NBA Battle of the Decades: 90's vs. 00's

The 1990's decade of basketball was filled with many superstar players who dazzled the league with their talent, toughness and rough style of play.

The 2000's decade of basketball was filled with All-stars who changed the game of basketball with their athletic abilities and on-the-court showmanship.

The question remains: Which era featured more talented and more entertaining superstars???

I have compiled five of the best possible teams from each decade and pitted them against one another to finally end the debate.

The decade with the most victories at the end of the slideshow will claim the title of "the better decade".

(Note: None of the players that appeared in both decades were featured on both teams. If a player appeared in both decades, I put that individual on the "decade team" that I felt he contributed more to. Also, in order to qualify for one of the teams, a players had to play at least five seasons throughout that decade)

Fifth Teams

90's

PG- Isiah Thomas (19.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 9.3 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG)

SG- Joe Dumars (16.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 4.5 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG)

SF- Glen Rice (18.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG)

PF- Larry Johnson (16.2 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3.3 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG)

C- Dikembe Mutombo (9.8 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.4 SPG, 2.8 BPG)

00's

PG- Gilbert Arenas (21.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.2 BPG)

SG- Joe Johnson (17.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG)

SF- Carmelo Anthony (24.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG)

PF- Chris Bosh (20.0 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.1 BPG)

C- Yao Ming (19.0 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.4 SPG, 1.9 BPG)

Fifth Teams

This game would be the perfect example of an "offense vs. defense" type game.

The 00's All-Decade fifth team features five players who, quite frankly, know how to score the basketball. Four of the five players have averaged at least 25.0 points per game throughout an entire season at one point in their careers (Bosh being the only exception, who averaged 24.0 points per game for the 2009-10 season). 

In addition, two of the players have averaged at least 28.9 points per game throughout an entire season (Anthony throughout the 2006-07 season and Arenas throughout the 2005-06 season).

On the other side of the court, two of the players from the 90's All-Decade fifth team have been named to multiple NBA All-Defensive first teams (Dumars four times and Mutombo three times) while Johnson and Thomas both had reputations as being amongst the toughest players in the NBA throughout their careers.

Rice would be a nice offensive compliment to the defensive-minded team, as he was known to be an excellent scorer throughout the duration of his career.

Good defense has a tendency of overcoming good offense, which I think would be the case in this game. When everything would be said and done, the 00's superstars would spend a majority of their time battling for shots while the 90's superstars would focus on double-teaming and locking down whichever member of the 00's team had the ball in his hands, as that individual would most likely be the person who would take the shot. 

PREDICTED WINNER: 90'S ALL-DECADE FIFTH TEAM

Fourth Teams

90's

PG- Anfernee Hardaway (15.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.4 BPG)

SG- Mitch Richmond (21.0 PG, 3.9 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG)

SF- Chris Mullins (18.2 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.6 BPG)

PF- Shawn Kemp (14.6 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.2 BPG)

C- Alonzo Mourning (17.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 2.8 BPG)

00's

PG- Chris Paul (18.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 9.9 APG, 2.4 SPG, 0.1 BPG)

SG- Ray Allen (20.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG)

SF- Vince Carter (22.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.7 BPG)

PF- Pau Gasol (18.8 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 3.2 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.7 BPG)

C- Amare Stoudemire (21.9 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.5 BPG) 

Fourth Teams

Featuring some of the most explosive players over the last 20 years, not too much defense would be exemplified from both teams throughout this matchup.

Playing for the 90's All-Decade Fourth Team would be two reunited members of the famous Run- T.M.C. group, Richmond and Mullins. These two would definitely provide the fans with some exciting plays.

One of the best and most explosive dunkers in league history, Kemp, would definitely be fun to watch alongside Richmond and Mullins.

Dishing out the assists to these three players would be another "Hardaway" in Anfernee. Although his crossover didn't match the crossover of Tim Hardaway, his skill level, when healthy, certainly did.

Finally, just as we all thought that no defense at all would be played by this team, Alonzo Mourning shows up to provide the team with some much needed post defense.

The other side of the floor would feature arguably the best shooter and best dunker ever seen in NBA, Allen and Carter.

Playing alongside them would be two very talented big men: Gasol, one of the most skilled power forwards throughout his generation, and Stoudemire, who is very similar to Kemp in the nature that he is probably just explosive as Kemp was.

Running the floor and playing most of the defense for this team would be all-around superstar Chris Paul.

Once the game would end and the players would start heading towards the locker room, the 00's superstars would be walking out victorious from this matchup as the nice blend of different skill sets would prove to be too much for the 90's superstars. 

PREDICTED WINNER: 00'S ALL-DECADE FOURTH TEAM

Third Teams

90's

PG- Tim Hardaway (17.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 8.2 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.1 BPG)

SG- Reggie Miller (18.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.2 BPG)

SF- Dominique Wilkins (24.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG)

PF- Dennis Rodman 7.3 PPG, 13.1 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG)

C- Patrick Ewing (21.0 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.4 BPG)

00's

PG- Chauncey Billups (15.5 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG)

SG- Allen Iverson (26.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.2 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG) 

SF- Tracy McGrady (20.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.9 BPG)

PF- Chris Webber (20.7 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.4 BPG)

C- Dwight Howard (18.2 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.2 BPG) 

Third Teams

This matchup would feature one of the most interesting individual battles on this list. Watching Wilkins go up against McGrady would be a battle for the ages, as these two athletic studs would do their best to show-up one another on the offensive end with their amazing dunks and variety of other offensive moves.

Another interesting battle to watch (although these two are not matched up with one another) would be Hardaway against Iverson, as these two players were capable of doing just about anything they pleased with the balls in their hands.

Billups would be a great player to feature alongside McGrady and Iverson, as he has always been known to put his team ahead of himself, which could not be said about his two teammates.

If Wilkins or Hardaway were unexpectedly having trouble entering the paint during this game, there would be nothing to fear, as Miller would be standing behind the three-point line ready to catch any pass thrown his way.

My guess is that he wouldn't miss too many of those shots!

The frontcourt battles wouldn't be lacking interest as well, as watching Rodman and Howard battle for the rebounds down low would be nothing short of amazing. With Ewing and Webber by their sides respectively, I'm sure there would not be a lot of rebounds to go around for the other six players on the court.

In the end, the blend of leadership, passing, scoring and defense possessed by the 00's All-Decade third team would be too much for the players from the 90's era to overcome.

PREDICTED WINNER: 00'S ALL-DECADE THIRD TEAM

Second Teams

90's

PG- Gary Payton (16.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 6.7 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG)

SG- Clyde Drexler (20.4 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 5.6 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.7 BPG)

SF- Grant Hill (17.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG)

PF- Charles Barkley (22.1 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.8 BPG)

C- David Robinson (21.1 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.4 SPG, 3.0 BPG) 

00's

PG- Jason Kidd (13.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 9.1 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG)

SG- Dwyane Wade (25.4 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG)

SF- Paul Pierce (22.2 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.6 BPG)

PF- Dirk Nowitzki (23.0 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.0 BPG)

C- Kevin Garnett (19.5 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.5 BPG)

Second Teams

Featuring a lot of defense from the point guard and center positions with a plethora of offense from everyone else, this matchup would certainly be an eye-pleaser for every NBA fan.

Payton and Kidd are two point guards who are considered amongst the best defensive point guards in NBA history. 

The same could be said for Garnett and Robinson, who have both been named to multiple NBA All-Defensive teams.

While these four guys would be focusing most of their work on the defensive side of the ball, the rest of the guys (most of whom are not slouches on the defensive side of the ball either), would be doing their best to drive the score up.

Wade, Pierce and Nowitzki are considered some of the best scorers of this generation, while Drexler, Hill and Barkley provided NBA fans with some of the best all-around skill sets of their generations.

At the end of the day, I believe the complete skill sets of the five players from the 90's decade would prove to be too much for the more offensive minded players from the 00's decade.

PREDICTED WINNER: 90'S ALL-DECADE SECOND TEAM

First Teams

90's

PG- John Stockton (13.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 10.5 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG)

SG- Michael Jordan (30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.8 BPG)

SF- Scottie Pippen (16.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.2 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG)

PF- Karl Malone (25.0 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG) 

C- Hakeem Olajuwon (21.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 3.1 BPG)

00's

PG- Steve Nash (14.6 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 8.5 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.1 BPG)

SG- Kobe Bryant (25.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG)

SF- LeBron James (27.7 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 7.0 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.8 BPG)

PF- Tim Duncan (20.6 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 3.1 APG, 0.7 SPG, 2.2 BPG)

C- Shaquille O'Neal (23.7 PG, 10.9 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.6 SPG, 2.3 BPG)

First Teams

This showdown features some of the most interesting and equally matched faceoffs from this entire list.

Stockton and Nash are considered two of the best passers the game has ever seen. They both weren't known for their scoring abilities, although they both did average double figures in scoring on a consistent basis.

Malone and Duncan are considered two of the greatest power forwards of their generations. Who wouldn't want to watch one of the most skilled big men in league history take on one of the strongest power forwards the NBA has ever seen during the primes of their careers?

Olajuwon was a downright monster on the defensive side of the ball throughout the entirety of his career. O'Neal was probably the second most dominant offensive force in league history (behind Wilt Chamberlain).

Intriguing battle? I think so!

Jordan and Bryant are arguably the two most complete basketball players ever. Their abilities to take over any game they wanted to were second-to-none. These athletes are probably the two guys who are compared to one another more than any two individuals since the NBA started, so there is no way that this matchup wouldn't be interesting.

The one matchup that I think would decide the outcome of the game would be Pippen vs. James. As good of an athlete, individual player and team player that Pippen was, I believe that he would be outplayed just a tad by James throughout the game.

PREDICTED WINNER: 00'S ALL-DECADE FIRST TEAM

Conclusion

FIFTH TEAM WINNER: 90'S ALL-DECADE TEAM

FOURTH TEAM WINNER: 00'S ALL-DECADE TEAM

THIRD TEAM WINNER: 00'S ALL-DECADE TEAM

SECOND TEAM WINNER: 90'S ALL-DECADE TEAM

FIRST TEAM WINNER: 00'S ALL-DECADE TEAM

OVERALL WINNER: 00'S ALL-DECADE TEAMS (3-2)

TOURNAMENT MVPS: KOBE BRYANT AND SHAQUILLE O'NEAL