With the 2022-2023 NBA season officially over, the Denver Nuggets have been crowned champions and truly prove Joe Paterno’s old saying of how “the name on the front of the jersey is most important, not the name on the back.” Searching for stars like Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis, it was the team’s team effort that allowed the Nuggets to shine.
With that being said, today we’re looking meticulously at the names on the back of the jersey, in an effort to create the best possible hypothetical starting five. In alphabetical order by the first letter of their last names, which of these teams would win the “shirt back” championship?
* There are no teams for Q, U, X or Z due to lack of players
NBA Team – Elite Interior Defense and Curvy Perimeter Defense
PG: Jose Alvarado
Secretary General: Grayson Allen
SF: OG Anunoby
PF: Giannis Antitekounmo (Captain)
A: Bam Adebayo
Honorable Mentions: Garrett Allen, Kyle Anderson, DeAndre Ayton
NBA B Team – The offensive juggernaut of small ball
PG: Jalen Bronson
Secretary General: Devin Booker
SF: Jaylen Brown
PF: Jimmy Butler (captain)
A: Paolo Bancaro
Honorable Mentions: LaMelo Ball, Scotty Barnes, Mikal Bridges, Desmond Payne, Bradley Bell
C NBA Team – Chef Curry should carry the team
PG: Steve Curry (Captain)
General Secretary: Cade Cunningham
SF: Kentavius Caldwell Pope
PF: John Collins
A: Clint Capella
Honorable Mentions: Nick Claxton, Jordan Clarkson, Alex Caruso
D NBA Team – Dinwiddie would never have been traded if Doncic had this support team
PG: Luka Doncic (Captain)
Secretary General: Spencer Dinwiddie
SF: DeMar DeRozan
PF: Kevin Durant
A: Anthony Davis
Honorable Mentions: Lou Dort, Galen Dorin, Ayo Dosonmo, Donte Divincenzo