If you could build a team using some of the best players from the last three decades, what would that team look like?
That's the question we're trying to answer on this edition of Blind Resume.
Each day this week, I'm going to give three members of our NBA.com Global Staff a player comparison from Basketball-Reference that is made up of one superstar from the 1990s, one from the 2000s, one from the 2010s and one wildcard. I'll start by providing each player's raw numbers from one particular season. Then I'll reveal their shooting percentages to give everyone an opportunity to change their answer as more information becomes available.
We've decided to stick with the last 30 years because "The Last Dance" has us in 1990s mode right now. That's why you won't see the likes of Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Oscar Roberston, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. Even if some of those legends did play in the 1990s, their peaks came much sooner.
The player at the top of each chart is Player A, followed by Player B, Player C and Player D.
Having already picked a point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward and centre, we're picking the sixth man for our post-80s dream team today.
Step 1: The raw stats
Leandro Fernàndez (@FernandezLea): Wow ... I only know that I don't want Player C because I feel like he might be a big man, which I don't need. I need more information, but based on these stats, I might go with Player A. Solid rebounder and passer, great scorer. There is a decent chance I might change my answer to Player B, though.
Augustín Aboy (@AboyAgustin): I'd like another scorer, so for now I'll go with Player D.
Juan Estévez (@JuanEstevez90): I see SG as my weak spot, so I'm trying to get another complementary guard as my sixth man. I'll go with Player A for now. He helps in all areas.
Carlan Gay (@TheCarlanGay): The points and assists make it tough not to choose Player D, so knowing that I can pick someone else after the shooting is revealed, I'll go with D.
Step 2: The shooting percentages
Fernàndez: Sticking with Player A. Am I getting a four-time champion from my country?
Aboy: I'll take Player A instead of Player D. He's a better 3-point shooter and a more efficient scorer.
Estévez: I'm even more convinced now, to be honest. Player A.
Gay: Shooting percentages didn't chase me away. I'll take the buckets off my bench and stick with Player D.
Who are they?
Player A is Manu Ginobili from the 2007-08 season. This was the season Ginobili was named Sixth Man of the Year and made the All-NBA Third Team.
Player B is Toni Kukoč from the 1995-96 season. This was the season Kukoč was named Sixth Man of the Year and helped the Chicago Bulls win the first of three straight titles.
Player C is Detlef Schrempf from the 1991-92 season. This was the season Schrempf was named Sixth Man of the Year for the second season in a row.
Player D is Lou Williams from the 2018-19 season. This was the season Williams won his third Sixth Man of the Year award, tying him with Jamal Crawford for the most all-time.
Why those seasons? I picked each player's best season of the decade based on their PER. It isn't perfect, but it was the best way that I could think of to remove bias and make this fair.
Now that every position has been filled, here's how each team looks...
Team Fernàndez
PG: Steve Nash
SG: Michael Jordan
SF: Kawhi Leonard
PF: Tim Duncan
C: Hakeem Olajuwon
Sixth Man: Manu Ginobili
Team Aboy
PG: Steve Nash
SG: Michael Jordan
SF: LeBron James
PF: Anthony Davis
C: Hakeem Olajuwon
Sixth Man: Manu Ginobili
Team Estévez
PG: Chris Paul
SG: James Harden
SF: LeBron James
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Hakeem Olajuwon
Sixth Man: Manu Ginobili
Team Gay
PG: John Stockton
SG: Dwyane Wade
SF: Scottie Pippen
PF: Anthony Davis
C: Shaquille O'Neal
Sixth Man: Lou Williams
Which team is best?
Based on win shares, which is an estimate of the number of wins contributed by a player in a given season, Team Aboy (94.1) came out on top, followed by Team Fernàndez (86.5), Team Estévez (86.2) and Team Gay (77.6).
However, that's one of many ways to figure out which team in this hypothetical universe is ultimately the best. That's why we're leaving it up to you to decide!
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