Every NBA fan knows that when it comes to the game of basketball, a team must hold an advantage on both sides of the ball in order to pick up a win. Some of the best games the NBA has ever seen have been all-time great offenses taking on cohesive and disruptive defensive units. Of course, there are the few teams that have been at the top in both offense and defense who went on to dominate the competition en route to an NBA championship as well.
In today’s series, we have grouped together five of the best defensive players at each position throughout NBA history as well as five of the best offensive players at each position and put them against each other in what is sure to be an all-time great battle. Now, some players are versatile and bring assets to their team on both sides of the ball. Others will be utilized strictly for their s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s on one side of the ball. This matchup is sure to cause a stir among fans, so let’s meet the teams.
All-Offensive Tean: Stephen Curry, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Karl Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
All-Defensive Team: Gary Payton, Michael Jordan, Kawhi Leonard, Bill Russell, Hakeem Olajuwon
This is a seven-game series between the best offensive and best defensive lineups in NBA history.
Stephen Curry vs. Gary Payton
Credit: Fadeaway World
We kick this matchup off with two point guards well known for being the very best at what they do on each side of the ball. Stephen Curry is the absolute best in NBA history at moving without the ball, using his screens, and making shots either off the dribble or in a catch-and-shoot situation. This will have to be the method that Curry uses against a physical and rugged on-ball defender like Payton. Curry will have to get his shots up early and often to find a groove against Payton, who will most likely frustrate even Curry for a stretch of time.
As for Payton, the All-Defensive Team is going to thrive off him being the first line of defense. Payton operated with a never-ending source of energy in his tank, which suited his physical brand of basketball perfectly. His aptitude for causing turnovers will be a huge positive for the All-Defensive Team as well. Where Payton is underrated is both as a scorer and playmaker. In the fast break, expect a lot of assists from Payton to the likes of Jordan, Kawhi, and Hakeem running the floor. For a player who averaged at least 19.0 PPG and 7.0 APG for a decade straight, Payton’s impact is a given in this matchup.
Kobe Bryant vs. Michael Jordan
Credit: Fadeaway World
For about the 1000th time since we began doing our different matchups, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan find themselves across from each other once again. The unique thing about both of these players is that they are easily the greatest overall shooting guards in NBA history as well as the best two-way guards in NBA history. Kobe Bryant was a s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ful scorer from all three levels and one of the best tough shot-makers to ever play the game. He also holds the most All-Defensive Team selections by a guard and was always the best player on the floor in clutch situations.
For Jordan, well, he is Michael Jordan. We are talking about the greatest scorer in NBA history. We are talking about an NBA record 10 scoring titles and a career 30.1 PPG scoring average in the regular season as well as a 33.4 PPG career average in the playoffs. Jordan was the 1988 Defensive Player of the Year, the same season, he averaged 35.0 PPG and led the NBA in minutes played with over 40.0. Simply put, Jordan and Kobe were machines, the likes of which we may never see again in our lifetimes.
Kevin Durant vs. Kawhi Leonard
Credit: Fadeaway World
Just a few days ago, we released a complete career comparison between Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard. As far as careers go, Durant has been the greater player, with each grabbing two Finals MVPs, but Durant has more MVPs, All-NBA Team selections, and All-NBA Team selections. Of course, Kawhi takes advantage in the defensive department with two Defensive Player of the Year awards and seven All-Defensive Team selections. None of that matters when it comes to this particular matchup.
What does matter is the all-time s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 that Durant possesses when scoring the ball. He is a lethally efficient scorer from all three levels. Durant is a tough matchup for any defender to try and slow down, but if anyone can do it, it’s Kawhi. Leonard is also a talented offensive player who can take over games on command, especially when attacking the rim and hitting his mid-range shots. The matchup between these two will boil down to which player’s best attribute shines the brightest. That and whoever can remain healthy for the duration of the series.
Karl Malone vs. Bill Russell
Credit: Fadeaway World
This is a matchup you will not see every day as two all-time great big men face off at the power forward spot. On one side, we have a physical and methodical offensive player in Karl Malone, going up against arguably the greatest defender and greatest rebounder in NBA history. Malone will find it tough to get overly physical with Russell, who thrived in situations in which he was challenged. Due to Russell’s defensive dominance around the rim, Malone will have to find ways to get Russell in the pick-and-roll in order to get his mid-range jumper going.
Even if Malone is able to muster some open looks, this is Bill Russell we are talking about. He will adjust to what is being thrown at him, and combined with his athleticism and length, it could prove to be a long series for Malone. Russell will also have the ability to leave Malone and help Olajuwon if he needs it in his matchup versus Shaq. Russell, being one of the game’s best rebounders and defenders in its history, will be grabbing close to the 22.5 RPG he had for his career and should be among the series’ leading shot-blockers as well.
Shaquille O’Neal vs. Hakeem Olajuwon
Credit: Fadeaway World
One matchup that we have covered in the past but never get tired of speaking about is the one between Shaquille O’Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon. This matchup presents a battle of two completely different play styles that led to mega success in the NBA. With Shaq, you have one of the most dominant players in NBA history who overpowered and dominated the other big men of the 90s and 2000s. Olajuwon was the exception to that rule during the 1995 NBA Finals. Shaq’s strength is his biggest advantage against Olajuwon, combined with his impeccable finishing around the basket.
Hakeem is not only one of the best defenders in NBA history, but he is also one of the most s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed bigs in NBA history on offense. Defensively, Olajuwon is an opponent’s worst nightmare with his ability to block or alter shots. Basically, Shaq will need to perfect his finishes in order to work his way around Hakeem’s instincts. Olajuwon will have his opportunities on offense as well, using his agility and elite footwork to maneuver around the bigger O’Neal. Overall, if Kobe and Jordan is the matchup everyone pays to see, Shaq versus Hakeem could prove to be why they stay.
All-Offensive Team Advantages
It would be far too simple to sit here and point out the obvious about each of these teams and their advantages over the other. For the All-Offensive Team, it isn’t merely being better on offense that could end up winning them this series, but different aspects of it that are tipped in their favor. For example, three-point shooting is pretty much non-existent for the All-Defensive Team. On the All-Offensive Team, Stephen Curry is the greatest three-point shooter of all time, and Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant aren’t too shabby, either. Having a distinct weapon like this on offense could almost certainly lead to victory for the All-Offensive Team.
Another distinct advantage that the All-Offensive Team will have against the All-Defensive Team is their efficiency. People may laugh at that when they see Kobe Bryant will be one of their main options on offense, but look at what he has surrounded himself with. Stephen Curry has had some of the most efficient shooting seasons ever with ridiculous volume. Kevin Durant just had the NBA’s first 55/40/90 season in history. Shaq and Karl Malone are also two extremely efficient finishers, especially Shaq, who led the NBA in field goal percentage an NBA-record 10 times.
All-Defensive Team Advantages
Just as there were obvious advantages for their opponents, there are too for the All-Defensive Team. Leaving those out of the equation, one of the first advantages I notice is the incredible two-way play of the All-Defensive Team. There are far better offensive players on the All-Defensive Team than there are defenders on the All-Offensive Team. Gary Payton is a former 20.0 PPG scorer, and Michael Jordan is, well, the GOAT. Kawhi Leonard is another scorer when he finds his rhythm and Hakeem Olajuwon is a highly-s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed offensive threat. When looking at the defense for the All-Offensive Team, only Bryant and Shaq hold that same two-way threat that most of the All-Defensive Team does.
The other advantage that the All-Defensive Team has over the All-Offensive Team is the frontcourt wall they have built. While Shaq and Karl Malone are no slouches, I just do not see how they can break down the interior defense and rebound on both sides of the ball from Bill Russell and Hakeem Olajuwon. The biggest advantage in this situation is Bill Russell over Karl Malone. While Malone is tough and physical, Russell is more athletic, bigger, and an overall more sound basketball player. There are 11 championships and five MVP awards that back me up on that.
Who Would Win This Matchup In A 7-Game Series?
As this all-time great matchup kicks off between some of the best offensive and defensive players in NBA history, it is time to see which s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 will prevail over the other. As expected, Michael Jordan would lead the way for the All-Defensive Team in Game 1 while Stephen Curry returned fire from beyond the arc. Jordan would go for 37 points with 6 steals and 5 assists. Curry answered that with 34 points of his own, knocking down 8 threes in the process. In the end, Bill Russell’s 21 rebounds and Hakeem Olajuwon’s 5 blocks and 29 points made all the difference as the All-Defensive Team picked up a 1-0 series lead, 113-99.
Game 2 would start out with an overpowering run from the All-Offensive Team. This time, it would be the duo of Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant making their presence known with big games to try and even the series. Kawhi Leonard got involved for the All-Defensive Team, adding 30 points and 3 steals on the night. Michael Jordan would add 35 points as well, but the All-Offensive Team could not be stopped in the end. Kobe Bryant would finish with 39 points on 45.0% shooting, and Durant would add 28 points as well as the All-Offensive Team evens up the series at one game apiece, 102-90.
Game 3 would feature the battle between Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant that everyone came to see. Jordan opened things up with a barrage of buckets and forced turnovers to build a small lead for the All-Defensive Team followed by the usual trash-talking and antics that came with Jordan’s play every time. This lit a fire under Bryant, who went to work and helped the All-Offensive Team take a small lead themselves with a barrage of buckets of his own. This went back and forth until an unlikely hero stepped up for the All-Offensive Team. Karl Malone would score eight straight points late in the fourth to push the All-Offensive Team ahead for good and to a 2-1 lead in the series.
Game 4 got started off with a bit of fireworks as the usually reserved Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant got tangled up on multiple possessions. The All-Defensive Team thrived off of this energy, especially Gary Payton, who finally got to Stephen Curry for the first time in the series. Headed into Game 4, Curry was shooting 44.0% from three, but after the early dustup, Payton locked in. He allowed just two threes to Curry on 11 attempts in the second half, and this allowed scorers like Jordan and Olajuwon to take care of the rest. Jordan led the way with 39 points as the All-Defensive Team evened up the series 2-2 by a score of 109-100.
This leads us to an incredibly crucial Game 5 between these teams battling for ultimate bragging rights. As expected, these teams traded shots early and often. Bill Russell surprisingly got involved more than just on the glass and poured in 12 first-half points for the All-Defensive Team. Shaq finally had a night to remember against Hakeem Olajuwon, who had kept him relatively quiet to this point. O’Neal would have a 39-point night between overpowering dunks and a plethora of free throws. Durant would add 22 points as well as the All-Offensive Team picks up the pivotal Game 5 win and a 3-2 series lead.
Game 6 proved to be the game that Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon took their games to an even higher level. Jordan came out as a man possessed in Game 6, scoring 26 first-half points and putting the defensively gifted squad on his backs scoring-wise. the All-Offensive Team fought back with the attack of Curry and Kobe, but it was not enough to stop the All-Defensive Team from owning the paint. Olajuwon and Russell would combine for 34 rebounds and 11 blocks in this one to force the All-Offensive Team to take tough shots from the outside. In turn, the All-Defensive Team forced Game 7 behind Jordan’s 51 points, 119-106.
It all comes down to this. The two greatest words in sports, Game 7. The All-Offensive Team and All-Defensive Team have already identified what it will take for each of them to claim victory, but now it has to come to fruition. The All-Offensive Team started with an early attack plan that included feeding Shaq down low and working open shots to Curry from three. For the All-Defensive Team, they still had the significant advantage in the rebounding department, only the All-Offensive Team was now hitting shots. This left things up to Michael Jordan and Kawhi Leonard, who provided some shutdown defense on the perimeter in the second half and some beautiful moments on fast breaks. In the end, Jordan finished with 43 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 steals to help seal the series for the All-Defensive Team. Leonard added 29 points and 3 steals, while the All-Offensive Team was led by Curry’s 36 points and Kobe Bryant’s 30.
Final Result: All-Offensive Team vs. All-Defensive Team 3-4
Series MVP: Michael Jordan
