There are many different factors that go into building a great and successful franchise in the NBA. Success as a franchise is mostly a result of the team that is on the court, but don’t be fooled, there are other factors that are critical in any successful franchise. From ownership to the fanbase to marketing, it all has a big impact on the success of an NBA franchise. Of course, more importantly than anything else, producing an NBA champion on the court is the ultimate measure of success. Now, to the NBA, success is clearly measured by the money they bring in, but to us fans, the things I mentioned and the ones listed below mean the most.
Today, we are going to be building the greatest franchise the NBA has ever seen. We will be using the greatest players from the past and present to make up our team’s starting lineup and bench. We will also use the best arena to host our games, the best front offices that we can build with an owner and general manager, and who we think may also be the best fans in the NBA. We will even add our own team name and team logo to spice things up a bit.
This is the building of the greatest NBA franchise ever.
Owner – Joe Lacob
Credit: Fadeaway World
Recently, we named Joe Lacob as the best owner in basketball for the work he has done with the Golden State Warriors during his tenure there. Lacob has built a winning culture in Golden State and has placed all the right people in the right spots in order to maximize success. He made way for a new arena to be built in San Francisco for the Warriors as well and has done an exceptional job of recognizing what it takes and who it takes to build a perennial championship contender. For the owner of this created franchise, there is no other man for the job than Joe Lacob.
General Manager – Jerry West
Credit: Fadeaway World
No general manager has made more happen in their career than Jerry West. Other than being one of the most iconic players in NBA history, West has made some of the biggest moves behind the scenes with the Lakers, Clippers, Grizzlies, and Warriors in his career. West was responsible for Kobe’s move to the Lakers when Charlotte didn’t want him. West brought Shaq to the Lakers when he clearly wanted out of Orlando. He was a two-time Executive of the Year with Memphis and the Lakers as well and aided in the Clippers’ building of their current roster as well. His nose for the game of basketball and ability to pick out the ones who will be great is second-to-none throughout NBA history.
Jerry West’s presence as our general manager will ensure a few things that are beneficial to our franchise. First, he will ensure that our core stars and vital players off the bench stay with the Los Angeles Bulls for a long time. Secondly, West will maneuver and find ways to bring other talents to our franchise and continue their success for a long time. As our general manager, West will demand excellence from the players we have now and any other player or coach he may attempt to bring in.
Arena – United Center
Credit: Fadeaway World
With all due respect to Madison Square Garden, the Staples Center, and the old Boston Garden, our arena will coincide with our team’s name and be played at the United Center in Chicago. This is not a bad selection at all considering the greatest chapter in NBA history was written within its walls. The United Center is an arena in which the history of the NBA cannot be told without its inclusion, even dating back to the days of Artis Gilmore, Norm Van Lier, and Jerry Sloan. The Los Angeles Bulls, as we will call our team, will be proud to play their games on such a historic court.
We will also get a chance to write our own legacy as a franchise in the United Center. Jordan and the 90s Bulls had their run as six-time NBA champions, so it is only right that he returns to lead this team into unchartered terrain as an organization. By the time that the Los Angeles Bulls are through, the arena will be filled with banners just as it was 30 years ago.
Franchise Details
Team Name – Los Angeles Bulls
Jersey – Los Angeles Lakers Jersey
Logo – Chicago Bulls Logo
Today, we have decided to combine two of the most iconic franchises in NBA history to create our team. First, there are no jerseys more legendary in the NBA than the Lakers’ purple and gold jerseys. Made famous by the likes of Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain all the way up to today with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. There has always been a larger sense of pride for those who represent the Lakers with their signature jerseys on their backs, and we want our team to feel the same way when they wear our jerseys.
Now, what will make that a little confusing is the fact we will be using the Bulls logo on those jerseys. Instead of a red and white bull, there will be a purple and gold bull on all of our merchandise. Benny the Bull, Chicago’s mascot, is also one of the more well-known mascots in all of basketball. The Los Angeles Bulls is a family-friendly organization, and for the kids, Benny will be working the crowd as he always does, with a different look than we are all used to. With our games being played at the United Center, it is only right that we use the Bulls logo and mascot with Lakers colors for the perfect representation of our franchise.
Fans – New York Knicks
Credit: Fadeaway World
As we all know, an NBA team’s fans are the lifeblood of every franchise. No team’s fans have been more loyal to their squad than the fans of the New York Knicks. Year after year and heartbreak after heartbreak, the Knicks fans still show up and fill Madison Square Garden with the loudest and most passionate fans in the NBA. Any team would be more than thrilled to have fans like the ones in New York supporting their team.
At any given moment, a crowd can inject energy into their team. Any small run by the players on the court can get the arena rocking, and this has been more prevalent with Knicks fans than any other team over the last 50 years, even if the Knicks they are cheering on aren’t all that good. We have seen Knicks fans give ovations to away team performances as well as nearly cause riots because of their unrelenting heckling of those same opponents. There is no fanbase whose energy we would rather have in our stands than the energy exuded by those who reside in New York.
Coach – Phil Jackson
Credit: Fadeaway World
As many great coaches as there have been throughout NBA history, there is only one Phil Jackson. The Zen Master has already proven that he is the master of controlling large egos as he has coached three of these players to a total of 11 NBA championships. Phil Jackson’s implementation of the triangle system, especially with this lineup and the freedom he has to work with, would win 11 titles alone.
A team can only be as good as the man that is guiding and leading them as we have seen be the case many times in NBA history. Phil Jackson was the ultimate leader in terms of doing whatever it takes to win. What other coach is going to tell Pippen not to take the last shot but instead give it to Toni Kukoc? The answer is only Phil Jackson.
Bench
Credit: Fadeaway World
Bench: Stephen Curry, Magic Johnson, Allen Iverson, Larry Bird, Kevin Garnett
Things get no easier for the opposition as we take a look at the players who will be coming off the bench for our teams. The first three members of our bench are three of the most talented guards to ever play the game. Magic Johnson is the greatest passer in NBA history and will give a reprieve to LeBron as a playmaker and creator. Stephen Curry is here as the greatest shooter in NBA history and the will provide elite spacing and gravity to open up the offense. Iverson can create opportunities for himself and others at an elite level and is a fearless attacker of the basket. Having another scorer of his caliber off the bench is priceless.
Then, we decided to add not one, but two forwards to the bench to round out our team. Larry Bird will provide it all on both ends of the court as a shooter, scorer, playmaker, and elite defender. He will be a great rotation with Durant as they can similarly take over games in their own ways. Last, but not least, we have Kevin Garnett who is a versatile option to give Shaq a breather. Garnett will be perfect for the pace of play that this team wants to play with and provides some interior defense that this team could lack with a tired and rundown O’Neal.
Starting Lineup
Credit: Fadeaway World
Starting Lineup: Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Shaquille O’Neal
The first part of the greatest NBA franchise ever that we would like to acknowledge is our starting lineup. The backcourt consists of the two greatest shooting guards of all time who should have no issues splitting point guard duties. Now, many are going to disagree with the selection due to the narrative that both Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan are “selfish”. I would like one person to point out how they are going to stop an offensive attack that starts with Jordan and Kobe or how they are going to attack two elite perimeter defenders which they both were in their prime.
LeBron James will most likely step into the point guard role for the majority of offensive sets and be the leader and playmaker he can be for our team. Once you get past the trio of Kobe, Jordan, and Lebron, it doesn’t get any easier. One of the most talented three-level scorers ever, Kevin Durant, is yet another offensive weapon that will be extremely difficult t stop in isolation. To cap it all off, the most dominant big man ever will be holding down the paint. Shaq is going to be able to thrive in a game where four talented scorers surround him and he can face most bigs in one on one situations. If opponents happen to double him, Shaq is smart enough to make the right pass to one of those four teammates.
Source: fadeawayworld
