On Wednesday, Alex Zietlow of The Charlotte Observer posed an interesting question to Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young: Who are the best hoopers on the roster? But since it isn’t basketball season for these NFLers, the rookie couldn’t give a definitive answer quite yet.
Zietlow then asked fans a similar question on Twitter later that afternoon . . .
Asked Bryce Young who the best hoopers on the team are. Says it's "a great time" to talk big games because they're all so busy with training camp. Told him we'd quiz him on his starting 5 in a few months once he gets the chance to hoop.#Panthers fans: Who's your starting 5? 🏀
— Alex Zietlow (@alexzietlow05) August 16, 2023
So, that got us thinking.
Here is our starting five from the Carolina locker room:
PG: Bryce Young
In case you haven’t heard, Young reminds an awful lot of folks of Golden State Warriors superstar and NBA legend Steph Curry. And while the comparison is, well, running its course, it comes with good reason.
Like Curry, Young possesses a tantalizing combination of touch, vision and reactionary skills. His ability to masterfully orchestrate a game plan and create for his teammates makes him an easy choice as our point guard (and Thomas Brown’s).
Oh, and he can actually distribute the other rock, too . . .
When they say Bryce Young plays like a point guard they weren’t kidding pic.twitter.com/obtdjQyzN2
— Edgar Salmingo, Jr. ✌️ (@PanthersAnalyst) April 6, 2023
SG: Josh McCown
McCown’s prowess on the hardwood isn’t merely just myth. It’s real, and our point guard just attested to it.
“I’ve shot around with him,” Young said of the 44-year-old on Wednesday. “And you can tell when like someone definitely can play. I could tell. I’ve shot around with him, I’ve been able to see some things he could do—he’s crazy athletic to this day. Like, crazy.”
Still don’t believe it? Then say that to his mixtape . . .
Uncle Josh 👀 pic.twitter.com/s67zFw9x33
— New York Jets (@nyjets) March 22, 2018
While he isn’t an actual member of the roster, McCown’s skills and chemistry with Young is too good to leave out of the backcourt.
SF: Marquis Haynes Sr.
He may be a bit undersized for the small forward position at 6-foot-2, but Haynes Sr. certainly isn’t unqualified. In fact, forget any talk of “under,” because the dude can still get over.
Haynes Sr., while at University Christian School, was a two-time participant of the HighSchoolSports.net Slam Dunk Contest. And a decade later, he’s still got it . . .
Just thought to test out the rim a lil bit pic.twitter.com/ODHIcNP1QP
— Marquis Haynes (@MarquisHaynes98) March 1, 2023
PF: Henry Anderson
Before committing to Stanford University for the 2010 campaign, Anderson was a three-sport standout at Woodward Academy in College Park, Ga. And one of those sports—you guessed it—was basketball.
At 6-foot-6 and 301-pounds, he’ll slot right into the 4.
C: Bradley Bozeman
Carolina’s White Rhino is already the man in the middle, so why not? Plus, he’ll be able to keep the paint clean like he does with the pocket—thanks to his size, strength and mean streak.
The deciding factor here, however, is Bozeman’s better half. Bradley’s wife Nikki, known as Nikki Hegstetter at the time, was a pillar for the University of Alabama’s women’s basketball program from 2012 to 2016.
So even if Bozeman—Bradley, that is—doesn’t have the on-court credentials the rest of our starting lineup does, he has one heck of an advantage at home.
