Who’s the GOAT player in the league? That’s a question that, especially in basketball, permeates every corner of the sport’s discussion, but the question that is just as important, if not more so, that doesn’t get nearly as much attention is which team is the greatest of all time? Luckily, given NBA 2K26’s All-Time rosters, we can at least get the answer to this question from 2K’s perspective.
Unlike the classic rosters in NBA 2K, which highlight specific years of teams that were great, the All-time rosters are a Frankenstein monster of each NBA team’s most outstanding players across every era. Suppose we replace every team in MyLeague mode with its all-time versions. In that case, we get a simulation with the best ever players all on the teams that they dominated on (there are occasional players that show up multiple times, such as LeBron on the Cavaliers, Heat, and Lakers). The results of running multiple simulations with these rosters were fascinating.
1st sim
Award Winners
- MVP: Oscar Robertson, Kings
- 6th Man: Magic Johnson, Lakers
- DPOY: Scottie Pippen, Bulls
1st Team All-NBA
- Oscar Robertson, Kings
- Tracy McGrady, Magic
- LeBron James, Cavaliers
- LeBron James, Heat
- Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Bucks
2nd Team All-NBA
- Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers
- Penny Hardaway, Magic
- Karl Malone, Jazz
- Bob Petit, Hawks
- Wilt Chamberlain, Warriors
3rd Team All-NBA
- Chris Paul, Pelicans
- Dwyane Wade, Heat
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
- Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
- Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
1st Team All-Defense
- Michael Jordan, Bulls
- John Stockton, Jazz
- Scottie Pippen, Bulls
- Andrei Kirilenko, Jazz
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bucks
2nd Team All-Defense
- Dwyane Wade, Heat
- Chris Paul, Pelicans
- LeBron James, Cavaliers
- Kawhi Leonard, Raptors
- Anthony Davis, Pelicans
East All Stars
- LeBron James, Heat
- LeBron James, Cavaliers
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bucks
- Bob Petit, Hawks
- Tracy McGrady, Magic
- Derrick Rose, Bulls
- Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers
- Scottie Pippen, Bulls
- Bob Lanier, Pistons
- Penny Hardaway, Magic
- Dwyane Wade, Heat
- Michael Jordan, Bulls
West All-Stars
- Kevin Garnett, Timberwolves
- Clyde Drexler, Trail Blazers
- Rick Barry, Warriors
- John Stockton, Jazz
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder
- Karl Malone, Jazz
- Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
- Ja Morant, Grizzlies
- Oscar Robertson, Kings
- Chris Paul, Pelicans
- Wilt Chamberlain, Warriors
- Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
Playoff standings
East
- 76ers (64-18)
- Celtics (55-27)
- Magic (45-37)
- Heat (45-37)
- Knicks (43-39)
- Nets (42-40)
- Bulls (42-40)
- Hornets (41-41)
- Cavaliers (37-45)
- Pacers (34-48)
West
- Lakers (57-25)
- Kings (55-27)
- Jazz (53-29)
- Warriors (52-30)
- Spurs (50-32)
- Rockets (47-35)
- Thunder (45-37)
- Clippers (42-40)
- Nuggets (41-41)
- Grizzlies (40-42)
Non-playoff teams
- Pelicans (37-45)
- Trail Blazers (34-48)
- Pistons (33-49)
- Bucks (33-49)
- Timberwolves (31-51)
- Hawks (29-53)
- Mavericks (29-53)
- Wizards (27-55)
- Raptors (27-55)
- Suns (23-59)
Championship
Golden State Warriors beat the Boston Celtics in the NBA Championship to become the All-Time Champions! Larry Bird and Wilt Chamberlain won the conference championships MVPs, while Wilt Chamberlain won Finals MVP.
2nd Sim
Awards
- MVP: Wilt Chamberlain, Warriors
- 6th Man: Nate Archibald, Kings
- DPOY: Kevin Garnett, Timberwolves
1st Team All-NBA
- Oscar Robertson, Kings
- Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers
- LeBron James, Cavaliers
- Karl Malone, Jazz
- Wilt Chamberlain, Warriors
2nd Team All-NBA
- Penny Hardaway, Magic
- Derrick Rose, Bulls
- Kevin Garnett, Timberwolves
- LeBron James, Heat
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bucks
3rd Team All-NBA
- Luka Doncic, Mavericks
- Dwyane Wade, Heat
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
- Bob Petit, Hawks
- Bill Walton, Trail Blazers
1st Team All-Defense
- Michael Jordan, Bulls
- John Stockton, Jazz
- Kevin Garnett, Timberwolves
- Andrei Kirilenko, Jazz
- Dwight Howard, Magic
2nd Team All-Defense
- Dwyane Wade, Heat
- Gary Payton, Thunder
- Scottie Pippen, Bulls
- LeBron James, Cavaliers
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bucks
East All-Stars
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
- Kevin Durant, Nets
- Derrick Rose, Bulls
- Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers
- Tracy McGrady, Magic
- Bob Lanier, Pistons
- Penny Hardaway, Magic
- Dwyane Wade, Heat
- Michael Jordan, Bulls
- LeBron James, Cavaliers
- LeBron James, Heat
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bucks
West All-Stars
- Oscar Robertson, Kings
- John Stockton, Jazz
- Kevin Garnett, Timberwolves
- Wilt Chamberlain, Warriors
- Karl Malone, Jazz
- Pete Maravich, Jazz
- Kevin Durant, Warriors
- Luka Doncic, Mavericks
- Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
- Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
- Bill Walton, Trail Blazers
- Baron Davis, Pelicans
Playoff Standings
East
- Celtics (53-29)
- 76ers (50-32)
- Heat (48-34)
- Knicks (45-37)
- Hawks (45-37)
- Cavaliers (40-42)
- Bucks (39-43)
- Magic (38-44)
- Bulls (38-44)
- Pistons (38-44)
West
- Lakers (63-19)
- Warriors (57-25)
- Kings (52-30)
- Spurs (49-33)
- Thunder (45-37)
- Nuggets (44-38)
- Jazz (43-39)
- Rockets (41-41)
- Timberwolves (39-43)
- Trail Blazers (38-44)
Non-playoff Teams
- Wizards (37-45)
- Clippers (35-47)
- Hornets (35-47)
- Raptors (34-48)
- Suns (33-49)
- Pelicans (33-49)
- Nets (32-50)
- Mavericks (30-52)
- Grizzlies (29-53)
- Pacers (27-55)
Championship
The New York Knicks beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Championship to become the All-time Champions! Walt Frazier and Magic Johnson win the conference championships MVPs, and Walt Frazier wins the Finals MVP.
3rd Sim
Awards
- MVP: Oscar Robertson, Kings
- 6th Man: Russell Westbrook, Thunder
- DPOY: Scottie Pippen, Bulls
1st Team All-NBA
- Oscar Robertson, Kings
- Tracy McGrady, Magic
- LeBron James, Cavaliers
- LeBron James, Heat
- Wilt Chamberlain, Warriors
2nd Team All-NBA
- Chris Paul, Pelicans
- Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers
- Bob Petit, Hawks
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bucks
3rd Team All-NBA
- Derrick Rose, Bulls
- John Stockton, Jazz
- Kevin Garnett, Timberwolves
- Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
- Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
1st Team All-Defense
- Michael Jordan, Bulls
- John Stockton, Jazz
- Scottie Pippen, Bulls
- Kevin Garnett, Timberwolves
- Patrick Ewing, Knicks
2nd Team All-Defense
- Chris Paul, Pelicans
- Tony Allen, Grizzlies
- LeBron James, Heat
- LeBron James, Cavaliers
- Dwight Howard, Magic
East All-Stars
- Tracy McGrady, Magic
- LeBron James, Heat
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bucks
- Scottie Pippen, Bulls
- Michael Jordan, Bulls
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
- Bob Petit, Hawks
- Derrick Rose, Bulls
- Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers
- Patrick Ewing, Knicks
- Penny Hardaway, Magic
- Dwyane Wade, Heat
West All Stars
- Wilt Chamberlain, Warriors
- Oscar Robertson, Kings
- Kevin Garnett, Timberwolves
- Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
- Clyde Drexler, Trail Blazers
- Kevin Durant, Thunder
- Ja Morant, Grizzlies
- Karl Malone, Jazz
- David Robinson, Spurs
- John Stockton, Jazz
- Luka Doncic, Mavericks
- Chris Paul, Pelicans
Playoff Standings
East
- Knicks (57-25)
- 76ers (49-33)
- Bulls (47-35)
- Celtics (46-36)
- Heat (42-40)
- Nets (39-43)
- Cavaliers (39-43)
- Magic (39-43)
- Pacers (38-44)
- Bucks (37-45)
West
- Lakers (59-23)
- Kings (57-25)
- Thunder (56-26)
- Rockets (55-27)
- Warriors (50–32)
- Jazz (49-33)
- Spurs (42-40)
- Clippers (41-41)
- Nuggets (39-43)
- Trail Blazers (38-44)
Non-Playoff Teams
- Pelicans (37-45)
- Raptors (37-45)
- Suns (35-47)
- Timberwolves (35-47)
- Hawks (34-48)
- Grizzlies (31-51)
- Hornets (30-52)
- Pistons (28-54)
- Wizards (24-54)
- Mavericks (20-62)
Championship
The Lakers beat the 76ers in the NBA Finals to become the All-Time Champions! Elgin Baylor and Moses Malone won the Conference Championship MVPs, and LeBron James won the Finals MVP for the Lakers.
What Team Is The GOAT? And Where Do The Others Rank?
To determine which of these all-time teams are truly the best, now that we’ve simulated three distinct seasons, I’ve devised a points system to rank each team using the data from the three simulations. Here is the point scale:
- MVP = 10
- 6th man = 5
- DPOY = 7
- 1st team All-NBA = 7
- 2nd team All-NBA = 5
- 3rd team All-NBA = 3
- 1st team All-defense = 4
- 2nd team All-defense = 2
- All star = 1
- Conference finals MVP = 3
- Finals MVP = 6
- Runner up = 10
- Championship = 15
- Each win over the 3 sims = 1
Top Five Best All-Time Teams
1: Los Angeles Lakers, 221 points
Average record: 60-22
Total wins: 179
Awards:
1X NBA Championship
1X NBA Championship runner-up
1X 6th man of the year (Magic Johnson)
1X Finals MVP (LeBron James)
2X Conference Finals MVP (Magic Johnson and Elgin Baylor)
2: Golden State Warriors, 216 points
Average record: 53-29
Total wins: 159
Awards:
1X NBA Championship
1X MVP (Wilt Chamberlain)
2X 1st team All-NBA (Wilt Chamberlain)
1X 2nd team All-NBA (Wilt Chamberlain)
1X Finals MVP (Wilt Chamberlain)
1X Conference Finals MVP (Wilt Chamberlain)
3X all-stars (Wilt Chamberlain)
3: Sacramento Kings, 213 points
Average record: 55-27
Total wins: 164
Awards:
2X MVP (Oscar Robertson)
1X 6th man of the year (Nate Archibald)
3X 1st team All-NBA (Oscar Robertson)
3X all-stars (Oscar Robertson)
4: Utah Jazz, 187 points
Average record: 48-34
Total wins: 145
Awards:
1X 1st team All-NBA (Karl Malone)
1X 2nd team All-NBA (Karl Malone)
1X 3rd team All-NBA (John Stockton)
5X 1st team All-Defense (John Stockton and Andrei Kirilenko)
7X all-stars (John Stockton, Karl Malone, and Pete Maravich)
5: Chicago Bulls, 179 points
Average record: 42-40
Total wins: 127
Awards:
2X Defensive player of the year (Scottie Pippen)
1X 2nd team All-NBA (Derrick Rose)
1X 3rd team All-NBA (Derrick Rose)
5X 1st team All-defense (Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen)
1X 2nd team All-defense (Scottie Pippen)
8X all-stars (Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Derrick Rose)
The Best of the Rest
6: New York Knicks, 174 points
7: Miami Heat, 172 points
8: Boston Celtics, 167 points
9: Philadelphia 76ers, 166 points
10: Orlando Magic, 158 points
11: Oklahoma City Thunder, 157 points
12: Milwaukee Bucks, 148 points
13: Cleveland Cavaliers, 145 points
14: Houston Rockets, 143 points
15: San Antonio Spurs, 142 points
16: Denver Nuggets, 133 points
17: Minnesota Timberwolves, 131 points
18: New Orleans Pelicans, 124 points
19: Atlanta Hawks, 121 points
20: Indiana Pacers, 119 points
21: Los Angeles Clippers, 118 points
22: Portland Trail Blazers, 116 points
23: Brooklyn Nets, 114 points
24: Charlotte Hornets, 106 points
25: Memphis Grizzlies, 104 points
26: Detroit Pistons, 101 points
27: Toronto Raptors, 99 points
28: Dallas Mavericks, 91 points
29: Phoenix Suns, 91 points
30: Washington Wizards, 88 points
