Ever wonder what it would be like to play NBA Jam with the modern rosters? Here’s Title Run’s take on what the NBA Jam teams would look like for the 2018-19 season. Each team has three players total, and the rules we used for selection are below.
At least one guard/ball-handler
At least one three-point Shooter
At least one big (6’ 10” or taller)
There were one or two exceptions made for teams where there wasn’t a quality big to throw in the mix. Rookies were avoided whenever possible, and name recognition was weighed more heavily than production among comparable players. Injury history and salary were completely ignored because who cares about that stuff when you can dunk from the three-point line?!?
Here are the 2018-19 rosters:
Atlanta Hawks
Trae Young
John Collins
Jeremy Lin
Analysis: We start this list by breaking two of our own rules. Trae Young is a rookie...but can you really leave him out in favor of Kent Bazemore or Taurean Prince?? Collins technically doesn’t meet the 6’ 10” height requirement, but the only other options are Dewayne Dedmon and Miles Plumlee, so Collins is the obvious choice. This trio would have WAY more success in NBA Jam than the Hawks will playing real NBA basketball.
Boston Celtics
Gordon Hayward
Kyrie Irving
Al Horford
Analysis: Yes, we left off Jayson Tatum. Heyward is an All-star and has (for now) better name value than Tatum and even Jaylen Brown.
Brooklyn Nets
Spencer Dinwiddie
D’Angelo Russell
Jarrett Allen
Analysis: Allen gets the nod over Ed Davis and Jahlil Okafor. We had honestly forgotten Jahlil Okafor still played for the Nets until making this list. What does it say about you when you can’t even get on the court for a 28-win team?
Charlotte Hornets
Kemba Walker
Nicolas Batum
Frank Kaminsky
Chicago Bulls
Zach Lavine
Jabari Parker
Lauri Markkanen
Analysis: That’s a surprisingly good trio for a team in the midst of a full-scale rebuild.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Kyle Korver
Kevin Love
George Hill
Analysis: You could argue for J.R. Smith, Jordan Clarkson, or Rodney Hood here, because, let's be honest they all played last trash in the playoffs. BUT, Hill is a better three-point shooter and a former All-star. BUT...just imagine J.R. Smith in “Hennessy” mode. Pure gold.
Dallas Mavericks
Dirk Nowitzki
Dennis Smith Jr.
Deandre Jordan
Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic
Paul Millsap
Isaiah Thomas
Analysis: The debate here was between Isaiah Thomas and Gary Harris. Harris had a much better season, but it’s hard to leave off a guy that averaged 29 PPG in 2016-17.
Detroit Pistons
Reggie Jackson
Blake Griffin
Andre Drummond
Golden State Warriors
Steph Curry
Klay Thompson
Kevin Durant
Analysis: This is easily the best trio in the game, and we STILL left off two other All-stars. It’s really not fair.
Houston Rockets
James Harden
Chris Paul
Clint Capela (barring free agency)
Analysis: If Capela is gone because of free agency we can replace him with Ryan Anderson. Anderson should be great in a game that prioritizes three-point shooting over defense.
Indiana Pacers
Victor Oladipo
Myles Turner
Tyreke Evans
Analysis: Indiana was a difficult team to narrow down because they feature a number of really-solid-but-not-star players like Thaddeus Young, Darren Collison, and Domantas Sabonis.
LA Clippers
Lou Williams
Tobias Harris
Danilo Gallinari
Analysis: I know the season hasn’t started yet, but I think Danilo Gallinari just got hurt again.
Los Angeles Lakers
Lebron James
Lonzo Ball
Kyle Kuzma
Analysis: This is the second team that doesn’t feature someone at least 6’ 10”, but would you really rather have Javale McGee on your video game team? Kuzma just barely edges out Brandon Ingram because of his rebounding (like that matters) and his higher three-point percentage. Lonzo gets the nod over Rajon Rondo & KCP due to name recognition and the hilarious possibilities of having a Lavar Ball avatar in the game…”Stay in YO lane!!!”
Memphis Grizzlies
Mike Conley
Marc Gasol
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Analysis: Although we tried to avoid using rookies, the next best option was Chandler Parsons. Remember that really cool 2014 NBA Store commercial that Chandler Parsons was in? That’s pretty much the last good NBA-related thing he’s done.
Miami Heat
Goran Dragic
Hassan Whiteside
Dwyane Wade
Analysis: Wade gets the nod over Tyler Johnson and Josh Richardson based on name recognition.
Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounpo
Khris Middleton
Eric Bledsoe
Minnesota Timberwolves
Jimmy Butler
Karl-Anthony Towns
Andrew Wiggins
Analysis: The problem with this trio is the same as the real-life team...their center is their best three-point shooter.
New Orleans Pelicans
Anthony Davis
Jrue Holiday
Julius Randle
New York Knicks
Kristaps Porzingis
Tim Hardaway Jr.
Enes Kanter
Oklahoma City Thunder
Russell Westbrook
Steven Adams
Paul George
Orlando Magic
Aaron Gordon
Evan Fournier
Nikola Vucevic
Analysis: Just imagine the dunks you could get out of Aaron Gordon on an NBA Jam game...
Philadelphia 76ers
Ben Simmons
Joel Embiid
J.J. Redick
Phoenix Suns
Devin Booker
Deandre Ayton
Josh Jackson
Analysis: Ayton makes cut because the other choices for Suns big men are Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss (both top-10 picks by the way). No wonder the Suns are terrible.
Portland Trailblazers
C.J. McCollum
Damian Lillard
Jusuf Nurkic
Sacramento Kings
De’Aaron Fox
Buddy Hield
Marvin Bagley III
Analysis: If you made a case for including Willie Cauley-Stein over Bagley, you wouldn't get an argument from us.
San Antonio Spurs
LaMarcus Aldridge
Demar DeRozan
Rudy Gay
Utah Jazz
Rudy Gobert
Donovan Mitchell
Ricky Rubio
Analysis: Rubio’s name recognition and improved shooting give him a narrow edge over Joe Ingles and Derrick Favors.
Toronto Raptors
Kawhi Leonard
Kyle Lowry
Jonas Valanciunas
Analysis: Fred Van Fleet gets bumped out of need for a big. Valanciunas isn’t much of a shooter, so you could make a good case for adding Serge Ibaka here.
Washington Wizards
John Wall
Bradley Beal
Dwight Howard
Analysis: Don’t lie -- that trio look really good on paper, doesn’t it?
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