How "weak" is this era in terms of superstars?

[Young X]

People really think the following players would have problems in the 90s?

-Dwight
-Wade
-Griffin
-Love
-Paul George
-Carmelo
-Prime CP3
-Prime Amar'e Stoudemire
-Westbrook
-Matrix
-The Brow

None of those players with the exception of maybe KD would be top 5 in 1990. Most of them wouldn't even be top 10 or 15.

[deja vu]

Only LeBron and Durant would be top 10 players in the 90s.

[LongLiveTheKing]

Players from the 90s get so overrated.

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

The 2010s is on the 60s level

80s, 90s and 00s>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[kurple]

Clearly better than anyone aside from Lebron/Durant? In their primes..

90-99: MJ, Shaq, Hakeem, Robinson, Ewing, Barkley, Malone

00-09: Shaq, Kobe, Duncan, KG, Dirk, T-Mac, Wade

where is iverson?

[Bigsmoke]

If ISH still alive in 2030, we will be here like "2010's was the golden era"

[BoutPractice]

Not as "weak" as you'd think.

Greatness is often confirmed by:
- a remarkable prime
- remarkable longevity (all-star selections, MVP votes, etc. over a long period)

After Durant and LeBron, you have CP3, an all-time great point guard whose prime isn't over (if he ever adds a championship to his resume people other than statheads will start arguing if he's the second/third best PG ever). Dwight is a first ballot HOFer and his prime hasn't ended. Tony Parker is another all-time great rarely mentioned in lists who may still add significantly to his resume, and will become revered once he retires. Same with Carmelo. Wade and especially Bosh aren't completely done and may experience an individual resurgence.

But most importantly, we haven't yet seen the prime and longevity of Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Blake Griffin, James Harden, Anthony Davis, Paul George, Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, John Wall etc.... Who is going to put together an MVP caliber season? Who is going to outlast them all and change the narrative around them?

Add to that the 2014 draft (they're nothing right now but people will use them in the future to say so and so played against Wiggins/Parker/Embiid/whoever), and the stars that may erupt next year, and the NBA is in great shape. As it is most of the time.

Let's not forget that back in the early 00s, few were predicting that Dirk and KG would end up with a case for top 20 in the history of the game (instead they would have talked about TMac, Vince Carter, and Allen Iverson). Their historical greatness made itself obvious with time... DWade was in no one's radar as a future HOFer when he was first drafted, as all eyes were on LeBron and Melo. And Kevin Durant himself was typecast as a future "high scoring SF whose teams don't go anywhere" rather than a potential future multiple champion. That was why people preferred Oden... they thought Oden was a "winner" versus Durant the "scorer".

[aj1987]

None of those players with the exception of maybe KD would be top 5 in 1990. Most of them wouldn't even be top 10 or 15.

[Trollsmasher]

I agree. It was much easier for single players to be stars in the '90s than it is today.

That's why '90s are the weakest era since '50. Current players should be ranked higher based on this fact.

[CelticBalla32]

I agree. It was much easier for single players to be stars in the '90s than it is today.

That's why '90s are the weakest era since '50. Current players should be ranked higher based on this fact.

90s is a weak era?

Michael Jordan - Charles Barkley - Hakeem Olajuwon - David Robinson - Patrick Ewing - Karl Malone - John Stockton - Clyde Drexler - Scottie Pippen - Grant Hill - Gary Payton - Shawn Kemp - Dennis Rodman - Penny Hardaway - Tim Hardaway - Alonzo Mourning - Glen Rice - Chris Mullin - Mitch Richmond - Reggie Miller - Dikembe Mutombo - etc.

Yeah, so weak.

Mid-to-Late 90s Marked Beginnings Of: Tim Duncan - Kevin Garnett - Allen Iverson - Kobe Bryant - Tracy McGrady -Ray Allen - Steve Nash - Jason Kidd - etc.

Were you one of those people upset that the Bulls three-peated twice? They created a dynasty and they had a great rivalry with the Knicks along the way.

The 90s are one of the heights of basketball in terms of talent, captivating postseason play and fan interest. You don't have to like anyone from that era, but to call them "weak" is just ignorant. The 80s and 90s was the undisputed peak of NBA basketball and 90s produced some of the best players of all-time in their prime, including the GOAT, at each position.

[ZMonkey11]

Not as "weak" as you'd think.

Greatness is often confirmed by:
- a remarkable prime
- remarkable longevity (all-star selections, MVP votes, etc. over a long period)

After Durant and LeBron, you have CP3, an all-time great point guard whose prime isn't over (if he ever adds a championship to his resume people other than statheads will start arguing if he's the second/third best PG ever). Dwight is a first ballot HOFer and his prime hasn't ended. Tony Parker is another all-time great rarely mentioned in lists who may still add significantly to his resume, and will become revered once he retires. Same with Carmelo. Wade and especially Bosh aren't completely done and may experience an individual resurgence.

But most importantly, we haven't yet seen the prime and longevity of Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Blake Griffin, James Harden, Anthony Davis, Paul George, Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, John Wall etc.... Who is going to put together an MVP caliber season? Who is going to outlast them all and change the narrative around them?

Add to that the 2014 draft (they're nothing right now but people will use them in the future to say so and so played against Wiggins/Parker/Embiid/whoever), and the stars that may erupt next year, and the NBA is in great shape. As it is most of the time.

Let's not forget that back in the early 00s, few were predicting that Dirk and KG would end up with a case for top 20 in the history of the game (instead they would have talked about TMac, Vince Carter, and Allen Iverson). Their historical greatness made itself obvious with time... DWade was in no one's radar as a future HOFer when he was first drafted, as all eyes were on LeBron and Melo. And Kevin Durant himself was typecast as a future "high scoring SF whose teams don't go anywhere" rather than a potential future multiple champion. That was why people preferred Oden... they thought Oden was a "winner" versus Durant the "scorer".

this was most excellent

[Frozen1]

The 08-09 kobe, lebron and wade would still be the top 3 players today.

[Prometheus]

Seeing as how Durant/LeBron are inferior to at least 5 players from 90-99 and 00-09, a list of 3 that is clearly ahead of today's watered down joke of a league isn't even needed.

Good gimick attempt tho.

Jordan and Shaq are the only ones who, at their peaks were without a doubt superior to both LeBron and Durant. McGrady, Olajuwon, Duncan, Kobe, Robinson... all of these guys at their best would be on the level with LBJ and KD but absolutely not "superior".

[MiseryCityTexas]

List the players from 90-99 and 00-09 that would be top 3 players today, at minimum. That is to say that they're CLEARLY ahead of all players not named Durant/LeBron as those two are seen to be in a tier alone.

I know an absolute prime Vin Baker would at least be better than Serge Ibaka.

[Trollsmasher]

90s is a weak era?

Michael Jordan - Charles Barkley - Hakeem Olajuwon - David Robinson - Patrick Ewing - Karl Malone - John Stockton - Clyde Drexler - Scottie Pippen - Grant Hill - Gary Payton - Shawn Kemp - Dennis Rodman - Penny Hardaway - Tim Hardaway - Alonzo Mourning - Glen Rice - Chris Mullin - Mitch Richmond - Reggie Miller - Dikembe Mutombo - etc.

Yeah, so weak.

Mid-to-Late 90s Marked Beginnings Of: Tim Duncan - Kevin Garnett - Allen Iverson - Kobe Bryant - Tracy McGrady -Ray Allen - Steve Nash - Jason Kidd - etc.

Were you one of those people upset that the Bulls three-peated twice? They created a dynasty and they had a great rivalry with the Knicks along the way.

The 90s are one of the heights of basketball in terms of talent, captivating postseason play and fan interest. You don't have to like anyone from that era, but to call them "weak" is just ignorant. The 80s and 90s was the undisputed peak of NBA basketball and 90s produced some of the best players of all-time in their prime, including the GOAT, at each position.

Those players simply exposed the star-friendly enviroment created by Stern for Jordan. Half of them would be forgettable if they played today. You have to be a real star today to stick out, not a manufactured '90s boy.