Tim Duncan essentially is foreign born (as in, not from an American “Hood”), too. Impossible to prove, but this year’s team may be the greatest of all time. Top flight players who execute a non-playground style of basketball that wears out more athletic yet less-disciplined teams.
Astute observation. Congratulations to the Spurs, the Heat and all who compete.
“but this year’s team may be the greatest of all time.”
I don’t think so. The spurs played team ball, excellent defense and here is the biggie, had 5 guys on the floor at all times all of whom could shoot.
A lot of championship teams had this quality.
Magic, Kareem, Worthy, Fisher, and Byron Scott with Cooper off the bench were a team, all played good d and all could shoot.
The old Knicks with Frazier, Barnett, Debussere, Bradley, Lucas and cazzie russell, john stallworth off the bench. They played team ball, great D and everyone could shoot.
Same goes for Bird, Parrish, D Johnson, Ainge, McHale.
Same for the Pistons of Laimbeer, aguire/dantley, Dumars, Isaih, and Rodman, Salley and vinnie Johnson off the Bench.
When you played them, you couldn’t double anyone because the open man would kill you and on offense, it was a real challenge because they all played good individual defense and excellent team defense too.