NBA All 50s Team. Even more white guys in even less shorts.

Now we get to a much more interesting decade. I could do a second team so I want to point out some players I heavily considered before we move on to the 50s All Decade team.

Jim Pollard, The running mate for George Mikan, he was an incredibly athletic 6’4 forward.

Maurice Stokes, an all star in every year of his career till an injury left him paralyzed, he was a great passer and defender from the forward position. His injury and the resulting bills lead his teammates (Oscar Robertson and Jack Twyman) to push other players to strike an All star game to push for a Union.Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, a 28 year old globe trotter who was the first African American to sign an NBA contract he would eventually make an all star team but was apparently a lot like Draymond Green without being a complete jerk. Richie Guerin, a fantastic scorer for the Knicks, he was a 6 time all star but played more of his career in the 60s. He was also a Pinkerton Detective in the off seasons.

And now to our team.

50s

G- Bob Cousy

G- Carl Braun

F- Bob Pettit

F- Dolph Shayes

C- George Mikan

Bob Cousy, a Boston Celtics point guard who was flat out incredible. He dominated and when Bill Russell teamed up with him at the end of the decade it became a dynasty. Definitely one of the games great innovators.

Carl Braun was a decent Guard for the Knicks from age 20-22. He then missed 2 years for military service, and then rattled off five straight all star games. He and Guerin formed a dynamic backcourt for the Knicks.

Bob Pettit, 2 time MVP. He was a 6’9 stretch big for the hawks. An 11 time all star and 11 time all nba. No other player in any era has averaged over 20 points per game in every season they played (Note Michael Jeffery Jordan had one season of exactly 20). He retired early because he could make more money working for Dell.

Dolph Shayes, firstly he was the major star in the 40s that the NBL brought to the NBA when it merged with the BAA. Fun Note he went to college at 16, he graduated with a degree in aerospace engineering. He had a an ambidextrous high arching set shot nicknamed “Sputnik” and used it to own the NBA for over a decade.

George Mikan. Was the games first true Super Star. An ambidextrous hook, so dominant they created both the paint and goal tending because of him. He was probably the most important player on this team.