That is what I am trying to figure out. Was GS a super team before KD arrived?
Before we go further, we should define what a Super Team is:
-- It boasts two, three or more stars on its roster, any one of whom would be able to anchor a franchise on his own.
-- Trades and/or free agency had to have been used to unite those stars, either in their prime or at least after obvious, recognized success (All-Star appearances, all-NBA selections, major awards won).
-- The team needs to be a reasonable contender, not merely a collection of big names past their prime and far back of the reigning conference or league champs.
-- Bonus points if media outlets have carried one or more stories about the alleged Super Team wondering a) if one basketball is enough, or b) how the stars’ strong personalities might gel or repel.
Historically, it’s rare that an NBA champion hasn’t had two or more All-Stars or even future Hall of Famers (Golden State in 1975, Seattle in 1979 and Detroit in 2004 come to mind). But based on the criteria above, even the great Minneapolis Lakers teams (five titles from 1949 to 1954) and the Red Auerbach/Bill Russell Celtics don’t qualify as precursors of today’s Super Teams.
The Lakers rounded up legendary players such as George Mikan, Jim Pollard, Slater Martin and Vern Mikkelsen the old-fashioned way, by drafting and developing. Ditto for those Celtics that won 11 titles in 13 years. Russell arrived in a trade the day he was drafted and the rest of them – Bob Cousy, Tom Heinsohn, John Havlicek, Sam Jones, K.C. Jones and more – essentially were homegrown or acquired without fanfare or portfolios.
The same held true for the later champs in Boston and Los Angeles. Larry Bird, Robert Parish, Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge didn’t arrive fully formed and ready to kick NBA butt any more than Magic Johnson, Byron Scott, James Worthy or Michael Cooper did.
Similarly, Chicago’s dynasty was built off one draft pick (Michael Jordan) and one trade (for Scottie Pippen), with entirely different supporting casts for each three-peat. Kobe Bryant was a rookie fresh from high school when the Lakers added him in the same offseason they landed Shaquille O’Neal. No Super Team approach there, either.
http://www.nba.com/article/2017/07/01/nba-super-teams-and-history
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