The summer blockbuster season is almost upon us. NBA fans have already had a few blockbuster games in the playoffs; that double-overtime game between San Antonio and Phoenix was incredible.

In this retrospective article, we praise the players that played every single game, a luxury all fantasy owners know is few and far between. There are quite a few surprises on this list.

ATLANTIC DIVISION

Boston Celtics: None

The Celtics rested their players down the stretch which wreaked havoc on fantasy lineups. Still, the big three combo turned out as best as could be expected, both on the court and with a fantasy spin.

New Jersey Nets: Richard Jefferson

Jefferson went from missing 27 games to being an iron man this year, and having a very solid season.

New York Knicks: None

David Lee had a chance to register time in every game, but he missed a game in April. Now who’s going to coach this team back to prominence?

Philadelphia 76ers: Andre Iguodala, Andre Miller, Samuel Dalembert

Philly was a great fantasy team this year. Dalembert was in a walking boot during pre-season, but in a surprise ended up being an iron men. Iguodala performed below the lofty expectations thrust upon him by fantasy hoopsters, but was rock solid overall. And Miller was quietly a rock at the point as usual.

Toronto Raptors: Anthony Parker, Jose Calderon, Carlos Delfino

The Raps should be a better fantasy team than they are. The yo-yo at point guard hurt both Calderon and T. J. Ford owners down the stretch. Parker is a useful player, and could come up with a big game here and there and you could say the same thing about Delfino and be right on.

CENTRAL DIVISION

Chicago Bulls: None

On top of all the fantasy trouble the Bulls caused this year, not one player on their team played every game.

Cleveland Cavaliers: None

It is hard to play every game when the team turns its roster over so much. LeBron missed some time early, but he made most people that passed on him in their fantasy drafts regret it.

Detroit Pistons: Tayshaun Prince, Jason Maxiell, Jarvis Hayes

Maxiell was a favorite sleeper heading into this year; he finished with averages of 7.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Prince does a little of everything, or does not too much of anything depending on your outlook in life. You need players like him to steady your bench.

Indiana Pacers: Mike Dunleavy

Imagine “Mike Dunleavy” and “breakthrough fantasy season” actually going together at the end of the regular season. Wait a sec, we do not have to imagine, it’s real!

Milwaukee Bucks: None

SOUTHEAST DIVISION

Atlanta Hawks: Joe Johnson

Johnson is one of my faves, and had a nice bounceback campaign after seein his ironman streak end last season.

Charlotte Bobcats: Jason Richardson, Emeka Okafor

Go back in time to tell the fantasy GM in your league that drafted Okafor that he is guaranteed to play every game this season. Watch him jump for joy. Then tell him his stats will be about the same as before, down a bit even. Watch him call you a liar. Chuckle to yourself as you head back to the future. As for J-Rich, three treys and 1.4 steals per game equals a wicked fifth round steal for the smart GM that drafted him.

Miami Heat: Ricky Davis

Gotta feel for Ricky Davis. Suiting up for every Heat game this year must take a toll on your life expectancy down the line.

Orlando Magic: Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, Keith Bogans, Adonal Foyle

Superman was the man of steel…uh, iron, this year. As for Turkoglu, why was his value downgraded so much leading up to the season again?

Washington Wizards: DeShawn Stevenson, Andray Blatche

The Wiz suffered from a multitude of injuries this year, which made Stevenson and Blatche popular waiver pick-ups at several points in the season.

NORTHWEST DIVISION

Denver Nuggets: Allen Iverson

82 games of “the Answer” definitely means he should have been a first round pick.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes

Al Jeff panned out very well. Give him credit for suiting up every night for the lowly Wolves. Gomes offered some waiver wire help but only for a little while.

Portland Trail Blazers: Travis Outlaw, Jarrett Jack

Portland offered up a lot of fantasy options this year, but said options lacked consistency. Outlaw and Jack did provide a few big games.

Utah Jazz: Deron Williams, Paul Millsap

Millsap will be everyone’s favorite sleeper for a few years yet while Deron’s excellent year propels him into the first round next year.

PACIFIC DIVISION

Golden State Warriors: Baron Davis

What kind of odds could one have gotten back in October for betting on Baron to play 82 games? One million to one? One billion to one? Maybe more. Megaprops to Baron and his forcefield of a beard.

Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Jordan Farmar

One more reason why Kobe deserves fantasy MVP is his zero DNPs for the year. What an outstanding year Kobe and the Lakers had; now it’s time for the playoffs. Both Fisher and Farmar were useful fantasy players this year.

Phoenix Suns: Leandro Barbosa, Boris Diaw

Did Barbosa underwhelm fantasy owners a bit this year? Probably. For now, label Diaw as a contract year and then disappear kind of player. A full year next season with no Shawn Marion on the team gives him a chance to disprove this theory.

Sacramento Kings: Mikki Moore

Moore was a decent source of rebounds and had the occasional big game. Sacramento as whole was quite unlucky with injuries this year.

SOUTHWEST DIVISION

Dallas Mavericks: Jason Terry

The buzz index on JT Money was low to start the year because he began the season on the bench. His final numbers look pretty solid for a second to third tier guard.

Houston Rockets: Luis Scola

Good on Scola for helping make the rookie of the year race more interesting. For fantasy owners, too bad he took so long to pan out.

Memphis Grizzlies: Juan Carlos Navarro, Kyle Lowry

The Grizz’s point guard situation offered a lot of pizazz in the pre-season but it fizzled more than sizzled overall.

New Orleans Hornets: None

Chris Paul missed two games. Fantasy MVP for sure and a deserving MVP.

San Antonio Spurs: Michael Finley, Fabricio Oberto

The Spurs are a three-headed monster in the fantasy realm. Finley and Oberto are key cogs to their system, but there were better fantasy starters out there even with their good health.

Here’s a very solid looking fantasy team made up of ironmen this year, using realistic draft positioning.

1. Kobe Bryant, SG
2. Al Jefferson, PF/C
3. Deron Williams, PG
4. Baron Davis, PG
5. Emeka Okafor, PF/C
6. Samuel Dalembet, C
7. Richard Jefferson, SG/SF
8. Mike Dunleavy, SG/SF
9. Jose Calderon, PG
10. Hedo Turkoglu, SG/SF
11. Luis Scola, PF
12. Anthony Parker, SG
13. Andray Blatche, PF/C

You could have fielded that lineup, not worry about the waiver wire, and in the end a good chance at a fantasy championship. Keep these guys in mind for next year. Can they repeat as ironmen?

It’s a long summer to think about it.