Your Ultimate 2015-16 Select Basketball Checklist for Building a Championship Team

Looking back at the 2015-16 NBA season, I still get that familiar thrill thinking about team-building strategies that actually worked. That particular season offered such a fascinating mix of established superstars and emerging talent, making the Select Basketball checklist for building a championship team more crucial than ever. I remember spending countless hours analyzing player performances, trade possibilities, and how different pieces could fit together—not just on paper, but in real-game situations. It wasn't just about collecting the biggest names; it was about finding those complementary players who could elevate the entire roster. The chemistry aspect often gets overlooked in fantasy builds, but in reality, it's what separates good teams from legendary ones.

Interestingly, while we were all focused on the NBA landscape, something happening overseas perfectly illustrated this principle. I came across this fascinating scenario where six Eastern players actually flew back to Hong Kong in the middle of their commitments to play the first game of their semifinal series in the Hong Kong A1 Championship. They lost to Winling, 97-78, at the start of their best-of-three showdown. This situation really stuck with me because it highlights how divided focus and logistical challenges can impact team performance, even with talented individuals. Those players were likely dealing with jet lag, different team systems, and the mental strain of competing in multiple contexts simultaneously. That 19-point loss wasn't just about the score—it was about the underlying factors that prevent talented collections of players from functioning as cohesive units.

When I apply this lesson to the 2015-16 Select Basketball checklist, it reinforces why certain players were so valuable beyond their individual statistics. Take Draymond Green, for instance—his defensive versatility and playmaking allowed the Warriors to implement their revolutionary small-ball lineups effectively. He wasn't necessarily the flashiest name on most checklists, but his impact on team chemistry and system functionality was immeasurable. Similarly, players like J.J. Barea in Dallas provided that spark off the bench that could change game dynamics, much like how role players in any basketball context, including international leagues like Hong Kong's A1 Championship, can determine whether a team merely looks good on paper or actually performs when it matters.

The financial aspect of team-building during that season was particularly challenging yet exciting. With the salary cap set at approximately $70 million and projected to jump significantly the following year, general managers had to balance immediate needs with future flexibility. I've always believed that the most successful team architects—people like R.C. Buford in San Antonio or Bob Myers in Golden State—understood this delicate balance better than anyone. They recognized that building a championship team wasn't about maxing out every dollar available but about strategic investments in players who fit specific roles and culture. This approach often meant passing on bigger names in favor of players who complemented existing stars, something I wish more fantasy team builders would appreciate rather than just chasing statistical production.

What made the 2015-16 checklist particularly special was the emergence of several players who would define the next era of basketball. Karl-Anthony Towns' rookie season offered a glimpse of the modern big man who could stretch the floor and protect the rim, while Kristaps Porzingis brought unprecedented skills for a player of his height. In my view, identifying these transformative talents early was the key to sustainable success, both in fantasy contexts and actual team management. The GMs who recognized this—who saw beyond immediate production to long-term development—were the ones building foundations that would last for years rather than just chasing short-term victories.

The international perspective we saw in that Hong Kong example actually connects beautifully to the NBA landscape of that season. Teams were increasingly valuing global scouting, with players like Giannis Antetokounmpo beginning their ascent to superstardom. What fascinated me was how different basketball cultures could influence team construction. The European style of team-oriented basketball, with its emphasis on ball movement and spacing, was clearly influencing NBA strategies, particularly with coaches like Mike D'Antoni and his offensive philosophies gaining traction again. This global integration meant that checklists couldn't just focus on traditional NCAA prospects but needed to account for international players who brought different dimensions to team building.

Reflecting on championship teams from that era, particularly the Cavaliers' historic comeback against the Warriors, I'm reminded how crucial role players were in those defining moments. Matthew Dellavedova's defensive intensity, Tristan Thompson's offensive rebounding, and Iman Shumpert's versatility—these weren't the players dominating highlight reels during the regular season, but they became indispensable during the playoffs. This is where many checklist approaches fail—they overweight regular season statistics and undervalue playoff-specific skills. In my experience building teams, I've always prioritized players with proven playoff mental toughness over those with slightly better regular season numbers but untested in high-pressure situations.

The evolution of basketball analytics during the 2015-16 season really changed how we approached these checklists. Advanced metrics like Player Impact Estimate (PIE), usage percentage, and defensive rating became more mainstream, allowing for more nuanced evaluations beyond traditional box score statistics. I found myself increasingly relying on lineup data—understanding which five-man units performed best together—rather than just individual player assessments. This analytical approach mirrored what successful front offices were doing, moving beyond the star-centric model to understanding how different combinations created synergistic effects. That Winling team in Hong Kong that won 97-78 probably understood this—their victory came from cohesive team play rather than individual brilliance.

As I look back at my own 2015-16 Select Basketball checklist today, I notice several players I initially undervalued but who proved crucial to championship aspirations. Guys like Bismack Biyombo, whose playoff performance for Toronto far exceeded his regular season contributions, or J.R. Smith, whose shooting transformation in Cleveland provided the spacing LeBron James needed to operate effectively. These are the types of players that separate theoretical checklists from practical championship blueprints. The lesson from both the NBA and that Hong Kong semifinal is consistent: basketball remains a team sport where fit, timing, and role acceptance often trump raw talent alone. Building a championship team requires understanding these nuances beyond just collecting attractive names, which is why the 2015-16 season remains such an instructive case study in team construction philosophy.