A 7-game series is the standard game format for teams looking to battle each other in the playoffs. What if we were to place two 5-a-side teams in a Finals matchup with reputation and skills on the line? Each team will have 5 superstars that dominated their respective eras against each other, more specifically, the 1990s Superteam against the latest 2020 Superteam. The 1990s is considered the most excellent era ever because we saw superstars such as Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Hakeem Olajuwon win multiple titles while others such as John Stockton and Karl Malone joined them to dominate the NBA court. We also saw how many dominant trios throughout the 1990s might have changed the game.
During the 2020s era, we saw the likes of LeBron James continue to dominate the league throughout the decade while winning his 4th NBA championship and 4th Finals MVP. Of course, Stephen Curry continues to change the game with his three-point shooting, while Giannis Antetokounmpo has recently won the 2021 NBA title as the best player in the universe. Kevin Durant has also retained his place as the best scorer in the world, while Nikola Jokic could become the first man since Larry Bird to win three straight MVPs.
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All-Time 1990s Superteam Starting Lineup: John Stockton, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon
All-Time 2020s Superteam Starting Lineup: Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic
By creating a best-of-7 series between both sides of superstar players, here is how the matchups and, eventually, the entire series pans out.
John Stockton vs. Stephen Curry
John Stockton is the greatest playmaker of all time, at least, that is what the all-time assist charts say. Stockton is the greatest assist man ever, mainly because he had Karl Malone to pass to but also because his basketball IQ was off the charts. Luckily for Stockton, he has Malone by his side yet again, along with three other superstar players who score with the best of them. No doubt, Stockton will be the perfect point guard for his side.
Stephen Curry is the greatest shooter ever, and he will be able to get his shots off against any opponent. Stockton’s craftiness will not make it easy for Curry to shoot over him, but the Warriors legend will still be able to move off the ball for good looks as well. Of course, playing alongside other elite players will allow the point guard to have important moments throughout the series.
Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James
In possibly the most highly anticipated matchup, Michael Jordan will compete against LeBron James. Jordan is the highest scorer in NBA history with his 30.1 PPG average, and he will show that off against an elite physical specimen in LeBron James. Jordan will get his points and prove that he is the best one on one player in history, along with the most feared closer that professional basketball has ever seen.
LeBron James is on another level as a passer and will be his team’s primary playmaker. Anytime LeBron James is in a matchup with any player, he has the advantage in a physical sense. LeBron is bigger and stronger than MJ and can basically do what Pippen will do on the other end on a much larger scale. LeBron is the leader of his team, and he will try to match Jordan during the series. But will The King be able to make a bigger difference for his team than Jordan will for his? Let’s find out.
Scottie Pippen vs. Kevin Durant
Scottie Pippen raised some eyebrows when he stated that he was the original LeBron James, but he does have a point when looking at his skill set. Pippen was one of the most dominant small forwards in the league, thanks to his physical prowess and passing ability, and he complimented Jordan very well. A defensive stopper, Pippen will be tasked with handling an elite scorer in Kevin Durant throughout the series.
Kevin Durant will have to find a way to score against arguably the best wing defender ever, but the forward is a 4-time scoring champion for a reason. Durant might be the most unstoppable scorer in NBA history, and he will be able to break down Pippen at times with dribble moves and also shoot over him. The matchup will be somewhat even, but Durant is truly a special force who cannot be stopped.
Karl Malone vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Karl Malone is one of the most consistent scorers in NBA history, thanks to his mix of automatic mid-range scoring and inside dominance. Malone will have his way in the post, backing down and using a powerful frame to demand double teams. But Giannis is not a pushover, so Malone will also have to settle for pick-n-roll situations with John Stockton.
Giannis is considered “The Greek Freak” for a reason because he is spectacularly built at 7’0” and 242 lbs with incredible length. Antetokounmpo is a dominant defender, a scary attacker of the basketball, and a capable playmaker. Giannis will have to focus on slowing down The Mailman but also grabbing rebounds and pushing the break for his side.
Hakeem Olajuwon vs. Nikola Jokic
As great as Nikola Jokic is offensively, he isn’t on Hakeem Olajuwon’s level. The Dream is a rare talent, and we probably won’t see a big man with his skills again. The Dream has every post-move in the book and has a way to dominate any game. The Dream won two NBA titles during his career as the undisputed leader of his team but will have to share the scoring roles with MJ and Malone.
Nikola Jokic will have a hard time stopping Hakeem down low because he isn’t the most dominant defensive big man. However, Jokic will get his numbers and prove that he is one of the most talented bigs ever by focusing on what he does best: passing and rebounding the ball. Jokic will be a point-center at times and will try to counter what Hakeem does on the offensive end as much as possible.
1990s Superteam Advantages
The 1990s Superteam has an incredible mix of dominant players with toughness and winning intangibles. The five starters are easily capable of filling up the stat sheet, but their success comes down to their ability to make the right plays at the right moments. Experience, toughness, and elite skillsets mean the 1990s stars are truly exceptional.
John Stockton is the greatest playmaker ever, Jordan is the greatest scorer ever, and the trio of Malone, Pippen, and Olajuwon are capable of dominating through size, power, and basketball IQ. With incredible basketball IQ in their play, the 1990s Superteam will dominate the majority of the series because each player will carry out his role perfectly.
2020s Superteam Advantages
The 2020s Superteam has the advantage of shooting the ball, and their wins in this series will come down to that. Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant might be the best shooting duo of all time in terms of shot creation and accuracy. Nikola Jokic is also proficient in nailing outside shots against a center who prefers to occupy the post.
LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo are not known for their shooting, but their combined athleticism and playmaking will create a ton of scoring opportunities for the team on many occasions. With a unique blend of players, the 2020s Superteam has great offensive firepower. The key for them will be trying to slow down MJ, Malone, and Hakeem.
Who Wins A Best-Of-7 Series?
This game comes down to intangibles, and it is sincerely difficult to bet against the dominant 90s superstars. The stars in the 90s were not influenced by the stat sheet and analytics and often used intangibles such as controlling tempo and toughness to get the job done. It will take a lot of work for the 2020’s stars to compete over a 7 game series.
Game 1 goes to the 1990s Superteam, led by the fantastic duo of Michael Jordan and John Stockton. The backcourt duo is simply clicking on all cylinders as the former drops a monster 39 points on 11-23 shooting. Stockton contributes 16 assists, picking apart the 2020 stars. LeBron James and Stephen Curry combine for 60 points, but it isn’t enough as the game ends 113-98 in somewhat of a beatdown.
Game 2 also goes to the 1990s Superteam, this time due to the dominance of Hakeem Olajuwon and Karl Malone. The trio combines for 58 points and 25 rebounds, owning the paint and preventing the 2020s stars from playing up-tempo basketball. LeBron James adds a triple-double with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, and Durant adds 29 points. Unfortunately for them, the game is lost because their bigs struggle to contain Hakeem and Malone, the score being 110-100.
The 2020s Superteam goes hot from the perimeter in Game 3, nailing 21 three-pointers in an all-out assault. Curry and Durant find their range while LeBron and Jokic set them up consistently from the perimeter. The 1990s Superteam trails the entire game, although they cut the deficit to 4 in the 4th quarter. Giannis scores a big 10 points in the 4th and also comes up with a game-saving block on Karl Malone at the buzzer to win Game 3, 103-101.
Game 4 is more of the same, except it is not close. The 2020s Superteam nails 16 threes, as they lead from the end of the first quarter until the end of the game. Kevin Durant goes 5-10 from three, Jokic adds 3 three-pointers, and Curry goes 7-14. LeBron and Giannis act as primary playmakers, adding 12 assists each. Nobody truly plays well for the 1990s Superteam except Jordan (27 points) and Malone (24 points, 12 rebounds), but the score is lopsided at 105-89. The series is tied 2-2, and there is plenty of basketball left to play.
With the series tied 2-2, the 1990s Superteam goes off for a 35-point third quarter which puts the game out of reach for the dominant side. With the game basically over with 5 minutes remaining in the third quarter, the 1990s Superteam put a ton of pressure on the opposition, locking them down to only 40% shooting as a team. The 2020s Superteam goes 5-25 from three, as their range is not there. Chalk it up as a bad shooting night, but credit goes to Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan for locking down the perimeter.
Unfortunately for the 2020s Superteam, they cannot force a Game 7. Stockton drops 14 assists, Jordan drops 34 points, and the dominant big men dominate the boards against a cold-shooting 2020s side. LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Stephen Curry have solid games, but missed shots throughout the game at pivotal moments hurt the team. The first half ends 55-55, but the 1990s Superteam nail a three-pointer at the buzzer, with MJ and Pippen sharing the passing before Stockton gives them a three-point lead. In the fourth quarter, Hakeem blocks Giannis, and that leads to an And-1 courtesy of Michael Jordan with 2 minutes to go. The last moment comes with the 2020s Superteam missing a free throw with 27 seconds left, which keeps them down 2, and Jordan seals the deal with an assist to Malone, who banks a short jumper. Down four with 20 seconds, the 2020s convert through a KD jumper, and they foul MJ, who ices the game for good. The 1990s Superteam has too many winning intangibles and ends up closing a 7-game series through 6 games.
Final Result: 1990s Superteam vs. 2020s Superteam 4-2
Finals MVP: Michael Jordan
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