We’re making the best starting five of active NBA players whose surnames begin with the letter ‘B’, and it’s pretty stacked.
Certainly strong enough to give the ‘A’-team a serious game. That lineup consisted of Jose Alvarado, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, OG Anunoby, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
A five containing a former Finals MVP and two reigning NBA champions leads us perfectly into the B’s, and a player who managed both just a few months ago.
The NBA’s B-Team
PG – Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Brunson ended the Knicks’ 53-year wait for a title in style.
He averaged 32.6 points in the Finals against the Spurs. That included 36 in the record Game 4 comeback and 45 in the Game 5 clincher, a Knicks Finals record.
He averaged 26 points and 6.8 assists in the regular season and made his third straight All-Star team and All-NBA Second Team. He also won the NBA Cup MVP after New York beat San Antonio in the final.
SG – Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Booker averaged 26.1 points last season, almost exactly what Brunson averaged.
He added 6.0 assists in 64 games. He also passed 17,000 career points in December and scored a season-high 43 against Indiana in March. But the Suns still went 45-37, came through the play-in and were swept by the Thunder in the first round.
Booker’s resume makes him an easy pick here: two Olympic gold medals, an All-NBA First Team selection and a 70-point game at the age of 20.
SF – Jaylen Brown, Philadelphia 76ers
Brunson isn’t the only Finals MVP in this lineup.
Brown won the award with Boston in 2024. With Jayson Tatum limited to 16 games last season, Brown carried the Celtics to a 56-26 record, averaging a career-best 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists.
He scored 50 against the Clippers, started his first All-Star Game, made All-NBA Second Team and finished sixth in MVP voting.
Then the 76ers knocked Boston out in the first round. In July, the Celtics traded Brown to Philadelphia for Paul George and four draft picks, so he now plays for the team that ended his season.
PF – Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
Kawhi Leonard is back in Toronto, and he’s already made it clear whose team it is. Speaking on Bell’s Open Gym, the 2019 Finals MVP said: “I’m not here to take over anything. I want to help your vision. Help Scottie. I just want to win. If it’s Scottie’s team, it’s his team.”
Barnes has earned that. He averaged 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists last season, made his second All-Star team and was named to the All-Defensive Second Team. Only one player had more combined steals and blocks.
He guards almost anyone and doesn’t need plays run for him, so he fits perfectly next to three natural scorers.
C – Goga Bidatze, Orlando Magic
There’s a real shortage of B options at center, and that’s where this lineup has to compromise. Bidatze gets the nod because he’s a true big who knows his role. He shot 67.6% from the field for Orlando last season, averaging 5.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and a block in just 15.2 minutes a game.
He also starred for Georgia at EuroBasket 2025, helping knock out France in the Round of 16.
Surrounded by players who can create their own shot, he only needs to protect the rim, rebound and finish what’s set up for him.
This B-Team might lack a bit of size compared to the A’s, but it’s packed with strong, athletic scorers. Brunson, Booker and Brown all averaged at least 26 points last season, and Barnes can do a bit of everything.
That’s a long night for any defense.
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