Jaylen Brown Builds All-Time 5 Around Lakers Stars, But One Pick May Spark Debate

Few debates in NBA history spark more passion than who belongs in the All-Time starting lineup. It’s a fluid topic with endless answers, as many all-time great players can be selected for these lineups, especially legends that have come through the Los Angeles Lakers organization.

During a recent interview with Ahmad Rashad, Boston Celtics All-Star guard Jaylen Brown named his all-time starting lineup, which included a couple of Lakers players.

LeBron James
Kobe Bryant
Michael Jordan
Steph Curry
Bill Russell

Jaylen Brown revealed his ALL-STARTING FIVE with Ahmad Rashad 👀 pic.twitter.com/3n663Jn7To
— NBA (@NBA) March 17, 2026

“LeBron (James), Kobe (Bryant) and Michael Jordan – let’s start there,’ Brown said. “Then I’ll say Steph Curry and my 5? I’ll say, Bill Russell.”

Brown’s selection is interesting, to say the least, as he has four players from the modern era, having played against LeBron James and Stephen Curry. He just missed taking the court against Kobe Bryant by one season, as he entered the league in 2016-17.

Michael Jordan’s name is a staple in the conversation for not just the all-time starting lineups, but is also considered by many as the greatest of all-time. Meanwhile, Bill Russell is a Celtics legend with an unmatched championship pedigree.

Jaylen Brown to @ramonashelburne on LeBron James talking about Brown’s MVP case after the Celtics’ win over the Lakers:

“Just come with the same mentality as I have from day one. Don't let the praise or the warmth or the criticism make or break you. Just come out and be Jaylen… pic.twitter.com/bCN0IofO70
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) February 23, 2026

It’s no secret that Brown holds James in high esteem, as last month, he stated that the four-time NBA champion is “arguably the best player to play the game.”

“So, I'm grateful. It's an honor to play in the Celtics-Lakers rivalry,” Brown said via Bobby Kritivisky of Forbes. "It's an honor for LeBron, who's arguably the best player to ever play the game, giving me some high praise. So, I'm just grateful. I wake up every morning grateful (and) humbled.”

James’ sustained elite level of play through his 23rd season has garnered much respect and admiration from his peers, with Brown among those who share that view.

Curry being named the starting point guard in Brown’s all-time lineup put him over the likes of Magic Johnson, who is often regarded as the best point guard in league history. He is routinely mentioned as the greatest shooter that the NBA has ever seen, but it’s beyond that, as scoring prowess and championship pedigree only add to his legacy as an all-time great.

Meanwhile, Bryant is cemented as one of the greatest to play the game. To the generation that came after him, he is often viewed in the same light that Jordan was with players he played with and those who came after him.

Bryant is not only regarded as arguably the greatest Lakers player of all-time, but he’s firmly in the GOAT discussion.

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