Every decade in the NBA yields superstar players, starting from the 1950s and continuing on until we are in the 2020s decade. The first true NBA superstar came to be known in the 1950s, and since then, each decade has yielded a dominant star to ride the wave of individual and team success. We have certainly been blessed with the amount of talent around the NBA since the league was formed. Of course, as we kickstart the year 2023, it is natural to look ahead as to which players will be the best players in the league ten years from now.
By that time, some of the game’s best players that we have grown accustomed to will have hung it up, including the likes of LeBron James, James Harden, and Stephen Curry. Luckily, the NBA is a league that will forever be run by superstar players, and this will not change as there are five players who will be the men to take over the league in the next decade. It is time to uncover the best players from each decade and create a legendary starting lineup, including one that will be predicted for the 2020s decade.
1950s All-Decade NBA Team
1950s – Bill Sharman, Paul Arizin, Dolph Schayes, Bob Pettit, George Mikan
The 1950s era was mainly dominated by George Mikan, who won 4 NBA titles for the Minneapolis Lakers during the decade. Unfortunately, Mikan did not play that long and only lasted until 1956, making 4 All-Star Teams and leading the league in scoring 2 times. He easily starts at center alongside two other Hall of Fame big men, Dolph Schayes and Bob Pettit.
Schayes made 9 All-Star Teams in the decade, posting 19.1 PPG and 13.3 RPG between 1950 and 1959. The 6’8” big man was a dominant inside presence, winning the 1955 NBA title and solidifying himself as one of the best bigs ever. Similarly, Pettit retired into the Hall of Fame as one of the best power forwards ever and the greatest player in Hawks history, winning the 1958 title and leading the NBA in scoring twice.
Bill Sharman and Paul Arizin make up the backcourt, as he won two NBA titles in the 1950s and also retired into the Hall of Fame. The 6’1” guard was a crafty scorer and averaged 17.8 PPG over the decade. Arizin posted averages of 23.0 PPG and 8.9 RPG in the decade, winning the 1956 championship and proving himself to be the best perimeter player of his era.
1960s All-Decade NBA Team
1960s – Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain
The 1960s backcourt is an all-time great and can be argued as the most spectacular offensively. Oscar Robertson was the most fabulous stat-sheet stuffer at the point guard position as the first player to ever average a triple-double in a single season, and he was also one of the greatest ever talents to pick up a basketball. Similarly, Jerry West, the NBA’s logo, is easily one of the best players ever, regardless of position.
A Lakers legend, Jerry West shot a career 81.4% from the free-throw line and 47.4% from the field while averaging 27.0 PPG. Clearly, he was a sharpshooter and scorer of the highest order and one of the best shooting guards of all time. The 1960s frontcourt is also incredible when looking at the trio of Elgin Baylor, Bill Russell, and Wilt Chamberlain. Baylor averaged over 28 PPG and 13 RPG over the decade and had seasons of posting 38.3 PPG, 34.8 PPG, and 34.0 PPG with the Lakers. The superstar small forward had almost every offensive skill in the book, capable of going off in the half-court and also in transition.
Bill Russell is one of the bigs to start, as he won 9 of his 11 NBA championships with the Boston Celtics in the 1960s. An all-time dominant center and arguably the greatest defensive center ever, Russell is a top-10 player by most accounts and the player with the most NBA titles won. Finally, Wilt Chamberlain has to start alongside Bill Russell because his numbers are off the chart. Just look at his scoring averages to start his career: 37.6 PPG, 38.4 PPG, 50.4 PPG, 44.8 PPG, 36.9 PPG, 34.7 PPG. Wilt made the All-Star Team every year in the 1960s decade and put up the greatest individual stats we have ever seen, including scoring 100 points in a single game.
1970s All-Decade NBA Team
1970s – Walt Frazier, John Havlicek, Julius Erving, Elvin Hayes, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Walt Frazier was a great scorer, and his offense was a major reason New York won 2 championships in 1970 and later in 1973. Frazier was explosive when he attacked the rim and never feared a single defender. Not to mention, he made it look cool in the process. John Havlicek, an 8-time championship winner with the Boston Celtics, joins Fraziers in the backcourt. Havlicek made 9 All-Star Teams in a row during the decade and is one of the best scorers and rebounders of his generation.
Dr. J, Julius Erving, is the perimeter star of the 1970s because he captivated fans with his dunking ability and supreme athleticism. Erving was sensational as an offensive player because he took the game to the defense with ease and never really let up at any point during the decade. Erving played from 1977 to 1979 in the decade, but he dominated the ABA from 1972 onwards, so he earned his place as a professional basketball star.
In the frontcourt, Elvin Hayes played from 1971 until 1979, when he averaged 22.7 PPG, 13.9 RPG, and 2.5 BPG for the San Diego/Houston Rockets and then the Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets. No doubt, the best big man in the league was none other than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the center who won the NBA title in his second season and won 2 scoring titles in his first three years. Abdul-Jabbar was at his superstar best in the 1970s and is easily the best player of the decade.
1980s All-Decade NBA Team
1980s – Isiah Thomas, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Moses Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Even if Isiah Thomas was not the most incredible stat-sheet performer and did not win an MVP award, he has to be one of the guards alongside Magic Johnson in the 1980s decade team. Thomas won back-to-back titles with the Detroit Pistons, the first coming in 1989. Obviously, Magic Johnson is the star of the 1980s and the best point guard of all time. Magic won 5 NBA titles in the 1980s, capturing 3 Finals MVPs and 3 MVPs as well.
Magic was the leader of the 1980s decade alongside Larry Bird, a superstar forward who won 3 straight MVP awards over 10 years. The Boston Celtics star made every All-Star Team in the 1980s except in 1989, when he only played in 6 games. A sharpshooter, rebounder, and playmaker, Bird was undeniably at the top of his game during the 1980s, and his battles with Magic Johnson were legendary.
In the frontcourt, Moses Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar dominated the inside during the 1980s. Moses is one of the best rebounders of all time and also a paint merchant, using his length and determination to score easy points. A top-20 player ever, Moses also won the 1983 championship with the Philadelphia 76ers. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was at his absolute peak individually in the 1970s, but he was still exceptional during the 1980s as he won 5 of his 6 titles in the decade. His skyhook shot was unstoppable even if he was in his 30s during the 1980s.
1990s All-Decade NBA Team
1990s – John Stockton, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon
The NBA’s all-time assists and steals leader, John Stockton, dominated the point guard spot during the 1990s and, alongside Karl Malone, was a force to handle. The crafty point guard did not shock anybody with athleticism, but he could nail outside shots consistently and also get easy points at the rim. No doubt, Stockton was the best point guard after Magic Johnson, and it isn’t close. Alongside Stockton is the greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan.
Jordan could have been placed in the 1980s decade team because he had an iconic season in 1988 when he won league MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, but it would be unfair to Isiah Thomas to exclude him. Regardless, Michael Jordan was the man in the 1990s as he won all 6 of his rings and Finals MVPs while winning 7 scoring titles. Michael was already the best individual talent in the late 1980s, but he became the GOAT once the 1998 season was completed.
Down low, Karl Malone and Hakeem Olajuwon have to be included on the team, and there is no surprise there. Malone is the most unstoppable scoring power forward ever, dominating the mid-range and paint with John Stockton pulling the strings for him. Michael was the GOAT, but Karl Malone might be the most consistent scorer after him in the 1990s. Finally, Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon won back-to-back titles and Finals MVPs with the Houston Rockets in the 1990s and solidified himself as a top-5 center ever. The man with the best post moves ever, Olajuwon is the best center in the decade by far.
2000s All-Decade NBA Team
2000s – Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal
Steve Nash, a two-time MVP, starts in the 2000s decade because he was one of the most dominant point guards of his generation. The Canadian superstar was not only an all-time great playmaker, but he was exceptional at spacing the floor and is one of the ten greatest shooters ever. No player in the 2000s was as efficient as Nash when the point guard had the ball. Obviously, Kobe Bryant is the man to start alongside him as the best perimeter player of his era.
Kobe won his MVP award, 5 NBA titles, and 2 Finals MVPs during the decade as the most talented player since Michael Jordan. The most clutch scorer in the league, Bryant is the obvious choice next to Nash. Even if he came into the league in 2003, James was the best small forward of the 2000s, as he won 2 MVPs during the decade. An unstoppable force when he attacked the rim and an excellent all-around star, James was at the top of his game during the decade.
Completing the frontcourt are Tim Duncan and Shaquille O’Neal, two of the best bigs of all time. Duncan is ranked top of all power forwards, capturing 3 NBA titles during the decade and 2 MVP awards. The Big Fundamental led the San Antonio Spurs dynasty, make no mistake about that. Finally, the most dominant force since Wilt Chamberlain, Shaq was a beast inside the paint and around the rim as he won all of his 4 championships and 3 Finals MVP awards during the decade.
2010s All-Decade NBA Team
2010s – Stephen Curry, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, Kevin Durant
Stephen Curry came to life in the 2010s decade, changing the game for the foreseeable future. Steph won 3 NBA titles in the 2010s while capturing 2 MVP awards with the Golden State Warriors. The greatest shooter alive became just that once he won his first MVP award, and he has since been the best point guard in the league. As great as Steph has been, James Harden was arguably as dominant offensively as he won 3 scoring titles and became the first player to ever be chased with two or three defenders when he gets the ball from the inbound. People seem to forget how dominant The Beard was with the Houston Rockets.
Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard form the forward duo of the 2010s, as both players each earned 2 NBA titles and 2 Finals MVPs. Durant did it with the Golden State Warriors, stacking the deck in his favor with the team by joining Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. The 4-time scoring champion also won his only MVP award and is without a doubt one of the best scorers of his generation.
A two-way star, Kawhi Leonard won the NBA titles and Finals MVPs with the San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors and was the best player in the world during the 2019 season when he did the unthinkable in his first season with the Raptors. Finally, even if LeBron James makes the All-Decade Team in the 2000s, he makes it in the 2010s because he won 3 of his 4 titles in the decade, including the 2016 championship when he led the Cleveland Cavaliers from 3-1 down in the NBA Finals.
What Will Be The All-Decade NBA Team For The 2020s?
Clearly, every decade since the 1950s had top stars performing at the highest level. It can be argued that the skill and athleticism of each decade are different according to the time, although the coaching and technology available to NBA players changed every 10 years. Looking ahead into the future, as we are in 2023, which players will make the All-Decade Team at the end of the 2029 season?
It is unbelievable to think that we will have to be crowning the top 5 players in the decade as we approach 2030, but that is how the world works. No doubt about it, there is tremendous talent in the league right now, and it is hard to choose between them all. Assuming Victor Wenbenyama comes into the NBA in the 2024 season and needs at least a year or two to solidify himself as a superstar, here is the predicted All-Decade Team for the 2020s.
2020s All-Decade NBA Team
2020s – Ja Morant, Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic
Ja Morant is already the most athletic guard in the NBA and has been since he stepped foot on an NBA court. His ability to get to where he wants to go in bursts of speed is surreal, and he is already drawing comparisons to a young Derrick Rose or Russell Westbrook in that regard. Except Ja has a very relaxed playing style and is a much better playmaker than either of those two stars were at the age of 23. Could Morant be even better than a prime Rose or Westbrook? Possibly, but there is no doubt he is the point guard for the future.
Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic is already regarded as a top-ten player in the NBA, and he is only in his fifth season. Luka is by far the best player on the Mavericks, and he has the ability to lead a team on his own as he is carrying the Mavericks to the playoffs every year. Nobody expected the team to be good, and to be fair, this is all down to Luka’s ability to score and distribute. It is likely that Doncic will win at least one MVP award in the 2020s decade and will be even better in due time, a scary thought.
One of the best scorers in the NBA, Jayson Tatum, is an elite player who has posted 26.4 PPG since the 2020 season and is only getting better as an all-around player. The swingman is improving his playmaking, defense, and shot selection as he gets more comfortable dealing with double teams and severe defensive attention. Tatum might have an MVP award or two to his name by 2029, and he has already begun building his Hall of Fame status.
Reigning MVP Giannis Antetokoumpo is already the best all-around player in the league in 2023, and many regard him as the number-one player going forward as well. The Bucks are once again one of the best teams in the league, and we have to give Giannis the bulk of the credit for his incredible performances. Over the next 6 seasons, Giannis will likely be the best player in the league and probably on his way to being one of the all-time greats regardless of position. If Giannis adds a jump shot to his arsenal, the coming decade might bring him multiple NBA titles and multiple MVP awards.
Last but not least, Nikola Jokic will be the best big man in the league going forward. Jokic will continue to improve his game, and he will be the final piece to the puzzle of this incredible Dream Team. In the coming few seasons, Nikola Jokic will likely average a triple-double in an NBA season if it does not happen already this year. Not to mention, the Serbian star might win his third or fourth MVP award over the next few years, which would place him in the special company among the all-time greats.
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