Legendary Lineups: Best of the 80s
Now this is where my job starts to become difficult. The 1980s produced a plethora of talent, so it was hard to select only five for this list. But nonetheless, I did it, and I must say I am proud of this lineup. Here are my five best NBA players from the 1980s.
Magic Johnson
It’s hard to talk about NBA basketball in the 80s without mentioning Ervin “Magic” Johnson. Magic was an integral part of the Lakers, and excelled at his role as leader of the team during the “showtime” era. The 6’9” product of Michigan State played a variety of positions on the floor, including power forward and shooting guard, but is probably best known for his talent at the point guard spot. Johnson averaged a double-double over his career with 19.5 points and 11.2 assists per game. As you could probably assume by now using the pattern of players who’ve made the previous lists, Magic was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. Magic also won five NBA championships, and was selected to 12 NBA All-Star teams. Magic Johnson’s success at a variety of positions, as well as his contribution to the Lakers, makes him the first player on our list of the best players from the 1980s.
Larry Bird
One of the greatest Celtics of all time, Larry Bird is easily most known for his impressive shooting ability. It seemed he could hit any shot, from any spot on the floor, on any given night. However, something that often is forgotten about Larry Bird is his accuracy passing a basketball. Go to YouTube and watch any highlight video of Bird, and you’ll see passes that look like they belong in a Harlem Globetrotters show. Like Magic, Bird averaged a career double-double, posting 24.3 and 10.0 (points and rebounds). Bird was a three-time NBA champion, winning MVP in two of those titles. Add that to 12 All-Star selections, ten All-NBA nominations, and of course, a spot in the Hall of Fame. Larry Bird joins Magic as the second player on our list.
Isiah Thomas
The ring leader of the Detroit Pistons, Isiah Thomas was one of the most physical point guards to ever play the game. Standing only a mere 6’1”, Thomas was almost never the tallest guard on the floor, but he used his small stature to maneuver between defenders, something he did extremely well. He was never afraid to go up against players who were bigger than himself, including the 6’6” Michael Jordan. Thomas made a significant statistical contribution over his career, even on a team packed with talent, including the future Chicago Bull, Dennis Rodman. His career averages of 19.2/3.6/9.3 (points/rebounds/assists), are right at the intersection of impressive, but not selfish, (which is a good thing). Thomas joined the Hall of Fame in 2000, after being selected to (like both Bird and Johnson), 12 All-Star teams. The two-time champion becomes the third player on our list; two more to go!
Kevin McHale
Now here is where I believe this list could be up for debate. Kevin McHale was a fantastic assistant to Larry Bird, and a major contributor to the success the Celtics had during the 1980s. McHale seemed to do whatever the team needed to win, whether that was scoring, passing, boxing out defenders, or something else entirely. Because of his versatility on the court, McHale’s averages (17.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.7,) are similar to Thomas, in that they were impressive while also being unselfish. McHale won more championships than Bird, winning three instead of two, and was a first round pick in 1980, going third overall. I feel confident putting McHale on this list, both due to his aforementioned contributions to his team, as well as his intelligence on the floor.
Dominique Wilkins
Easily the most traveled player on this list, Dominique Wilkins played for five different teams during his career, wearing the colors of Atlanta, Los Angeles (the Clippers), Boston, San Antonio, and Orlando, before his career was over. Unless you were around when he played, you may recognize Wilkins as the guy Michael Jordan bested with his iconic free-throw dunk in the 1984 Slam Dunk Contest. I can assure you, Wilkins is much more than just an impressive dunker, although he was indeed an man among boys in regards to dunking ability. The main weapon in Wilkins’ arsenal was his spin move, which disorientated defenders and put Wilkins in an optimal spot close to the basket. While there, he would either lay the ball in to the hoop, or dunk it down. Either way, it’s safe to say a large majority Wilkins’ scoring came from close to the hoop. Once again, Wilkins is a member of the Hall of Fame, and is a multiple-time All-Star with nine selections. Even though Wilkins never won an NBA championship, he’s still good enough in my book to round out this list, as the fifth best player from the 1980s.
We’re now halfway done with our journey to find the five best NBA players from each decade. Only three remain. Next week: the best of the 1990s!