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It’s an interesting question, and one that generates a lot of debate, research and thought. What if all NBA players played for their hometown team?
Apart from creating a fiercely competitive league where teams not only fight for championships and prestige but also for honour, it would also answer the question as to what location is the best for nurturing and producing players?
Or, at the very least, which city is the luckiest in terms of having the best of the best being born there.
While it’s easy to claim one place over another based on the calibre of players, the impossibility of quantifiable proof, such as championship wins, will always leave this question as a fun hypothetical.
On the face of it, Los Angeles is a strong contender – basketball being a strong West Coast game and Los Angeles being the most famous area on the Pacific side of the States. And they could put together a formidable line-up with the current crop of NBA players – Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Klay Thompson, Paul George and Kevin Love, just to name a few.
Chicago, a hotbed of basketball talent, can also put together an extremely talented team containing Derrick Rose, Dwayne Wade, Anthony Davis and Tony Allen. On the opposite side of the scale among ‘big market’ teams, New York would struggle against both LA and Chicago, with their best line-up made up of players such as Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, Kenneth Faried, Kemba Walker and JR Smith.
Perhaps the most surprisingly-strong team would come from the Washington area, who could form a starting five with the likes of Rudy Gay, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Ty Lawson and Roy Hibbert. LeBron James would struggle to find his ‘Big 3′ in Cleveland, San Antonio would struggle to field a team full stop, while the less said about Utah, the better.
With the influx of foreign players in this season’s NBA (a record 101 foreign players are on NBA rosters as of the start of the 2014-15 season), it would be interesting to see how a combined World Team could compete with the All-Stars from Chicago, LA and Washington.
The thing is, 195 countries are not needed to put up a competitive team to take on this bunch. Only one country would be needed. In fact, there is a city on the other side of the world to the US which can offer up a starting five to mix it with the best – or at least put up more of an effort than Utah, Denver or San Antonio.
As a Sydney-sider it hurts to admit it, but Melbourne can lay claim to being the hometown of five players who could, theoretically of course, give the big boys a game.
Point Guard – Kyrie Irving
While every other American city that has the slightest association with first overall draft pick from 2011 is claiming ownership of him, the fact he was born in Melbourne tips the scale towards the Victorian city. A reigning All-Star MVP, there aren’t many better candidates to lead this, or any, team.
Shooting Guard – Matthew Dellavedova
Current teammate of Irving at the Cleveland Cavaliers, Matt Delly would shift to SG and form a cohesive and familiar partnership with his fellow backcourt Melbournian.
Sall Forward – Dante Exum
Stay with me here, I know placing Dante at SF is not ideal, but Exum’s potential (and hopefully, adaptability) is exciting. A high draft pick in the 2014 draft class, selected fifth by Utah (who can’t claim him as their own), he is considered one of the brightest stars of his generation.
Power Forward – David Andersen
A veteran big who spent three years in the NBA across the Rockets, Raptors and the Hornets, Andersen currently plays for French team ASVEL Basket.
Centre – Andrew Bogut
Any team with two overall first-draft-picks in their side has got to be strong, right? Andrew Bogut was chosen first overall by Milwaukee in 2005 for a reason, and while injuries have slowed him down, on his day he can be one of the best centres in the game and is showing his worth with the Golden State Warriors at the moment.
A team with strong pedigree, excitement and enormous potential. How well do you rate this Melbourne team among the American heavyweights?
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