Kareem dominated the NBA during the 1970s, averaged 28 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists & 3 blocks for the decade.

Kareem drafted #1 in 1969 then won the MVP in 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976 & 1977 but was the MVP runner-up in 1973.

Willis Reed, Dave Cowens, Bob McAdoo, Bill Walton & Moses Malone are the only other players to win the NBA MVP during the ‘70s.

Some of the NBA legends from the 1970s that came to mind was Elvin Hayes, Pistol Pete, Bob Lanier, Rick Barry, Nate Archibald, George Gervin, Spencer Haywood & Walt Frazier.

For this debate, we will focus strictly on the NBA because the ABA’s Dr. J seems like the consensus 2nd-best basketball player in the ‘70s.

Who was the 2nd-best NBA player from the 1970s behind Kareem?

Is D Wilkins the best shooting small forward in the 90’s? He had such a good shooting game so many moves and jumpers….

Bobby Jones is a Hall of Famer, but outside of vintage circles, his specific defensive impact feels underappreciated.

Looking back at his transitions from the Denver Nuggets in the ABA/NBA transition to his role as the ultimate sixth man for the 1983 Sixers, his lateral quickness and recovery time were remarkable for a player listed at 6'9".

He made 11 consecutive All-Defensive First Teams across two leagues, often switching seamlessly from guards to elite scoring forwards like Bird or Bernard King.

For those who scouted or watched him closely during his prime, how does his perimeter containment compare to modern multi positional defenders, and did his lack of high volume scoring cap his historical reputation more than it should have?

Watching old Bulls vs Knicks playoff games like Game 5 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals really puts things into perspective about how different basketball used to be. The pace was slower, the paint was packed, and every possession felt like a physical battle rather than just a tactical one.

Jordan wasn’t just dealing with elite defenders, he was getting bumped, grabbed, and pressured almost every time he touched the ball. And that Knicks team under Pat Riley wasn’t trying to hide it either. It was built on toughness, physicality, and making every bucket feel earned.

It makes me wonder how that style would translate today. With modern spacing, quicker offenses, and the way the game is officiated now, could a team realistically play that level of aggressive, half-court defense and survive through a full season or playoff run?

With the Thunder and Spurs facing off in the Western Conterence Finals, it marks the 11th time that the league's Most Valuable Player (SGA) and the league's Defensive Player of the Year (Wemby) have met in NBA Playoffs.

1983 Eastern Conference Finals:

Moses Malone's (MVP) Philadelphia 76ers def. Sidney Moncrief's (DPOY) Milwaukee Bucks (4 - 1)

1984 Eastern Conference Finals:

Larry Bird's (MVP) Boston Celtics def. Sidney Moncrief's (DPOY) Milwaukee Bucks (4 - 1)

1991 Eastern Conference Finals:

Michael Jordan's (MVP) Chicago Bulls def. Dennis Rodman's (DPOY) Detroit Pistons (4 - 0)

1995 Western Conference 1st round:

David Robinson's (MVP) San Antonio Spurs def. Dikembe Mutombo's (DPOY) Denver Nuggets (3 - 0)

1996 NBA Finals:

Michael Jordan's (MVP) Chicago Bulls def. Gary Payton's (DPOY) Seattle SuperSonics (4 - 2)

2008 NBA Finals:

Kevin Garnett's (DPOY) Boston Celtics def. Kobe Bryant's (MVP) Los Angeles Lakers (4 - 2)

2009 Eastern Conference Finals:

Dwight Howard's (DPOY) Orlando Magic def. LeBron James' (MVP) Cleveland Cavaliers (4 - 2)

2012 Eastern Conference 1st round:

LeBron James' (MVP) Miami Heat def. Tyson Chandler's (DPOY) New Yord Knicks (4 - 1)

2018 Western Conference 2nd round:

James Harden's (MVP) Houston Rockets def. Rudy Gobert's (DPOY) Utah Jazz (4 - 1)

2024 Western Conference 2nd round:

Rudy Gobert's (DPOY) Minnesota Timberwolves def. Nikola Jokic's (MVP) Denver Nuggets (4 - 2)

2026 Western Conference Finals:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's (MVP) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Victor Wembanyama's (DPOY) San Antonio Spurs (???)

Ineresting Facts:

- The league MVP's teams are 7-3 (34 - 18 overall) historically in these matchups

- The inaugural, back-to-back DPOY winner, Moncrief lost to the MVPs' teams (and eventual champions) in back-to-back ECF and his Bucks are the only team to lose two of these matchups

- Jordan's Bulls are the only team to win two of these matchups

- LeBron's Cavaliers are the only #1 overall playoffs seed to lose in these matchups

- LeBron and Gobert are the only players to take part in multiple matchups for two different teams

Who was a better baskebtall player?
Prime Sabonis vs Prime Shaq?
Who was naturally more muscular eg muscular strength…

*Many talk about Sabonis injuries slowing his potential, did Shaq have any injuries that slowed his potential?

Based on league averages, the NBA during the 1980s had faster-paced offenses with fewer threes but more free throws and offensive rebounds compared to modern basketball.

There were also more steals and blocks per game during the 1980s compared to 2020s.

Zone defense was illegal in the NBA during the 1980s but hand-checking was legal and defensive 3 seconds rule was added until 2001.

There are only 6 guards in NBA history to win the Defensive Player of the Year award including 4 during the ‘80s.

Sidney Moncrief was the first ever recipient of the DPOY in 1983 and won it again in 1984 but was the runner-up in 1985.

Alvin Robertson won both Most Improved Player award and DPOY in 1986 then was DPOY runner-up in 1987.

Michael Cooper won DPOY in 1987 then 24-year old Jordan won it in 1988.

Alvin Robertson and Sidney Moncrief were both selected to one of the All-Defensive Team 5x during the ‘80s.

Dennis Johnson and Michael Cooper was both an 8x All-Defensive Team selection in the 80s.

Michael Jordan had 3 All-Defensive 1st Team selections during the 1980s.

Robertson had a NBA record 301 steals in 1986 and has the highest career steals per game with 2.71.

Robertson lead the league in steals again in 1987 but finished 2nd in 1988.

Robertson is the only player in NBA history to record 250+ steals in a season twice.

Moncrief finished Top 8 for MVP voting in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 & 1986.

Jordan, Hakeem & Giannis are the only players in NBA history to win MVP & DPOY in the same season.

Dennis Johnson finished Top 5 for MVP voting in 1980 but was selected to the All-Defensive 1st Team in 1980-83 & 1987.

Cooper was All-Defensive 1st Team in 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987 & 1988.

Maurice Cheeks was All-Defensive 1st Team in 1983, 1984, 1985 & 1986.

Mo Cheeks finished Top 6 for steals in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986 & 1987.

Who was the best perimeter defender in the NBA during the 1980s: Maurice Cheeks, Michael Cooper, Alvin Robertson, Sidney Moncrief, Dennis Johnson or a young Jordan?

Hello guys. I am new to basketball it's a new hobby that I picked up and I just found out while doing my research that they retired bro's jersey for good. I understand MJ was great and had a huge impact... but in football, they treat passing on the jersey number as a sign of honor. What if someone is inspired and wants to fill in his shoes for the Bulls?

I've been on a nostalgic mood lately about rivalries due to the NBA Playoffs. I like to comb about past rivalries since such drama is part of the lifeblood of the sport. And I have noticed that there hasn't been much attention paid on the Lakers/Hawks rivalry in the Western Division in the 1960's.

There are so many major HOF players in all the teams mentioned (West, Baylor, Wilt, Pettit, Wilkens) and multiple tussles in these rivalries (they met 10 times in 15 seasons). In fact, it even spanned 4 cities due to the relocation of these franchises.

And yet, I feel the coverage is wanting as compared to Eastern Division/Conference rivalries (most notable here being the Celtics/76ers rivalry) in the same time period. I have tried to search the Sports Illustrated vault to start but there has not been any major coverage there.

I am also having a difficult time finding more in-depth commentaries about players talking about this rivalry. There's only short quotes about Bob Pettit praising Jerry West for example.

Are there any major historical resources or archived articles about this? Thank you very much.

I've been thinking about this after seeing modern conversations around MVPs and offensive engines. When people discuss all-time great centers, it usually turns into Russell, Wilt, Kareem, Shaq, Hakeem, etc., and Moses Malone sometimes feels like the guy who gets mentioned almost out of obligation.

But then you actually look at his resume and it's kind of absurd. Three MVPs, a championship, one of the greatest offensive rebounders ever, and a style that almost feels weirdly modern in terms of creating extra possessions.

I also think people see "offensive rebounds" and subconsciously downgrade them compared to assists or scoring. But if a player repeatedly creates second possessions, isn't that basically another form of offensive creation?

I'm curious whether people think Moses is genuinely underrated historically, or whether his ranking today is about right and his style just wasn't as visually memorable as some other all-time greats.

Bill Russell vs Wilt Chamberlain during the 1960s was the first individual rivalry of the NBA but who was the 3rd best big men of this era?

Russell and Chamberlain was selected to either All-NBA 1st Team or 2nd Team as the center every year from 1960 to 1968.

Bob Petit, Elgin Baylor, Jerry Lucas & Rick Barry are the only forwards named to the All-NBA 1st Team from 1960 to 1968.

Dolph Schayes, Jack Twyman, Tom Heinsohn, Bailey Howell, Gus Johnson, John Havlicek & Willis Reed are the only forwards named to the All-NBA 2nd Team from 1960 to 1968.

I believe Havlicek, Barry and maybe Baylor were more wings than big men.

But out of Bob Petit, Jerry Lucas, Adolph Schayes & Gus Johnson, who is the best big men of the 1960s that wasn’t named Russell or Chamberlain?

How big of the gap was Russell & Chamberlain vs Petit, Lucas, Schayes & Johnson?

How do you rate the positional competition that Russell and Chamberlain faced on daily basis battling with other big men?