Kevin Garnett left Michael Jordan off his all-time starting five: "He is the god, and we copied him and s—t, but I got Kob' at my two" originally appeared on Basketball Network .
There are few things NBA legends enjoy more than naming their all-time starting fives — and Kevin Garnett did just that in November 2021, even putting together a full 12-man roster.
Five years into retirement at the time, the Hall of Famer didn't just throw out names. He made his picks with one key factor in mind. The final list stirred debate — and included at least one headline-worthy snub, along with a few other eyebrow-raisers.
Garnett has always been a student of the game — a passion that hasn't faded since he retired in 2016. After moving into NBA media, the now 49-year-old built a reputation for doing what many former players won't: giving real credit to the younger generation.
KG has never hesitated to show love to the all-time greats he once battled. That balance made his all-time starting five all the more intriguing.
In today's NBA, positions are fluid. Point guards now stand well over six feet, with players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander , Luka Doncic , Cade Cunningham , and Josh Giddey blurring the line between ball-handler and wing.
Meanwhile, big men aren't just rim protectors anymore — they're playmakers, shooters and all-around impact players. Some, like Kristaps Porzingis and Victor Wembanyama , are even labeled "unicorns" for their unique skill sets.
Positionless defense has also become a hallmark of today's game. Just look at the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder , where perimeter and interior defense flow together seamlessly. Players like Alex Caruso , Jalen Williams , and Kenrich Williams — all listed as guard-forwards — routinely took on big men in key defensive stretches during OKC's title run.
Garnett leaned into that same philosophy when picking his lineup. The formula was simple for the 2004 Most Valuable Player and 2008 Defensive Player of the Year: build a tall, switch-everything unit that can guard anyone, anywhere.
"I'm going for a taller team because we're going to switch everything," he said on the "Million Dollaz Worth of Game" podcast.
Once The Big Ticket had outlined his approach, he started with the point guard spot.
All-time roster debates are usually heated, but this position often feels more clear-cut. Some favor '90s floor generals like Isiah Thomas or John Stockton, legends of the Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz , respectively. Others reach all the way back to Oscar Robertson, the original triple-double king.
Yet most choices usually come down to two names: Stephen Curry or Magic Johnson. Garnett went with the latter.
The pick fit his vision perfectly. KG wanted size everywhere, and Magic was the original big guard prototype. At 6'9", the Los Angeles Lakers legend saw angles others couldn't — something The Big Ticket highlighted when explaining the choice.
Next, Garnett locked in Kevin Durant , a two-time champion with the Golden State Warriors and one of the most gifted scorers ever. Officially 6'11", though some say closer to seven feet, KD is another ideal piece for KG's switch-everything scheme.
Moving to the frontcourt, the Boston Celtics legend took the center spot himself, paired with the late 7'2" Wilt Chamberlain at power forward. Unconventional, yes — but as Garnett explained, positions on paper didn't matter.
"Threes, fours, and fives switching everything. That's how I'm coming," he said.
The NBA legend faced more tough calls: who would start at shooting guard, and how would the bench shape up?
Regarding the first choice, Garnett initially leaned toward Michael Jordan . Allen Iverson was also in the conversation.
"I gotta go MJ," KG said — then quickly flipped it: "Matter of fact, I'm putting Kob' at my two."
Naturally, people in the studio were stunned. Co-host Gillie Da Kid even asked if Garnett was serious or wanted to take it back. But he only barked back with the same intensity he had shown referees during his 20-plus years in the league, repeating his statement.
However, following that pushback, Garnett softened slightly, making clear it wasn't a slight on Jordan.
"I know you're gonna say MJ, and you're supposed to — shoutout to MJ 'cause he's the god, and we all copied him and s —t — but I got Kob' at my two," he said, later adding, "I respect Mike. Love Mike Jordan, he's my dog. I ain't trying to diss him."
Though Kobbe Bryant claimed the starting shooting guard spot, Jordan wasn't left out — he earned the 12th and final spot on the bench. For a player as fiercely competitive as His Airness, that almost sounded comical.
"My backup point guard [is] gonna be Pete Maravich," Garnett continued. "Then I'm gonna go A.I. (Allen Iverson) coming off the bench because he's buckets all day. Big Dog (Glenn Robinson) at the three, Sheed (Rasheed Wallace) at four, and then I'm going Shaq [O'Neal] at five coming off the bench. And then I need two more to come off? I'm gonna get V.C. (Vince Carter) 'cause he was a bucket, and Jordan. That's buckets for buckets."
NBA fans know Garnett's reputation for being a bit wild — and he'd agree. That boldness certainly showed when he named Jordan last on the roster and left out other legends, stressing that his list reflects fierce will.
"Think about the list, bro. It's crazy. I ain't put Bron (LeBron James) on my list. I ain't put [Larry] Bird on my list. I left a lot of cats off. I'm talking dogs — everybody I named is coming after you," concluded the one-time NBA champion.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
