NBA: How Does Today's League Compare to the 1990's?
When one reviews NBA history, the 1990s are typically highlighted as the apex of the league's existence.
Some may argue that it was the 1980s, which featured the gruesome battles between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. But while Bird and Magic were remarkable, the presence of Michael Jordan in the 1990s was revolutionary.
After Jordan retired from the Bulls in 1998 (we won't discuss his awkward comeback with the Wizards from 2001-2003), the hype of the NBA waned.
Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant provided intrigue by winning three championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, but their feats weren't nearly as compelling as the drama of the 1990s.
Plus, there was obvious tension between O'Neal and Bryant, leading many to question the egos of two of the league's premier players.
We also witnessed the monotonous San Antonio Spurs win four titles. Nothing against Coach Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan, but their style of play never beckoned fans (unless you lived in San Antonio) to catch their highlights.
There have also been an innumerable amount of fans who've questioned the NBA's reputation. Players have been labeled and many have viewed the league as a nest of bad attitudes.
For some fans, this negative notoriety has left them ignorant toward the NBA's publicity. Many of these fans now only watch college basketball, citing that it's better "team" basketball and that they "actually play defense."
All of these dilemmas since the Jordan era make it evident that the NBA's been in need of restoration. Jordan was a revolutionary figure, and revolutionary figures don't come around often. When such a figure disappears, it leaves a gaping hole.
During last season, there appeared to be the most hoopla surrounding the NBA since the 1990s. While many hated to see the "three amigos" team up in Miami, the star-studded cast of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh undoubtedly resurrected appeal in the NBA.
The ratings of last year's NBA Finals were alarmingly high, surely attesting to the fact that the league has grabbed people's attention.
Furthermore, the renewed interest in the NBA isn't solely stemming from the story-lines in Miami. Young players like MVP Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin are storming the league like a tsunami. They've widened people's eyes and are gaining popularity by the day.
The truth is that, as the 2011-2012 season has kicked off, there are an unending amount of players to highlight and stories to capture.
Do the young guns—Rose, Durant, and Griffin—have enough talent and poise to govern their respective teams to NBA championships?
Will the Heat be able to reach the mountaintop in their second season together?
Where will Dwight Howard land for the long-term future?
Can Kobe Bryant attain a sixth championship to equal the same amount of rings as M.J.?
Can the Knicks shake their funk and make New York a legitimate contender?
These are just some of the questions that reveal the aura surrounding the current season. People are in tune to what's taking place, and it will remain that way throughout the season. For the first time since the Jordan era, it appears that the league's popularity is flourishing.
With that said, is it premature to wonder if the current status of the NBA trumps that of the 1990s?
That's a question to speculate, but the short answer is that it's too early to tell.
Truthfully, it will be years before we can accurately analyze the ins and outs of this era. When something is currently taking place, it's hard to fully appreciate its splendor.
It isn't until years later that we fully grasp how special a player was, how phenomenal a particular team played, and how unprecedented a certain era was compared to another era.
But no matter what, the players of today have revived interest in the NBA. The players dictate the hype, and right now there's a wave of players who possess the camaraderie to make this era the greatest the league has ever seen.
