On Wednesday, Nov. 20, Unrivaled’s six head coaches divided the league’s 36 players—34 identified and two yet-to-be-named—into six clubs, with the coaches not knowing which coach would be in charge of which six-player club.
While the coaches sought to create six balanced rosters, the laws of competition demand that distinctions be drawn. One club likely will quickly cohere into a strong side, while one or two may struggle to find a groove.
Considering the dynamics of the game play still remain unclear—as compressed, full court 3×3 play will be unique to Unrivaled—it’s hard to predict which clubs are best prepared to thrive. Will games be dominated by fast-paced, free-flowing play with limited halfcourt sets? Will this style place a premium on versatile, switchable perimeter defenders over traditional rim protection? If halfcourt play is limited, will 3-point spacers be as valuable as they are in a 5×5 game?
We have just under to two months to imagine how things might play out, as Unrivaled’s inaugural season tips off on January 17 in Miami. So here’s our first stab at it, with some way-too-early Unrivaled club power rankings:
1. Laces Basketball Club
Roster: Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces),…
