Best NBA Player in Each Decade: A Breakdown

BY RICHARD QIU

LAYOUT BY AIDAN KWONG and MICHELE LIU PHOTOS FROM UNSPLASH

The GOAT of the NBA has long been a heated discussion. Whether that be in terms of game statistics, player competitiveness, fitness––you name it, it’s probably been debated. Brilliant players have been no strangers when it comes to the NBA’s near 80-year history. In fact, with the sheer volume of players the NBA has held, it’s difficult to compare them to determine the greatest or the most impactful. So instead of determining the single best player of all NBA history, a more effective approach is to determine a GOAT of a decade.

50’s George Mikan

The player who brought the Minneapolis Lakers to five NBA champion titles, with a career average of 23 pts, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists, is non-other than George Mikan. He was the first dominant NBA legend– the first NBA player inducted into the NBA hall of fame, the first standard for all future basketball centers.

Standing at almost seven feet tall, Mikan was big, strong, and a force to be reckoned with. He was so dominant that even the NBA had to change their rules. Most notably, they widened the standard free-throw lane from 6 to 12 feet, a rule later dubbed “The Mikan Rule”.

60’s Bill Russell:

The Boston Celtics carry a league record of 17 championships. Of those 17 rings, 11 were won by the almighty Bill Russell.

In his NBA career of 13 years, Russell possessed 5 MVP and 12 All-Star selections, and averaged 15 pts, 22.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. Russell, along with his teammate Bob Cousy created a record of 8 straight championships from 1959 to 1966.

Though some may argue that the game statistics of other players, such as Wilt Chamberlain who had a season reaching up to 50 pts and 30 rebounds, are the greatest of this decade, Bill Russell ultimately set a record amount of championship rings, a record that has yet to be broken.

Beyond the court, Russell was an activist fighting against racial inequality both in and out of professional sports. In February 2011, Russell received the Presidential Medal of Freedom to affirm his efforts as a civil rights activist. Today, Russell’s legacy has not, and never will be forgotten– not only was he a trailblazer for the sport, but he was also a trailblazer for the civil rights movement.

70’s

Kareem Abdul Jabbar (Lew Alchindor)

In his 20-year career, Kareem Abdul Jabbar (also known as Lew Alchindor,) averaged 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists, with a total sum of 38387 points, the highest ever in NBA history.

The 7ft 1 giant first pushed the Milwaukee Bucks to numerous victories, then went on to the Lakers with teammates Magic Earvin Johnson and James Worthy to create one of the greatest and most iconic dynasties of all time, winning 5 Nba titles and 1 Finals MVP.

After retiring from basketball, Jabbar has become a beacon for social justice activists globally, with the Kareem Abdul Jabbar Social Justice Award being established for those who thrive in the fight for social justice, just like him.

80’s Larry Bird

Basketball in the 80s was mainly a fight between 3 teams: The Pistons, Lakers, and the Celtics. These teams were fiercely competitive rivals, with all three having turns winning championships. But in the end, the Boston Celtics proved to be the victors, perhaps because of one of the best small forwards in NBA history: Larry Bird.

Bird averaged 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists, and was a player that could play every position on the court.

He won 3 championships in the 80s , was a 3-time MVP, 12-time all-star, and was also the best 3-point shooter of the time, a time when long-ranged shots were rarely seen.

Larry Bird was not only known for his on-court performances, but also for his trash-talking. He exuded intimidation and strength with his unflappable confidence in his ability. In an All-Star shootout content, Bird famously challenged his competitors, saying “who’s playing for second?” The result of this was a crushing win from Bird, where his competitors couldn’t even come close.

90’s Michael Jordan

The 90s were dominated by the red and black Bulls because of one factor. The man, the myth, the legend: Michael Jordan.

In his career, Jordan stopped numerous players, many of which were basketball legends, from earning championship rings, with some notable names including Reggie Miller, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, and Charles Barkley. Jordan’s years of playing earned him many achievements, to mention a few, this included six championship rings, six Finals MVPs, five MVPs, and the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Aside from basketball achievements alone, Jordan is also known to be a wildly successful entrepreneur, being the CEO and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets, a major spokesperson for brands such as Nike, Coca-Cola, Chevrolet, Gatorade, and McDonald's, and the creator of the iconic shoe brand “Air Jordan”. Jordan’s legacy proves that an NBA player's career does not end on the court, in fact, it can grow and be successful in the years following retirement.

2000s Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant’s influencial “Mamba Mentality” has shaped the current generation of basketball players, emphasising the importance of grit and hard work.

Kobe averaged 25 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game, won 5 Championships, 1 MVP, 2 scoring titles and 2 Finals MVPs. He had won all 5 of the championships in the 2000’s, but many speculate that number could have been way bigger if him Shaquille O’ Neal had played together for longer. Although he may have had the most missed shots in NBA history at 14,481,

Kobe himself has said, “you miss 100 percent of the shots that you don't take”, a testament to his dedication and unshakeable resolve.

2010s to present Lebron James

Lebron “The Chosen One” James, is one of the most talented players of all time. Dominating the game since entering the league in 2003, he has played the NBA finals for 8 years straight. Of that he has won 4 NBA finals, all of which he was crowned MVP.

James posts an average of 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. Even at the age of 37, James has continued to average 30 points and 8 rebounds, showing how in the modern day NBA league, age is not seen as a barrier.