The old NBA was a golden time. I'm thankful I got to see it.

[Mr. Woke]

The modern NBA is the golden era.

The NBA of the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s was unwatchable in comparison.

[Ainosterhaspie]

Just because a dude was on NBA Jam doesn't mean he was a star. Go back and look at that roster list again. There are some serious jokes in there. Laetner/Person. The corpses of Thomas/Laimbeer. Gugliotta/Grant. I have zero memory of that dynamic duo.

Not that there weren't plenty of stars in the 90s, and much to like about the game then. Jordan's invincibility and unparalleled smoothness and lethality. Hakeem's post mastery. Young Shaq's unbelievable athleticism/size combination. My personal favorite Barkley Sun's with Majerly bombing deep threes (that wasn't invented by Curry). It was a great era in many ways.

But you also had overexpansion creating watered down teams compared to the 80s. Teams hadn't realized the value of the three and you had stupid stuff happening like dudes who have a wide open three taking a step or two inside the arc for a "better shot". That kind of play should drive a basket fan nuts every bit as much as the game shifting to outside play at the expense of post play, and the apparent (though over stated) loss of effective defenses.

Basketball has advanced since that era. Things like the above mentioned undervaluing of the three point shot and overvaluing offensive rebounds (in most cases getting back and set on defense is more useful than an offensive rebound) make today's game better in some ways. When I rewatch 90s era games I get annoyed at these bad basketball tendencies which were widespread at the time.

OP leaves out the 80s for some reason when that was a fantastic period for the league with the showtime Lakers and Bird's Celtics rivalry giving way to the perfect heel Pistons eventually put down by Jordan's ascendant Bulls.

Each era has its merits and flaws. If you love the game of basketball, you should be able to enjoy each.

[Gimmedarock]

I haven’t gone back and watched much 80’s nba. I saw some highlights of Magic with no handles and I just checked out. Can’t be a point guard with no dribble moves to me. I may have to back and look at other teams though.

[2much_knowledge]

2003-2020 is much better. As a 12 years old in 1998 I watched the Bulls and the Jazz only averaging 87 to 80 ppg and most of the 3 pointers shooters cannot shot from the outside except for Reggie Miller, Richmond, and Rice.

2003 - 2020? Lolololol. Must be coincidence that those are the years lebron has been in the Nba

Pure coincidence, not bias at all.

[72-10]

I miss the 90s NBA I grew up watching, too, in fact I think an All-90s team might beat an all-2010s team, but I think I missed out on the best era, which was the 80s NBA.

[Ainosterhaspie]

I miss the 90s NBA I grew up watching, too, in fact I think an All-90s team might beat an all-2010s team, but I think I missed out on the best era, which was the 80s NBA.

Interesting. Here's my 2010s 12 man roster. What you got for 90s to counter?

Curry/CP3
Leonard/Thompson
James/Durant/Iguodala
Davis/Green
Gasol/Gobert/Horford

Can play excellent defensive lineups. Excellent shooting lineups. Go small and fast paced, go bigger and slower while still having great spacing. Multiple excellent creators, and iso guys. Can throw waves of strong lengthy defenders at Jordan. 90s obviously has better 4/5s especially as scorers, but will go small and try to run them off the floor and have some defensive guys to slow them a bit, though they probably can't stop them.

[Walk on Water]

Interesting. Here's my 2010s 12 man roster. What you got for 90s to counter?

Curry/CP3
Leonard/Thompson
James/Durant/Iguodala
Davis/Green
Gasol/Gobert/Horford

Can play excellent defensive lineups. Excellent shooting lineups. Go small and fast paced, go bigger and slower while still having great spacing. Multiple excellent creators, and iso guys. Can throw waves of strong lengthy defenders at Jordan. 90s obviously has better 4/5s especially as scorers, but will go small and try to run them off the floor and have some defensive guys to slow them a bit, though they probably can't stop them.

90s had the Dream Team lol.

Kidd, Stockton, Payton
Jordan, Mullin, Miller
Barkley, Hill, Pippen
Malone, Rodman, Bird
Shaq/Ewing/Robinson/Morning

[Axe]

90s had the Dream Team lol.

Kidd, Stockton, Payton
Jordan, Mullin, Miller
Barkley, Hill, Pippen
Malone, Rodman, Bird
Shaq/Ewing/Robinson/Morning

Those are weak players in today's standards

[Ainosterhaspie]

You have to cut a few to get down to a 12 man roster. You really taking 90s Bird?

[SouBeachTalents]

My teams would prob go

90's
Stockton/Payton
Jordan/Reggie
Pippen/Mullin
Kemp/Rodman
Hakeem/Robinson

10's
Curry/CP3
Klay/PG
Kawhi/Durant
Dirk/LeBron
AD/Jokic

[Walk on Water]

The modern NBA is the golden era.

The NBA of the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s was unwatchable in comparison.

They did it all back then. Now they do very few things.

[Walk on Water]

Those are weak players in today's standards

No, they are legends. Household names. Nobody could hang with MJ, Shaq.

[72-10]

Interesting. Here's my 2010s 12 man roster. What you got for 90s to counter?

While I haven't given much thought to an all-2010s team, I'm quite confident my 90s team would win without one of its best players.

1 - Stockton/GP
2 - MJ/Reggie
3 - Pippen/Grant Hill/Bird
4 - Malone/Barkley
5 - Olajuwon/Robinson/Ewing

you posted the best point guard duo I've seen, in fact I think they'd beat my point guard core off the dribble, but I don't think there'd be good penetration against the 90s team.

[hateraid]

I'm just a basketball fan who can appreciate all elements of the game. It's always evolving and amazes me. I just as impressed seeing players like Zion as I was with Barkley. Morant and Tim Hardaway. Steph and Reggie Miller. Lebron and Jordan. Real fans can appreciate all elements of the game