Some NBA franchises can draw upon their depth of historical talent and put together a contender for the best starting lineup in league history. Others, primarily those that joined the Association at a more recent date, are left scraping together depth charts that have no hope of competing against those of the traditional powerhouses.

But everyone, whether it’s the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics brimming over with Hall of Famers or the Toronto Raptors making the most of their recent success, has at least one five-man unit worthy of recognition.

To build both the best starting lineup and the ideal depth chart for each of the 30 organizations, we’re turning to the total points added (TPA) metric I developed and helped popularize at NBA Math. TPA looks at both defensive and offensive effectiveness on a per-possession basis and then incorporates playing time into the equation such that a score of 0.0 represents league-average contributions and higher numbers are better.

For every team, we looked at the highest single-season TPAs (limit of one per player for each franchise, though the same player can appear on multiple depth charts) and categorized players at the positions at which they spent the most time during the season in question.

You’ll see some surprises as we proceed alphabetically from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards, but remember that subjectivity is, quite intentionally, not part of the process here. Disagreements are fine. Encouraged even. After all, this is intended, more than anything else, to be a celebration of myriad hyper-talented players throughout NBA history, some of whom may not have survived the final cuts.

Atlanta Hawks

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	1997 Mookie Blaylock 367.55 TPA	1987 Doc Rivers 312.76 TPA	2022 Trae Young 275.29 TPA
SG	2002 Jason Terry 181.9 TPA	1974 Lou Hudson 172.88 TPA	1998 Steve Smith 157.56 TPA
SF	1987 Dominique Wilkins 331.35 TPA	1976 John Drew 248.95 TPA	1959 Cliff Hagan 202.73 TPA
PF	1961 Bob Pettit 320.99 TPA	2010 Josh Smith 271.88 TPA	2016 Paul Millsap 221.95 TPA
C	2016 Al Horford 200.51 TPA	1980 Tree Rollins 172.47 TPA	1960 Clyde Lovellette 171.68 TPA

Perhaps Trae Young will one day work his way into the starting lineup — or even the bench unit — at point guard. But for now, he’s still looking up at Doc Rivers (yes, he used to be a player) and the ever-underrated Mookie Blaylock (who doesn’t receive any credit for inspiring Mookie Betts’ name).

Otherwise, the all-time starting five isn’t flashy but is effective.

Dominique Wilkins provided plenty of memorable dunks during his time with the Hawks, but Bob Pettit and Al Horford were more productive and efficient than highlight-reel mainstays. Jason Terry, for all the aviation-inspired celebrations, wasn’t exactly a nightly SportsCenter threat, either.

2022-23 Entries: None

Boston Celtics

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	2017 Isaiah Thomas 348.27 TPA	2019 Kyrie Irving 325.14 TPA	2010 Rajon Rondo 201.95 TPA
SG	1965 Sam Jones 235.03 TPA	2009 Ray Allen 216.33 TPA	2019 Frank Ramsey 208.15 TPA
SF	1985 Larry Bird 586.05 TPA	2002 Paul Pierce 380.1 TPA	2023 Jayson Tatum 308.34 TPA
PF	2008 Kevin Garnett 358.36 TPA	1987 Kevin McHale 320.06 TPA	1967 Bailey Howell 230.61 TPA
C	1964 Bill Russell 347.53 TPA	1981 Robert Parish 258.52 TPA	1952 Ed Macauley 253.39 TPA

Unsurprisingly, the Boston Celtics’ starting five — and the bench and third string, really — is loaded.

Bill Russell and Larry Bird are two of the 10 greatest players in NBA history, and peak Kevin Garnett was an otherworldly two-way force.

But the point guard rotation may be a head-scratcher.

Bob Cousy, Dennis Johnson, Rajon Rondo, Nate “Tiny” Archibald, K.C. Jones, and Jo Jo White are often featured as the greatest 1-guards in franchise history, but that’s at least partially due to the lengths of their tenures. In a single-season setting like this one, Isaiah Thomas receives a ton of credit for a 2016-17 season in which he averaged 28.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 5.9 assists while slashing 46.3/37.9/90.9.

2022-23 Entries: Jayson Tatum

Brooklyn Nets

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	2003 Jason Kidd 374.37 TPA	1985 Micheal Ray Richardson 267.62 TPA	2021 Kyrie Irving 215.18 TPA
SG	2006 Vince Carter 271.28 TPA	2003 Kerry Kittles 169.67 TPA	1993 Drazen Petrovic 95.65 TPA
SF	2022 Kevin Durant 299.75 TPA	1997 Kendall Gill 178.46 TPA	2006 Richard Jefferson 176.82 TPA
PF	1994 Derrick Coleman 236.53 TPA	1983 Buck Williams 127.79 TPA	2004 Kenyon Martin 78.15 TPA
C	2023 Nic Claxton 144.18 TPA	1986 Mike Gminski 136.07 TPA	2013 Brook Lopez 133.54 TPA

Shoutout to 2022-23 Nic Claxton for displacing Mike Gminski to become the starting center on the all-time depth chart, but that wasn’t a particularly high bar to clear. Fortunately for the Brooklyn Nets, the path to the top is tougher at the other four positions.

Jason Kidd, one of the original triple-double machines, is the headliner of this roster, but Kevin Durant wasn’t far behind during his brief tenure with the franchise.

The other bit of good news? A rebuilding Nets outfit has plenty of candidates — both on the roster and sure to be acquired in the near future — to take over other spots on the relatively lackluster depth chart.

2022-23 Entries: Nic Claxton

Charlotte Hornets

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	2019 Kemba Walker 248.46 TPA	2002 Baron Davis 228.92 TPA	2022 LaMelo Ball 176.6 TPA
SG	2000 Eddie Jones 266.82 TPA	1995 Hersey Hawkins 128.55 TPA	1994 Dell Curry 124.22 TPA
SF	2007 Gerald Wallace 185.67 TPA	2008 Jason Richardson 181.04 TPA	2001 Jamal Mashburn 116.91 TPA
PF	1997 Anthony Mason 196.3 TPA	1996 Larry Johnson 176.35 TPA	2016 Marvin Williams 120.72 TPA
C	1997 Vlade Divac 134.15 TPA	2014 Al Jefferson 132.19 TPA	2007 Emeka Okafor 92.93 TPA

When the Charlotte Bobcats became the Charlotte Hornets on May 20, 2014, team officials announced they were also reclaiming the history, stats, and records from the earlier era that took place from 1988-2002, effectively taking them from the New Orleans Pelicans, who retroactively became a 2002 expansion team.

That’s great news for the Hornets here since they can lay claim to three of five members of the starting five: Eddie Jones, Anthony Mason, and Vlade Divac. Plus, Larry Johnson, Hersey Hawkins, Baron Davis, Dell Curry, and Jamal Mashburn also make the cut.

Aside from Kemba Walker and LaMelo Ball, though, the most recent iterations of this organization haven’t been particularly notable.

2022-23 Entries: None

Chicago Bulls

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	2011 Derrick Rose 386.94 TPA	2007 Kirk Hinrich 153.76 TPA	1996 Steve Kerr 123.09 TPA
SG	1988 Michael Jordan 850.73 TPA	2017 Jimmy Butler 405.18 TPA	1972 Chet Walker 298.07 TPA
SF	1995 Scottie Pippen 423.95 TPA	1996 Toni Kukoc 218.79 TPA	2007 Luol Deng 178.06 TPA
PF	1992 Horace Grant 296.4 TPA	2015 Pau Gasol 226.24 TPA	1969 Bob Boozer 170.02 TPA
C	1979 Artis Gilmore 285.98 TPA	2014 Joakim Noah 276.97 TPA	1974 Clifford Ray 175.43 TPA

An MVP-winning Derrick Rose, a GOAT frontrunner in Michael Jordan, and one of NBA history’s greatest second fiddles in Scottie Pippen make for a great foundation. But the Chicago Bulls are quite talented even beyond the leading triumvirate.

Artis Gilmore was a seven-foot menace, the bespectacled prime version of Horace Grant could have starred if handed his own roster, and the rest of the roster ain’t bad.

DeMar DeRozan, Zach Lavine, Nikola Vucevic, and the rest of the present-day Bulls have the talent necessary to join the lineup, but that’s a tall task given the many successful versions of the Windy City representatives.

2022-23 Entries: None

Cleveland Cavaliers

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	1996 Terrell Brandon 329.14 TPA	1994 Mark Price 291.64 TPA	2002 Andre Miller 227.83 TPA
SG	2023 Donovan Mitchell 300.62	1989 Ron Harper 270.73 TPA	1998 Wesley Person 225.89 TPA
SF	2009 LeBron James 740.69 TPA	1979 Campy Russell 98.87 TPA	1996 Dan Majerle 76.94 TPA
PF	1992 Larry Nance 294.31 TPA	2016 Kevin Love 155.2 TPA	1976 Jim Brewer 116.02 TPA
C	1993 Brad Daugherty 259.45 TPA	1992 Hot Rod Williams 171.9 TPA	2022 Jarrett Allen 141.25 TPA

How good was Donovan Mitchell during the 2022-23 season?

The 2-guard averaged 28.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists while turning the ball over a career-low 2.6 times per contest. Pair that with remarkable scoring efficiency (48.4/38.6/86.7) while taking 9.3 triples and 5.4 free-throw attempts per game, and Mitchell had such a sterling combination of volume and efficiency that he posted the starting lineup’s third-best score, behind only LeBron James and Terrell Brandon.

Larry Nance and Brad Daugherty (especially early in his career before back injuries took their toll) round out an impressive starting five, but this is all about laying claim to the peak version of James and surrounding him with upper-tier talent.

2022-23 Entries: Donovan Mitchell

Dallas Mavericks

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	2023 Luka Doncic 433.07 TPA	1987 Derek Harper 276.98 TPA	2003 Steve Nash 241.17 TPA
SG	2007 Jason Terry 212.16 TPA	1998 Rolando Blackman 151.27 TPA	2013 Vince Carter 122.85 TPA
SF	1984 Mark Aguirre 228.75 TPA	1998 Michael Finley 153.34 TPA	2007 Josh Howard 141.53 TPA
PF	2006 Dirk Nowitzki 462.86 TPA	1990 Sam Perkins 94.01 TPA	2010 Shawn Marion 86.21 TPA
C	2015 Tyson Chandler 117.69 TPA	1987 James Donaldson 107.39 TPA	2019 Dwight Powell 98.78 TPA

Prior to the 2022-23 season, Luka Doncic … was still the starting point guard, thanks to the 375.01 TPA he’d earned during the 2021-22 campaign. And prior to that, well, it was still Doncic with 354.85 TPA in 2019-20.

The do-everything 1-guard has clearly established himself as the best player at his position in franchise history — apologies to Derek Harper, Steve Nash, and Jason Kidd — but he’s still fighting to catch the peak version of Dirk Nowitzki.

Now, if only Dallas could find a true game-changing talent at the 5.

2022-23 Entries: Luka Doncic

Denver Nuggets

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	1988 Fat Lever 346.82 TPA	1991 Michael Adams 295.32 TPA	2010 Chauncey Billups 182.76 TPA
SG	1978 David Thompson 329.19 TPA	2008 Allen Iverson 193.04 TPA	2013 Andre Iguodala 141.58 TPA
SF	1983 Alex English 322.13 TPA	1992 Reggie Williams 171.21 TPA	2006 Carmelo Anthony 150.65 TPA
PF	1977 Bobby Jones 382.56 TPA	1984 Kiki Vandeweghe 228.89 TPA	1985 Calvin Natt 191.81 TPA
C	2022 Nikola Jokic 691.15 TPA	2007 Marcus Camby 222.11 TPA	1980 Dan Issel 210.9 TPA

Breaking news: Nikola Jokic, the best second-round pick in NBA history, is pretty good at this whole basketball thing. The Denver Nuggets center now has the four best single-season TPA scores in franchise history:

1. 2021-22 Nikola Jokic: 691.15 TPA
2. 2022-23 Nikola Jokic: 617.19 TPA
3. 2020-21 Nikola Jokic: 605.91 TPA
4. 2018-19 Nikola Jokic: 460.78 TPA

Fat Lever (underrated triple-double producer), Alex English (leading scorer of the ’80s), Bobby Jones (tremendously overlooked defensive force), and David Thompson (relatively underrated Michael Jordan inspiration) fill out a strong starting five, but none have come within sniffing distance of peak Jokic.

Now, if Jamal Murray could put together a regular season on the same level as his postseason bursts of excellence…

2022-23 Entries: None

Detroit Pistons

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	1985 Isiah Thomas 424.05 TPA	2008 Chauncey Billups 352.07 TPA	1971 Dave Bing 158.63 TPA
SG	2001 Jerry Stackhouse 324.4 TPA	1991 Joe Dumars 157.34 TPA	2002 Jon Barry 144.17 TPA
SF	1997 Grant Hill 445.69 TPA	1963 Bailey Howell 274.49 TPA	1958 George Yardley 219.97 TPA
PF	2019 Blake Griffin 271.12 TPA	2006 Rasheed Wallace 184.06 TPA	1992 Dennis Rodman 175.23 TPA
C	1974 Bob Lanier 469.23 TPA	1955 Larry Foust 264.46 TPA	2002 Ben Wallace 242.77 TPA

What makes the Detroit Pistons’ starting five particularly fun is the era diversity. Each of the five players comes from a different decade. (To be fair, Joe Dumars and Ben Wallace don’t get enough credit for their defensive contributions due to the limitations of the chosen metric.)

Throw in the backups and third-stringers, and seven different decades are represented in the depth chart: the ’50s (Larry Foust, George Yardley), the ’60s (Bailey Howell), the ’70s (Bob Lanier, Dave Bing), the ’80s (Isiah Thomas), the ’90s (Grant Hill, Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman), the ’00s (Jerry Stackhouse, Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, Jon Barry, Ben Wallace), and the ’10s (Blake Griffin).

Will the 2020s eventually earn a spot? Cade Cunningham might have the best chance, though no player has hit triple digits during the in-progress decade.

2022-23 Entries: None

Golden State Warriors

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	2016 Stephen Curry 662.87 TPA	1991 Tim Hardaway 305.46 TPA	1987 Sleepy Floyd 279.28 TPA
SG	2015 Klay Thompson 221.31 TPA	1997 Latrell Sprewell 174.77 TPA	2006 Jason Richardson 173.6 TPA
SF	2017 Kevin Durant 381.11 TPA	1975 Rick Barry 354.75 TPA	1991 Chris Mullin 328.98 TPA
PF	2016 Draymond Green 316.06 TPA	2013 David Lee 102.55 TPA	1971 Jerry Lucas 99.07 TPA
C	1964 Wilt Chamberlain 613.2 TPA	1954 Neil Johnston 314.32 TPA	1994 Chris Webber 200.21 TPA

If you need any more indication of the Golden State Warriors’ dynastic status, look no further than the presences of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, and Draymond Green in the starting lineup of a talent-laden depth chart.

Now, do yourself a favor and imagine the peak version of the modern-era Dubs operating with vintage Wilt Chamberlain at the pivot.

You’re welcome for those thoughts of sheer basketball perfection.

(As an aside, good luck finding many better small forward rotations than Durant, Rick Barry, and Chris Mullin.)

2022-23 Entries: None

Houston Rockets

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	2001 Steve Francis 300.15 TPA	2018 Chris Paul 261.51 TPA	1991 Kenny Smith 160.51 TPA
SG	2019 James Harden 641.31 TPA	1997 Clyde Drexler 211.03 TPA	2011 Kevin Martin 169.62 TPA
SF	2005 Tracy McGrady 392.61 TPA	1985 Rodney McCray 171.21 TPA	1981 Robert Reid 128.63 TPA
PF	1974 Rudy Tomjanovich 229.56 TPA	1997 Charles Barkley 217.59 TPA	1996 Robert Horry 115.96 TPA
C	1993 Hakeem Olajuwon 473.51 TPA	1982 Moses Malone 305.29 TPA	2006 Yao Ming 156.56 TPA

Memorable as Hakeem Olajuwon, Tracy McGrady, and James Harden may be, this starting five doesn’t quite feature the star power of other jaw-droppingly talented quintets, such as the Golden State Warriors’ starters. But that’s all about perception.

The Bay Area’s leading lineup has a combined TPA of 2,194.55. Houston’s is only slightly behind at 2,037.14.

Steve Francis and Rudy Tomjanovich were just that good at their peaks with the Rockets.

2022-23 Entries: None

Indiana Pacers

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	2023 Tyrese Haliburton 285.55 TPA	1992 Micheal Williams 207.78 TPA	2013 George Hill 161.37 TPA
SG	1997 Reggie Miller 318.97 TPA	2018 Victor Oladipo 294.26 TPA	2008 Mike Dunleavy Jr. 102.42 TPA
SF	2016 Paul George 276.6 TPA	2009 Danny Granger 234.02 TPA	1977 Billy Knight 182.67 TPA
PF	1993 Detlef Schrempf 204.22 TPA	2021 Domantas Sabonis 182.62 TPA	2013 David West 177.06 TPA
C	2003 Brad Miller 129.25 TPA	2019 Myles Turner 101.82 TPA	1987 Steve Stipanovich 100.44 TPA

A franchise that has been around as long as the Indiana Pacers should have a better all-time depth chart. But even with a history that dates back to 1976-77 (ABA contributions are not included), they only have one player who has peaked above 300 TPA: Reggie Miller.

For perspective, 103 different players in the NBA archives have submitted a combined 344 such seasons.

Tyrese Haliburton, fresh off the leading season by a Pacers point guard, has a chance to break past the seemingly unbreakable barrier. And then maybe Indiana can also improve its lagging scores at power forward and center.

2022-23 Entries: Tyrese Haliburton

Los Angeles Clippers

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	2015 Chris Paul 449.09 TPA	1993 Mark Jackson 128.57 TPA	1981 Brian Taylor 110.42 TPA
SG	1979 World B. Free 191.71 TPA	2018 Lou Williams 129.72 TPA	2005 Corey Maggette 109.07 TPA
SF	2020 Kawhi Leonard 345.87 TPA	2001 Lamar Odom 210.56 TPA	2019 Danilo Gallinari 192.39 TPA
PF	2006 Elton Brand 394.73 TPA	2014 Blake Griffin 256.58 TPA	1992 Danny Manning 249.01 TPA
C	1975 Bob McAdoo 373.86 TPA	2017 DeAndre Jordan 173.99 TPA	2019 Montrezl Harrell 150.23 TPA

Despite the historical lack of team-based success — the Los Angeles Clippers/San Diego Clippers/Buffalo Braves have been to the conference finals just once but lost in six games to the 2021 Phoenix Suns — the franchise has boasted plenty of notable individual talents.

First came Bob McAdoo. Then Elton Brand. Then the Lob City trio of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and (to a far lesser extent) DeAndre Jordan. Then Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, though the latter hasn’t yet stayed healthy enough to displace Danilo Gallinari as the third-string small forward.

Maybe that NBA Finals appearance will finally come. One day.

2022-23 Entries: None

Los Angeles Lakers

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	1990 Magic Johnson 592.97 TPA	1966 Jerry West 380.64 TPA	1979 Norm Nixon 152.09 TPA
SG	2006 Kobe Bryant 471.39 TPA	1998 Eddie Jones 225.71 TPA	1988 Byron Scott 212.8 TPA
SF	2020 LeBron James 407.16 TPA	1961 Elgin Baylor 296.88 TPA	1990 James Worthy 225.42 TPA
PF	2020 Anthony Davis 355.99 TPA	2011 Pau Gasol 274.4 TPA	1952 Vern Mikkelsen 236.58 TPA
C	1976 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 641.58 TPA	2000 Shaquille O’Neal 569.26 TPA	1973 Wilt Chamberlain 355.34 TPA

Goodness gracious.

Anthony Davis is rather easily the worst member of the starting five, and he’s still an MVP-caliber talent when healthy. But he pales in comparison to post-peak-athleticism LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

But that flat-out ridiculous starting five still might not be the best representation of the Purple and Gold’s historic ability to attract and acquire superstars.

The second string, comprised of Jerry West, Eddie Jones, Elgin Baylor, Pau Gasol, and Shaquille O’Neal, features numerous inner-circle Hall of Famers and could go toe-to-toe with most franchises’ opening lineups. Even a third string highlighted by James Worthy and Wilt Chamberlain would leave many other organizations envious.

2022-23 Entries: None

Memphis Grizzlies

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	2017 Mike Conley 298.98 TPA	2022 Ja Morant 240.78 TPA	2018 Tyreke Evans 140.12 TPA
SG	2022 Desmond Bane 132.57 TPA	2006 Mike Miller 121.83 TPA	2011 Tony Allen 100.93 TPA
SF	2004 James Posey 171.35 TPA	2000 Shareef Abdur-Rahim 134.93 TPA	2006 Shane Battier 130.83 TPA
PF	2006 Pau Gasol 313.68 TPA	2011 Zach Randolph 136.87 TPA	2021 Kyle Anderson 128.72 TPA
C	2013 Marc Gasol 264.51 TPA	2021 Jonas Valanciunas 106.68 TPA	2023 Jaren Jackson Jr. 101.63 TPA

Jaren Jackson Jr., despite playing just 63 games, did enough in 2022-23 to join the fray — albeit as a third-stringer. Ja Morant (233.86) and Desmond Bane (131.84) came tantalizingly close to improving upon their own career-best marks, though suspensions and injuries, respectively, held them back.

As one of the NBA’s most recent expansion franchises, the Memphis Grizzlies have a ton of room for growth throughout their depth chart. And given the talent on the current squad, this lineup will likely look quite a bit different in the relatively near future.

2022-23 Entries: Jaren Jackson Jr.

Miami Heat

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	1997 Tim Hardaway 356.09 TPA	2005 Damon Jones 146.49 TPA	2017 Goran Dragic 126.9 TPA
SG	2009 Dwyane Wade 602.32 TPA	2002 Eddie Jones 222.12 TPA	1994 Steve Smith 141.71 TPA
SF	2013 LeBron James 633.39 TPA	2023 Jimmy Butler 373.18 TPA	1995 Glen Rice 193.21 TPA
PF	2004 Lamar Odom 158.31 TPA	2016 Chris Bosh 141.8 TPA	2017 James Johnson 114.35 TPA
C	2000 Alonzo Mourning 269.87 TPA	2005 Shaquille O’Neal 248.69 TPA	2021 Bam Adebayo 209.57 TPA

Even without the benefit of a magical playoff run — regular-season numbers, much as is the case with career leaderboards for NBA statistics, are all that matter here — Jimmy Butler surged ahead of every small forward in Miami Heat history, save one.

Of course, that one is LeBron James, operating at the peak of his powers alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to win back-to-back championships. Try not to hold that against Butler.

Joining James in the starting five? Tim Hardaway’s killer crossover, Lamar Odom’s point-forward skills, Alonzo Mourning’s physicality, and Wade’s all-around game. It’s already a loaded lineup for one of the NBA’s youngest franchises, and Bam Adebayo might have some future plans for changes to the leading quintet.

2022-23 Entries: Jimmy Butler

Milwaukee Bucks

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	1994 Eric Murdock 193.67 TPA	1971 Oscar Robertson 173.79 TPA	2019 Eric Bledsoe 150.38 TPA
SG	1986 Paul Pressey 325.02 TPA	2001 Ray Allen 324.57 TPA	1983 Sidney Moncrief 310.06 TPA
SF	1979 Marques Johnson 314.46 TPA	2020 Khris Middleton 165.77 TPA	1976 Bob Dandridge 142.32 TPA
PF	2019 Giannis Antetokounmpo 523.51 TPA	1985 Terry Cummings 242.31 TPA	1997 Vin Baker 117.92 TPA
C	1972 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 623.54 TPA	1989 Jack Sikma 152.59 TPA	1981 Bob Lanier 146.48 TPA

Seeing Eric Murdock over Oscar Robertson might be a shock, especially because The Big O paired up with starting center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to win the first title in Milwaukee Bucks history. It’s a natural reaction.

But don’t forget that Robertson was 32 during his first Brewtown season — or that Murdock capitalized on the shortened three-point arc to average 15.3 points and 6.7 assists on 46.8/41.1/81.3 shooting during the 1993-94 campaign.

In many other places, the Bucks’ depth chart is a collection of underrated talents whose legacies shouldn’t be lost to the passage of time. Peak-athleticism Ray Allen, “point forward” term-coiner Marques Johnson, two-way maestro Sidney Moncrief, and more all deserve their flowers.

2022-23 Entries: None

Minnesota Timberwolves

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	2004 Sam Cassell 231.21 TPA	2000 Terrell Brandon 207.5 TPA	1993 Micheal Williams 134.99 TPA
SG	2018 Jimmy Butler 246.08 TPA	2005 Fred Hoiberg 95.9 TPA	2022 Anthony Edwards 62.21 TPA
SF	2013 Andrei Kirilenko 140.12 TPA	2002 Wally Szczerbiak 83.36 TPA	1991 Tyrone Corbin 54.81 TPA
PF	2004 Kevin Garnett 601.04 TPA	2014 Kevin Love 503.91 TPA	2023 Kyle Anderson 102.95 TPA
C	2019 Karl-Anthony Towns 318.12 TPA	2009 Al Jefferson 91.53 TPA	1997 Dean Garrett 31.07 TPA

Kyle Anderson averaged 9.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists while slashing 50.9/41.0/73.5 during a quietly effective season for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2022-23, also overcoming his velocity limitations to play effective and versatile defense. But it’s probably not a good sign for the franchise’s health when that makes the cut on an all-time depth chart.

Kevin Garnett and Kevin Love are doing a lot of heavy lifting here, though that might change as Anthony Edwards continues morphing into a full-fledged star capable of displacing Jimmy Butler from the starting five.

Butler, KG, and Andrei Kirilenko give this lineup plenty of defensive juice, but we’re otherwise left stretching for compliments.

2022-23 Entries: Kyle Anderson

New Orleans Pelicans

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	2009 Chris Paul 599.77 TPA	2004 Baron Davis 258.76 TPA	2019 Jrue Holiday 155.19 TPA
SG	2015 Tyreke Evans 61.67 TPA	2003 David Wesley 55.41 TPA	2023 CJ McCollum 43.76 TPA
SF	2003 Jamal Mashburn 136.58 TPA	2021 Brandon Ingram 97.01 TPA	2023 Trey Murphy III 90.98 TPA
PF	2015 Anthony Davis 413.85 TPA	2021 Zion Williamson 245.31 TPA	2011 David West 126.26 TPA
C	2018 DeMarcus Cousins 169.3 TPA	2022 Jonas Valanciunas 86.18 TPA	2005 Chris Andersen 41.17 TPA

CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy III both gained entry to the depth chart as third-stringers in 2022-23, and they should both have opportunities to ascend even higher as this team continues to progress.

And they’re not alone.

If Zion Williamson can get and stay healthy, he’s capable of challenging Anthony Davis for the highest score in franchise history. Brandon Ingram can keep improving, as well.

The Pelicans don’t have a lengthy history from which they can draw, but at least many members of the current iteration are starting to make their presence felt in some capacity.

2022-23 Entries: CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy III

New York Knicks

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	1970 Walt Frazier 287.04 TPA	2005 Stephon Marbury 261.28 TPA	1980 Ray Williams 228.81 TPA
SG	1981 Micheal Ray Richardson 217.87 TPA	1962 Richie Guerin 169.85 TPA	1993 John Starks 140.52 TPA
SF	2014 Carmelo Anthony 281.41 TPA	1984 Bernard King 242.25 TPA	1953 Ernie Vandeweghe 84.96 TPA
PF	1959 Kenny Sears 293.87 TPA	2023 Julius Randle 204.86 TPA	1953 Harry Gallatin 173.45 TPA
C	1990 Patrick Ewing 353.75 TPA	1970 Willis Reed 268.69 TPA	1978 Bob McAdoo 218.01 TPA

Putrid playoff performance notwithstanding, Julius Randle enjoyed a fantastic year for the New York Knicks. His stock seemed to be heading down after his star turn in 2020-21, but he bounced back to average a 25-point double-double and make the All-NBA Third Team.

Otherwise, it’s hard to find much modern representation here. In fact, the five most recent entries are as follows:

1. 2022-23 Julius Randle (backup power forward)
2. 2013-14 Carmelo Anthony (starting small forward)
3. 2004-05 Stephon Marbury (backup point guard)
4. 1992-93 John Starks (third-string shooting guard)
5. 1989-90 Patrick Ewing (starting center)

That’s, uh, not ideal for a franchise typically portrayed as one of the Association’s bigger draws.

2022-23 Entries: Julius Randle

Oklahoma City Thunder

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	2017 Russell Westbrook 630.91 TPA	2000 Gary Payton 432.24 TPA	2023 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 371.47 TPA
SG	2002 Brent Barry 302.54 TPA	2006 Ray Allen 256.1 TPA	1997 Hersey Hawkins 216.2 TPA
SF	2014 Kevin Durant 631.14 TPA	2019 Paul George 436.09 TPA	1995 Detlef Schrempf 252.52 TPA
PF	1994 Shawn Kemp 224.3 TPA	1974 Spencer Haywood 168.02 TPA	2020 Danilo Gallinari 121.49 TPA
C	1982 Jack Sikma 245.53 TPA	1995 Sam Perkins 136.03 TPA	2020 Steven Adams 102.96 TPA

Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way: Yes, the Seattle SuperSonics’ history remains absorbed into the archives of the Oklahoma City Thunder, even if the way the franchise changed locations — looking at you, Clay Bennett — was quite unfortunate.

That gives this depth chart a lot more juice, but plenty of Thunder players have joined the fray. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are headliners in the starting five, Paul George is a high-scoring backup, and Danilo Gallinari, Steven Adams, and the breakout 2022-23 version of Shai Gilgeous Alexander round out the roster.

The best from SGA might be yet to come, too.

2022-23 Entries: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Orlando Magic

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	1996 Anfernee Hardaway 413.99 TPA	2000 Darrell Armstrong 235.3 TPA	2009 Jameer Nelson 127.5 TPA
SG	2003 Tracy McGrady 600.78 TPA	1995 Nick Anderson 209.49 TPA	2010 Vince Carter 88.19 TPA
SF	2008 Hedo Turkoglu 158.86 TPA	1996 Dennis Scott 134.48 TPA	2005 Grant Hill 115.13 TPA
PF	2000 Bo Outlaw 208.71 TPA	2009 Rashard Lewis 202.29 TPA	2012 Ryan Anderson 150.12 TPA
C	1994 Shaquille O’Neal 434.02 TPA	2019 Nikola Vucevic 341.92 TPA	2011 Dwight Howard 292.82 TPA

Are you flabbergasted that Dwight Howard is only the third-string center? Because we’re flabbergasted, dumbfounded, befuddled, and [insert fun synonym here].

In all likelihood, the TPA metric is underselling his defense, though it’s not like 2018-19 Nikola Vucevic was too shabby while averaging 20.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists to make the All-Star roster and end a six-year playoff drought.

With Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway, Tracy McGrady, and Shaquille O’Neal in the starting lineup, this squad is all sorts of fun. But it’s still a bit lackluster, which won’t change until the current youngsters hit their strides and make some noise.

Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, and Paolo Banchero all have the upside necessary to provide those decibels sooner than later.

2022-23 Entries: None

Philadelphia 76ers

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	1995 Dana Barros 307.97 TPA	2018 Ben Simmons 252.72 TPA	1983 Maurice Cheeks 245.41 TPA
SG	2001 Allen Iverson 341.73 TPA	2023 James Harden 232.74 TPA	1991 Hersey Hawkins 203.48 TPA
SF	1981 Julius Erving 461.43 TPA	2008 Andre Iguodala 242.36 TPA	1967 Chet Walker 145.39 TPA
PF	1990 Charles Barkley 507.31 TPA	1958 Dolph Schayes 262.7 TPA	1976 George McGinnis 209.64 TPA
C	1967 Wilt Chamberlain 527.95 TPA	2022 Joel Embiid 423.53 TPA	1983 Moses Malone 231.7 TPA

Dear Philadelphia 76ers fans: If you’re reading this before scanning through the depth chart, we recommend that you avoid looking at the backup point guard spot. You’re welcome in advance.

The rest of the roster is a blast. Allen Iverson, Julius Erving, Charles Barkley, and Wilt Chamberlain give the Sixers a ridiculous amount of star power, and that extends to the bench with James Harden, prime Andre Iguodala, Joel Embiid, Maurice Cheeks, and Moses Malone.

History aficionados should also appreciate Dolph Schayes, and we can’t forget about Dana Barros capitalizing on the shortened three-point arc to knock down 46.4% of his 5.2 triples per game and have an out-of-nowhere 20.6-points-per-game season that yielded his only career All-Star appearance.

2022-23 Entries: James Harden

Phoenix Suns

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	1991 Kevin Johnson 383.65 TPA	2007 Steve Nash 316.03 TPA	2001 Jason Kidd 241.68 TPA
SG	1992 Jeff Hornacek 272.39 TPA	1978 Paul Westphal 270.63 TPA	1979 Walter Davis 230.91 TPA
SF	2003 Shawn Marion 357.84 TPA	1992 Dan Majerle 211.73 TPA	2021 Mikal Bridges 156.03 TPA
PF	1993 Charles Barkley 456.01 TPA	1987 Larry Nance 271.73 TPA	2008 Amar’e Stoudemire 258.21 TPA
C	1976 Alvan Adams 255.44 TPA	1994 Oliver Miller 166.17 TPA	1974 Neal Walk 116.76 TPA

The point guard rotation here is just otherworldly, with two-time MVP Steve Nash and triple-double machine Jason Kidd backing up peak Kevin Johnson and his dunk-over-anyone athleticism. The rest of the depth chart may not match other historic franchises from a star power perspective, but the basketball talent is undeniable.

However, there’s a head-scratcher.

Where is Devin Booker?

Booker was absurdly good during the 2023 postseason, producing just shy of 100 TPA in only 11 appearances. Based on that level of play, his 82-game pace would have him at a staggering 744.5 TPA — easily the best mark in Phoenix Suns history.

But Booker’s defensive limitations and undulating efficiency have held him back during the regular season, and his career-best mark remains 199.9 (set in 2021-22).

2022-23 Entries: None

Portland Trail Blazers

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	1991 Terry Porter 410.86 TPA	2018 Damian Lillard 391.52 TPA	1997 Kenny Anderson 255.3 TPA
SG	1992 Clyde Drexler 491.43 TPA	2009 Brandon Roy 319.38 TPA	1983 Jim Paxson 178.61 TPA
SF	2014 Nicolas Batum 197.27 TPA	2000 Scottie Pippen 183.56 TPA	1978 Bob Gross 149.21 TPA
PF	2001 Rasheed Wallace 238.9 TPA	1995 Clifford Robinson 186.19 TPA	1975 Sidney Wicks 151.87 TPA
C	1978 Bill Walton 336.03 TPA	1996 Arvydas Sabonis 218.93 TPA	1979 Tom Owens 168.59 TPA

Let’s take a step back and highlight what Damian Lillard, fueled by his disdain for ring culture, has done for the Portland Trail Blazers. He may not have the single-season mark at point guard because Terry Porter was simply sensational at the peak of his powers, but his name shows up rather frequently in the overall list of top seasons:

1. 1991-92 Clyde Drexler: 491.43 TPA
2. 1987-88 Clyde Drexler: 467.04 TPA
3. 1988-89 Clyde Drexler: 429.61 TPA
4. 1989-90 Clyde Drexler: 414.97 TPA
5. 1990-91 Terry Porter: 410.86 TPA
6. 1990-91 Clyde Drexler: 409.95 TPA
7. 2017-18 Damian Lillard: 391.52 TPA
8. 2019-20 Damian Lillard: 385.03 TPA
9. 2018-19 Damian Lillard: 369.49 TPA
10. 1989-90 Terry Porter: 342.2 TPA
11. 1977-78 Bill Walton: 336.03 TPA
12. 1976-77 Bill Walton: 333.81 TPA
13. 1986-87 Clyde Drexler: 331.84 TPA
14. 2008-09 Brandon Roy: 319.38 TPA
15. 2022-23 Damian Lillard: 307.29 TPA
16. 2020-21 Damian Lillard: 306.09 TPA
17. 2016-17 Damian Lillard: 272.58 TPA
18. 2014-15 Damian Lillard: 263.7 TPA
19. 1996-97 Kenny Anderson: 255.3 TPA
20. 1985-86 Clyde Drexler: 239.77 TPA

For those keeping track at home, that gives Lillard seven of the top 20 single-season marks. And if we look at things from a career perspective, his 2,761.63 lifetime TPA leaves him behind only Clyde Drexler (3,579.93) and well ahead of Porter (1,698.97), Arvydas Sabonis (931.55), and everyone else in Rip City history.

2022-23 Entries: None

Sacramento Kings

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	1964 Oscar Robertson 466.88 TPA	1973 Tiny Archibald 193.49 TPA	1977 Brian Taylor 163.77 TPA
SG	1997 Mitch Richmond 273.25 TPA	1983 Mike Woodson 182.19 TPA	2003 Doug Christie 168.84 TPA
SF	2004 Peja Stojakovic 247.78 TPA	1958 Jack Twyman 153.42 TPA	2007 Metta World Peace 145.09 TPA
PF	2000 Chris Webber 337.05 TPA	1964 Jerry Lucas 182.12 TPA	1971 Johnny Green 171.31 TPA
C	2023 Domantas Sabonis 337.31 TPA	2014 DeMarcus Cousins 233.53 TPA	1979 Sam Lacey 225.31 TPA

Though the roster’s depth isn’t as impressive as expected from a franchise that has been around since its days as the Rochester Royals during the 1948-49 BAA season, the Sacramento Kings’ starting five is eminently respectable.

Oscar Robertson and Mitch Richmond form a strong starting backcourt, Peja Stojakovic and Chris Webber are offensive explosions waiting to happen at the forward spots, and Domantas Sabonis rounds it out after his sterling 2022-23 efforts.

Plus, reinforcements might be coming after a 2022-23 season that saw the Kings end a playoff drought dating all the way back to a first-round loss in the 2006 postseason. De’Aaron Fox and Keegan Murray both seem like locks to have the true breakout seasons required to displace Brian Taylor and Metta World Peace, respectively.

2022-23 Entries: Domantas Sabonis

San Antonio Spurs

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	2022 Dejounte Murray 266.18 TPA	1985 Johnny Moore 207.76 TPA	2009 Tony Parker 163.02 TPA
SG	2008 Manu Ginobili 350.67 TPA	1978 George Gervin 311.41 TPA	1986 Alvin Robertson 294.55 TPA
SF	2017 Kawhi Leonard 449.36 TPA	2021 DeMar DeRozan 131.41 TPA	2018 Kyle Anderson 110.89 TPA
PF	2002 Tim Duncan 471.58 TPA	1977 Larry Kenon 164.82 TPA	1983 Gene Banks 100.19 TPA
C	1994 David Robinson 719.23 TPA	2018 LaMarcus Aldridge 194.07 TPA	1983 Artis Gilmore 174.31 TPA

This is what happens when you’re the NBA’s model franchise for a multi-decade stretch.

David Robinson, one of the most devastatingly effective two-way big men in the sport’s history, leads the charge alongside Tim Duncan, who may not have the same level of single-season prowess but is a frequent presence in all-time top-10 lists. Peak-of-his-powers Kawhi Leonard and a Eurostepping Manu Ginobili join them, and Dejounte Murray was pretty darn good before moving on to the Atlanta Hawks.

Sure, the San Antonio Spurs might not have particularly notable depth. Nor do they have many candidates to displace the legends who proceeded them — at least until Victor Wembanyama hits his stride.

But that Robinson-Duncan-Leonard-Ginobili quartet basically serves as a depth chart panacea.

2022-23 Entries: None

Toronto Raptors

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	2016 Kyle Lowry 318.8 TPA	2008 Jose Calderon 209.67 TPA	2022 Fred VanVleet 177.26 TPA
SG	2001 Vince Carter 434.28 TPA	2017 DeMar DeRozan 161.29 TPA	2015 Lou Williams 102.06 TPA
SF	2019 Kawhi Leonard 305.66 TPA	2000 Tracy McGrady 165.19 TPA	2008 Jamario Moon 75.76 TPA
PF	2022 Pascal Siakam 180.46 TPA	2005 Donyell Marshall 155.53 TPA	2015 Patrick Patterson 104.04 TPA
C	2008 Chris Bosh 200.14 TPA	2021 Chris Boucher 98.73 TPA	2018 Jonas Valanciunas 84.1 TPA

Considering the Toronto Raptors have only existed since 1995-96, this depth chart could be a lot worse.

Kyle Lowry, Vince Carter, Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam, and Chris Bosh were all All-NBA-caliber players during their peak years north of the border, and the bench lineup has some injections of talent in the form of DeMar DeRozan and Tracy McGrady.

For the sake of comparison, the Memphis Grizzlies (then located in Vancouver) entered the league simultaneously. Their all-time depth chart has 1,181.09 TPA in the starting lineup, 741.09 on the second unit, and 602.23 from the third stringers, adding up to a total of 2,524.41.

Those respective numbers stand at 1,439.4 (higher), 790.41 (higher), 543.22 (lower), and 2,773.03 (higher) for the Raptors.

2022-23 Entries: None

Utah Jazz

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	1989 John Stockton 533.12 TPA	2008 Deron Williams 227.04 TPA	1984 Rickey Green 180.0 TPA
SG	1996 Jeff Hornacek 208.17 TPA	2022 Donovan Mitchell 197.11 TPA	2008 Ronnie Brewer 152.73 TPA
SF	2004 Andrei Kirilenko 409.53 TPA	1981 Adrian Dantley 301.06 TPA	2017 Gordon Hayward 244.38 TPA
PF	1997 Karl Malone 465.19 TPA	2007 Carlos Boozer 224.26 TPA	2023 Lauri Markkanen 185.61 TPA
C	2019 Rudy Gobert 293.42 TPA	1979 Rich Kelley 175.23 TPA	2012 Al Jefferson 146.03 TPA

Making the Utah Jazz’s all-time depth chart is a difficult endeavor, but Lauri Markkanen accomplished exactly that during an out-of-nowhere surge to prominence in 2022-23. For perspective, his career-high TPA was 11.28 for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the prior season.

Otherwise, the inclusions are fairly obvious, particularly in the starting lineup. The pick-and-roll combination of John Stockton and Karl Malone was always going to lead the charge, and Rudy Gobert’s defensive excellence during his Salt Lake City tenure put him in lock territory. (Though speaking of centers, Mark Eaton failing to make the cut is a bit of a surprise until you remember just how much of an offensive non-factor he was.)

Throw in the sharp-shooting prowess of Jeff Hornacek and the defensive versatility of Andrei Kirilenko, and you have a potent unit that would be quite impractical to score against.

2022-23 Entries: Lauri Markkanen

Washington Wizards

Position	Starter	Bench	Depth
PG	2006 Gilbert Arenas 351.39 TPA	2017 John Wall 270.36 TPA	2021 Russell Westbrook 188.94 TPA
SG	2005 Larry Hughes 195.31 TPA	2019 Bradley Beal 192.94 TPA	1975 Phil Chenier 181.96 TPA
SF	1989 John Williams 230.83 TPA	1982 Greg Ballard 193.1 TPA	1964 Terry Dischinger 179.8 TPA
PF	1997 Chris Webber 283.86 TPA	1975 Elvin Hayes 250.1 TPA	1965 Bailey Howell 141.62 TPA
C	1962 Walt Bellamy 335.13 TPA	1975 Wes Unseld 253.75 TPA	2023 Kristaps Porzingis 197.25 TPA

Is it a good thing or a bad thing that the Washington Wizards — a franchise that dates back to 1961-62, when it existed as the Chicago Packers — has so many recent inclusions?

On one hand, the Wizards have found upper-tier talents in the last decade.

Larry Hughes and Gilbert Arenas are both in the starting lineup alongside John Williams, Chris Webber, and Welt Bellamy. Bradley Beal and John Wall both populate the second-string backcourt, and the former might displace Hughes if he could stay healthy for a full season (and/or not get shut down for maintenance at the end of a campaign). Russell Westbrook and, most recently, Kristaps Porzingis fill out the end of the bench.

On the other hand, that’s six of 15 roster slots dedicated to players who have suited up for Washington during a stretch in which it has won just three playoff series, no two of which came during the same postseason.

2022-23 Entries: Kristaps Porzingis

TPA data provided by Sports Math Network