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Thaddeus Young on why the 1988 All-NBA First Team is the greatest ever: "I'm glad I wasn't in the NBA"
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- Thaddeus Young on why the 1988 All-NBA First Team is the greatest ever: "I'm glad I wasn't in the NBA"
There is no doubt that every All-NBA First Team features some of the greatest stars in basketball. But every once in a while, a particular lineup is so stacked that it looks more like a dream starting five than an actual collection of players from the same season.
For former Philadelphia 76ers star Thaddeus Young , the 1987-88 All-NBA First Team is one such lineup.
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In fact, Young believes that group was so complete that he would take it over the 2002-03 All-NBA First Team, which featured three all-time great big men in Kevin Garnett , Shaquille O'Neal and Tim Duncan .
The 1988 All-NBA First Team was historic
The 1988 All-NBA First Team was headlined by Michael Jordan, who was already establishing himself as the league's most dominant two-way superstar.
His Airness averaged league-leading 35.0 points and 3.2 steals per game to win the MVP as well as the DPOY awards that campaign. Then came Charles Barkley, who was nearly unstoppable in the paint while averaging 28.3 points and 11.9 rebounds per game.
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The team also featured arguably the greatest passer in NBA history in his prime, Magic Johnson , who continued to control games with his all-around brilliance, averaging 19.6 points and 11.9 assists per game. Larry Bird added another layer of offensive firepower, averaging 29.9 points per game while shooting 41.4 percent from three-point range.
And finally, Hakeem Olajuwon, who anchored the frontcourt with 22.8 points and 12.1 rebounds per game.
On paper, there wasn't much this lineup couldn't do.
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That is exactly why Young believes the 1988 group had the perfect combination of scoring, playmaking, defense and dominance to handle almost every challenge.
"I'm going to have to go with '88. Shaq is what really makes it tough for me, just because he's like, the most dominant big to ever play the game," Young said. "They tripping (for anyone who chooses the 2011 All-NBA First Team over these two)."
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The '03 All-NBA First Team deserves credit
Of course, Young's choice doesn't mean the 2003 All-NBA First Team lacked firepower.
That lineup featured KG, Duncan and Shaq, all of whom at least averaged 23.0 points per game. Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady were putting up more than 30.0 points per game that season, making the era one of the most offensively loaded periods in NBA history.
Shaq's presence alone could have challenged Hakeem's dominance, especially given how he dropped 28 points against the Rockets legend as a sophomore player in the NBA.
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Kobe, meanwhile, would have matched the same intensity Jordan would have brought to the court.
"That's a hell of a team. It's like a landslide," Young said when looking at the '02-03 All-NBA First Team. "Hey, you just looking at the graphic alone make me say, 'D—, I'm glad I wasn't in the NBA.'"
But for Young, the lack of a true pass-first point guard on the '03 Team would have given the '88 group an edge.
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That being said, while this remains a hypothetical discussion, Thaddeus certainly has his pick clear. Somebody with a different taste will take the opposite opinion, especially if they look at Shaq as the GOAT center.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Sep 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
