The NBA is back! Preseason games are here, vibes are high, and plenty of beginning-of-season optimism is filling the air of NBA arenas (fan bases, as well). Credit the widespread internal belief to the increasing parity and the amount of talent that fills each roster.
But look, parity doesn’t necessarily mean equality throughout. There are still levels to this, as rapper Meek Mill once said, and today I want to look at the bottom level — not the bottom teams but the bottom starting fives.
So, here are the NBA’s five worst, ranked from five to one.
DISCLAIMER: none of these starting fives are actually awful, but hey, somebody’s got to be at the bottom of a list when doing rankings.
5
Houston Rockets
Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Projected Starters: Fred VanVleet (G), Jalen Green (G), Dillon Brooks (F), Jabari Smith Jr. (F), Alperen Sengun (C)
I don’t hate this potential starting lineup, but I don’t love it, either. I do understand the vision, though! Surrounding the centerpieces of the future rockets, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun, with veteran pieces like Fred Van Vleet and Dillon Brooks, seem like good moves for the locker room. It’ll pay off eventually, but it’s not a unit that’ll keep opponents up at night.
4
Portland Trail Blazers
Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Projected Starters: Scoot Henderson (G), Anfernee Simons (G), Shaedon Sharpe (G), Jerami Grant (F), Deandre Ayton (C)
We’re looking at a much different Portland Trail Blazer team than we’ve seen in years past, which is good! Between Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, Blazers fans will be entertained and should expect a lot from the two in future years. Perhaps you could say the same for newly acquired, former No. 1 overall pick, Deandre Ayton. Even with Jerami Grant and Anfernee Simons filling out the unit, you can’t help but think this starting five has some developing to do.
3
San Antonio Spurs
Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
Projected Starters: Tre Jones (G), Devin Vassell (G), Keldon Johnson (F), Jeremy Sohan (F), Victor Wembanyama (C)
Wemby is the headliner here, while Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson are good players that the average NBA fan might not know all that much about. The potential is certainly there but it won’t be reached this year.
2
Washington Wizards
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Projected Starters: Tyus Jones (G), Jordan Poole (G), Bilal Coulibaly (G), Kyle Kuzma (F), Daniel Gafford (C)
Look, the Wizards aren’t going to be good, but their projected starting five isn’t going to be awful. We’re talking about a lineup featuring proven players like Kyle Kuzma, Tyus Jones, and Jordan Poole, who are still young enough to take another step forward. This unit being ranked this low just shows how good the rest of the league is.
1
Detroit Pistons
Mandatory Credit: Allison Farrand-USA TODAY Sports
Projected Starters: Cade Cunningham (G), Alec Burks (G), Ausar Thompson (F), Bojan Bogdanovic (F), Isaiah Stewart (C)
A lot is going on here, and it’s hard to see how each player fits with the other. You’ve got young and promising but unproven players like Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson, potentially starting next to older vets like Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic, while recent lottery picks Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren come off the bench? I don’t know, it all just feels confusing. The Pistons could have a Top-5 starting unit down the road, though.
