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| Photos: SI NBA, Wikipedia, B-R, Britannica |
Before we go any further, I hope you enjoyed my previous article about Effective ways to motivate yourself to study for the final exam.
Top three players of 80s.
1. Magic Johnson, PG, LA Laker
Top three players of 80s.
1. Magic Johnson, PG, LA Laker
1980's Stats:
- 19.6 PPG
- 11.1 APG
- 7.4 RPG
- 53.2 FG%
Achievements:
- Five-time NBA Champion
- Three-time NBA Finals MVP
- Two-Time NBA MVP
- Seven-time All-NBA First Team
- Nine-time NBA All-Star
He could play any position on the court, as shown by his rookie-year dominance at the center position in the 1980 NBA Final
Magic managed to involve his teammates in the game more frequently than any other point guard in the 1980s, and he also scored and rebounded the ball at a high rate.
Magic's variety is something that only comes around once in a generation, which is why his 1980s work is so unforgettable.
2. Larry Bird, SF, Boston Celtics
Stats:
- 24.5 PPG
- 9.8 RPG
- 6.0 APG
- 49.9 FG%
Years Played: 1980-1989 (10 Seasons)
Achievements:
Achievements:
- Three-time NBA Champion
- Two-time NBA Finals MVP
- Three-time NBA MVP
- Nine- time NBA All-Star
- Nine-time All-NBA First Team 1980
Two players dominated the 1980s: Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. The 1979 NCAA National Championship game included the same two players.
While both players had their moments of brilliance, Bird was undeniably the more prolific scorer of the two. He could score from nearly any spot on the court and played with a tenacity that is now expected of him.
Over a ten-year period, Bird nearly averaged a double-double, yet what goes overlooked is that he was extremely adept at facilitating the game for his teammates.
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, C, LA Lakers
Stats:
While both players had their moments of brilliance, Bird was undeniably the more prolific scorer of the two. He could score from nearly any spot on the court and played with a tenacity that is now expected of him.
Over a ten-year period, Bird nearly averaged a double-double, yet what goes overlooked is that he was extremely adept at facilitating the game for his teammates.
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, C, LA Lakers
Stats:
- 20.6 PPG
- 8.9 RPG
- 2.0 BLKPG
- 56.6 FG%
Years Played: 1980-1989 (10 Seasons)
Achievements:
- Five-time NBA Champion
- 1985 NBA Finals MVP
- 1980 NBA MVP
- 10-time NBA All-Star
- Four-time All-NBA First Team
When he joined the Los Angeles Lakers, Abdul-Jabbar established himself as a player known for his efficiency, intelligence, and hard effort. While having Magic Johnson and James Worthy on his team during the 1980s undoubtedly helped, there's little doubt he could have led the Lakers on his own.
Abdul-Jabbar will be remembered as one of the most intelligent players in NBA history.
Top three players during decade 90s
1. Michael Jordan
-135 points
Achievements:
- Highest ranking: 1st (unanimous)
- Third in win shares
- Six NBA championships
- Six NBA Finals MVPs
- Four NBA MVPs
- Seven All-Star appearances
- Seven All-NBA First Team selections
- Seven All-Defensive First Team selections
- 1996 and 1998 All-Star Game MVP
He won seven scoring titles with the Bulls, including three in a row towards the close of his career, and he appeared in all 246 regular-season games.
He only missed out on the All-NBA First Team once, in 1994-95, when he returned in March and only appeared in 17 regular-season games. Even yet, he came in 11th place in MVP vote that season.
2. Hakeem Olajuwon
-125 points:
Achievements:
- Highest ranking: 2nd
- Lowest ranking: 3rd
- 7th in win shares
- Seven All -Star appearances
- Eight All-NBA selections (3x First Team)
- 1994 Finals MVP
- 1994 and 1995 NBA champion
- 1993-94 NBA MVP
- In 1992-93 and 1993-94, he was named Defensive Player of the Year.
- 3x block champion
He also won two championships in the Finals by outplaying fellow Hall of Fame centers, first Patrick Ewing in 1994 and then Shaquille O'Neal in 1995. Add in his complete annihilation of David Robinson in the 1995 Western Conference Finals, and you've got three unforgettable series versus the best of the best.
3. Karl Malone
-115 points
Stats:
- 27.2 PPG
- 10.7 RPG
- 3.7 APG
- Highest ranking: 2n
- Lowest ranking: 4th
- 1st in win shares
- Nine All-Star appearances
- 10 All-NBA First Team selections
- 1996-97 and 1998- 99 NBA MVP
- 1993 All-Star Game MVP
He made the playoffs in all ten seasons, scored more total points than anybody else, played in 785 of 788 games, and led his team to second place in the NBA behind only the Bulls.
Karl didn't win an NBA championship, but he did make it to the Western Conference Finals twice more and appeared in three further games (Utah lost in 7 to Seattle In 1996, it came close to facing Chicago in the Finals three years in a row).
Malone led all players in total points in the 1990s, scoring more than anyone in the 1980s, 2000s, or 2010.
2000s decade, NBA top players.
1. Kobe Bryant: 2000-2009 (Los Angeles Lakers)
Achievements:
- 4 NBA Championships
- 6 Finals Appearances
- 1 MVP
- 1 Finals MVP
Regardless of who had the more dominant peak, Kobe was simply more consistent throughout the decade than Shaq and Duncan.
With the exception of the first year of the decade, Kobe was a top-five player every year.
Bryant was named to the First Team All-Defensive and First Team All-NBA seven times.
Six of the ten years in the decade saw the team reach the Finals. Except for Shaq, no one comes close.
2. Tim Duncan: 2000-2009 (San Antonio Spurs)
Achievements:
- 3 NBA Championships
- 2 MVPs
- 3 Finals Appearances
- 2 Final MVPS
Duncan was named All-NBA and All-Defensive in each of the decade's ten years. He was named to the first team of the All-Defensive Team seven times.
He was dominant for the first four or five years of the decade (which is comparable to Shaq's position), but he gradually faded after that. He was no longer rated a top-5 player in the latter two or three years of the decade, despite being a terrific player.
3. Shaquille O'Neal
-2000-2004 Los Angeles Lakers
-2004-2008 Miami Heat
-2008-09 Phoenix Suns
-2009 Cleveland Cavaliers
Achievements:
1 MVP
3 Finals MVP's
4 NBA Championship
There are no words to express how dominant O'Neal was at the start of the decade.
In two of the Lakers' three championship seasons, he averaged 30-15.
In one Finals series, he averaged 40 points each game.
Shaq has the best decade-long peak of any player. Many people may consider Kobe's 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons to be the finest, or even LeBron's seasons later in the decade, but what made Shaq's accomplishment so remarkable was the dominance he displayed in the postseason.
His postseason numbers were better than his regular-season numbers. In his greatest years in the regular season, this was a man who averaged just under 30 and 13 points per game. When it came to the playoffs, he went all out.
The final half of the decade is what keeps him off this list. Shaq was no longer a top-10 player from 2006 to 2009.
Shaq has the best decade-long peak of any player. Many people may consider Kobe's 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons to be the finest, or even LeBron's seasons later in the decade, but what made Shaq's accomplishment so remarkable was the dominance he displayed in the postseason.
His postseason numbers were better than his regular-season numbers. In his greatest years in the regular season, this was a man who averaged just under 30 and 13 points per game. When it came to the playoffs, he went all out.
The final half of the decade is what keeps him off this list. Shaq was no longer a top-10 player from 2006 to 2009.
Shaq wasn't a horrible player during those years, but he wasn't an exceptional player. Consistency is the most important requirement for this list.
2010s top 3 best players
LeBron James is number one.
LeBron averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.5 three-pointers, and 0.7 blocks per decade. He had a plus-6.5 relative true shooting percentage.
He averaged 1.0 All-Star appearances, 1.0 All-NBA selections, 0.5 All-Defense selections, 0.3 MVPs, and 0.3 Finals MVPs per season in 2010.
Over the course of the ten seasons, he received 5.98 MVP votes.
On top of his statistical supremacy, LeBron won three championships. He appeared in the Finals for the eighth time in a row. He ushered in a new era of player empowerment. He was a forerunner in the positionless basketball movement.
Kevin Durant, no. 2
Kevin Durant is well renowned for his ability to score. And it's not without reason.
His 28.0 points per game is a decade high, more than a full point higher than second-placed LeBron James. Over that time, he has a ridiculous plus-8.2 relative true shooting percentage.
During those ten seasons, he demonstrated what is possibly the most comprehensive scoring repertoire in NBA history. Durant has the ability to shoot threes off the dribble or off the grab. In the mid-range, he's capable of doing the same. He has the ability to function solely on post-ups. He has the ability to score in transition. In the half court or on the wide floor, he can attack the rim. He might be able to go to the line.
Stephen Curry is number three.
Stephen Curry is one of the NBA's most influential offensive players.
His 7.1 career offensive box plus/minus is currently second only to LeBron's 7.2.
With him on the floor, Golden State averaged plus-8.9 points per 100 possessions during the decade, and minus-3.2 when he wasn't.
He was named to six All-Star teams, won two MVP awards, including the league's lone unanimous MVP award, and was named to six All-NBA teams.
Curry may not have won any Finals MVPs, but he was the center of that dynasty's universe. Without him, the Warriors would be without any of their three championships.
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