Players in NBA History who could truly guard 1-5

[Luke Cage]

This is a novelty distinction though, none of them really guard all 5 positions when it matters. In the playoffs/ finals they are usually matched up against the person playing their natural position. Draymond never switched to a pg for whole series and got the warriors through it as a result.
This is just a thing they do on occasional weird regular season matchup or briefly switch assignments for a play or two, during the playoffs.

Only person i recall that guard a different position in a way that actually mattered towards winning a playoff series was Magic playing center with Kareem went out.

 

[Omerta]

Y’all just saying names you think could. Those that did are only a handful.

For example, one of the ones that could is Giannis, but he never actually did. The complaints about Giannis were why he isn’t taking the premier matchups? Don’t y’all remember the discourse around why is he not guarding Kawhi when they knocked him out, why he didn’t guard Jimmy why they knocked him out? It got so bad at the bubble he had to address it, and he said he takes the matchup his coach gives him and y’all went nuts and called him soft.

Draymond and Aaron Gordon are others who maybe could, but they’re not doing it any entire game, nor have they. Draymond is not taking Ja for the entire game or series. Aaron Gordon did not take Ant for the series, KCP and Braun did.

The list of who can and did is a handful at most.

 

[Controversy]

Y’all just saying names you think could. Those that did are only a handful.

For example, one of the ones that could is Giannis, but he never actually did. The complaints about Giannis were why he isn’t taking the premier matchups? Don’t y’all remember the discourse around why is he not guarding Kawhi when they knocked him out, why he didn’t guard Jimmy why they knocked him out? It got so bad at the bubble he had to address it, and he said he takes the matchup his coach gives him and y’all went nuts and called him soft.

Draymond and Aaron Gordon are others who maybe could, but they’re not doing it any entire game, nor have they. Draymond is not taking Ja for the entire game or series. Aaron Gordon did not take Ant for the series, KCP and Braun did.

The list of who can and did is a handful at most.

Draymond defended CP)'s prime defenders in the playoffs before

Draymond is literally the only guy in the league who can say he defended each position for an entire game

 

[threattonature]

Draymond defended CP)'s prime defenders in the playoffs before

Draymond is literally the only guy in the league who can say he defended each position for an entire game

My problem with Draymond is that when he was tasked with guarding centers GS often had him front the center and provided help on the back side or when Draymond would get posted they'd run a hard trap. It was rare he went multiple possessions truly guarding post threats one on one so to me that's not really guarding the 5.

Of players I've seen I'd probably put Rodman, KG, Marion, AD and younger Giannis as those that could guard 1-5.

 

[Torrential]

Insane to me how underrated Ron Artest is on this board .

Yall forget he won DPOY as a wing player ? That’s a very rare feat in the NBA . It’s a big man’s award . Pause

 

[qashif]

nobody can guard a 1 and a 5.
at most, 2 to 5 or 1 to 4.

 

[the cool]

Ben Simmons immediately comes to mind.

no no no

 

[Diondon]

@ Lebron

 

[malbaker86]

aaron gordon
og anunoby
Kirilenko
ben simmons

I’d throw in Suns Boris Diaw too

 

[MikelArteta]

I’d throw in Suns Boris Diaw too

"When I think of Boris Diaw, I think of Beethoven and the age of the Romantics. This guy has it all"