#SLOE: People's Basketball Sim League

What's the bare minimum for a star player that you can build around?
Do they need a certain build?
Do they have to possess a certain level of athleticism or skill potential?
What makes you think these talents are essential?

Rules: 1 point if you give thoughtful answers, which I will award after the timer ends for responses. The timer ends for responses at the moment the corresponding week's Sim is run.

Note: Use approximately 5 sentences as your bare minimum for 1 point. If you write 3 long, complex sentences, you'll still get a point. If you write 5, 3 word sentences, you will not get a point. Don't @ me.

Due: Deadline for Sim 6

What's the bare minimum for a star player that you can build around?
Do they need a certain build?
Do they have to possess a certain level of athleticism or skill potential?
What makes you think these talents are essential?

I think a lot of people focus on "scoring" but I think the answer is more subtle than that. I think a "star player that you can build around" needs to be a player that packs a 90+ rating in at least three attributes from among the following: Inside (Scoring), Defensive Rebounding, Passing, Blocks, Post Defense, Perimeter Defense, and has at least a 50 rating in Personal Fouls.

Good athleticism (Quickness, Strength, Jumping) are a plus but worthless without those other more foundational attributes.

Scoring, Defensive Rebounding and Passing are "bulk" skills that matter 10+ times per game (compare to just 2-ish steals per game); blocks not only seem to count stats more than steals, but also lower opponents' field goal percentage, and defensive skills are also lowering your opponents' ability to score on every play. A player's free throw shooting and three-point shooting scores don't matter often enough when most guys shoot just a handful of each per game. And of course, we all know a low PFs score means your guy can't stay on the floor.

The other thing I like to pay attention to is a player's actual production - a player's potentials - or scores - might look great, but if it doesn't translate into stats, what does it matter? Especially when evaluating players for "this year" always watch the production, not the stats (or colors). Adrian Dantley last year was a great example - everyone shied away from him for being green/green and yet he averaged 30+ ppg (see Archives/NPBSL/1987/players/player100.htm) - I don't think he was a star you could build around, but he was certainly a great 2nd or 3rd option.

What's the bare minimum for a star player that you can build around?
Above average quickness and jump for bigs.
Above average strength for guards.

Do they need a certain build?
Taller the better. Quickness is good too. Jump makes for easy offense. Just pure athleticism carries you so far in the game.

Do they have to possess a certain level of athleticism or skill potential?
Athleticism is a must. In the old league, I had several talents with outstanding athleticism that were the backbones of my championship squads. The game just moves easier when you have athletic freaks of nature running up and down the court.

What makes you think these talents are essential?
They just play the game more efficiently. Everything is smoother. They make more shots, they box out better on rebounds, they get to the ball quicker for a block. The game is on easy mode.

What's the bare minimum for a star player that you can build around?
Seems like an obvious answer but the ability to play both sides of the ball. If they are only good at scoring or only good at defending then that's not a player I want to build around. They can be great to have as a part of my build, but not the foundation. In order to build around a player, they need to be able to contribute on both sides of the court.'

Do they need a certain build?
Depends on the position. But one thing I look for is for a player to be a bit taller for their position. Give them a bit more leverage when they have the ball or defending.

Do they have to possess a certain level of athleticism or skill potential?
The more athletic, the better. Quickness is an attribute that I really like having in my players. Also, Jumping is crucial

What makes you think these talents are essential?
Being quick and able to jump better just gives you an advantage in this game. They help with offense, defense, rebounding on both sides.

Mike Lowry wrote: Thu Apr 09, 2026 6:03 pm What's the bare minimum for a star player that you can build around?
Do they need a certain build?
Do they have to possess a certain level of athleticism or skill potential?
What makes you think these talents are essential?

Rules: 1 point if you give thoughtful answers, which I will award after the timer ends for responses. The timer ends for responses at the moment the corresponding week's Sim is run.

Note: Use approximately 5 sentences as your bare minimum for 1 point. If you write 3 long, complex sentences, you'll still get a point. If you write 5, 3 word sentences, you will not get a point. Don't @ me.

Due: Deadline for Sim 6

I'm not as in depth of a GM for this league as others. That may be why I haven't won it all. I really focus on a certain skill set. Giving my current build, I needed a premiere point scorer. I tried to build some other attributes around a scorer in terms of Rebounding and passing. But ultimately, a team needs to be able to score to compete in games. A part of the scoring aspect that is often looked over is physical and athletic advantages. If you have a player that is 6'6" that has a 98 Quickness, they have an advantage over point guards, so they would be able to utilize that advantage over smaller players at the same position. Another aspect I look for is someone who can move around in a lineup. If a player can only play one position, they won't be able to move around to avoid certain bad matchups to take advantage of those attributes.

For me this involves lofty aspirations, that I am yet to reach.
I don't see myself wanting to build around a guy who can't lead me to a title.
And my belief is that you can't get there without a premiere player.
What does that mean though?
I think it's a player who can dominate in multiple high impact categories of play.
So far I would say that rebounding, turnovers, and fouls are critical areas that dictate winning and losing in this league.
And I definitely agree with the comments about athleticism and the edge it gives you.
I think it also increases the likelihood of players reaching their potential.

Mike Lowry wrote: Thu Apr 09, 2026 6:03 pm What's the bare minimum for a star player that you can build around?
Do they need a certain build?
Do they have to possess a certain level of athleticism or skill potential?
What makes you think these talents are essential?

Bare minimum when trading a star would expect to be a high profile prospect and a potential lotto pick in the very least. If I’m trading a foundational piece, I’d want a foundational piece in return that I could potentially build around my squad with because chances are, the team is going to flounder without that current star in the rotation. If I’m making the decision to give up on the season, I want a “star” back that I can build around to the strengths of the player that I’m getting back in return. Everything else from matching salary, points, picks, etc. is gravy but I’d expect a good young player in the very least in return.

I’d expect that player to have highly rated skills in an area my team could be struggling in or building a team around to compliment the rest of the pieces on my squad. If I’m trading a 5 for a 2 or a 3, I’d want that player to be a skilled offensive player that’s versatile and has good defensive traits that can steal the basketball and shut down the other quality offensive player. If I’m acquiring a big, I want them to be a strong rebounder and defender that can score a little bit in the paint as well. I think PG is one of the harder positions to trade for because of how few there really are that is skilled in Handle & Passing while also being a quality offensive player as well.

I think the caliber of a star player has to be one that leads his team night in and night out. A potential all star player as well that can dominate an opposing team that’s in front of him. I’d want to build around those qualities and see where it takes my team going forward. You hope to get to the point where you also have the assets to acquire another star player because you also don’t want to be in the position where you sell a star player away and the quote “Duncan Got Less.” Gets brought up.

What's the bare minimum for a star player that you can build around?
Do they need a certain build?
Do they have to possess a certain level of athleticism or skill potential?
What makes you think these talents are essential?

I think the really answer is EVERY SITUATION IS DIFFERENT. Athleticism is mucho importante, and I would say that is definitely the foundation of a star player. If a "Star" doesn't have athleticism, they better have some elite traits in multiple areas. Also I would say you need at LEAST 2-3 A Potentials to be considered a star... and maybe I'm being lenient there. It depends on athleticism again, but defenitely need to be top tier at something (or 2 somethings). Position matters for what they are good at too, like an A in passing for a center is a nice to have, but if they can't rebound or play defense its kinda worthless.

It's a very fluid conversation though.

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+1 point