Which Leader of a Finals team had the best supporting cast (since 1985)?
The best supporting casts, not surprisingly, fall with Jordan’s 2nd Bulls run (the threepeat teams of 1996, 1997, 1998 are among the top 6). Also in the top 10:
Gary Payton’s Sonics that lost to MJ’s 1996 Bulls
KG’s Celtics team that beat Kobe’s 2008 Lakers
Three Spurs teams, Duncan’s 2005, 2013 and Kawhi’s 2014 squads
Shaq’s 1995 Magic team where got swept by Hakeem’s Rockets
LeBron’s first Miami year, where he had his absolute worst Finals against Dirk’s 2011 Mavs
The worst supporting casts, also not surprisingly, has recent East teams dominating, because with a bad supporting cast you couldn’t make the Finals in the West. LeBron has 3 teams in the worst 8 (2007, 2014, 2015). Also in the worst 10:
Larry Johnson’s 1999 Knicks that lost to the Spurs
Hakeem’s 1986 Rockets and 1994 Rockets
Dirk’s 2011 Mavs, which beat LeBron and his best supporting cast (see above in top 10)
Iverson’s 2001 Sixers which got beat by the Lakers
Kidd’s 2002 Nets which also got beat by the Lakers
Michael Jordan’s 1991 Bulls, his first title team, which beat Magic’s Lakers
The ranks of the 12 Lakers supporting casts to make the Finals since 1985 (teams that won it all in bold):
Kobe’s 2004 Lakers (ranked 12 overall), lost to the Pistons
Shaq’s 2002 Lakers (ranked 13 overall), beat the Nets
Kobe’s 2010 Lakers (ranked 15 overall), beat the Celtics
Kobe’s 2009 Lakers (ranked 18 overall), beat the Magic
Magic’s 1987 Lakers (ranked 19 overall), beat the Celtics
Shaq’s 2000 Lakers (ranked 28 overall), beat the Pacers
Magic’s 1991 Lakers (ranked 31 overall), lost to the Bulls
Magic’s 1988 Lakers (ranked 33 overall), beat the Pistons
Kobe’s 2008 Lakers (ranked 35 overall), lost to the Celtics
Magic’s 1989 Lakers (ranked 41 overall), lost to the Pistons
Shaq’s 2001 Lakers (ranked 43 overall), beat the Sixers
Magic’s 1985 Lakers (ranked 44 overall), beat the Celtics