I'm not talking about the national team, I'm talking about the players of each decade and the overall style of the game at that time

so, which decade was the best, in your opinion, in terms of playing, popularity and quality?

pre-50's and 50's? (really? lol)

60's? (mmm, no)

70's? (probably)

80's? (a bit overrated? other than the Celtics vs Lakers thing?)

90's? (possibly)

00's and early-10's? (still too recent to judge it fairly?)

discuss

The 80s were overrated,because Lakers made finals 9 out of 10 years with little competition from West.It was them,Celtics and sprinkle of early 80s 76ers and late 80s bad boy Pistons

The 90s were Jordan's Bulls and Hakeems Rockets,because MJ took a break.It was all about the Bulls.

I enjoy NBA now,other than Stern better than ever.The athleticism and speed now is off the charts.It makes 90s basketball obsolete.The play is real good.Lots of good teams and mega teams.

Anything with Jordan and Dr. J.

80's & 90's eras has the best players easily!

Mid '80's through mid-90's.

Graycap23 said:

Anything with Jordan and Dr. J.

70s & 80s for me. I loved the ABA.

RodeoSchro said:

Mid '80's through mid-90's.

As far as talent is concerned, seems like it was the 80s.

60s may have have the more dominant stars though.

I'll start with the 60s.

You have Wilt & Russell, both could be considered the GOAT. Than you have Jerry West and Oscar Robertson as guards. 2 of the top 5 gurds ever. That at the forwards, you got Elgin Baylor and Bob Pettit, 2 more top 15 player all time. So you have a total of 6 of the top 15 players ever and John Havlicek to round out the top 20.

Now the 80s

With the 80s, I will stick to stricly small forwards. Check this out.

Larry Bird

Julius Erving

Dominique Wilkins

Bernard King

Alex English

Adrian Dantley

Marques Johnson

Jamaal Wilkes

Chris Mullin

Scottie Pippen

Kiki Vandeghe

Walter Davis

The 70's & 80's no doubt

80's & 90's was certainly my favorite period. But I never watched anything before the late 70s, so

I don't really like basketball anymore. It was my favorite sport. I don't know what happened. Kobe?

90's the best period.

honorable mention for the laker/celtic 80's rivalry.

NDRU said:

80's & 90's was certainly my favorite period. But I never watched anything before the late 70s, so

I don't really like basketball anymore. It was my favorite sport. I don't know what happened. Kobe?

come back to us

Abdul said:

The 70's & 80's no doubt

yeah, a bit underrated, right?

I mean

Frazier

Phil Jackson

Monroe

Maravich

Pat Riley

Goodrich

Havlicek

JoJO White

Rick Barry

Cunningham

Walton

Maurice Lucas

Chamberlain (final years but still in top form)

Wes Unseld

Cowens

Gus Williams

Dennis Johnson

Abdul-Jabbar

etc

[Edited 12/6/12 8:08am]

NDRU said:

80's & 90's was certainly my favorite period. But I never watched anything before the late 70s, so

I don't really like basketball anymore. It was my favorite sport. I don't know what happened. Kobe?

My favorite era would be anything with Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Dr.J and Larry Bird.

Like you, I stopped following basketball a long time ago but playing a bit last summer revived my interest in the game, whether it´s watching or playing, I really want to get into it again.

Why do so many people dislike Kobe these days? Is it just his personal antics like cheating on his wife or did I miss something else? He seems to be a great player, don´t you think?

NDRU said:

80's & 90's was certainly my favorite period. But I never watched anything before the late 70s, so

I don't really like basketball anymore. It was my favorite sport. I don't know what happened. Kobe?

The three-point shot radically changed how basketball is played.

Far less movement now. Basically four guys shuffle their feet while one guy plants himself on the 3-point line, waiting for the defense to forget about him. It's pretty boring.

And on another subject - dunks are overrated. By that I mean, overrated on ESPN's Top 10 plays. Unless a guy is getting an alleyoop from the free-throw line, or doing a 360 backwards dunk, I couldn't care less to see it.

Dunks aren't just a dime a dozen - they're a dime a thousand. I'll bet you that on any given night of a full NBA schedule, there are at least 150 dunks.

KoolEaze said:

NDRU said:

80's & 90's was certainly my favorite period. But I never watched anything before the late 70s, so

I don't really like basketball anymore. It was my favorite sport. I don't know what happened. Kobe?

My favorite era would be anything with Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Dr.J and Larry Bird.

Like you, I stopped following basketball a long time ago but playing a bit last summer revived my interest in the game, whether it´s watching or playing, I really want to get into it again.

Why do so many people dislike Kobe these days? Is it just his personal antics like cheating on his wife or did I miss something else? He seems to be a great player, don´t you think?

He apparently raped a girl in the butt.

RodeoSchro said:

NDRU said:

80's & 90's was certainly my favorite period. But I never watched anything before the late 70s, so

I don't really like basketball anymore. It was my favorite sport. I don't know what happened. Kobe?

The three-point shot radically changed how basketball is played.

Far less movement now. Basically four guys shuffle their feet while one guy plants himself on the 3-point line, waiting for the defense to forget about him. It's pretty boring.

And on another subject - dunks are overrated. By that I mean, overrated on ESPN's Top 10 plays. Unless a guy is getting an alleyoop from the free-throw line, or doing a 360 backwards dunk, I couldn't care less to see it.

Dunks aren't just a dime a dozen - they're a dime a thousand. I'll bet you that on any given night of a full NBA schedule, there are at least 150 dunks.

Lol..............guys that can't dunk make me laugh with these type statements.

Graycap23 said:

RodeoSchro said:

The three-point shot radically changed how basketball is played.

Far less movement now. Basically four guys shuffle their feet while one guy plants himself on the 3-point line, waiting for the defense to forget about him. It's pretty boring.

And on another subject - dunks are overrated. By that I mean, overrated on ESPN's Top 10 plays. Unless a guy is getting an alleyoop from the free-throw line, or doing a 360 backwards dunk, I couldn't care less to see it.

Dunks aren't just a dime a dozen - they're a dime a thousand. I'll bet you that on any given night of a full NBA schedule, there are at least 150 dunks.

Lol..............guys that can't dunk make me laugh with these type statements.

I can't dunk NOW, but I could dunk when I was a player. Probably the only 6' white guy in Houston that could! One hand, two hands and backwards, but never pulled off an alley oop. Could you ever dunk?

Besides, I'm sure you can count on one hand the number of NBA players that can't dunk. They all can do it, and they do it probably 150 times a night.

Dunks aren't special in the NBA.

RodeoSchro said:

KoolEaze said:

My favorite era would be anything with Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Dr.J and Larry Bird.

Like you, I stopped following basketball a long time ago but playing a bit last summer revived my interest in the game, whether it´s watching or playing, I really want to get into it again.

Why do so many people dislike Kobe these days? Is it just his personal antics like cheating on his wife or did I miss something else? He seems to be a great player, don´t you think?

He apparently raped a girl in the butt.

Allegedly yeah. He still hasn't totally shaken it off but he hasn't given anyone else more ammo to get at him (like Mike Tyson for example until recently).

JoeTyler said:

Abdul said:

The 70's & 80's no doubt

yeah, a bit underrated, right?

I mean

Frazier

Phil Jackson

Monroe

Maravich

Pat Riley

Goodrich

Havlicek

JoJO White

Rick Barry

Cunningham

Walton

Maurice Lucas

Chamberlain (final years but still in top form)

Wes Unseld

Cowens

Gus Williams

Dennis Johnson

Abdul-Jabbar

etc

[Edited 12/6/12 8:08am]

Yup the NBA of the 70's is very underrated Joe

For me, hands down was the 90's. The Bulls reigned. Loved it!

The excitement was out of the world...for some reason I just can't get that out watching NBA ball currently. I remember I used to be glued to the TV watching the NBA back then during my middle and high school days. During one of those playoff years when it was the Pacers vs. the Knicks...I was in so much suspense that I nearly bit my nails off...then at the last seconds, Reggie would hit those 3-pointers. Ahhh

There was...

MJ

Pippen

Rodman

Kukoc

Longley

Armstrong

Miller

Ewing

Olajuwon

Barkley (though I couldn't stand him)

Webber

Robinson

RodeoSchro said:

Graycap23 said:

Lol..............guys that can't dunk make me laugh with these type statements.

I can't dunk NOW, but I could dunk when I was a player. Probably the only 6' white guy in Houston that could! One hand, two hands and backwards, but never pulled off an alley oop. Could you ever dunk?

Besides, I'm sure you can count on one hand the number of NBA players that can't dunk. They all can do it, and they do it probably 150 times a night.

Dunks aren't special in the NBA.

I agree with this somewhat because we've already seen the best dunkers, David Thompson, Dr. J, Jordan, Drexler, Dominique, Vince Carter etc...., do it and this new crop of dunkers don't do ANY new dunks

Abdul said:

RodeoSchro said:

I can't dunk NOW, but I could dunk when I was a player. Probably the only 6' white guy in Houston that could! One hand, two hands and backwards, but never pulled off an alley oop. Could you ever dunk?

Besides, I'm sure you can count on one hand the number of NBA players that can't dunk. They all can do it, and they do it probably 150 times a night.

Dunks aren't special in the NBA.

I agree with this somewhat because we've already seen the best dunkers, David Thompson, Dr. J, Jordan, Drexler, Dominique, Vince Carter etc...., do it and this new crop of dunkers don't do ANY new dunks

Yeah slam dunks really lost the edge it had. It was great in the '70s, '80s and '90s. It was cool during the '00s when the street thing was hot. Now, I'd be more impressed with people winning games and bringing in teamwork instead of always trying to find the next Jordan.

RodeoSchro said:

Graycap23 said:

Lol..............guys that can't dunk make me laugh with these type statements.

I can't dunk NOW, but I could dunk when I was a player. Probably the only 6' white guy in Houston that could! One hand, two hands and backwards, but never pulled off an alley oop. Could you ever dunk?

Besides, I'm sure you can count on one hand the number of NBA players that can't dunk. They all can do it, and they do it probably 150 times a night.

Dunks aren't special in the NBA.

Lol....by that logic, a layup, a jumpshot, a post move.............nothing is special about the NBA.

Don't get me wrong, dunks still bring excitement but usually it happens when that team has a thing going that the other team can't stop. That's what I love about the NBA.

Timmy84 said:

Abdul said:

I agree with this somewhat because we've already seen the best dunkers, David Thompson, Dr. J, Jordan, Drexler, Dominique, Vince Carter etc...., do it and this new crop of dunkers don't do ANY new dunks

Yeah slam dunks really lost the edge it had. It was great in the '70s, '80s and '90s. It was cool during the '00s when the street thing was hot. Now, I'd be more impressed with people winning games and bringing in teamwork instead of always trying to find the next Jordan.

I disagree, the Jordan legacy is buried well in the past, in no small part thanks to the miserable 01-03 "comeback"

O'Neal, Duncan, Bryant, Kidd, Billups, Parker, Wade, Garnett, Pierce, Lebron, Howard, etc

I mean, Jordan will always be THE one, but the NBA has survived his two retirements nice and easy

JoeTyler said:

Timmy84 said:

Yeah slam dunks really lost the edge it had. It was great in the '70s, '80s and '90s. It was cool during the '00s when the street thing was hot. Now, I'd be more impressed with people winning games and bringing in teamwork instead of always trying to find the next Jordan.

I disagree, the Jordan legacy is buried well in the past, in no small part thanks to the miserable 01-03 "comeback"

O'Neal, Duncan, Bryant, Kidd, Billups, Parker, Wade, Garnett, Pierce, Lebron, Howard, etc

I mean, Jordan will always be THE one, but the NBA has survived his two retirements nice and easy

He still hangs on in there like a ghost though, you have to admit, but I see your point.

Timmy84 said:

JoeTyler said:

I disagree, the Jordan legacy is buried well in the past, in no small part thanks to the miserable 01-03 "comeback"

O'Neal, Duncan, Bryant, Kidd, Billups, Parker, Wade, Garnett, Pierce, Lebron, Howard, etc

I mean, Jordan will always be THE one, but the NBA has survived his two retirements nice and easy

He still hangs on in there like a ghost though, you have to admit, but I see your point.

dude needs to

a) become a coach (already, damn!)

b) become the general manager of the Bulls or something

he needs to stop lurking, unless he TRULY enjoys all that "royalty" treatment...

missfee said:

For me, hands down was the 90's. The Bulls reigned. Loved it!

The excitement was out of the world...for some reason I just can't get that out watching NBA ball currently. I remember I used to be glued to the TV watching the NBA back then during my middle and high school days. During one of those playoff years when it was the Pacers vs. the Knicks...I was in so much suspense that I nearly bit my nails off...then at the last seconds, Reggie would hit those 3-pointers. Ahhh

There was...

MJ

Pippen

Rodman

Kukoc

Longley

Armstrong

Miller

Ewing

Olajuwon

Barkley (though I couldn't stand him)

Webber

Robinson

cmon he was cute and nice, puppy eyes and all

JoeTyler said:

Timmy84 said:

He still hangs on in there like a ghost though, you have to admit, but I see your point.

dude needs to

a) become a coach (already, damn!)

b) become the general manager of the Bulls or something

he needs to stop lurking, unless he TRULY enjoys all that "royalty" treatment...

He ain't gon' stop.