Mitch Richmond recently revealed his All-Time NBA starting five—and LeBron James didn’t make the cut.
During an appearance on Byron Scott’s Fast Break, the Hall of Famer was asked to build his ultimate lineup, including himself. Richmond, a six-time All-Star and 1989 Rookie of the Year, made selections that favored players he either played against or closely observed.
“I’m going to go Magic Johnson at point guard,” Richmond said, via HoopsHype, citing the Lakers legend’s size and passing vision.
At small forward, he went with Michael Jordan, sliding the six-time NBA champion to the three-spot instead of his traditional shooting guard role.
For power forward, Richmond considered multiple names—Tim Duncan, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, and Kevin Garnett—but ultimately chose Kevin Durant.
“I’mma go with Kevin Durant ‘cuz we’re spreading it out,” Richmond explained, prioritizing shooting and floor spacing.
At center, he picked Shaquille O’Neal, calling him “Big Shaq,” and rounded out his lineup without including LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and a four-time champion.
While the omission may raise eyebrows, Richmond’s lineup reflects a mix of personal preference, era-based familiarity, and stylistic fit.
Jordan and Durant occupy the wing positions in this hypothetical team, both elite scorers with deep playoff resumes.
Magic and Shaq add dominant playmaking and interior presence, respectively, while Richmond slots into his own list as a versatile scorer at shooting guard.
