'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry surprisingly left LeBron James out of his all-time starting five. During a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Curry listed himself, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, and Shaquille O'Neal in his all-time starting five.
"I'm at PG. I'm going with Magic—we'll play hybrid guards," said Curry. "You got Jordan. You got Dirk spacing the floor, shooting the ball. And you got the big man, the Diesel, holding it down. So, that's a solid lineup, I think."
Many LeBron fans and some neutrals weren't particularly impressed with the "King's" omission from Curry's all-time starting five. The LA Lakers superstar is almost a guaranteed name in any of the starting five lists made by NBA stars, along with Jordan. On top of that, Curry would know more about James' greatness than anyone else, considering their rivalry over the past decade.
Curry's Warriors became the first team to blow a 3-1 series lead in 2016, for which James was responsible. The latter has a losing record (1-3) against Curry's Warriors in the finals, but he has been an unstoppable force in every series.
As always, many LeBron James and NBA fans didn't hold back their thoughts and blasted Steph Curry for leaving the former out of his all-time starting five. One fan wrote:
"U a bum lil bro. Kd and Lebron own u and forever will."
Another added:
"Hes that scared of LeBron or what?"
Here are some more reactions:
Steph Curry gives fans plenty to argue about after naming a surprise starting five
There's always plenty of debate that can be had over all-time starting fives, considering the league's rich history of producing some unreal talent through the decades. Steph Curry's all-time starting five has certainly given fans a lot to argue about online.
Many believe it's the worst starting five listed by an NBA star. Curry had plenty of options he could've gone with over Magic Johnson and Dirk Nowitzki. Curry could've been the sole point guard on the team and picked Kobe Bryant as the two-guard or slotted Michael Jordan in that position. Meanwhile, Nowitzki's presence adds to the team's defensive deficiencies.
Omitting Johnson and Nowitzki would've given Steph Curry the flexibility of naming a combination of LeBron James and former teammate Kevin Durant on the frontcourt alongside Shaquille O'Neal, or LeBron and Tim Duncan, or Jordan and LeBron, depending on whether he had Kobe at the two or not.
However, at the end of the day, it is an opinion, so there is no right or wrong. It's still a hypothetical lineup that features the game's absolute legends who aren't new to being named in all-time starting fives by fellow NBA stars.
Guess the Lakers players!
