What is the best NBA decade?

[iowajerms]

1950s

Champions
Minneapolis Lakers - 1950, 52, 53, 54
Boston Celtics - 1957, 59
Rochester Royals - 1951
Syracuse Nationals - 1955
Philadelphia Warriors - 1956
St. Louis Hawks - 1958

MVPs
Bob Pettit - 1956, 59
Bob Cousy - 1957
Bill Russell - 1958

1960s

Champions
Boston Celtics - 1960, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69
Philadelphia 76ers - 1967

MVPs
Wilt Chamberlain - 1960, 66, 67, 68
Bill Russell - 1961, 62, 63, 65
Oscar Robertson - 1964
Wes Undseld - 1969

1970s

Champions
New York Knicks - 1970, 1973
Boston Celtics - 1974, 1976
Milwaukee Bucks - 1971
Los Angeles Lakers - 1972
Golden State Warriors - 1975
Portland Trail Blazers - 1977
Washington Bullets - 1978
Seattle Supersonics - 1979

MVPs
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 1972, 74, 76, 77
Willis Reed - 1970
Lew Alcindor - 1971
Dave Cowens - 1973
Bob McAdoo - 1975
Bill Walton - 1978
Moses Malone - 1979

 

[iowajerms]

1980s

Champions
Los Angeles Lakers - 1980, 82, 85, 87, 88
Boston Celtics - 1981, 84, 86
Philadelphia 76ers - 1983
Detroit Pistons - 1989

MVPs
Larry Bird - 1984, 85, 86
Moses Malone - 1982, 83
Magic Johnson - 1987, 89
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 1980
Julius Erving - 1981
Michael Jordan - 1988

1990s

Champions
Chicago Bulls - 1991, 92, 93, 96, 97, 98
Houston Rockets - 1994, 95
Detroit Pistons - 1990
San Antonio Spurs - 1999

MVPs
Michael Jordan - 1991, 92, 96, 98
Karl Malone - 1997, 99
Magic Johnson - 1990
Charles Barkley - 1993
Hakeem Olajuwan - 1994
David Robinson - 1995

2000s

Champions
Los Angeles Lakers - 2000, 01, 02, 09, 10
San Antonio Spurs - 2003, 05, 07
Miami Heat - 2006, 2012
Detroit Pistons - 2004
Boston Celtics - 2008
Dallas Mavericks - 2011

2013 - Spurs or Heat

MVPs
LeBron James - 2009, 10, 12, 13
Tim Duncan - 2002, 03
Steve Nash - 2005, 06
Shaquille O'Neal - 2000
Allen Iverson - 2001
Kevin Garnett - [i[2004[/i]
Dirk Nowitzki - 2007
Kobe Bryant - 2008
Derrick Rose - 2011

 

[OregonDucks]

don't think the Mavericks or Heat's 2012 title are considered the 2000 decade, I guess they should be in the 2010 decade?

But the 90s by far for me.

 

[iowajerms]

don't think the Mavericks or Heat's 2012 title are considered the 2000 decade, I guess they should be in the 2010 decade?

But the 90s by far for me.

I added them to 2000s because there is only 2 seasons, 3 if you count this season.

 

[iowajerms]

I pretty much grew up watching Jordan and the Bulls dominance, but I was far too young to care about what happened in the 80s. Now that I am old enough to understand who played in the 80s, I think it would be very exciting. I could have gone either way with it.

 

[Crotchrocker]

1980's easy. Word.

 

[shitsho]

I have to say the 80's. What other decade since then has both conferences been strong?

 

[SEC Official]

80's and 90's hands down... so may great matchups and names in the late 80's and early 90's...

Not only did you have great players and rivalries... but players didn't take less money to load a team to win a championship... they played the hand they were dealt.. so the league was pretty even across conferences and teams.

 

[b_lake]

I've only seen it since the 90's...I don't think I can count those "Hardwood Classics" on NBATV as experiencing the 80's...

I just wonder about the whole argument that everyone was so much more skilled back in the 80's and 90's compared with today...I believe that is true for the stars, yes...

And I wonder how these dream matchups would really go when you compare the athletic ability of the eras...

 

[shitsho]

I've only seen it since the 90's...I don't think I can count those "Hardwood Classics" on NBATV as experiencing the 80's...

I just wonder about the whole argument that everyone was so much more skilled back in the 80's and 90's compared with today...I believe that is true for the stars, yes...

And I wonder how these dream matchups would really go when you compare the athletic ability of the eras...

They were more skilled in basic fundamental and less athletic. The ones that were more atheletic excelled. I think Kobe is the last superstar to benefit from the 80's.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

They were more skilled in basic fundamental and less athletic. The ones that were more atheletic excelled. I think Kobe is the last superstar to benefit from the 80's.

You mean because he got to play with them and all? Or did they also not pass back then?


Honestly what are we grading the best on?

Athleticism? Now, tomorrow, year after that
Most fun to watch? 80s
Best Teams? Dominant teams or best collection of fitting talent? 60s or 80s respectively.
Best players for their era? 80s, 60s, MJ
What that era did for the sport? Either progressing it or just shaping the way it is viewed and portrayed today? 80s brought it to the forefront and made it popular, Jordan made it so we have to have a GOAT talk every 3 minutes about LBJ.

 

[RobBase]

80's. 80's-early 90's was the best basketball in the history of time. And it will never be duplicated because the entire system from the NBA down to to college hoops is severely broken by greed.

 

[SportsChic]

None.

In 33 years only 9 won tittles.

Lowest total of the four major sports.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

80's. 80's-early 90's was the best basketball in the history of time. And it will never be duplicated because the entire system from the NBA down to to college hoops is severely broken by greed.

BINK

 

[Shanemansj13]

80's, 90's, early 00's

So a 25 yr old decade were great!

But I would give it to the 90's

 

[RobToxin]

80s.

That was when the NBA Championship games during the week went from tape-delay to prime time television.

 

[HammerDown]

80's. 80's-early 90's was the best basketball in the history of time. And it will never be duplicated because the entire system from the NBA down to to college hoops is severely broken by greed.

/end of thread

 

[powerchord86]

90's for sure.

 

[mm03]

most of the teams in the 90s had superstar talent imo.. that just doesn't happen anymore

 

[Kold]

I grew up in the 90's watching the Bulls dominate. LOVED that era,which is part of the reason why it sickens me that big men are so frowned upon these days. That era had great teams and rivalries....but from what I have looked back upon, the 80's was the BEST era. Jordan may have taken it to another level, but Magic and Bird SAVED the NBA in the 80's. The Lakers/Celtics rivalry saved the NBA. I don't even have to look it up, but there was also more parity back then as well. Now speaking on the era that I grew up in, what I loved most was that there was at MOST 2 superstars to a team, and more than likely only 1. What I liked then was that people HATED each other, that always made for great tv. I DESPISE this AAU/buddy up generation of the NBA. I also hate this let's team up together generation(Yes I know this includes the Lakers). In the 90's, the only notable person that I remember leaving to another stacked team with a superstar was Clyde Drexler(I don't include Shaq because he didn't exactly leave to go to an already made Laker team.), and even then Clyde was on the downside of his career. The superstars didn't just join up back then. It was pretty unimaginable then now that I think of it. Imagine Reggie Miller joining up with Ewing and the Knicks. They both couldn't beat the Bulls, but there's no way that they'd join forces to try to conquer MJ and the Bulls. Also, back then you had to halfway annihilate someone to get a flagrant called. There was no meeting of the officials after every little physical foul.