The debate about which NBA decade was the best will undoubtedly rumble on forever, and depending on when you grew up, your preferences might differ, but there are lots of factors to consider.
The stars of each decade play a big part in how popular it was, as does how competitive the teams in each era were.
These days, the competitive nature of the NBA means that most teams are just a player or two away from a roster that could compete for the championship. This means that sports fans can peruse the best online sportsbooks to find odds on individual games, conference betting, and the NBA Championship.
Most decades will have reason to stake a claim for the best in NBA history, and we look at the reasons why.
1960s
The 1960s was an era of transition for the NBA which was going through its expansion. However, the ABA still held a lot of the country’s top talent.
Despite facing challenges, the physical nature of the NBA in the ’60s made it exciting to watch. Players like Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain dominated the MVP awards. The Boston Celtics dominated during the early to mid-1960s.
Other big names from the era include Elgin Baylor, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and John Havlicek, but there are many more players who paved the way for modern players.
1970s
The A in the 1970s still had the ABA to contend with but had to do it without Bill Russell following his retirement. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar spent half of the decade with the Milwaukee Bucks before moving to the LA Lakers and enjoyed 5 MVP awards during those years.
The ’70s was one of the most competitive eras of the NBA with no team winning back-to-back titles and 8 different teams lifting the Championship.
It also saw the San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pavers, Denver Nuggets, and New York Nets join from the ABA. The NBA in the ’70s saw the game slowly become the game we know today.
1980s
While we can’t discount the decades preceding the 1980s, or those following, it is the ’80s that is widely regarded as the golden era of NBA.
The ABA had folded, leading to the NBA becoming stacked with talent and the Celtics/Lakers rivalry was at its peak. One reason that the rivalry was so impressive during the ’80s was the emergence of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.
Of course, the league was by no means boiled down to just two stars, and Isiah Thomas, Dennis Rodman, Charles Barkley, and Moses Malone were among other names that helped to bolster the profile of the NBA and turn it into the colossus that it is today.
A perfect combination of brutal physicality and outright skill made the 1980s a defining era for the NBA.
1990s
The 1990s saw television ratings go through the roof, leading to an increase in the money the league got from broadcasting rights. During this era, the good teams were great and we saw the emergence of some generational talents in Patrick Ewing, Scottie Pippen, and Michael Jordan.
Jordan has gone on to forge a legacy that will keep him as one of the all-time greats forever, and he helped the Chicago Bulls dominate the ’90s in terms of Championships, winning 6 in all.
Fears over what would happen without Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were soon put to rest as Jordan set the league on fire. Other players, including Charles Barkley, staked their claim as key players during the ’90s, and it also provided a launch pad for the careers of players like Shaq, Kobe, and Allen Iverson.
2000s
The 2000s saw the Lakers and San Antonio Spurs dominate, but there was still plenty of competition to keep the league interesting. Despite the Lakers enjoying a successful period, the Shaq/Kobe feud continued to fuel headlines.
Other big names that lit up the league at the time included Iverson, Dwayne Wade, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, and in 2003 LeBron James made his Cleveland Cavaliers debut after being the No.1 pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.
The quality of play in the NBA had been rising for the last few decades, and success during the 2000s meant a team had to have a strong bench and a few notable superstars.
2010s
As in most competitive sports, the athleticism and talent required to play during the 2010s is at its peak. Sports science, training methods, and healthier lifestyles have taken athletes to new levels and have resulted in an extremely competitive NBA.
This makes the achievements and longevity of LeBron James’ career even more impressive, with the debate as to whether he is the GOAT still blazing.
The 2010s saw the Lakers, Mavericks, Heat, Spurs, Warriors, Cavaliers, and Raptors all win NBA Championships and players like Kevin Durant, Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose, and Dwayne Wade have all contributed.