. The Suns won over 50 games each year he coached (over 60 twice) and made two Western Conference Finals.

Honorable Mentions:

SF: Shawn Marion: Great talent, but not a Suns lifer, and more of a product of the system (I know this will get complaints).

PF: Larry Nance: He had a great run in Phoenix (twice over 20 PPG) but he is much better known as a Cavalier.

C: James Edwards: Solid C, but is better known as a Piston.

SG: Dennis Johnson: Solid stats (18, 19 and 14 PPG in his three years) but too small a sample, and (continuing a theme) better known as a Sonic and Celtic.

SG: Jeff Hornacek: Made 1992 All-Star team in Phoenix, but (this is getting annoying) better in Utah.

PG: Jason Kidd: Great run in Phoenix, but Nash and Johnson were more responsible for better success in Phoenix than Kidd's teams were, and Kidd was better in Jersey (somebody stop me!).

C: Shaquille O'Neal: Just kidding; one half-season does not an all-time team make.

That's the Suns list. Next Monday, the countdown resumes with team #13 (unlucky!), the since-moved Supersonics. Until then, may Clay Bennett not own your team (lol!).

Despite the fact that I just went through the worst fantasy football draft software (with Fox, no less) I've ever seen today, and I'm mad about it, I'm still going ahead with the My List special with team #11 in the countdown, the Warriors. Here's the lineup.

Starters:

PG: Tim Hardaway: Yes, Baron Davis is still fresh in everyone's minds, and people tend to remember Hardaway for his hateful remarks not too long ago. But in Hardaway's prime, he was the spark plug for Don Nelson's famed "Run TMC" offense of the early 1990s. Drafted #14 overall in 1989 (behind such stars as Randy White, Tom Hammonds, Stacey King and Danny Ferry), Hardaway was a starter immediately, and had a solid rookie year with 14.7 PPG and 8.7 APG. Over the next four full seasons he played in GS (he missed the entire 1993-94 season with injuries), he averaged over 20 PPG and had two seasons of a double-double (points & assists) average. He also made the All-Star team three times (1991-93) while in the Bay Area.

SG: Paul Arizin: "Pitching Paul" may not be on the lips of everybody, but he was an early scoring sensation for the Warriors in the 1950s. Chosen as the first pick by the club in 1950 (after being named college POY at Villanova), Arizin led the NBA in scoring in his second season (25.4 PPG), as well as FG%, and also pulled down 11.3 RPG to go with All-Star game MVP honors. After serving in the military for two seasons, Arizin returned and led Philly to the title in his fourth NBA season in 1955-56. He would eventually win another scoring title in 1957 (25.6 PPG), had his best PPG season in 1958-59 (26.4), and would make nine All-Star games before retiring in 1962.

C: Wilt Chamberlain: It goes without saying that most of Chamberlain's greatest individual accomplishments came in a Warrior uniform. The club used a loophole to acquire Chamberlain as a territorial pick in 1959 (while Wilt was with the Harlem Globetrotters); even though Chamberlain went to college at Kansas (and territorial picks came from college location), the Warriors chose him because he went to high school in Philly. However they got him, it was worth it; Chamberlain became the first player to win ROY and league MVP his first year with averages of 37.6 PPG and 27 RPG; only Wes Unseld has won both awards in the same year since. Chamberlain won the scoring title each season with the Warriors (as well as four rebounding titles, and he pulled down an NBA record 55 boards against Boston in 1960), and had the greatest scoring season for an NBA player in 1961-62, as Wilt averaged a staggering 50.4 PPG (a record that will never be broken) and scored 100 points in a game against New York that same year; no one has come closer than 19 points to tying that mark. Chamberlain would lead the Warriors to one NBA Final (losing in 1964 to Boston) before being traded the following year.

SF: Rick Barry: Barry may have rubbed many people the wrong way (Robert Parish called him the most arrogant player I've ever seen), but there was little doubt Barry could play the game well. Chosen 2nd overall in 1965, Barry had the only double-double average of his entire career as a rookie (25.7 PPG, 10.6 RPG) and won the ROY award. The following year, he won the scoring title (35.6 per) and led the Warriors to the Finals (they lost to the 76ers). Barry then had a dispute after bolting to the ABA, and sat out the 1967-68 season, before joining the Oakland Oaks and winning the ABA title in his first season, with Barry winning the ABA scoring title (34 PPG); he's the only player to ever win the NBA, ABA, and NCAA scoring titles. Barry was named an NBA All-Star seven times (he returned to the league in 1972), was All-NBA 1st team five times, and led the Warriors to one of the biggest upsets in NBA history as they swept Washington to win the 1975 NBA title (Barry was Finals MVP).

PF: Jamaal Wilkes: Yes, he isn't a PF. Yes, he was much better known as a Laker. But Wilkes started his career in Golden State, and his body of work gets him the nod here. Drafted #11 overall in 1974, the then-Keith Wilkes won ROY as a Warrior, averaging 14.2 PPG and 8.2 RPG as he helped the team win the 1975 NBA title. Over his three years with the team, Wilkes averaged about 17 PPG and 8 RPG before leaving for L.A. in 1977.

Reserves:

PG: Baron Davis: Though Baron probably won't sing Christmas caroles with Don Nelson, he did help revive Warriors basketball after such a bad stretch earlier this decade. Acquired in a trade with New Orleans in 2005, Davis enjoyed three solid seasons in the Bay, averaging at least 18 PPG all three years, and better than 20 per the last two, and led the Warriors to winning records the last two years before departing for the Clippers. In 2007, he was the major factor in the Warriors springing a major upset with relative ease as they dispatched Dallas to become the first #8 seed to beat a #1 in a best-of-seven series.

SG: Mitch Richmond: To those who may say Richmond (or Latrell Sprewell) should be ahead of Arizin, I say he only played there three years, and is better known as a King. That said, Richmond bursted out of the gate as a rookie, winning ROY in 1989 with averages of 22 PPG and 5.9 RPG. Over his three years in GS, his averages stayed steady in the 22 PPG, 6 RPG range, as the Warriors made the playoffs twice in those three years. Then, they traded him to the Kings for Billy Owens. Oh well, it did let them draft Sprewell lol!

C: Nate Thurmond: Thurmond was a great C of his day, but his teams never could get over the hump. Drafted #3 overall in 1963, Thurmond was actually miscast at PF due to the presence of Wilt Chamberlain, but Thurmond was a good soldier as the Warriors made the Finals in his rookie year (he averaged 7 PPG and 10.4 RPG). When Chamberlain was traded in 1965, Thurmond blossomed after moving back to center, and had the first of 10 straight years of averaging a double-double with the Warriors (he had an 11th with Chicago after being traded there for Clifford Ray in 1974). His best stats year was 1967-68, with averages of 20.5 PPG and 22 RPG.  For his career, Thurmond made five All-Star teams, averaged 15 PPG and 15 RPG exactly, and led the Warriors to the 1967 Finals.

SF: Chris Mullin: Mullin was sort of a poor man's version of Larry Bird; he was an exceptional scorer, and had limited athletic skills, but had a great basketball IQ. Drafted #7 overall in 1985, Mullin shook off an injury-shortened rookie season, and began the first of six straight years of scoring 20+ PPG (a high of 26.5 in 1988-89), and made four All-Star teams and was a member of the Dream Team in 1992. Mullin was named All-NBA first team in 1991-92, and after retiring as a Warrior in 2001, he now serves as team president.

PF: Antawn Jamison: Again, I know he isn't a true PF, but he played there frequently as a Warrior, so he makes it. Jamison, acquired in a draft-pick swap with the Raptors for Vince Carter in 1998, became a full-time starter in his second year (which was shortened by injury). He had two seasons of over 20 PPG (a career high 24.9 per in 2000-01), and also had close to 9 RPG twice as a Warrior. Of course, he made both his All-Star teams after joining the Wizards, but that's another story.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Al Attles: No offense to Nellie, but Attles did help the team win the NBA title in 1975, while Nellie hasn't sniffed the Finals, so Attles gets the nod. In Attles' tenure (1970-83, which doesn't include the time he missed in 1979-80 with an injury), Attles led the Warriors to the playoffs six times, and made three conference finals and the aforementioned 1975 titlists. He won 550 games as Warriors coach.

Assistants: Don Nelson, Eddie Gottlieb: Nelson has revived Warriors basketball twice in his career. The first time, he took a team that had missed the playoffs in ten of eleven years and took them to the postseason four times in six full seasons. The second time has seen the Warriors have winning records twice and return to the postseason for the first time in 12 years. But no titles really hurts. Gottlieb won the first ever NBA title (then know as the BAA title) in 1947, and he made the playoffs in six of his nine years as coach (and won 263 games) before becoming team owner in 1955.

Honorable Mentions:

SG: Latrell Sprewell: Probably better all-around than Arizin or Richmond. Now about that choking incident and the "I can't feed my family on $8 million" comment?

PG: Sleepy Floyd: Had a nice run in GS, but who do you take out at PG?

SG: Phil Smith: Made two All-Star teams, but didn't maintain his level of play for very long.

PG: Gus Williams: Better known as a Sonic.

PF: Chris Webber: Better known for his stormy exit that brought on the 12-year playoff drought.

SG: Joe Fulks: First league scoring champ (23.2 per in 1946-47), but did very little else.

C: Neil Johnston: Two time scoring champ, but did it before the shot clock and bigger centers like Russell.

C: Clifford Ray: Solid C, but solid doesn't beat Chamberlain and Thurmond.

That's the Warriors. Tomorrow, team #12 will be the Suns. Until then, may your fantasy drafts not fail you!

I'm sorry I couldn't get this list out sooner, but my house needed the AC installed before we faced a sauna-esque atmosphere. Now that I'm finished, let's continue the My List special with the Detroit Pistons. Let me assure you there will be no bias here! Let's take a look at the lineups.

Starters:

PG: Isiah Thomas: Though "Zeke" may be known today as the former bumbling GM of the Knicks, in his playing day, there weren't many players more intense than Thomas. Taken #2 overall after leading Indiana to an NCAA title in 1981, Thomas helped the Pistons improve by 18 wins his rookie year, as he averaged 17 PPG and 7.8 APG. Thomas would lead the league in assists in 1984-85 with a career high 13.9 per game, and his stats prime came in the years before the "Bad Boys" took hold; between 1984 and 1987, Thomas averaged over 20 PPG and 10 APG each year (his single season scoring high was actually in 1982-83 with 22.9 per). But he was still spectacular in the late 80s and early 90s, as Detroit won two titles (he was Finals MVP in 1990). For his career, he played in 12 All-Star games (1984 & 1986 game MVP), was All-NBA first team three times (1984-86), and had career averages of 19.2 PPG and 9.3 APG.

SG: Joe Dumars: Thomas' backcourt mate for nine years, Dumars was the ice to Thomas' fire; he never seemed nervous in any situation. Drafted #18 overall in 1985 (behind such immortals as Uwe Blab, Keith Lee, Blair Rasmussen, Benoit Benjamin, Jon Koncak, and Bill Wennington!), Dumars split time with John Long as a rookie, but he became a full-time starter in year two, and by his fourth year, Dumars was Finals MVP as the Pistons swept the Lakers (who were short-handed, but they still won) in 1989. Dumars would go on to be selected to six All-Star teams, and his best stats year came in 1992-93, with averages of 23.5 PPG and 4 APG, which was also the year he was All-NBA second team. Unlike Thomas, Dumars would successfully transition into management, as the Pistons have won six division titles, made six straight conference finals, and won the 2004 NBA title.

C: Bob Lanier: Some may clamor for Bill Laimbeer here, but Lanier was one of the NBA's best C's of the 1970s. Drafted #1 overall in 1970, Lanier turned the Pistons into a dangerous team in the Western Conference with his interior play. Lanier averaged a double-double in seven of his nine full Detroit seasons (his best year came in 1970-71, with 25.7 PPG and 14.2 RPG), and would make the All-Star team seven times while a Piston. But management never surrounded Lanier with a good team, and they ended up trading him to Milwaukee for Kent Benson in 1980. For his career, Lanier averaged 20.1 PPG and 10.1 RPG.

SF: Grant Hill: Hill helped Detroit return to respectability after being drafted #3 overall (behine Glenn Robinson and Jason Kidd) in 1994. Hill averaged 19.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG and 5 APG, sharing ROY honors with Kidd in 1995. The following year, he helped Detroit make the playoffs for the first time in four years with a 20.2 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 6.9 APG line. In his six Detroit seasons, Hill averaged 21.5 PPG (high of 25.8 his last year of 1999-2000), 7.9 RPG (high was 1995-96 #) and 6.3 APG (high of 7.3 in 1996-97), was All-NBA 1st team in 1996-97, and made five All-Star teams, before asking for and getting a sign-and-trade with Orlando (where the Pistons got Ben Wallace) in 2000.

PF: Bill Laimbeer: Granted, Laimbeer did play center most of his career, but I felt he should be a starter, so he's at PF. No matter; Laimbeer, acquired in a trade with Cleveland for Phil Hubbard in 1982, brought the nasty factor to the "Bad Boys" with his physical (and some would say dirty) style of play. But "Lamb" was more than just a physical hack; he had a good shooting touch (he hit 202 threes for his career, and tied a then-Finals record of six in game 2 of the 1990 Finals), and averaged a double-double for six straight seasons (1983-88). He led the league in rebounds in 1985-86 9career best 13.1 per game), and missed just three games between 1983 and 1992. He also made four All-Star teams.

Reserves:

PG: (tie) Dave Bing/Chauncey Billups: How could I leave either player off this list? I just couldn't do it, so here we are. Bing was a pure scorer for the team in the 60s and early 70s; he averaged over 20 PPG in seven of his nine Detroit seasons, and led the league in scoring in 1968 with a 27.1 average (the first guard to lead the league in scoring since 1948) and made six All-Star teams while here. Billups, added as a FA from Minnesota in 2002, became "Mr. Big Shot" for his penchant for hitting game-winning shots. He went from journeyman to star in Detroit, and won Finals MVP in 2004 as the Pistons shocked the Lakers. His best Detroit season was 2005-06 with averages of 18.5 PPG and 8.6 APG.

SG: Richard Hamilton: Billups' backcourt mate has not been spectacular, but boy is he steady. Since being acquired from Washington for Jerry Stackhouse in 2002, Hamilton has averaged at least 17 PPG in every season here (his high was 20.1 in 2005-06), and has made three All-Star teams during his tenure. He also started on the 2004 title team.

C: Ben Wallace: "Big Ben" may not be worth too much now, but in Detroit, he was the personification of hustle and great defense. Added as almost a throw-in in the Grant Hill sign-and-trade in 2000, Wallace averaged better than 12 RPG in each of his first five Detroit seasons, and won four Defensive POY awards. Also, Wallace was the inspiration for the Pistons' "Going to work" motif of recent seasons. Wallace was selected to four All-Star games, and started on the 2004 titlists.

SF: (tie) Dennis Rodman/George Yardley: I know I told Hoffman that Rodman would get his kudos on this list. But Yardley was also the Pistons' first big-time scorer in Detroit, so I couldn't ignore him. Rodman, drafted in the second round in 1986, was the Pistons' best individual defender during the "Bad Boys" era, and was also an exceptional rebounder even while coming off the bench (he averaged almost 10 RPG even as a reserve). He won two Defensive POYs (1990, 1992), led the league in boards twice as a Piston (his best RPG year came in Detroit in 1992 with 18.7 RPG), and made two All-Star teams. Yardley, drafted in 1953, won the scoring title in the Pistons' first year in Detroit in 1958 (27.8 average, and was the first player to score 2,000 points in a season), played on both of the Pistons teams that made the Finals in Fort Wayne in 1955-56, and made five All-Star teams while there.

PF: Rasheed Wallace: Though Rasheed never seems to go all-out in any game, there's no denying that he was the spark that helped Detroit win the 2004 title. Acquired during that season in a three-way trade with Atlanta and Boston, Wallace averaged 13.7 PPG and 7 RPG during the stretch run as Detroit rolled into the playoffs, and his all-around play helped Detroit stun the Lakers and win the title. In his Detroit career, he has averaged about 13 PPG and 7 RPG each year, and for his career has made four All-Star teams.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Chuck Daly: Daly really made good in his second chance (though really it was his first) to be an NBA head coach; his only prior head coaching experience was a 9-32 with the Cavs in 1981-82. But while with Detroit, the Pistons won at least 46 games each year, made five straight conference finals, three NBA Finals, and won two championships, as Daly shifted the teams' focus from a finesse, offensive minded approach, to a tough, "Bad Boys" defensive team. Including stints in New Jersey and Orlando, Daly won 564 games as a head man.

Assistants: Charles Eckman, Larry Brown: Consider this; before Daly, only four guys (Paul Birch, Eckman, Richard McGuire, and Scotty Robertson) had coached the team for at least three years, and only one since (recently fired Flip Saunders) has done that. So it was hard to pick assistants. Eckman, who became a coach on a dare (as an NBA referee, he told Pistons owenrship he could coach better than the guy they had), boasted he didn't call any offensive sets, but his style worked... to a point. The Fort Wayne Pistons won two division titles and made two NBA Finals under Eckman, who is the only person to coach (1955-56) and referee (1951) an All-Star game. Brown won 108 games (54 each season) in his twow years here, and coached the Pistons to the NBA Finals in both of those years, with the crowning achievement being the 2004 title.

Honorable Mentions:

PF: Rick Mahorn: Great defensive player, but Laimbeer and Rasheed had more of a hand in the title runs than Mahorn did.

SG: John Long: Here's the dreaded "Alvin Robertson" theory at work; Long's best years were among the Pistons' worst, and it diminishes his accomplishments slightly.

SF: Tashaun Prince: Just isn't that consistent, and the least valuable (in my opinion) starter on the 2004 titlists.

PG: Richard McGuire: Decent stats, but Thomas and Bing/Billups were better.

PG/SG Vinnie Johnson: Great sixth man, but the "Microwave" can't be justified ahead of any of the guards mentioned because he was primarily a backup.

PF/C Bob McAdoo: Better known as a Brave and Laker, and his acquisition cost us the #1 pick in 1980 (the Celtics had that pick, and used it to get Parish and McHale.).

SF: Mark Aguirre: More of a Mavs legend than a Pistons legend, though he did help us win two titles.

SF: Kelly Tripucka: Great scorer, but kinda personified the finesse Pistons that didn't get over the hump.

That's the Pistons. Tomorrow, the #11 seed, the Warriors, are next. Take care until then!

The countdown continues as the My List special reveals team #9 today, the Atlanta Hawks. If I can wash off the stench of lil pest, er, lil runt, er, lil fly, let's see who made the cut.

Starters:

PG: Lenny Wilkens: Does anyone realize that Wilkens is one of only three people (John Wooden and Bill Sharman are the others) to be inducted into the basketball HOF as a player and a coach? Before becoming the winningest NBA coach, Wilkens was the #6 pick overall in 1960 by the Hawks. He played on the last Hawks team to make the NBA Finals in his rookie year (averaging 11.7 PPG and 4.5 RPG), then became the full-time starter in his third year. Wilkens steadily improved his stats as he got older, and his best stats year with the Hawks came in 1967-68, his last with the team and the Hawks' last in St. Louis, with 20 PPG and 8.3 APG (second to Wilt Chamberlain in assists), before he departed to become player/coach of Seattle the following season. His career averages were 16.5 PPG and 6.7 APG.

SG: Pete Maravich: "Pistol Pete" may be better known as a member of the Jazz, but he began his NBA career in 1970 (fresh off his record-setting LSU career) with the Hawks. Maravich made the playoffs in three of his four Atlanta seasons, and averaged better than 23 PPG the same amount of times (with an Atlanta high of 27.7 in 1973-74). But his persona irritated his coaches and Atlanta management, and they sent him to the Jazz in 1974, where he would later win a scoring title (31.1 in 1976-77).

C: Dikembe Mutombo: The 57 year old Mutombo (O.K., no more age jokes!) was at his physical peak when he arrived in Atlanta as a FA (spurning the Pistons, but I digress) in 1996. Mutombo averaged a double-double in each of his four full Atlanta seasons, with hsi best year being 1997-98, when he averaged 13.4 PPG and 11.4 RPG. He also maintained his rep as an outstanding blocker; he blocked at least 264 shots in every non-lockout season in Atlanta.

SF: Dominique Wilkins: The "Human Highlight Film" was the unquestioned face of Hawks basketball in the 80s and early 90s. Wilkins was originally drafted by the Jazz in 1982, but was traded to Atlanta for John Drew, Freeman Williams, and cash (think about that; had the Jazz kept their picks, their mid-80s lineup could have been Magic, Stockton, Wilkins, Malone and Eaton. How many titles could they have won?). Wilkins quickly established himself as a premier scorer; he averaged 27.4 PPG by his third year, and in his fourth, he won his only scoring title (30.3 PPG). Between 1984-85 and 1993-94, Wilkins averaged at least 25.9 PPG, and made eight All-Star teams. Of course, the major blemish was that the Hawks never got past the second round during his career. His most memorable game even came during a loss; in a classic duel with Larry Bird, Wilkins scored 44 points in game 7 of the 1988 Eastern Conference Semis, but the Hawks lost 118-116. So close, but yet so far.

PF: Bob Pettit: Pettit was the Karl Malone of his era; he defined what a PF in the NBA could do. Originally drafted by the Milwaukee Hawks in 1954 (draft records weren't kept round-for-round, so I don't know what round it was), Pettit averaged 20.4 PPG and 13.8 RPG as a rookie, setting the stage for a legendary career. In his second season, he led the league in points (25.7 per) and rebounds (16.2) as the new St. Louis Hawks made the playoffs for the first time since 1950. Pettit averaged a double-double in each of his years (11 seasons) he played, with his best stats year coming in 1960-61, with averages of 27.9 PPG and 20.3 RPG. He led the Hawks to four NBA Finals in his career, and he scored 50 points in the closeout game of the 1958 Finals as the Hawks became the first (and only) team to beat a Bill Russell-led Celtics squad for the title.

Reserves:

PG: (tie) Doc Rivers/Mookie Blaylock: Both were the quarterbacks for various periods of successful Hawks ball, and thus both get honored. Rivers, drafted in the second round in 1983, was consistent in his production; he averaged at least 12 PPG in six of seven years between 1985 and 1991, and at least 6 APG in five of those years, and made the 1988 All-Star team. Blaylock, acquired as a FA from New Jersey in 1992, made the 1994 All-Star team with a career high 9.7 APG, and averaged at least 13 PPG and about 6 APG in his Atlanta career.

SG: Lou Hudson: Hudson was the scoring leader of the Hawks of the early-to-mid 70s. Drafted #4 overall by the team in 1966, Hudson averaged 18.4 PPG as a rookie, and had his first 20+ PPG campaign in 1968-69. It was the first of seven straight such season for Hudson (one of which was shortened by injury). Hudson also was a key player on the Hawks teams that made the 1969 and 1970 Western Division finals.

C: (tie) Zelmo Beaty/Kevin Willis: I'm sure you've heard of Willis, who had four seasons in Atlanta where he averaged a double-double (including his best Atlanta season of 1991-92, where he averaged 18.3 PPG and a career high 15.5 RPG), and very much carried two positions on the team (come on; Jon Koncak was a stiff!). But who is this Beaty character? Well, Beaty averaged a double-double in six straight years with the St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks (best year came in 19667-68 with 21.1 PPG and 11.7 RPG), made two All-Star teams (1966 & 1968), and later would lead the Utah Stars to the ABA title in 1970-71.

SF: Cliff Hagan: While Hagan will always be remembered as one of the two guys (Ed Macauley was the other) the Hawks got in the Bill Russell trade in 1956, Hagan, who waited several years prior to the trade to enter the NBA because of a military commitment, was a solid pro. He had four straight years with 20+ PPG (a high of 24.8 in 1959-60), had three years (1958-60) with a double-double average, and helped the Hawks to four NBA Finals and the 1958 title before retiring in 1966. He would then join the ABA's Dallas Chapparals (today's San Antonio Spurs) as player/coach for three years starting in 1968.

PF: Dan Roundfield: While Roundfield seemed to abhor the All-Star game (despite being selected to three, he only played in one), he was a powerful force in the Hawks' lineup in the late 70s and early 80s. Acquired from the Pacers in 1978, Roundfield averaged a double-double in each of his first five Atlants seasons (with his best year being 1982-83, with 19 PPG and 11.4 RPG), was selected to those three All-Star teams, and was All-NBA second team in 1979-80.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Lenny Wilkens: Wilkens had already established himself as a HOF coach with three other teams (Sonics twice, Blazers and Cavs) when he was hired to coach the Hawks in 1993. Wilkens whipped the team into shape and coached them to 57 wins and the #1 seed in his first year. The Hawks would win at least 50 games in three of Wilkens' six non-lockout seasons there, and won 300 regular season games between 1993 and 2000.

Assistants: Alex Hannum, Richie Guerin, Mike Fratello: Three assistants? What gives? Well, all three had their moments as Hawks coaches. Hannum actually coached the team to the 1958 championship, but because that was his only full year, he can't get the head job. Guerin had three straight years of 48 or better wins, and coached the team to two Western Division finals (1969-70). Fratello won at least 50 games each year from 1986-89, and also copped a division title in 1987, but his inability to advance past round two hurts him.

Honorable Mentions:

SG: Steve Smith: Good scorer, but Maravich and Hudson were just as good, and both defined their Hawks teams more than Smith did, plus I didn't want a three-way tie.

PG: Spud Webb: Aside from his slam dunk title, he had only one year as a starter in Atlanta, and his best years stats wise came in Sacramento.

C: Tree Rollins: Great name, great defense and shot blocking, but that's it.

PF/C Bill Bridges: Good stats (seven years with a double-double), but none of those years stood out.

C: Ed Macauley: Better known as a Celtic.

SG: John Drew: Like Smith, good scoring SG, but do you replace Maravich or Hudson with a good scorer?

PG: Jason Terry: Team wasn't successful during his Hawks tenure.

SG: Joe Johnson: Let's wait until the team puts together regular playoff appearences.

That's the Hawks. Tomorrow, team #10 will be my hometown Pistons. That should be fun! Anyhow, see you then!

 

Today, the My List special will resume by revealing the #8 team in the countdown, the Chicago Bulls. Before I dive head first into this, allow me to comment on the top comment getter today on the blogs. That blog has got to rank right up there with the most ignorant, spiteful, non-sports related, hateful, hard to read, bigoted, racist, stupid, and biggest wastes of time that I've seen on this site since I signed up here in November 2006. Almost worse than that, the Sizzle got into a verbal joust with gambit, and I thought (and I said as much in a comment on the blog in question) that was low-class, and while I agree that the major problem is that the blogger didn't talk about sports, that still is no excuse for taking a good blogger to task to defend that peace, er, piece of trash. You're better than that, Sizzle, and hopefully that #### is taken off this site or at least warned to stick to sports.

Speaking of sports, now that my commentary is out of the way, let's reveal the Bulls' all-time team.

Starters:

PG: Norm Van Lier: Van Lier gets forgotten by many people because he never truly stood out among the flashier PGs. But Van Lier was the engine that drove the Bulls during the 1970s. Acquired from Cincinnati during the 1971-72 season (a year after leading the league in assists with a 10.1 average), Van Lier led the team in assists every full season he played with the team. He was named All-NBA second team in 1973-74, made three All-Star teams (1974, 1976-77) and helped Chicago reach the 1974 Western Conference finals.

SG: Michael Jordan: As Bugs Bunny might say "What, you were expecting the Easter bunny?". Jordan certainly needs no introduction to basketball fans all over the world. Drafted #3 overall in 1984, Jordan captured ROY for the 1984-85 season with averages of 28.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG and 5.9 APG. After a serious foot injury kept him out of most of his second season, Jordan exploded for 63 points in game 2 of a first round series with Boston (causing Larry Bird to say it was God dressed as Jordan), and he never looked back. He would win ten scoring titles (and his career PPG of 30.1 is tops all time), five regular season MVPs (1988, 1991-92, 1996, 1998), three All-Star game MVPs (1988, 1996, 1998),  a Defensive POY (1988) and most importantly, six NBA titles, with Jordan winning Finals MVP in all six wins. He also won two Olympic gold medals (1984, 1992).

C: Artis Gilmore: Gilmore's best NBA years came when he played in Chicago. The Bulls spent a then-costly sum of $1 million to acquire Gilmore in the ABA dispersal draft in 1976. Gilmore responded with averages of 18.6 PPG and 13. RPG as Chicago won 49 games and extended the eventual champion Blazers to an elimination game in the 1st round that year. Gilmore's best stats year came in 1978-79. when he averaged 23.7 PPG and 12.7 RPG. He made four All-Star teams in Chicago, and led the league in FG% twice with the team (1981-82).

SF: Scottie Pippen: Pippen was the ideal "Robin" to Jordan's "Batman" during the Bulls' dynasty of the 1990s. Chicago traded Olden Polynice to Seattle for Pippen on draft night 1987, Pippen didn't begin to blossom until his third season, when new coach Phil Jackson made him the setup guy for his offense. Pippen made his first All-Star team that year (one of seven he made during his career), and in year four, the Bulls were NBA champs, as Pippen scored 32 to lead the Bulls in the clinching game of the 1991 Finals. Pippen would average over 20 PPG four times (a career high of 22 PPG in 1993-94), and would be named All-NBA Defensive 1st team eight straight times (1992-99). He also was the only player (besides Jordan) to play on all six Bulls championship teams.

PF: Horace Grant: Say what you may about Dennis Rodman, but Grant was on the Bulls longer than Rodman, and was a more all-around threat. Drafted by the team in 1987, Grant began to show potential in his second season (12 PPG and 8.6 RPG), and was steady throughout his Bulls run (as the third option behind Jordan and Pippen). Grant averaged a double-double twice as a Bull (1992 and 1994, which was his only All-Star game appearence), and had his best stats year in his last Bulls season in 1993-94 with 15.1 PPG and 11 RPG. He won three titles with the team before bolting for Orlando in 1994.

Reserves:

PG: John Paxson: The ideal PG for the triangle offense, Paxson was a throw-in in a trade the Bulls made with the Spurs to add George Gervin in 1985 (the Iceman played his final season with the Bulls). He eventually became a starter full time in 1989, and his precise shooting opened up the floor for Phil Jackson's revolutionary O. Paxson's zenith came in game five of the 1991 Finals, when he scored 10 points in the last four minutes of the game to clinch the title for Chicago. He also hit the clinching three to seal the Bulls' third straight title in 1993. Today, he is in charge of the Bulls as team GM.

SG: Jerry Sloan: Before become universally known as the hard### coach of the Utah Jazz, Sloan was an equally hard### player for the Bulls of the 60s and early 70s. Acquired in the expansion draft from the Bullets in 1966, Sloan was a solid scorer (five seasons of 15 or better PPG, a high of 18.3 in 1970-71), but he made his name by being a tough defensive player. Four times he was named to the All-Defensive 1st team (the first ever team in 1969, 1972, 1974-75) and he had 100+ steals twice (steals weren't kept until the final three seasons of his career). He has carried that success into coaching, with his hard-nosed style producing five conference finals berths and two trips to the NBA Finals.

C: Bill Cartwright: "Mr. Bill" may have had not been Jordan's close friend, but he was a dependable C of the Bulls' first three peat of the 90s. Added in a trade with the Knicks (where he was an All-Star in 1980 as a rookie) for Charles Oakley in 1988, Cartwright's best stats year was his first in Chicago, with 12.4 PPG and 6.7 RPG. Though his stats steadily declined, Cartwright had enough left to start on three title teams. He would play six years in Chicago until he finished his career in Seattle in 1994-95.

SF: Bob Love: Love was the original scoring machine for the Bulls in the 70s. Acquired almost as an afterthought from Milwaukee in 1969, Love expolded the following year, as he averaged 21 PPG in 1969-70 after 5.9 the previous year. It was the first of six straight years of 20+ PPG for Love, who played in three All-Star games (1971-73). Love was also a key part of the Bulls team that reached the 1974 Western finals, and was All-NBA second team twice (1971-72).

PF: (tie) Charles Oakley/Dennis Rodman: Both were rebounding forces during their Bulls tenures, so let's do both. Oakley, added in a draft pick swap from Cleveland for Keith Lee in 1985, had a double-double average in two of his three Chicago seasons, and finished second for the rebounding title in 1988 to Michael Cage in the closest margin to decide that title ever (a mere .03 margin). Rodman won the rebounding title in all three of his Chicago seasons, and despite being flaky, added three NBA titles to go with the two he won in Detroit.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Phil Jackson: Jackson seemed an unlikely candidate to even become an NBA coach as a player with the Knicks in the 70s. But he succeded Doug Collins as coach in 1989, and immediately set a rookie coaches record (since broken by Larry Bird) with 55 wins and led Chicago to the Eastern finals. The next year, they won 61 games and their first NBA title. Jackson became the first (and only) coach to have two instances (he would later add a third) of three straight titles, and by the time he left Chicago in 1998, they had won 6 NBA titles and 545 regular season wins.

Assistants: Richard Motta, Doug Collins: Motta took over the team in 1968, and within three years, the Bulls had their first winning record (51-31). The Bulls won 50 or more games four straight years (1971-74) and made the playoffs six straight times, with a trip to the 1974 Western finals. Collins coached the team from 1986-89, with winning records in two of those three years, and coached Chicago to an unlikely berth in the 1989 Eastern finals, before being replaced by Jackson after the run ended.

Honorable Mentions:

C; Nate Thurmond: Did help team to 1974 conference finals, but he is more of a Warriors legend than a Bulls legend.

SG: George Gervin: Like Thurmond, Gervin is a Spurs legend, and the way he went out in Chicago was sad.

PG: Ron Harper: Scrappy PG and a friend of Jordan, but I felt Paxson had more of a hand in the first run than Harper did in the second run.

C: Luc Longley: Does it matter if it's Longley or Cartwright? Interchange if you must.

SF: Orlando Woolridge: Think the Alvin Robertson theory of my last list; Woolridge's best Chicago years were not good for the team, so it diminishes them a bit.

PG: Guy Rodgers: Led league in assists in 1967 as a Bull, but that was his only full Bulls season.

PF Elton Brand: Only played two years in Chicago, and became better known as a Clipper.

Any current Bull: Let's see if they play more consistently before they get on this list.

That's the Bulls. Tomorrow, team #9, the Hawks, will be revealed. Until then, may the bad free-stylers put their "stuff" on a different blog page!

The My List special rolls along today to team #7 in the countdown, the San Antonio Spurs. I would have written this sooner, but I had to get the family car repaired, and that stuff takes time. Anyhow, let's find out the players on the Spurs' team:

Starters:

PG: Tony Parker: Mr. Eva Longoria was Gregg Popovich's favorite whipping boy when he began his career in 2001. But within two seasons of his arrival, the Spurs had won their second NBA title (2003). Parker's stats have steadily gone up over the years; after averaging 9.2 PPG and 4.3 APG as a rookie, his stats improved to 18.8 and 6.0 this past year. He also won the 2007 Finals MVP, and for his career has averaged 16 PPG and 5.5 APG

SG: George Gervin: The "Iceman" was the personification of Spurs basketball for a long time. Acquired via trade from the Virginia Squires while the Spurs were still in the ABA in 1973, Gervin was a scoring monster with the club, averaging at least 21 PPG in every season while there. His star really bursted after the merger in 1976, as Gervin became the second player since Wilt Chamberlain to win three straight scoring titles (1978-80; Bob McAdoo was the other), and he added a fourth in 1982. Gervin was named to nine NBA All-Star games (won the 1980 game MVP) and led the Spurs to three conference finals appearences (one in the East, two in the West).

C: David Robinson: The "Admiral" revived Spurs basketball after a rough stretch in the late 80s. Drafted #1 overall in 1987, Robinson had to wait two years to start his career to fulfill his Naval duty, but he burst onto the NBA scene quickly, winning ROY in 1989-90 after averaging 24.3 PPG and 12 RPG. Robinson was named to the All-Star team each year from 1990-96, won Defensive POY in 1992, won two Olympic gold medals, scored 71 points in a game against the Clippers in 1994, and was named league MVP in 1995. Then, in 1999, he teamed with Tim Duncan to bring the Spurs their first world title. He added a second title in 2003 before retiring after the Finals.

SF: (three way tie) Mike Mitchell/Sean Elliott/Bruce Bowen: I couldn't really choose a definative SF, so all three get in (I'll do the Mitchell and Elliott bios up here, then do Bowen's in the "Reserves" file). Mitchell was added in a trade with the Cavs in 1982 (a year after his only All-Star berth the year before), and was a consistent scoring complement to Gervin, averaging 20 or better PPG in each year from 1982-86, and helping SA reach the conference finals in 1982 and '83. Elliott, drafted #3 overall in 1989, was a decent scorer (career high of 20 PPG in 1995-96), made two All-Star teams (1993 and 1996) and was a key starter on the 1999 title team (remember the Memorial Day Miracle?).

PF: Tim Duncan: Duncan may not win many personality contests, but as far as winning basketball games go, he's one of the best of all time. Drafted #1 overall in 1997, Duncan led SA to the (then) biggest turnaround in league history, going from 20 wins in 1997 to 56 the following year, as Duncan was named ROY. The following year, he took them to their first NBA title (as the Spurs went 15-2 in the playoffs), winning Finals MVP for the first time. His resume includes two league MVPs (2002-03), two more Finals MVPs (2003, 2005), all-Star recognition each season played, and four NBA titles. All this, and he's still boring. What gives?

Reserves:

PG: Avery Johnson: The recently disposed former Mavs coach had to really battle to stay in the NBA. Johnson played on five teams (including the Spurs twice!) in his first six seasons before sticking with the Spurs in 1994. He went on to lead the team to the 1999 NBA title, with his jumper late in game 5 of the Finals clinching that title. Johnson would stay with the team until 2001, then became a coach on Dallas in 2004.

SG: Manu Ginobili: Everyone's favorite flopper is also the modern version of John Havlicek; he is always in motion (at least until this past Western final) and prefers to be the sixth man (he won that award this year). Ginobili (before becoming Charles Barkley's favorite player) was a decent reserve as the Spurs won the NBA title in his rookie year of 2002-03, then became their energizer as they won again in 2005. Ginobili had his best stats year this past season, with averages of 19.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG and 4.5 APG.

C: Artis Gilmore: Gilmore defined big during his era; he was among the biggest and strongest players in the league during the late 70s and early 80s. Signed as a FA in 1982, Gilmore played five seasons in SA, averaging a double-double in three of them, and helped the team reach the 1983 Western finals. He also led the league in FG% twice (1982-83) as a Spur, and his 59.9% clip is the best in league history.

SF: Bruce Bowen: Continuing from the tie above, Bowen may not have the stats to boast about (his best PPG average was 8.2 back in 2004-05, and 3.9 RPG in 2005-06 was his rebounding high), but he makes his money by playing defense; he regularly takes on opposing teams' best offensive players, and (clean or dirty) does what it takes to shut them down. Hell, it has won him three NBA titles, so he's not complaning.

PF: (tie) Terry Cummings/Dennis Rodman: Neither had a lengthy tenure in SA (Cummings played five full seasons, Rodman two), so both make it. Cummings had three solid stats years in his first three years after coming to the Spurs from Milwaukee in 1989; at least 17 PPG and about 8 RPG each year, before injuries and age caught up to him. Rodman, acquired in a trade from Detroit for Elliott in 1993, won the rebounding title each year in SA (17.3 RPG his first season, 16.8 his second), but his attitude wore thin in SA, and he was traded to Chicago for Will Perdue in 1995.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Gregg Popovich: Popovich didn't seem like a candidate for one of the greatest coaches in the NBA ever when he was Spurs GM in the mid-90s. And after a 17-47 record as an interim replacement for Bob Hill during the 1996-97 season, it seemed even less likely. Then, the team drafted Duncan, and the rest is history. The Spurs have won at least 56 games in every non-lockout season Popovich has coached, including four NBA titles and seven trips to the conference finals. He has won 632 regular season games as coach (101 playoff wins), and is second to Jerry Sloan in tenure among current coaches.

Assistants: Stan Albeck, Doug Moe: I debated about putting Larry Brown in there, but Albeck and Moe led the Spurs to the conference finals, something Brown didn't do there. Albeck was very successful in the regular season with the Spurs (48 or more wins each of his three years, two conference finals berths between 1980-83), but his 13-14 playoff record cost him his job in 1983. Moe, before his more famous Denver run, coached the team from 1976-80, with at least 44 wins each full season, and a berth in the 1979 Eastern finals.

Honorable Mentions:

PG: Johnny Moore: Led NBA in assists in 1981-82, but didn't stay healthy long enough to continue making impact.

SF: Cliff Hagan: He made his biggest impact before joining the Dallas Chaparrals (later to become the Spurs) in 1967 with the NBA's Hawks.

SG: Alvin Robertson: He made the biggest threat to displacing someone on the team, but his best years were also among the team's worst years, and that drowns his accomplishments a bit.

SG: Mario Elie: For a short-term emotional boost team, he'd make it. But not for an all-time team.

PF: Larry Kenon: O.K., maybe he should be at the PF position over Cummings and Rodman; he averaged over 20 PPG and 9 RPG each year from 1976-77 to 1979-80, so consider the backup PF a three-way tie.

There's SA. Next Monday, we will resume with the #8 team, the Chicago Bulls. Until then, may you avoid a three way tie!

It's now time to resume the My List special and reveal the #6 team on the list, the Milwaukee Bucks. Before I do, let me say this; to everyone who mentioned Sam Cassell needing to be on the Rockets' list, I'll give him a honorable mention, and assure you that he'll be mentioned a lot more in the lists to come. Now then, here are the Bucks.

Starters:

PG: Oscar Robertson: At the time that Robertson and thd Bucks came together (1970), both sides wanted a title. And Robertson, freed from the Royals after a dispute with coach Bob Cousy, led them straight to that title in 1971, as the Bucks cruised to an 88-18 record (including playoffs) and a sweep of Baltimore for the title. Robertson averaged 19.4 PPG and 8.2 APG during that year, and also led the Bucks to the 1974 Finals in his last season. His career averages were 25.7 PPG, 9.5 APG and 7.5 RPG.

SG: (tie) Sidney Moncrief/Ray Allen: Both were key parts of various Bucks runs during their respective eras, so both will be honored here. Moncrief joined the team in 1979, and over the next decade, was a solid scorer (four seasons over 20 PPG) and an excellent defender (five straight seasons with over 100 steals, winner of the first two Defensive POY in 1983 and '84). Allen, acquired in a draft day trade with Minnesota for Stephon Marbury, was also a prolific scorer; Jesus Shuttlesworth averaged over 20 PPG each year from 2000-03, with a high of 22.1 in 1999-2000, before being traded to Seattle for Gary Payton in 2004.

C: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: The easiest choice on this list, Kareem came to the Bucks after being drafted #1 overall in 1969 (betcha Phoenix wishes they had called 'tails'!). In his first season, Jabbar turned the once lowly Bucks into immediate title contenders, winning ROY with averages of 28.8 PPG and 14.5 RPG, and leading Milwaukee to 56 wins (after 27 in their first year). In year two, he won his first league MVP and scoring title (31.7 PPG), leading the Bucks to their only NBA title. Kareem won another scoring title and MVP the following year (a career high 34.8 PPG) and added a third MVP in 1974, leading the Bucks back to the Finals, before asking for and receiving a trade to the Lakers in 1975.

SF: Marques Johnson: Johnson, like Kareem a fellow UCLA graduate, was a prolific scorer during his NBA career. Over the course of his seven seasons in Milwaukee, he averaged over 20 PPG five times (including a career best 25.6 PPG in 1978-79) and made four All-Star teams while there. Before suffering a career-ending (for all intents and purposes) injury with the Clippers in 1986 (he ran head-first into Benoit Benjamin's belly; AHHHHH!), his averages for his career were 20.1 PPG and 7 RPG.

PF: Terry Cummings: This was the hardest position to pick, but Cummings gets the nod here. Picked up from the Clippers for Junior Bridgeman in 1984, Cummings made the All-Star team in his first season in Milwaukee, with averages of 23.6 PPG and 9.1 RPG. Over his five seasons in cheese country, Cummings averaged about 21 PPG and 8 RPG, making a second All-Star team in 1989, before bolting for the Spurs the following season.

Reserves:

PG: Sam Cassell: There, Rockets fans; Cassell is on a list! But seriously, Cassell seems to spark a team to success beyond what it's accustomed to, and his time in Milw