A debate on the best All-NBA team did the rounds on Twitter and fans had their pick after their share of debating.
The list featured some of the more decorated names in the league. Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor were some of the yesteryear stars on the list.
Also making the cut were present-day players in LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Chris Paul. A post by HoopsHype picked five players slotting them into teams that span all the way back to the ’60s.
WHO DO YOU PICK? 🧐 pic.twitter.com/WjIv8duIyp
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) February 1, 2023
1962: Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Bob Petit, and Wilt Chamberlain
1988: Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, and Hakeem Olajuwon
1998: Gary Payton, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O’Neal
2003: Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O’Neal
2013: Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Tim Duncan
Many of the fans picked the 1988 group that featured some of the greatest ever players to set foot on the NBA court, and for obvious reasons. If it was the Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird rivalry that set the tone and later carried over to the NBA, the final years of the 80s were all about the rise and subsequent dominance of Michael Jordan.
None of the players on the list may have played together for the same team, but there is no denying that their skills and athleticism combined easily put them as commanding favorites.
NBA Fans Pick The 1980’s Team To Beat Any Of Their Opponents Hands Down
While the 90s and 2000s list featured players who were bonafide matchwinners, fans on Twitter were of the strong opinion that the likes of 80’s stars Bird, Johnson, and Jordan could win over any of the other teams on the list.
There were some supporters for the 2003 squad comprising Bryant, Garnett, and Duncan as well. Here’s a look at some of the choice responses.
I'm going with '88, but '03 could be sneaky good. https://t.co/DXTk9x30ki
— Sports Talk with Swag (@STWSCast) February 2, 2023
1988. No dubt! https://t.co/jhcvUJakmZ
— DonDDF14 (@DonDDF14) February 2, 2023
Gotta go 03’. Not saying I’m right, because 88’ might dust them. But I’m going 03’ https://t.co/OyjIBRJOfI
— 007.🏁 (@007AirMike) February 2, 2023
If you said anything other than '88 please turn in your hoop card. https://t.co/ZK6tgj6DdB
— Suns Uniform Tracker (@SunsUniTracker) February 2, 2023
88 has the best players. But with what we know now about the 3 point shot, I think the 03 team has a real chance to win. https://t.co/vIjBERWL6w
— (Phi)sica(lly)Sick (@TimWilly25) February 2, 2023
https://twitter.com/Gabriel16108/status/1620981975694872577
‘88 wouldn’t be touched, then ‘98 a distant second https://t.co/zQAXfC1D7J
— Austin (@Austin_H2O) February 2, 2023
It's close between 1988 and 2003 but I'll take 2003 because of the size advantage in the frontcourt. https://t.co/3PHAW3i98Y
— Markus Brown (@MarkusUC26) February 2, 2023
Magic , Jordan , Larry , Barkley and Hakeem thats different https://t.co/G5f8b3n95P
— Chris (@sir_reverend) February 2, 2023
There was also a shoutout to Duncan, who found his name on three different teams. Fans believed he deserved to find a place in Mount Rushmore of NBA greats.
Should there be a clear winner picked, then it’s safe to say that the ’88 team wins by a landslide. It’s hard to imagine any of the modern teams withstand the likes of Johnson, Bird, Jordan, Barkley, and Olajuwon.
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