Making an All-NBA First Team is one of the highest individual honors that a player can earn at the end of any specific season. A Second or Third Team selection is an extremely admirable accomplishment as well, but making the First Team can mean so much more to a player in the NBA, including a more lucrative contract. Simply put, there are very few accolades one can earn that can mean more than being named one of the best guards, forwards, or centers in the game.
Today, we are going to introduce and dissect two different All-NBA First Teams from different eras in the NBA. These two teams have completely different styles of play but are undoubtedly two of the greatest All- NBA First Teams ever assembled. Featuring 10 of the greatest players in NBA history, we will break down this matchup position by position while pointing out each team’s advantages over the other. Strap in for one of the most explosive cross-era comparisons yet.
This is the 1987-88 All-NBA First Team vs. The 2012-13 All-NBA First Team.
1987-88 All-NBA First Team: Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon
2012-13 All-NBA First Team: Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Tim Duncan
Magic Johnson vs. Chris Paul
To kick things off with this cross-era showdown, we have an intriguing point guard matchup between two all-time greats. Magic Johnson takes over that position for the 1988 team, and with him comes a distinct size advantage over a much smaller Chris Paul. Magic’s height will give him a significant advantage in set offense in the half-court, but that is just the beginning. Magic loves to back his opponent down into the post and dictate the game from there and can do so either as a scorer or playmaker. Of course, this goes without mentioning the pace at which he will push play, utilizing the offensive weapons around him.
Chris Paul will have his hands full for the 2013 team, but that doesn’t mean he won’t provide an impact of his own. In his prime, Paul was a very active defender who showed great disruption on the ball and anticipation off the ball to read passing lanes and make a play. On offense, Paul will play a similar role to Magic as the team’s primary playmaker, splitting those duties with LeBron James. It goes without saying that Johnson has the upper hand over Paul in this matchup but look for Paul to be a potential “x-factor” in this series.
Michael Jordan vs. Kobe Bryant
The comparisons and contrasts between Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant’s games will continue for the rest of time. Michael Jordan was the standard, the gold standard, if you will. His killer instinct was matched by none during the 80s and 90s, and his obsession with winning made him the ultimate competitor. With him and Bryant, you are going to get into an all-out war on the court with two players who refuse to lose and with similar playstyles.
This matchup between the best two shooting guards in NBA history will come down to who wants it more. Both provide an impeccable mid-range game, with quick first steps that allow them to attack the basket with ease and an insatiable hunger to be the best version of themselves every single time they step on the court. The battle between these two will be epic as far as basketball goes, but perhaps the most enticing part of their duel will be the psychological warfare between them for the entirety of the series.
Larry Bird vs. LeBron James
Well, if you are a diehard fan of either Larry Bird or LeBron James, this comparison is sure to start some arguments. From the 1988 squad, we have three-time MVP and generational trash-talker, Larry Bird. He is the total package and definitely presents issues for LeBron James defensively. Bird can hit his shot from anywhere on the court, we already know that. It will be his passing, playmaking, and defensive effort that will need to be even sharper in order to gain an upper hand over James. If Larry Bird is on top of his game, this matchup is much less one-sided than the diehard James fans will tell you it is.
For LeBron James, this matchup will be much like the other elite matchups he has faced in his career. James will find ways to impact the game other than being a scorer. He will be in constant attack mode but with the intention of setting his teammates up rather than solely going to the basket. James has the advantage in this matchup when it comes to size, strength, and overall talent. You may not like to hear that, but can we stop denying it and living in an alternate reality now?
Charles Barkley vs. Kevin Durant
The battle at power forward between the 1988 and 2013 All-NBA First Teams is a tale of two different spots on the court. For Charles Barkley, he needs to take the game into the post where he can overpower and control things against the lighter and weaker Kevin Durant. Barkley will control rebounds and the game in the post, but he has his work cut out of him defensively. Barkley will have to be sharp with quicker lateral movement than he ever displayed in order to keep up with the talented and quicker Durant.
For Durant, any time that he can get Barkley out of the post and make him guard him on the perimeter, he has won the matchup. With all due respect to the great Barkley, he cannot keep up with the handles and shot creation from Durant, especially if Durant gets to his spots from the mid-range. With his long frame and precision in shooting the ball, Durant will have the advantage offensively in this matchup. Defensively, the only way Durant can gain an advantage is if he somehow is able to push Barkley further away from the basket but if history has shown us anything, it is that the Round Mound of Rebound is no pushover.
Hakeem Olajuwon vs. Tim Duncan
The next battle at the center position is between two of the most under-appreciated players in NBA history. Hakeem Olajuwon is one of the most dominant two-way players in NBA history as a former MVP and two-time Defensive Player of the Year who led the Houston Rockets to NBA championships without another All-Star on his roster. The battle with Duncan will be epic, considering Duncan’s defensive prowess and Hakeem’s spectacular footwork and soft touch on his shots.
I do not believe that either player will hold any significant advantage over the other when it comes to Duncan and Hakeem. The 1988 squad will certainly rely on Olajuwon to be the interior force that he was for most of his career, especially defensively against the attack on the rim inevitably being poured on by 2013. Duncan will have to be on his toes on both sides of the ball, but if anyone can slow Hakeem down, my money would be on The Big Fundamental.
1988 All-NBA First Team Advantages
Each one of these All-NBA First Teams has different advantages that they bring to the court. For the 1988 squad, the first one has to be their camaraderie. Four of these five starters would get together in 1992 and help form the Team USA Olympic squad known as the Dream Team. Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Charles Barkly helped the USA cruise to a gold medal, and it will be that teamwork and knowledge of each other’s strengths that serves as key advantages over a 2013 team that has never shared the court on the same team.
The other advantage of the 1988 All-NBA First Team will be their frontcourt. Charles Barkley and Hakeem Olajuwon make up the frontcourt for the 1988 squad, which will be a nightmare for Kevin Durant and Tim Duncan to defend. In my opinion, with 1988 going with a traditional frontcourt, they hold the advantage over 2013, especially in the paint. Durant will be the weak link for the 2013 squad with the inability to prevent Barkley from gaining a position in the post. For Olajuwon, other than with maybe Shaq and Kareem, would have his way on both ends of the court no matter who his opponent was, so this is by no means a slight at Duncan. If there is any defender who could give Olajuwon issues, Duncan would be it.
2013 All-NBA Team Advantages
The 2013 All-NBA First Team also has some advantages that we need to talk about. The first of these advantages is the amount of playmaking they have from virtually every position. First, they have arguably the greatest playmaker in NBA history, LeBron James. Along with him, they have one of the best two-way point guards ever and one that any team would love to have as their floor general, Chris Paul. As if that weren’t enough, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and Tim Duncan’s underrated attributes are their playmaking abilities and the way they make the players around them better. So if team chemistry is an issue, it won’t be for long with the talent they have around each other.
The next advantage for the 2013 team is one that might just be the reason for their victory in this series, and that is their scoring ability mixed with their ability to knock down tough and contested shots. Kobe Bryant leads the way in this respect as the best tough shotmaker in NBA history. Kevin Durant is another player who has zero issues with making and creating tough shots. With the amount of playmaking and shot creation up and down 2013’s lineup, this series is going to be one for the ages.
Who Would Win This Matchup In A 7-Game Series?
The matchup between the 1988 and 2013 All-NBA First Teams kicks off with some fireworks in Game 1. Never shying away from a challenge, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan went right at each other to start the game. This caused some chippy moments early, which led to both players being separated and a stoppage of play. As for the rest of the game, this one would belong to Hakeem Olajuwon, as he totally took over the paint from start to finish on both sides of the ball. He would finish with 33 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 blocks to help the 1988 team capture a Game 1 win, 112-103.
In Game 2, LeBron James would be the one to set the tone right from the start with a relentless assault on the 1988 defense. James barreled through defenders for open shots at the rim and easy chances for his teammates, a game plan that 1988 was not prepared for, nor could they stop. James would lead the 2013 team with 38 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists and Bryant added 26 points as 2013 evens the series up at 1-1, 107-100.
Game 3 will forever be known as the Michael Jordan game, as he did not take kindly to the result of Game 2. Jordan was unstoppable on the offensive end, picking apart the 2013 defense from the mid-range and getting to the foul line as they could not stop his quick first step off the dribble. Jordan was sensational on both ends of the floor and the two-man game between him and Hakeem was something that could not be stopped. Larry Bird was also on fire connecting on 7 of 9 threes for 27 points. Jordan would finish with 57 points and 5 steals for a 2-1 advantage over the 2013 team.
Game 4 was a must-win situation for the 2013 team, as falling into a 3-1 hole is a virtual death sentence for their hopes of winning the series. Kevin Durant would be the one to make his presence known from the opening tip, completely stifling Charles Barkley on the defensive end. Barkley had zero answers for Durant’s shooting display and when doubled, DUrant easily found James or Bryant for open shots as well. Durant would finish with 45 points and 11 rebounds as Bryant and James added 27 each and 2013 evened the series up 2-2 with a 123-101 blowout victory.
A pivotal Game 5 would come down to an epic fourth-quarter battle of the point guards between Magic Johnson and Chris Paul. Each player made extremely difficult plays on both ends of the court that swung momentum for their teams. Magic ran the fast break to perfection, much like he did for the entirety of his career. The beneficiaries of this were, of course, Michael Jordan as well as Olajuwon. Nobody utilized their big men in their careers better than Magic did, and Hakeem learned that first hand. Olajuwon would add 38 points and 13 rebounds as Jordan poured in 45 points on 21 Magic Johnson assists, and 1988 took a critical 3-2 series lead.
In Game 6, the 2013 squad came out with one thing on their minds, victory. Kobe Bryant would be the one to start things off with an incredible scoring display in the first half and a bunch of contested tough shots that not many could make. LeBron James was once again the team’s primary playmaker and initiator of the offense as he consistently penetrated the paint to make plays for himself and open teammates. The 1988 squad stood zero chance to put this one away as LeBron went for 29 points and 13 assists while Bryant added 36 points to set up for an electrifying Game 7.
Game 7 would be a knockdown, drag-out dogfight between these two teams looking to prove that their era is best. Of all the great talent on the court, there is just one man who had never been to a Game 7 in this situation before, nor did he have any intention of losing and that is Michael Jeffrey Jordan. In this Game 7, it would be all about him as he shredded the 2013 defense for an incredible performance of 67 points on 56.0% shooting to deliver the win. Kobe Bryant and LeBron did all they could to take the series away from Jordan and make their claim as the GOAT, but as always, Jordan reigned supreme and solidified himself as the greatest to ever do it.
Finals Result: 1987-88 All-NBA First Team vs. 2012-13 All-NBA First Team 4-3
Series MVP: Michael Jordan
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