It used to be that certain cities and regions were notable for producing specific types of basketball players. According to Red Auerbach, New York once was famous for its ball-handling guards; Washington DC for its penetrating guards; Philadelphia for its one-on-one scoring guards; the Mid-West for its runners and gunners; the West Coast for its one-handed shooters; and farmers everywhere raised sturdy screeners and rebounders.
Nowadays, the talent is much more universally distributed. Even so, denizens of any particular city are usually quick to praise their own native sons as being the best hoopers in the nation.
Just for fun, here's a cursory look at all-star teams consisting of players born in several representative cities. Note: Suburbs are beyond the pale.
NEW YORK
The starters might include Lenny Wilkens, Michael Jordan, Billy Cunningham, Connie Hawkins, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The subs are Tiny Archibald, Mark Jackson, Vinny Johnson, Kevin Loughery, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Mullin, Bernard King, Dolph Schayes, and Sam Perkins.
Not making the cut are Stephon Marbury, Bob Cousy, Lamar Odom, Richie Guerin, Kenny Anderson, and Ron Artest.
The coach is Red Auerbach, with Red Holzman assisting.
PHILADELPHIA
The starters: Guy Rodgers, Earl Monroe, Kobe Bryant, Rasheed Wallace, and Wilt Chamberlain.
The subs: Paul Arizin, Malik Rose, Cuttino Mobley, Hersey Hawkins, Flip Murray, Aaron McKie, Rasual Butler, Eddie Griffin, Danny Fortson, and Marc Jackson.
The coach is Jack Ramsay.
ATLANTA
The starters: Walt Frazier, World B. Free, Chris Morris, Kenny Thomas, and Dwight Howard.
The subs: Shandon Anderson, Anthony Carter, Kelvin Cato, Jarvis Hayes, and Gerald Williams.
By virtue of his relatively successful stint coaching the Hawks, Hubie Brown would be the headmaster — even though he was born in Elizabeth, NJ.
DETROIT
The starters: B. J. Armstrong, Jalen Rose, George Gervin, Chris Webber, and P. J. Brown.
The subs: Marcus Fizer, Willie Green, Howard Eisley, Jermaine Jackson, Voshon Lenard, Ira Newble, and Maurice Taylor.
The coach would be Chuck Daly, a transplanted Philadelphian.
CHICAGO
The starters: Isiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade, Shawn Marion, Terry Cummings, and Mel Daniels.
The subs: Mark Aguirre, Tim Hardaway, Maurice Cheeks, Eddie Johnson, Nick Anderson, Red Kerr, Steven Hunter, Quentin Richardson, Antoine Walker, and Doc Rivers.
Not making the cut: Bobby Simmons, Jannero Pargo, Juwan Howard, Sean May, Nazr Mohammed, Tony Allen, and Jason Maxiell.
The coach would be Phil Jackson, on leave from Montana.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
The starters: Dave Bing, Adrian Dantley, Elgin Baylor, Dave DeBusschere, and Thurl Bailey.
The subs: Delonte West, Damien Wilkins, Mike Sweetney, John Battle, Moochie Norris, John Lucas III, DeMarr Johnson, and Bernard Robinson.
The player-coach is Eddie Jordan.
LOS ANGELES
The starters: Gilbert Arenas, Baron Davis, Richard Jefferson, Kevin Willis, and Elden Campbell.
The subs: George Yardley, Andre Miller, Gail Goodrich, Jacque Vaughn, Al Harrington, Austin Croshere, Milt Palacio, Jason Hart, Omir Johnson.
The coach is Alex Hannum.
How to rate these fantasy teams?
LA is totally guard-oriented and lacks board power.
Chicago also has guards galore but not enough top-notch big men.
Detroit has no depth and no power.
Washington has a paucity of worthy subs and no superior big man — although DeBusschere and Baylor would do sufficient boardwork.
Atlanta has a woefully short bench.
By far the two best teams would be New York and Philadelphia, with the former being the favorite by the thinnest margin because of its deeper bench.
The submission of all-star lineups representing other cities is hereby invited.
Nowadays, the talent is much more universally distributed. Even so, denizens of any particular city are usually quick to praise their own native sons as being the best hoopers in the nation.
Just for fun, here's a cursory look at all-star teams consisting of players born in several representative cities. Note: Suburbs are beyond the pale.
NEW YORK
The starters might include Lenny Wilkens, Michael Jordan, Billy Cunningham, Connie Hawkins, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The subs are Tiny Archibald, Mark Jackson, Vinny Johnson, Kevin Loughery, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Mullin, Bernard King, Dolph Schayes, and Sam Perkins.
Not making the cut are Stephon Marbury, Bob Cousy, Lamar Odom, Richie Guerin, Kenny Anderson, and Ron Artest.
The coach is Red Auerbach, with Red Holzman assisting.
PHILADELPHIA
The starters: Guy Rodgers, Earl Monroe, Kobe Bryant, Rasheed Wallace, and Wilt Chamberlain.
The subs: Paul Arizin, Malik Rose, Cuttino Mobley, Hersey Hawkins, Flip Murray, Aaron McKie, Rasual Butler, Eddie Griffin, Danny Fortson, and Marc Jackson.
The coach is Jack Ramsay.
ATLANTA
The starters: Walt Frazier, World B. Free, Chris Morris, Kenny Thomas, and Dwight Howard.
The subs: Shandon Anderson, Anthony Carter, Kelvin Cato, Jarvis Hayes, and Gerald Williams.
By virtue of his relatively successful stint coaching the Hawks, Hubie Brown would be the headmaster — even though he was born in Elizabeth, NJ.
DETROIT
The starters: B. J. Armstrong, Jalen Rose, George Gervin, Chris Webber, and P. J. Brown.
The subs: Marcus Fizer, Willie Green, Howard Eisley, Jermaine Jackson, Voshon Lenard, Ira Newble, and Maurice Taylor.
The coach would be Chuck Daly, a transplanted Philadelphian.
CHICAGO
The starters: Isiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade, Shawn Marion, Terry Cummings, and Mel Daniels.
The subs: Mark Aguirre, Tim Hardaway, Maurice Cheeks, Eddie Johnson, Nick Anderson, Red Kerr, Steven Hunter, Quentin Richardson, Antoine Walker, and Doc Rivers.
Not making the cut: Bobby Simmons, Jannero Pargo, Juwan Howard, Sean May, Nazr Mohammed, Tony Allen, and Jason Maxiell.
The coach would be Phil Jackson, on leave from Montana.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
The starters: Dave Bing, Adrian Dantley, Elgin Baylor, Dave DeBusschere, and Thurl Bailey.
The subs: Delonte West, Damien Wilkins, Mike Sweetney, John Battle, Moochie Norris, John Lucas III, DeMarr Johnson, and Bernard Robinson.
The player-coach is Eddie Jordan.
LOS ANGELES
The starters: Gilbert Arenas, Baron Davis, Richard Jefferson, Kevin Willis, and Elden Campbell.
The subs: George Yardley, Andre Miller, Gail Goodrich, Jacque Vaughn, Al Harrington, Austin Croshere, Milt Palacio, Jason Hart, Omir Johnson.
The coach is Alex Hannum.
How to rate these fantasy teams?
LA is totally guard-oriented and lacks board power.
Chicago also has guards galore but not enough top-notch big men.
Detroit has no depth and no power.
Washington has a paucity of worthy subs and no superior big man — although DeBusschere and Baylor would do sufficient boardwork.
Atlanta has a woefully short bench.
By far the two best teams would be New York and Philadelphia, with the former being the favorite by the thinnest margin because of its deeper bench.
The submission of all-star lineups representing other cities is hereby invited.
