Seen on:
as known from New York Timesas known from USA Todayas known from yahoo!
VA

1980s NBA All Decade Team

The 1980s NBA All-Decade team!
Publish Date: 08/17/2023
Fact checked by: Mark Lewis
Bildnummer: 11895422 Datum: 11.02.1990 Copyright: imago/ZUMA Press 1990 - Miami, Massachusetts, U.S. - Boston Celtics LARRY BIRD and Los Angeles Lakers MAGIC JOHNSON with PAT O BRIEN at the 1990 NBA Basketball Herren USA All-Star Game NBA Basketball Herren USA 1990 - Larry Bird and Magic Johnson PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY - ZUMAl10; xsp x0x 1990 quer Highlight o0 Aufnahmedatum geschätzt Image number 11895422 date 11 02 1990 Copyright imago Zuma Press 1990 Miami Massachusetts u s Boston Celtics Larry Bird and Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson with Pat o Brien AT The 1990 NBA Basketball men USA All Star Game NBA Basketball men USA 1990 Larry Bird and Magic Johnson PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY x0x 1990 horizontal Highlight o0 date estimated

2nd Team

Center

Kareem Abdul Jabbar

Jabbar played all 10 seasons in the decade, was an All-Star in each, and punctuated five with NBA titles, earning Finals MVP honors in 1984-85. He wasn’t at top speed when the ’80s rolled in, lost velocity as they went on, and still provided the fifth-most points, ninth-most rebounds, third-most blocks, and fifth-most win shares.

Forward

Dominique Wilkins

The Human highlight reel could do more than just dunk; he could flat out fill it up on offense. He led the league in scoring four All-Star selections, four All-NBA honors, and a second place in the 1985-86 MVP race.

 

Forward

Alex English

Alex English was the beneficiary of Doug Moe’s fast-paced offense in the 80s, but he still had to put the ball in the basket, and that’s just what he did, averaging 25.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per night. He shot 51.0 per cent from the field and 83.8 per cent from the line. During this stretch, he took home the 1982-83 scoring title, one of his six top-five finishes in points per game.

 

Shooting Guard

Sidney Moncrief

Moncrief was not flashy, but he was as complete a guard as you will ever find. Five All-Star nods, five All-NBA selections, and five All-Defensive honors. If not for a degenerative knee problem, who would go down as one of the greatest all-around guards to ever play the game. This selection came down to Sidney or George Gervin, and I know Gervin was a points machine, but Moncrief was the better player all around.

 

Point Guard

Isaiah Thomas

Thomas was a ferocious player and was at his best in the clutch. When Thomas arrived in Detroit, the franchise was in shambles, and in just a few years, they were legit contenders, and by the end of the decade, they were World Champions.

 

First Team

Center

Moses Malone

Malone gets left out of the conversation when people discuss the greatest Centers of all time, which is wrong. Malone started the decade and helped guide the Houston Rockets to the NBA Finals, and the Rockets were a .500 team! He then arrived in Philadelphia and, in his very first year as a 76er, led Philly to a world championship. During the ’80s, he averaged 24.5 points and 13.2 rebounds. No one grabbed more boards during the decade (or came within 2,000 of his total), and only Alex English scored more points.  

 

Forward

Larry Bird

Bird, much like Malone, was just a relentless competitor! Bird snagged nine All-Star selections, nine All-NBA honors (all first-team), three MVP awards (all in a row), three championships, and two Finals MVPs. Bird was a player who could do it all, but his best attribute was his desire and ability to make everyone around him better.

DraftKings
1.
4.6/5
New Customers: Bet $5+ and get $300 in Bonus Bets if it wins!
USA
USA Players Welcome
PayPal
VIP Preferred
Play+
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Bet now
21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new customer. Must register new account to receive reward Token. Must select Token BEFORE placing min. $5 bet to receive $300 in Bonus Bets if your bet wins. Min. -500 odds req. Token and Bonus Bets are single-use and non-withdrawable. Token expires 2/1/26. Bonus Bets expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 1/25/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.
FanDuel
2.
4.6/5
Bet $5 Get $300 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
USA
USA Players Welcome
Prepaid Card
PayNearMe
PayPal
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Bet now
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit RG-help.com. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ (18+ DC, KY and present in select states for KS in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino). First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com.
BetMGM
3.
4.5/5
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
USA
USA Players Welcome
PayNearMe
Skrill
PayPal
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Bet now
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA) 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). Rewards are non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
Bet365
4.
4.5/5
Bet $5 & Get $200 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose
USA
USA Players Welcome
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Bet now
Whatever the moment. It’s Never Ordinary at bet365. That’s why if you sign up now you will receive $200 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose when you bet $5! Minimum $10 deposit required. Minimum odds -500 of greater. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. T&CS, time limits and exclusions apply. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL OR TEXT 1-800-GAMBLER (AZ/CO/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA/MD/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA). 21+ (18+ KY). Must be present in AZ/CO/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA (select parishes)/MD/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA.
Caesars
5.
4.5/5
Up to $250 Bonus Bet
USA
USA Players Welcome
E-Check
PayNearMe
PayPal
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Bet now
21+ New users only. Must register using eligible promo code. First bet after registration must qualify. Max. Bonus Bet: $1,000. Bonus Bet expires 14 days after receipt. Void where prohibited. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Gambling Problem? 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)

Forward

Kevin McHale

The 6’10” forward did everything. He was the original super-sub, the first repeat Sixth Man of the Year winner in the award’s history. He had some unstoppable force and immovable object, averaging 21-plus points four times and making five All-Defensive teams in the decade.

 

Shooting Guard

Michael Jordan

Jordan only played half the decade, but the way he played made it more than enough years to find him on this list. His first years with the Bulls found him as the only hope to stay in a game. The amazing thing is that he got some awful Bulls teams to the playoffs his first couple of years.

 

Point Guard

Magic Johnson

Much like Bird, Magic made everybody around him a better player, plus it doesn’t hurt when you can play not only point guard but every other position on the court! The 1980 NBA Finals proved how special Magic was in game 6, with Kareem Abdul Jabbar unable to play Magic played center and scored 42 points.

 

Read Also
Top 10 Best NBA Defensive Teams Of All Time
The NBA has gone through many phases in its history, from the ...
Top 10 White American NBA Players in History
Today, we look at the greatest white American basketball players in the ...
Bet365 Promo
Esteban de Jesus, Roberto Duran y AIDS (1972-89)
Many of us dream of celebrity sports fame, but only cruel individuals ...
Top 10 NBA Players of the 1980s: Bird, Magic, or Jordan at Number one?
To me, the 1980s was the greatest decade in basketball history. In ...
The Greatest College Basketball Team of All Time
Rating the greatest college basketball teams ever has been done many times ...
Indiana Basketball Weekly
Welcome to Indiana Basketball Weekly, your dedicated podcast for all things Indiana ...
The taxed: How the 1979-80 Philadelphia 76ers attempted to pay their debt
Prologue:-  In 1973, the once-great Philadelphia 76ers had slid to the deepest ...
Ranking the decade: Top ten NBA point guards of the 2010s
During the 2010s, elite wings took over facilitating duties from point guards ...
What is the Best Decade of Basketball in NBA History?
15Every NBA player and fan thinks that their generation of basketball was ...
Flying High: The Downing of the Atlanta Hawks of the 1980s
In the 80s, team building was much more important than what we ...
Top Betting Sites
Top Betting Bonuses
DraftKings
DraftKings
DraftKings Review
4.6/5
FanDuel
4.6/5
BetMGM
4.5/5
Bet365
4.5/5
Caesars
4.5/5
Fanatics
Fanatics
Fanatics Review
4.3/5
Barstool
Barstool Review
4.5/5
Bally Bet
Bally Bet Review
4.3/5
DraftKings
DraftKings Promo
New Customers: Bet $5+ and get $300 in Bonus Bets if it wins!
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new customer. Must register new account to receive reward Token. Must select Token BEFORE placing min. $5 bet to receive $300 in Bonus Bets if your bet wins. Min. -500 odds req. Token and Bonus Bets are single-use and non-withdrawable. Token expires 2/1/26. Bonus Bets expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 1/25/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.
FanDuel
FanDuel Promo
Bet $5 Get $300 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit RG-help.com. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ (18+ DC, KY and present in select states for KS in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino). First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com.
BetMGM
BetMGM Promo
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA) 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). Rewards are non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
Bet365
Bet365 Promo
Bet $5 & Get $200 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Whatever the moment. It's Never Ordinary at bet365. That's why if you sign up now you will receive $200 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose when you bet $5! Minimum $10 deposit required. Minimum odds -500 of greater. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. T&CS, time limits and exclusions apply. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL OR TEXT 1-800-GAMBLER (AZ/CO/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA/MD/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA). 21+ (18+ KY). Must be present in AZ/CO/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA (select parishes)/MD/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA.
Caesars
Caesars Promo
Up to $250 Bonus Bet
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
21+ New users only. Must register using eligible promo code. First bet after registration must qualify. Max. Bonus Bet: $1,000. Bonus Bet expires 14 days after receipt. Void where prohibited. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Gambling Problem? 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)
Fanatics
Fanatics Promo
Bet $50, Get $300 in FanCash
T&Cs apply
4.3/5
Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-522-4700, Home (MD), (800)-327-5050 or MA Gambling Helpline (MA), Call (877)8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), or Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), (888) 789-7777 or CONNECTICUT COUNCIL – ON PROBLEM GAMBLING (CT), or 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), If gambling is more than a game, free help is available . . . - NCDHHS Problem Gambling (NC). New customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, or WY. Must opt-in and wager $10+ cash on any market with odds of -500 or longer to receive $100 in FanCash each day for your first 3 days (issued when qualifying wager settles). Your 3 days begin the day you establish your account. FanCash rewards expire at 11:59 p.m. ET 7 days from issuance. Terms, including FanCash terms, apply - see Fanatics Sportsbook app.
Barstool Promo
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Latest Sport News
A Lifetime Chicago Bears Fan Speaks – Wow
Being a Chicago Bears fan is a test ...
Top 10 Big Ten Basketball Players of All-Time
The Big Ten Conference has long been one ...
Lee Corso at Indiana: The Madcap Rebuild That Set the Table for “Not So Fast,...
Before Lee Corso became America’s college-football grandpa—before the ...
The Miami Hurricanes Dynasty (1983–2003): Championships, Culture, and Consequ...
From the 1983 national championship to the early ...
Bert Jones: The legend of the Ruston Rifle
Football was woven into Bert Jones’ life long ...
Cleveland Browns High Points of 2025
Total transparency here, many fans of the Cleveland Browns would read ...
Henry Armstrong – Indisputable Greatness
What Henry Armstrong achieved in the late 1930s ...
Terry Hoeppner: The Coach who restored hope to Indiana Football
Indiana football has had better seasons than the ...
Frazier vs Daniels: Terry Daniels in the Lion’s Den
As it takes only moments to name truly ...
Latest NFL Betting Picks

Our Team
Mike GoodpasterMark LewisAuthor IconJohn RaspantiSamuel Teets
+5
Mike Goodpaster
Mike Goodpaster
Chief Editor
Mark Lewis
Mark Lewis
Editor
Author Icon
Christopher Carlson
Author
John Raspanti
John Raspanti
Author
Samuel Teets
Samuel Teets
US Sports Veteran
Daniel Kornhauser
Daniel Kornhauser
Author
Chris Benedict
Chris Benedict
Editor
James Ernest
James Ernest
Author
Shelley Harcar
Shelley Harcar
Sports Writer
Ellis Williams
Ellis Williams
Author

21+ and present in VA. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.
Virginia Town HallCloudflareSSL
Close
Our Sports Pros recommend these awesome sports betting sites this week:
DraftKings
DraftKings Promo
New Customers: Bet $5+ and get $300 in Bonus Bets if it wins!
Our Favorite
T&Cs and 21+ apply
Code:
Open DraftKings
Get Bonus
FanDuel
FanDuel Promo
Bet $5 Get $300 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
Best Slots
T&Cs and 21+ apply
Code:
Open FanDuel
Get Bonus
BetMGM
BetMGM Promo
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Newcomer
T&Cs and 21+ apply
Code:
Open BetMGM
Get Bonus
×
Your Promo Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Play now