The GOAT of the NBA's MOST Stacked Decade 

It is difficult to argue with that. The amount of top 25-30 all time players PLUS the STACKED dynastic teams that decade is unbelievable.

They’re breaking basic rules. Every player walks, Carrie’s, double dribble cuff/palm the ball while dribbling and then if they happen to get any type of defense, it’s a foul.

Nah the 2000s are more stacked I’d say, I mean slap said here that the top 25-30 is stacked with 80s while I’d say it’s more players from 2000s. We got Kobe,Duncan,Garnett,Shaq,LeBron,Nowitzki, DWade,Iverson…. They are all pretty much manifested while there are still others who are worth a debate (Nash for example). Also the 2000s are the perfect medium between talent and competitiveness

I think is hard to judge current era 2000's era and now. I think that this era has the greatest talents assembled. The 80's were the flashiest era (Dr J and Mike) and Showtime Lakers with the dirtiest plays Bird was no pushover and Detroit bad boys went to a whole level up with their dirty plays. The 2000's was the best defensive ERA with the Detroit again dominating the aspect. They even humbled Shaq and Kobe. And now anyone can win at any time. We have the great statistic ERA. And is the most about basketball IQ. We have multiple players producing far better stats then the one presented in a far faster pace. But the truth is the regular season just isn't important anymore. The home court advantage isn't as important as it was before. So you just had to avoid to be the last 5 seats in your conference and you good to go. We saw Miami do it multiple times. LeBron doing it to escape father time and it all comes down to playoff runs. I think the format isn't right. For this age of basketball. It makes the most money. And the fanboys are pleased. That's it. If they want to know the best team, they should do the Euroleauge system. With 48 games regular season. Everybody against everybody. Then pair the best 14 teams. No 1 and 2 get the free pass in first round so the regular season matters. And then is playoff time best of 7. And I think this would be considered the best ERA of basketball with the best players LeBron, Curry, Durant, Leonard against Giannis, Jokic, Embiid, Dončić, Wemby, Haliburton, Holmgren, Morant. I don't think the NBA was stacked with veteran players, rookies and superstars who can compete the trophy and can make an argument for their legit runs. And you can piss on LeBron as much as you like but you can't deny his top 5 all time.

@@TheOneAndOnlyJinglebi not really. kareem, jordan, bird, magic are usually in the top 5 argument. only lebron is a consensus top 5 in 2000s. I'm the biggest kobe fan but his accolades doesn't put him in 5,duncan can also probably be in there in some arguments but he did not revolutionize the game unlike the four that I said. My argument still stands.

I agree. If I could have just said co-goats of this decade, I would have. But for purposes of the series, I felt compelled to pick one guy. It was a very difficult choice.

I à green its à 2 man race for the 80s magic and bird same for the 00s Kobe and Duncan

I think Larry was a tiny bit better than magic. Like 53/47 type difference. Just the shooting ability was so insane and he was an actual assassin.

@@paranoia_xo Sad for fanbois of this current era, who never got to witness that type of drive for the game beyond tail end of Kobe.

@@paranoia_xo I agree totally. This is the tightest decade to call by far imo.

Michael Jordan played five seasons without Scottie Pippen 84-85 38-44..First round exit 85-86. 30-52..First round exit 86-87. 40-42...First round exit 01-02. 37-45..out of playoffs 02-03. 37-45..out of playoffs LeBron james carried an absolutely horrific 2007 Cleveland Cavaliers team to the nba finals In the modern NBA era (post 1960) only nine NBA top 75 players have won a championship without another top 75 player as a teammate Rick Barry (1975) Bill Walton (1977) Hakeem Olajuwon (1994) Tim Duncan (2005) (2007) Kobe Bryant (2009) (2010) Steph Curry (2015) (2022) LeBron james (2016) Kawhi Leonard (2019) Giannis Antetokounmpo (2021) As you can see, LeBron James is on the list and Michael Jordan isnt Lebron james has won 17 playoff series, without an nba top 75 teammate. Michael Jordan won ZERO LeBron james has won 10 conference championships Michael Jordan won 6......Only Bill Russell and Sam Jones have more conference championships (In a mostly nine team league) than LeBron James In the year before Michael Jordan and LeBron James joined their team and the year after they left their team, their records were 83-84 bulls 27-55 84-85 bulls. 38-44 92-93 bulls 57-25 93-94 bulls 55-27 98-99 bulls 13-37 without Scottie Pippen 00-01 wizards 19-63 01-02 wizards. 37-45 02-03 wizards 37-45 03-04 wizards 25-57 02-03 cavaliers 17-65 03-04 cavaliers 35-47 09-10 cavaliers 61-21 10-11 cavaliers 19-63 09-10 heat. 47-35 10-11 heat 58-24 14-15 heat 37-45 2013-14 cavaliers 33-49 2014-15 cavaliers 53-29 2017- 18 cavaliers 50-32 2018-19 cavaliers 19-63 2017-18 lakers. 35-47 2018-19 lakers were 20-14 when LeBron James got injured on Christmas day. As you can see When LeBron James joins a team, the team improves more than Michael Jordan and when LeBron James leaves a team, the team always goes into the tank. Michael Jordan, excluding the 94-97 seasons, when the NBA moved the three point line to 22 feet, was a career 28% three point shooter. LeBron James is a career 34% three point shooter Michael Jordan was a great defensive player, in an Era where you could handcheck. Playing defense is much easier when you can handcheck. For nearly 6'9 250 LeBron James' entire career he wasn't afforded the opportunity to handcheck. THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR..LEBRON JAMES IS THE GOAT!!!!! I have added a Postscript So many have replied, that LeBron james didn't make the playoffs his first two years and Jordan did. What they fail to say is, in 1985, 16 of 23 teams made the playoffs. In 2004, 16 of 29 teams made the playoffs. It was MUCH EASIER Making the playoffs in 1985. Perfect example is the 1985 86 bulls went 30-52 and made the playoffs and the 2004 05 cavaliers went 42-40 and did not make the playoffs. Also, I don't know, possibly, maybe, Jordan had a HUGE ADVANTAGE considering he played three years of college basketball and LeBron James was 19 years old, and straight out of high school

@@vicepresidentmikepence889Still can't get that fly off your head🤡

💯

​@@vicepresidentmikepence889even after all that LeChoken One, still isn't touching Mj , compare him to Kevin Durant someone who also teamed up to help his legacy

Thanks for the comedy

Couldn't agree more. I am building towards a massive supercut video of all decades where I make some assertions on the top 10 greats of all time, so trying to keep these individual pieces a littler tighter. The 80s could have EASILY been 20 mins. The collection of individual all time greats and dynastic teams in this decade is SUBSTANTIALLY more than any decade before or after. And the fact that Bird was as great int his decade as he was speaks volumes about his individual greatness.

I totally agree, @@skap_attack! While he gets knocked for a shorter healthy prime than his historically top peers, he was that dominant, clutch, and complete of a player who had the true killer instinct. Personally, Bird is my #2 of all time behind MJ but ahead of Hakeem, Kareem, and Magic... imagine a team with that lineup! Really excited to see your take on the decade which probably had the decade with the most personality-driven teams and styles as well as nearly comparable star power!!

@@mickeylee2624 you can absolutely make a case that Bird had the highest peak of all time. I feel like Jordan, Hakeem and personally in my opinion, Kobe, along with Bird had the highest peaks in the sports history. I go back and forth between Kareem overall at number 2 or 3 on my all time list, but there really is no getting around the fact he was never able to win at a significant level without all time greats surrounding him. He won one in Milwaukee with Oscar then won 5 in LA with Magic.

I agree,@@skap_attack. Context is so important for scaling individual greatness relative to circumstances that are way beyond control though ref scandals (which I feel inflated Kobe/Shaq Lakers and Wade's 1st title in the 00's), league permitting cheating/P.E.D.'s (LeRoids), selective enforcement of rules (8+ step allowed in the past decade). Kareem had a remarkable career and his sheer volume of accomplishments from H.S. to Pros is unmatched. However, if we switch Hakeem and Kareem's situations (allowing for some attentuation of the player to their respective eras and teammates), I think the result will be clear: Kareem probably would have 0-1 titles, while Hakeem would likely have had AT LEAST 5 titles being paired with so many HoF/perennial in-prime All-Stars on both the Lakers AND Bucks. Having such a brief time a still good-but-past prime Clyde, Kareem would have had a tough time against the Shaq/Penny Magic and little chance getting to the Finals the prior year.

@@mickeylee2624 And there were so many heavy hitters in the Western Conference like The 90s Jazz, who were perennial contenders that disappointed many times with their own choke jobs...

I cannot disagree with any of that...

Lebron won real championships jorplumber played plumbers

@@nickwarren7854the NBA cup was a Mickey Mouse tournament

@@nickwarren7854 Lolol spoken like a teenager who doesn’t understand anything about NBA history. You should watch these decade pieces. Learn something…

If you don't like me...at least im a make you Respect Me!🙅🏽‍♂️

I'm glad you're enjoying! Many thanks for watching!! I appreciate that and you 🙏

⁠@@skap_attack hey Skap! Keep It up fam! Also in your own way; can you delicately and eloquently crush the 90’s expansion era was weak narrative? nobodytouchesjordan.blogspot.com/2014/09/section-7-myth-that-jordan-played-weak.html?m=1 Prciate you!!!

OH you're braging about Hakem beating a 38yr old Hakeem now, but you were just dismissing Shaq beating a 36yr Hakeem the other day lol

@@atlien1988 Kareem won 2 more rings after that little buddy, or do I need to teach you all the NBA history. Kareem avg 27ppg, Worthy avg 20ppg, 5rpg, Magic avg 22ppg, 8rpg, 2.5spg, 16 assists a game, and Kareem couldn't guard Olajuwon no matter what age he was.

@@atlien1988 Olajuwon didn't have prime Magic or prime Worthy at age 36, and you already know if he did that would've been a ring for him. Hell, if Olajuwon had Magic or Oscar the way Kareem did, he would've won 10 rings in the 70's, 8 rings in the 80's or 8 rings in the 90's!

⁠@@hakeemolajuwon4352 in the 70’s? How come the 70’s? Olajuwon went to the league in 84.🤔

How about in 1981

MANY THANKS FOR WATCHING!

Quite honestly, I loved the 80s, 90s and 2000s. Wasn't till that 2010s decade that the league started getting flushed down the toilet.

​@@skap_attackthe what about me decade

@@skap_attack Thats because that decade was ruled by someone who thought he was royalty and gods chosen one and who also happened to be an egotistical maniac with an unhealthy god complex that ruined the league with non competitiveness and player empowerment!

@@skap_attacksocial media really ruined basketball. Made it so winning was not necessary to be popular.

@@bnsz8704 you’re absolutely right smh.

No, THANK YOU for watching. I appreciate that and you 🙏❤️. The more well educated fans we have out there the better!

THANKS FOR WATCHING! The 90s, 2000s and 2010s are underway...

No, thank you! I appreciate the kind words and for tuning in 🙏

Soooo, I started doing these videos because I initially set forth to do one master video on the greatest players of each decade to determine who the greatest players of all time are. I am still planning on completing that video using these individual segments. I'm not intentionally trying to keep the individual decades short, just had an overall goal of around 10-15 mins per piece. The 90s had A LOT going on during it, but we all know who the TOP player of that ten year span was....

It has to be it's the Mike edition

Jordan was certainly individually GREAT in the 80s, BUT he didn't become a GREAT winner until the next decade. And don't worry, he will get his appropriate shine in that 90s piece...

Yes, Michael scored 49 and 63...but the Bulls still lost. The Celtics players did not even realize he scored 49 in Game 1. He got their attention in Game 2 after scoring 63. So what did the Celtics do? They focused on Jordan in Game 3 and held him to 19 points. Many fans do not remember that. You mentioned the 87-88 season. Bulls lost in the second round of the playoffs. That's not an MVP performance. Jordan was given the MVP that year because the NBA wanted Jordan to be the new face of the NBA. He was a great individual...but - like Wilt - he was an individual. Jordan needed the right coach and teammates to win in the 90s (when the NBA was weaker). Bird and Magic could win with any coach and teammates. You will not find one Bird teammate that says anything bad about Bird. You cannot say that about Jordan, Kobe, or LeBron. Bird and Magic were different. Jordan was not them.

@@bpsactclass2218 NOOOO....they knew has 49....Bill Walton said in the lockeroom that everyone said, "Well, he won't do that again." They were right, he got 63.

@@bpsactclass2218 MVPs are regular season only, ya casual.

I just realized MJ averaged 36/7/6 for the entire 80s playoffs (53 games) #GOAT

I agree with your outlook on the 2020s! And your take on all of my decades is also a pretty good call. The 2010s is going to be TOUGH for me. So many moving parts, SO. MANY. SUPER. TEAMS. Quite frankly lol neither Curry or LeBron deserve the title. But one of them MUST get it. I really don't know what way I am going to fall yet on it. I am currently done writing the 90s and working on the 2010s.

Duncan takes the 2000s crown easily. Dont be biased.

@KingAnime101 Ehhh, that's difficult. Duncan won 3 titles in the decade, Kobe 4. Duncan was solid everywhere, with a great coach, system, and supporting cast. Kobe was feared, and had very little help post Shaq. It's not really biased to come down on either side.

@@KingAnime101 No way is it "easily" but you can definitely make an argument in either direction. Duncan is definitely slept on because of his play style which was more "boring" to the average fan. In terms of accolades, stats and rings hes right there with Kobe and you could argue it in either direction. Duncan won more as the team leader than Kobe and was a better defender but he also had a consistently good team around him while the Lakers got blown up and were terrible for a good chunk of the mid 2000s. There's plenty of arguments to be had about it so I would never say "easily", easily is reserved for the 1990s where its obviously MJ.

@@KingAnime101 Not necessarily. Duncan won two of his rings outside of the 2000s decade and Kobe's incredible 06-09 run is a higher peak than Duncan's 02-05 peak, although that was also pretty incredible

I did not mention that. He also was top 5 for 9 straight years. I am trying to leave out league MVP votes in these videos because I find the dreadfully inept and corrupt media voters have ruined the award over the years.

Not just three MVPs but was also runner-up for MVP four times as well. He finished in the top four in MVP voting during his first nine seasons before his season-ending (and eventual career killing) injury.

Don't you worry, there is ALWAYS another LeBron video right around the corner...

We're on the same page!

@skap_attack Oh really that's nice

Thank you so much for the kind words and the support. I appreciate you 🙏❤️

I agree. Ultimately I look at it like this. If you swap the two, Bird wins at minimum as much as Magic, but in my estimation, he would likely win more.

@@bob88667 I agree with you on that point. Early on especially. BUT then Magic’s teams just get progressively more loaded as the decade continues, until of course, Kareem finally aged out.

Thank you watching! I am already writing the 90s. Gonna be a fun next two videos. The 2010s will be ASS. Might just skip it

No problem I really appreciate your videos and I know you'll make the next two the best. Honestly you can make the 2010's great too by scrutinizing it and you know who lmao

My pleasure, and many thanks to you for watching!

I’m so glad you found this channel too! Very grateful to have you on board with me 🙏❤️. And yes, while the 90s and 2000s are the most obvious decades to c call, they will undeniably be my favorite ones to make!

Talk about an Immediate impact…without all star help. Probably the most disrespected and underrated top 5 all time great.

@@bob88667 exactly Bob! Well said

Definitely a fair take. I personally go back and forth constantly on this. If I didn’t feel compelled to pick one singular player for purposes of this little series, I would have likely called it a tie!

​@@skap_attack Still I like Larry Legend, he has incredibly spectacular games and unworldly shooting, but when MJ came I just thought woah this guy just made them obsolete. But, they are definitely better winners than the super-team dependent stars of this generation. I just love their leadership quality, they have larger than life personas.

Agreed. For this is why I consider them equals.

It's hard to pick. They both played different positions on a different type of team. Bird and the Celtics were much better in the halfcourts then the lakers (which was saying something, because the lakers had an all timer at center), but the Lakers were much better on the break; and really tried to push the pace. the only time the Celtics could beat the lakers is if they could suck the lakers into their pace (and vice versa). Furthermore while Skap does point out the lakers were probably the better team, the Celtics had a boatload of greats onboard. From perhaps the greatest post player i've ever seen (Kevin McHale) to an all timer at forward (Bird), the that said when the two teams were on the court, the lakers were better at the 1, 4 and 5, the celtics had them at the 2 and 3... and frankly, it's a testament to bird that the celtics were able to put up such a fight against the lakers. I loved watching both men play, just amazing basketball either way.

@@arizona_anime_fan yeah, in the end both where clearly amongst the greatest to ever play in the NBA and it is up to which of them you prefer

I share your opinion (obviously).

That is a great point. In addition to Bird's all around game--scoring, rebounding, assists AND an underrated defender, he was also one of the best shooters of all time.

This. Bird was a better player but played in a way harder conference and didn’t have a goat candidate on his team.

Uh, Bird had Mchale, Parrish, Walton all healthy.

​@@cfl4286Kareem was barely the 3rd best player on those Lakers championships tho. And Bird had a squad too, just not as athletic

@@hakeemolajuwon4352 Magic just didn't have Kareem. He had James Worthy, Cooper, Scott... Nice try !

Exactly right. And unlike when Russell DOMINATED the 60s, winning 8 of 10 finals, Bird kept the ring count close to Magic in the 80s. Gotta give the check to Bird here.

The Dancing Clown named LeBozo you don't have to feel sorry for. He has 2 Bilion Dollars.

LOL LeBron did get absolutely LOCKED down on Christmas day. It was a nice little present for me...

@@skap_attack Pissed how nobody in the media talked about it. Jrue was on his face all night, he gave him Jason Terry Barea like flashbacks.

@@skap_attack Expecting a 40 year old to play like he's in his 20s is crazy.

@@KingAnime101 thinking his actual peak is even top 5 is also crazy.

So it’s not a clean way to look at it, but I count Magic’s fifth ring to the 70s because it came in the 1979-80 season. I hate the way the nba years break with calendar year. Probably shoulda looked at it the way your viewing it so I could have had Lebron with only 3 titles in the 2010s and Kobe with 5 in the 2000s.

I am terrified of having to produce a 2010s piece. I don't even know how I'm feasibly going to do it...but the next two videos will be my two favorites...

All facts 💯

They are my top 2 guys to be honest.

Alex English is mentioned prominently in this video and how he led the decade in scoring 🙏❤️

LOL thats right! I can do stuff not involving LeBron. He will come into play on the back end of this little series though...

@@skap_attack Fk the future, I live in the present so appreciate this gift!

Great insight

Bird, Magic and Jordan are all in my top 6 all time, Lebron is not in my top 7. So we are pretty much on the same exact page here. While I can see Magic above Bird all time when evaluating their FULL careers, I think when looking just at the 80s, I lean every so slightly to Bird...

@@skap_attack Bird’s 3 straight mvps makes it very close

The longer the goat debate stays, the deeper the digging of MJ’s rabbit hole the more evidence will be uncover that MJ was and will always be the undisputed goat. And the more evidence will be revealed that Lebron James is one of the most overrated player in the history of the NBA. LBJ will be exposed.🫵

@bob88667 the 86 Boston team is considered one of the greatest teams.of all time. Multiple hall of famers. Let's not pretend Bird was playing with chopped meat

Better and greater are two different things. Peyton Manning (Bird) was better but Tom Brady (Magic) was greater. Magic was the greatest player for the entire decade from beginning to end. Bird had a better individual peak in the middle.

Three brothers: Moses, Karl and Mike

Couldn't agree more. I of course have already done a number of videos on why this era is TRASH. But I decided to do a couple of videos on legitimate eras.

Those 3 along with Hakeem had the greatest peaks in NBA history.

@@JLP47 lol well I guess if a coach wanted to he could bench him for causing the team to win all the time haha. What people don’t think about is that Steph’s game is limited because of current rules. The biggest knock on him has been his defense, however, today’s rules forces him to keep a leash on his physicality. Joe Dumars has pointed out that he would definitely have had a harder time defending Jordan if he couldn’t hand check. Translation, if Steph played in the much tougher 80s he would have had a green light to hand check and physically punish players with bully ball on defense. That’s a dimension that he’s simply not allowed to utilize today. Basically we’re looking at Steph as the consensus GOAT “If” he played in the 80s and was permitted to add a skull cracking pit bull style of play to his defensive game!!