Starting in the 1950s and continuing through the 2020s decade, the NBA has produced superstar players. The 1950s saw the emergence of the first true NBA superstar, and ever since then, every decade has produced a dominant player to ride the wave of both individual and team success. When the NBA was founded, we have unquestionably been blessed with a wealth of talent. Of course, it makes sense to consider which players will be the best in the league in ten years as we are well into the year 2023 of the 2020s decade.
By the time 2030 rolls around, some of the game’s best players that we have grown accustomed to will have hung it up, including the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, 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 always players who will be the men to take over the league in the next decade. It is time to uncover the best three players from each decade and the single MVP of that decade.
It is never easy to distinguish between the greatest player in every decade, let alone name one MVP. We managed to create the All-Decade Team per decade, and it was interesting to see the best players grouped into one. We also allocated the MVP voting of the leaders of each decade, and that also yielded interesting results. It is time to take it a step further and name the MVP of each decade, along with the two runner-ups. It must be done, as we are well into the 2020s decade, and the key player must be decided.
1950s MVP – George Mikan
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The 3 Best Players In The 1950s
1. George Mikan
2. Bob Pettit
3. Dolph Schayes
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 was easily the most impactful center in his era and is considered the league’s first true dominant superstar. Even if George was benefitting from playing against smaller players who did not have his size, the big man was still incredibly dominant and should be mentioned among the all-time great bigs far more often.
Legendary Atlanta Hawks star Bob 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. The big man occupied the power forward spot for most of the decade, using his strength to power in baskets and make a difference on the court. Interestingly enough, Pettit also made the All-Star Team every year of his career and had averages of 26.4 PPG and 16.2 RPG.
In third place, Dolph 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 in terms of impact. Schayes was a 6’8” power forward who relied on his physicality to dominate and ended up retiring as a Hall of Famer and true legend at his position.
1960s MVP – Bill Russell
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The 3 Best Players In The 1960s
1. Bill Russell
2. Wilt Chamberlain
3. Jerry West
The 1960s were dominated by Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. Russell has the rings to his name with 9 championships in the decade, and Chamberlain has unbreakable records. Bill Russell has 4 MVPs to his name in the decade but doesn’t quite have the regular-season statistics that Wilt Chamberlain put up. The great Russell wouldn’t care, as he would take his 11 NBA titles in 12 Finals appearances any day. The legendary Celtics star was more of a defensive player than a scorer because he knew that would give his side the best chance to win multiple championships.
Meanwhile, the greatest stat-sheet stuffer ever, Wilt Chamberlain, is right behind Russell. Chamberlain’s numbers are simply extraordinary and shall never be broken again because he once averaged 50.4 PPG in a season, along with once posting 27.2 RPG in a season. How about his 100-point game? Chamberlain was the most dominant physical specimen that the NBA has ever seen and deserves his top-3 spot in the 1960s decade.
Jerry West is the NBA’s logo and deserves his spot in the 1960s decade. The legendary guard was a capable scorer who posted 27.5 PPG and 5.7 APG over those ten years and helped continue the dominance of the Lakers franchise that George Mikan started. West was a competitor on the court and was dubbed “Mr. Clutch” for his ability to win games on his own accord. It would take until 1972 before West would win his only NBA title, but his talents as a player cannot be ignored.
1970s MVP – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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The 3 Best Players In The 1970s
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
2. Elvin Hayes
3. John Havlicek
The 1970s was the reign of arguably the greatest center ever in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Kareem won 5 out of his 6 MVPs during the 70s, and his patented sky hook was the most terrorizing shot in NBA history. Abdul-Jabbar had one of the best rookie campaigns ever in 1970, making the All-Star Team while posting 28.8 PPG and 14.5 RPG. A year later, Kareem won the MVP award, NBA title, and Finals MVP trophy. Throughout the 1970s, the center won 5 MVP awards to go along with an NBA title and a Finals MVP award. There is no debate about who the greatest player of the 1970s decade is.
Elvin Hayes has to be among the top-3, since he played most of the 1970s with the Washington Bullets, winning the 1978 championship. Along with star teammates Bob Dandridge and Wes Unseld, Hayes spearheaded the best team in the league. Over that decade, Hayes also made 10 All-Star Teams and led the NBA in RPG in 1974 when he posted a monster 18.1 RPG. Hayes achieved almost everything in the decade and deserves his spot.
Finally, one of the greatest winners ever is John Havlicek. A 6’5″ forward for the Boston Celtics during most of the 1960s and 1970s, Havlicek won eight championships during his career. Two of those championships came during the 1970s, as he and Dave Cowens were the two best players on both winning teams. Of course, the forward would win the 1974 Finals MVP award. One of the most elite offensive players of his time, Havlicek, 21.9 PPG and also finished in the top 10 in APG each season while making nine All-Star Teams over the decade.
1980s MVP – Magic Johnson
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The 3 Best Players In The 1980s
1. Magic Johnson
2. Larry Bird
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Magic Johnson is the man in the 1980s because he literally changed the game as a gigantic point guard. The first of his kind, Magic stood 6’9” tall yet handled the ball and created for others better than any other player. Johnson’s iconic rookie campaign saw the point guard start at center in Game 6 of the NBA Finals to win the NBA title and Finals MVP award. Magic added four more NBA titles and two more Finals MVP awards, proving he was the greatest player in the 1980s, and this is rivaled by only Larry Bird.
Bird is right behind Magic as the greatest player of the 1980s, as he captured three NBA titles, two Finals MVPs, and three straight MVP awards in the decade. The Boston Celtics legend, along with Magic Johnson, brought the NBA to new light as fans across the world tuned in to see him play. The Celtics legend had fewer NBA championships than Magic, which might prove to be the difference in the number one spot.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was by far the greatest player in the 1970s, but he was also a key player in the 1980s. Kareem’s longevity as a superstar is special because he could terrorize defenses year after year with his iconic sky hook shot. Abdul-Jabbar was also a defensive specialist, leading the NBA in BPG in 1980 and leading the Lakers’ defense. Kareem won four NBA titles and a Finals MVP award in the 1980s decade to make Los Angeles the team to beat alongside Magic Johnson.
1990s MVP – Michael Jordan
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The 3 Best Players In The 1990s
1. Michael Jordan
2. Hakeem Olajuwon
3. Karl Malone
Is there any debate as to which player owned the 1990s? Michael Jordan is the greatest player of all time, winning all six of his NBA championships in the decade and adding seven scoring titles and six Finals MVP awards. Michael was able to dominate the court consistently with the Chicago Bulls, and no player has been a more dominant offensive player since. Michael might have been the most talented player in the world by his 1985 rookie season, but the 1990s are owned by one man.
Hakeem Olajuwon has to be second in terms of championships won, impact, and pure skill as a center. Known as “The Dream,” Olajuwon won back-to-back titles in the 1994 and 1995 seasons as a member of the Houston Rockets and added two Finals MVP awards. The big man led the NBA in RPG in 1990 and won three blocks titles during the decade. No player can mimic what Hakeem did in the post, and he was the second-greatest player in the 1990s after Michael Jordan.
Karl Malone is third in the 1990s decade, as he was an automatic offensive player from mid-range and in the post. The Mailman built his legacy in the 1990s with the Utah Jazz because his impact alongside point guard John Stockton was iconic. Malone averaged under 25 PPG once in the 1990s, and he happened to win the MVP award that year (1999). Malone captured a total of two MVP awards and might have been a champion if he did not run into Michael Jordan’s Bulls in the Finals twice.
2000s MVP – Shaquille O’Neal
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The 3 Best Players In The 1990s
1. Shaquille O’Neal
2. Kobe Bryant
3. Tim Duncan
Shaquille O’Neal might not be as skilled as Kobe Bryant, but his dominance is unquestionable. The superstar center won three straight championships between 2000 and 2002, capturing the Finals MVP award each time. Shaq and Kobe were a dynamic duo and could not be defeated at their best, which is why the Lakers were so dominant. Shaq also managed to win the 2006 NBA championship, meaning he has four rings and three Finals MVPs in the decade to go along with his MVP award and a scoring title.
Kobe Bryant also won four NBA titles in the 2000s decade and added two scoring titles. Bryant was the best shooting guard in the league by far, and his play during and after Shaq’s departure proved he was one of a kind. Kobe did not have Shaq’s Finals MVPs awards, as he won the 2009 Finals MVP award, and that is why he has to finish second. Luckily for Kobe, he should be ranked higher on the all-time list than Shaq when an entire career is taken as a whole.
Tim Duncan, the NBA’s most “boring” superstar, is also one of the most dominant. The Big Fundamental won three NBA titles during the decade while adding two Finals MVPs and two MVP awards. Duncan was the powerhouse figure at the power forward spot, dominating both ends of the court and kickstarting the San Antonio Spurs dynasty. The Big Fundamental is right behind Shaq and Kobe as the most dominant figure in the 2000s decade, and there should be no debate among the top three.
2010s MVP – LeBron James
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The 3 Best Players In The 2010s
1. LeBron James
2. Stephen Curry
3. Kevin Durant
LeBron James became the man of the 2010s era when he finally broke through to win his first NBA championship in 2012 at the expense of the Oklahoma City Thunder. It took James leaving Cleveland and forming a superteam to get it done, but he got it done. He built off that 2012 season to win another title in 2013 and an incredible championship victory in 2016 after coming back from a 3-1 deficit. The King is the best player of the 2010s decade, and it isn’t close at all when adding the three Finals MVPs and three MVPs he won over the decade.
Stephen Curry has to be in second place because he captured three NBA championships and two MVP awards during the decade, along with spearheading the dominant Golden State Warriors dynasty that changed the NBA forever. Curry has forced every team to release countless three-pointers every game, but nobody can do it like him. Curry’s skill is special, but his impact is even more, considering what he has done for the NBA.
Kevin Durant, a 4-time scoring champion, has to be in third place. He did not win a championship without Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, but four scoring titles and an MVP award are proof of the player’s ability. No player can score as effortlessly as KD from the perimeter because he stands close to 7 feet tall and has guard-like skills. Durant has a chance to build on his legacy in the 2020s decade because he absolutely needs another title win.
2020s MVP – Nikola Jokic
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The 3 Best Players In The 2020s
1. Nikola Jokic
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo
3. Luka Doncic
So far, Nikola Jokic has been the best player in the 2020s. How can anyone argue against a three-time MVP to start the decade? The Serbian is not the most attractive figure on the court because he plays well below the rim and is more of a passer than a scorer, but like Tim Duncan before him, Jokic is the most effective. The big man’s numbers in each of his MVP seasons have been spectacular, and the 2023 season is an indication that the center is special as he might be the first center ever to average a triple-double in a season (24.6 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 10.0 APG).
Giannis Antetokounmpo captured an NBA championship in the 2021 season and also added an MVP award and Defensive Player of the Year honors in the 2020s decade. The Greek Freak is the best two-way player in the world because at 7 feet tall, he has the size to impact the court while moving like a guard. There is still plenty of time for Giannis to add to his resume, and he could easily be the best player of the 2020s decade by the time 2030 comes around.
Luka Doncic, the 24-year-old superstar, is starting to draw comparisons to Larry Bird with the way he competes below the rim and without much athleticism yet can control the offensive side of the floor. The Slovenian is a triple-double threat every night and is currently posting 33.2 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 8.1 APG for the Dallas Mavericks. Anytime a player this young can dominate the court so effortlessly, he has to be regarded as a top-3 player of his time. Isn’t it interesting that the three best players in the 2020s decade are all non-American players?
Source: fadeawayworld
