Kyrgios Picks LeBron and KG for NBA Dream Team

It is every NBA fan’s dream: Build your team. Forget the modern-day restrictions, such as the salary cap. No worrying about free agency or building a team to last. Out of the current NBA players, just choose the best starting five.

We assigned Nick Kyrgios this task, and the #NextGen star struggled with some positions – shooting guard – more than others. He also admitted his bias when he chose one particular aging former Boston Celtic. But once his decisions were made and his team built, the 21-year-old Aussie, No. 18 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, also made a guarantee: His team, if assembled, would dominate everyone and win an NBA title.

“Yeah, 100 per cent,” Kyrgios said. “You can’t lose with that team.”

Small Forward: LeBron James

The Selection: Kyrgios grabbed James off the board first, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ recent NBA championship likely front of mind. James, widely thought of as the best player in the NBA, also has reached the past six NBA finals, and has been on the winning side of three of them.

The Rationale: “I feel like he’s the best all-around player in the NBA. Hands down,” Kyrgios said.

Point Guard: Kyrie Irving

The Selection: To run the show, Kyrgios chose James’ Cleveland running mate, Irving, who, with James, helped the Cavaliers win their first NBA title in 52 years last June. The 24 year old also was born in Melbourne and holds dual Australian and U.S. citizenship.

The Rationale: “Him and LeBron, they’ve got unbelievable chemistry,” Kyrgios said. “And they’ve already been through a lot together, obviously winning a championship.”

Shooting Guard: Klay Thompson

The Selection: Kyrgios hemmed and hawed more with this position than any of the five. “I’ll probably take, umm, I feel like, oh man this is tough,” he said before burying his head in his hand.

Finally, he chose his first non-Cleveland Cavalier: Golden State Warrior Thompson, one of the best three-point shooters in the league. Thompson would be playing with two of his rivals in James and Irving, but Kyrgios didn’t think that’d be a problem.

The Rationale: “He doesn’t really have to have the ball too much. I think he can just shoot from anywhere as well,” Kyrgios said. “He’s a humble guy and he’s pretty cool as well.”

Power Forward: Kevin Garnett

The Selection: Kyrgios admittedly let his bias slip into this pick. He started the choice off with a question: “Does it have to be past or present?” When we decided on just present NBA players, he still chose Garnett, a 21-year veteran. The 6’11”, 40 year old played for Kyrgios’ favourite NBA team, the Boston Celtics, and won an NBA title in the green and white (2008).

The Rationale: “He might not have that much to offer anymore on the offensive end, [but] I think he’s a great leader. He’s the type of guy that you’d love to have on your team and you hate to play against,” Kyrgios said. “He’s an unbelievable competitor. That’s a bit biased probably, but I’ll take him.”

Center: DeMarcus Cousins

The Selection: To help Garnett down low, Kyrgios decided to bring in some youth in Sacramento Kings big man Cousins, who stands at 6’11” and weighs 270 pounds. Last season, the 25 year old was an NBA All-Star and averaged almost 27 points and 12 rebounds a game.

The Rationale: “I’m a massive fan of DeMarcus Cousins,” Kyrgios said. “I think he’s the greatest talent in that position. As long as he’s focused and he puts his mind to it, I think he’s unstoppable.”

Coach: Brad Stevens

The Selection: Kyrgios may have let his Celtics passion slip into this pick as well, although Stevens, the Celtics coach, is widely respected and has quickly turned around Boston’s NBA squad. They went 25-57 in his first season but have made the playoffs the past two years.

The Rationale: “They were the underdogs and they really pushed through, and I think that comes down to the coaching staff,” Kyrgios said. “Brad Stevens did a great job. The Celtics are just the team to beat.”

Video: Watch Kyrgios Make His Selections

NBA TV’s Steve Smith Weighs In

We ran Kyrgios’ picks past someone who knows NBA talent: Former NBA player Steve Smith. The current NBA TV host played 14 seasons in the league and won a title with the 2002-03 San Antonio Spurs. He also met and shot some hoops with Kyrgios at the NBA TV studio in Atlanta earlier this week.

“I think it’s a very good team,” Smith said. “It’s balanced. You have veteran leadership. You have a player that can post up, in Cousins. And obviously you have the ultimate playmaker and just basketball mind in LeBron James… I mean, how can you go wrong with that team?”

Basketball Dream Team of ATP World Tour Stars

Kyrgios, who tries to play basketball in between tennis matches, also had some fun choosing the best starting five comprised of ATP World Tour stars. Disclosure: He chose his starting five fresh off some two-on-two hoops with Reilly Opelka, Christopher Eubanks and #NextGen star Taylor Fritz in Atlanta while playing in the BB&T Atlanta Open.

Center: 6’11” Reilly Opelka, 18-year-old American

“He’s practically unguardable,” Kyrgios said. “I’ve played a lot of basketball players and I’ve played a lot of tennis players. He’s definitely one of the best ones I’ve seen.”

Power Forward: 6’7” Christopher Eubanks, 20-year-old American

“The guy can shoot the lights out.”

Small Forward: 6’4” Gael Monfils, 29-year-old Frenchman

“Good athlete that can just go to the rim all day.”

Shooting Guard: 6’3” Jack Sock, 23-year-old American

“He can shoot pretty well.”

Point Guard: Himself

“I can play.”

Sixth Man: 6’4” Taylor Fritz, 18-year-old American

“He played well,” Kyrgios said after their games.

Veteran Leader/Coach: 6’10” John Isner, 31-year-old American

“I hear that he can play. I’ve never seen him before, but I think he’s a good veteran that can lead us.”