Besides the GOAT debate, the topic of basketball's greatest lineup of all time has also been discussed for decades. Former NBA star Blake Griffin became the latest addition to this conversation, revealing his all-time great team. But did he select LeBron James? Let's find out.

Griffin, who retired on April 16, 2024, appeared on the April 29 episode of Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce's New Heights podcast, where the trio engaged in basketball's all-time great starting lineup conversation. It was Jason who asked Griffin, “Who is your starting all-time five?”

The 2011 Rookie of the Year had a straight answer for Jason's query. He said, “I’m gonna put Steph at 1, the No. 1 point guard, I’m gonna go with MJ 2, LeBron at 3, Tim Duncan at 4, then I’m gonna go with Shaq, the most dominant player of all time.”

Giffin mentioned Stephen Curry at 1, highlighting his shooting and spacing. He reformed the modern era of basketball by popularising the 3-point shot and changing how defense is played at the NBA level. While Michael Jordan, with his unmatched competitiveness and scoring dominance, defined by his 6-0 NBA finals record, six Finals MVPs, and elite two-way dominance.

Additionally, Griffin's inclusion of James in his lineup speaks volumes about the Lakers star's versatility and longevity. The fact that James broke the all-time scoring record, is a 4-time NBA champion, 4-time Finals MVP, and has appeared in 10 NBA Finals, had Griffin convinced enough to include his all-time great starting list.

What stands out most is the absence of controversy in Griffin’s picks compared to other lists. While debates often grow over snubs, this positioning leads towards consensus legends who have defined generations of the NBA.

Besides all this, Griffin also made a revelation about the team he joined for his first collegiate season.

Blake Griffin Nearly Chose Blue-Blood Giants Over Oklahoma to Make His Collegiate Debut

Before becoming the face of the Oklahoma Sooners, Blake Griffin was surprisingly close to taking a completely different path, one that could have reformed his basketball journey entirely.

On the podcast with Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce, Griffin shared about his recruitment days and revealed that Oklahoma wasn’t always his first choice. Even after growing up there and having his brother already committed to the program, he seriously considered other programs before making his final decision.

He said, “It actually wasn’t…I loved Kansas, I loved Florida… and then I had like Duke and North Carolina on  my list… it felt like a lifelong dream of Duke and North Carolina.”

Programs like the Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels are considered “blue-bloods” in college basketball, often drawing in top-tier talent. Griffin’s interest in them shows he had his eyes set on the biggest stages from the start.

Yet, in the end, Griffin landed on familiarity, trust, and opportunity; he chose Oklahoma because of family ties. Looking back, it’s fascinating to imagine how different it would have been if he had followed his “blue-blood dreams.”

But leaving all this aside, what do you think about Griffin’s top 5 list? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Hetal Moleshri

Edited by

Souvik Roy