The 25 Greatest Players of the NBA's Golden Era

The '80s and '90s were a golden age for basketball. The period started with the drafting of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, and ended with Michael Jordan winning his sixth NBA title. In between these bookending events, the league experienced a resurgence on the strength of the performance of its many incredibly talented players. The NBA faced severe likability problems after the brutal era of '70s basketball, and the competitive yet aesthetically-pleasing basketball played by the new waves of '80s and '90s stars like Magic, Dr. J and Jordan regenerated fan interest in the league and inspired the stars of today who grew up watching it.

While the list of talented players from this period is surely longer, we took a look at the 25 Greatest Players of the NBA's Golden Era.

RELATED: The 25 Greatest NBA Players of the '80s

RELATED: The 25 Greatest NBA Players of the '90s

RELATED: The 20 Best NBA Players of the 2000s

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Accomplishments: Four-time All-Star, 1985 NBA scoring champion, two-time First Team All-NBA
Team(s): New Jersey Nets, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Washington Bullets
Career Stats: 22.5 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.0 SPG
Years Played: 1978-1993

King emerged as an absolutely prolific scorer early in his career, posting 24.2 points per game as a rookie and peaking in 1984-85 when he won the league scoring title with a 32.9 PPG average. King was the toast of New York City, putting up back-to-back 50-point games in 1983-84 only to follow that up with a 60-point outburst in 1984-85. Unfortunately, in the spring of that season King suffered a torn ACL, which at the time was a devastating injury that required over a year of rehabilitation after surgery. King was never quite the same explosive player after that, although he did manage to average 28.4 points per game in 1990-91.

Accomplishments: Six-time All-Star, Two-time scoring champion (1981 and 1984), 1976-77 Rookie of the Year
Team(s): Buffalo Braves, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks
Career Stats: 24.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Years Played: 1976-1991

It's a little odd that Dantley was such a journeyman, given how proficiently he could score (a 24.3 career points per game average). He was an exceedingly efficient shooter, and his lifetime .540 percentage is the 16th-best in NBA history, and his .818 free throw percentage also is a significantly high mark. He was at his best as a member of the Utah Jazz, where over a four season stretch beginning in 1980-81 he averaged over 30 points per game each season, and teamed with a couple young upstarts named Malone and Stockton in his final year in Utah. After being shipped to Detroit, his numbers dwindled as Dantley forced to accept a smaller role with the well-balanced Pistons.

Accomplishments: Eight-time All-Star, 1983 scoring champion
Team(s): Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks
Career Stats: 21.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.6 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Years Played: 1976-1991

It's kind of amazing you don't hear English's name brought up more in casual conversations about the NBA's best scorers, but that may be just the way he wants it. The low-key English never sought out the limelight, despite the fact that over a ten year stretch from 1980 to 1990 he was the highest scoring player in the history of the league. Only once did he fail to average 20 points per game, and even that came in 1989-90 when he was 36-years-old and playing a smaller role for the helter-skelter offense of the Nuggets. While he never made it to the Finals, English did guide his Nuggets teams to nine playoff appearances in the decade, but ultimately their recipe of all offense and no defense let them down.

Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, First Team All-NBA 1992
Team(s): Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers
Career Stats: 18.2 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.6, SPG, 0.6 BPG
Years Played: 1985-2001

As a member of the Golden State Warriors, Mullin teamed with Mitch Richmond and Tim Hardaway to form the famous "Run TMC" trio that carried the Warriors to several exciting playoff runs (although none ended in a championship). Mullin was an excellent shooter throughout his career, using his 6'7" frame to elevate over smaller defenders. He also happened to be ambidextrous, which kept defenders off balance as they waited to see which way he would try to shoot. Injuries became his biggest foe, as after having his best season of his career in 1991-92, Mullin began to break down physically; in fact, he would play a full season just one more time in the remaining nine years he would spend in the league.

Accomplishments: Five-time All-Star, Three-time Third Team All-NBA
Team(s): Indiana Pacers
Career Stats: 18.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Years Played: 1987-2005

Miller played his entire career with the Indiana Pacers, reaching the NBA Finals for the only time in 2000 when they fell to the juggernaut Lakers. Despite his lack of championships, Miller is still best known for his playoff heroics. Trailing by six points at Madison Square Garden with just over 18 seconds to play, Miller somehow scored eight points in 8.9 seconds to steal a Game 1 victory away from the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. For his career, Miller averaged 20-plus points six times, and at least 16 points for a 13-year stretch between 1988-89 and 2001-02. He is currently 14th all-time in points scored for a career, although he will likely be passed by several active players in the coming seasons.

Accomplishments: Nine-time All-Star, Two-time First Team All-NBA, Nine-time All-Defensive First Team, 1996 Defensive Player of the Year
Team(s): Seattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat
Career Stats: 16.3 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 6.9 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Years Played: 1990-2007

Known as "The Glove" for his tight defense and even tighter ball-handling skills, Gary Payton was one of the preeminent point guards of the 90s. Playing primarily for the Seattle Supersonics, Payton and Shawn Kemp formed one of the league's best 1-2 to punches. Payton's biggest contributions on the floor came thanks to his mastery with the ball; he could get to the rim if needed, find the open man on his team, or steal the rock seemingly whenever he wanted. In the 1996 Finals, they pushed Michael Jordan and his 72-win Bulls to six games before falling just short. While he would never get that close again with Seattle, Payton did win a ring as a role player with the 2006 Miami Heat.

Accomplishments: Five-time NBA Champion, Two-time All-Star, Two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Seven-time All-Defensive First Team
Team(s): Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks
Career Stats: 8.3 PPG, 14.9 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 0.8 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Years Played: 1986-2000

While he may be remembered more for his hair, piercings, tattoos, wedding to Carmen Electra, and generally bizarre behavior, "The Worm" was also a really good basketball player. While he wasn't much of a scorer (career average of 7.3 points per game), the man was an absolute warrior on the boards. He averaged 13.1 rebounds per game for his career, leading the league seven years in a row between 1991-92 and 1997-98, and his career mark is the tenth-best in NBA history. He also played key roles for five championship squads. Earlier in his career with the Pistons alongside Bill Laimbeer, Joe Dumars, and Isiah Thomas. Then during the tail end of his tenure as a member of the Bulls, managing to coexist with bitter rivals Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan, and bringing an even higher level of defensive intensity to an already strong unit.

Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, 1992 First Team All-NBA, 1995 NBA Champion
Team(s): Portland Trailblazers/Houston Rockets
Career Stats: 20.4 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 5.6 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Years Played: 1983-1998

It seemed for a long time that, like Dominique Wilkins, Drexler was a great player who wouldn't quite be able to get over the championship hump in his NBA career. However, Drexler was shipped to a situation where he had some help from another premier player, and suddenly it became almost guaranteed that he would win at least one championship if not more. "Clyde the Glide" averaged between 17 and 27 points per game every single year of his career, and this kind of reliability made him an immensely valuable member of the champion 1995 Houston Rockets after he fell twice earlier in his career; once to the Pistons and once to the Chicago Bulls as a member of the Portland Trailblazers. He left quite a legacy, as he is one of only three players in league history to have career totals of 20,000-plus points, 6,000-plus rebounds and 6,000-plus assists.

Accomplishments: Four-time NBA Champion, 15-time All-Star, 2000 MVP, Eight-time First Team All-NBA
Team(s): Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics
Career Stats: 23.7 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.6 SPG, 2.3 BPG
Years Played: 1992-2011

There has never been anyone quite like Shaq, nor will there likely ever be another one even remotely close to him in the future. While it's easiest to remember him after his weight began to balloon after arriving in Los Angeles, young Shaq was unlike anything this league has ever seen. Not only was he incredibly tall at 7'1", but he also possessed an athleticism and explosiveness around the rim typically reserved for someone who weighed about 100 pounds less. He could simply get easier shots than anyone else, and it's no wonder that O'Neal led the league in shooting percentage 10 different times and has the second-highest career shooting percentage of all-time. Now, if only he could have fixed those free throws...

Accomplishments: Nine-time All-Star, 1986 scoring champion, 1986 First Team All-NBA
Team(s): Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Orlando Magic
Career Stats: 24.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG
Years Played: 1982-1999

"The Human Highlight Film" is a fitting nickname for Wilkins, whose career may best be remembered for his incredible battles with Michael Jordan in the late '80s/early '90s slam dunk contests during All-Star weekend. Wilkins was a great player during regular play too, though, leading the league in scoring in 1985-86 and averaging over 26 points per game every year from 1984-85 to 1993-94. His duel with Larry Bird in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at the Boston Garden is one of the all-time greatest playoff games, with the two trading baskets at a relentless pace throughout the second half. Despite finishing with 47 points, Wilkins and the Hawks fell to the Celtics and were eliminated. With 23,292 points, he is the leading scorer in Hawks history and 11th in NBA history.

Accomplishments: 11-time All-Star, 1990 First Team All-NBA, 1985-86 Rookie of the Year
Team(s): New York Knicks, Seattle Supersonics, Orlando Magic
Career Stats: 21.0 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.4 BPG
Years Played: 1986-2002

Ewing was the anchor for the unapologetically bruising Knicks teams of the '90s, and he is the only player in franchise history to suit up for over 1,000 games. He averaged 20-plus points per season every year from his rookie 1984-85 campaign all the way until 1998-99 season, a span of 13 seasons. During that same stretch, he also averaged 10.4 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game, dominating the paint on both ends of the floor. While he never achieved the championship success expected of him, Ewing did post outstanding individual numbers and is one of just 10 players to score 22,000-plus points and grab 10,000-plus rebounds.

Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, Two-time First Team All-NBA, Career leader in assists and steals
Team(s): Utah Jazz
Career Stats: 13.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 10.5 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Years Played: 1984-2003

The diminutive point guard from Spokane, WA is one of the wonders of the modern NBA (and no, not just for his shorts). In an era where the game kept getting increasingly isolation-oriented, Stockton was a throwback to the days of passing first and focusing on fundamental basketball. That is not to say he couldn't score; indeed, he averaged double-digit points per game totals every year from 1987-88 all the way through when he retired following the 2002-2003 season. Without question, though, Stockton's main trade was working with the ball. He led the league in assists nine times and steals twice, and is the all-time leader in both categories. His ability to run the break with teammate Karl Malone propelled the Jazz to consecutive NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998, but both times they were thwarted by Michael Jordan and the Bulls.

Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, Three-time NBA Champion, Three-time All Defensive First Team
Team(s): Boston Celtics
Career Stats: 17.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.4 SPG, 1.7 BPG
Years Played: 1980-1993

McHale was an absolute freak of nature. His gangly arms were seemingly everywhere, poking the ball away and snatching rebounds from players before they could even realize what happened. McHale was also exceptional on the block, as he had an endless array of post moves that would continuously fool defenders and get the power forward easy buckets. While he was often overshadowed by teammate Larry Bird, McHale's contributions to the Celtics' teams of the '80s was immeasurable; he eased the scoring burden placed on Bird, and had to be double-teamed on the regular. His clothesline foul on the Los Angeles Lakers' Kurt Rambis is one of the signature moments in the history of the Celtics' franchise, and the only reason McHale could not deliver more was because his oft-injured right foot and ankle.

Accomplishments: Seven-time All-Star, Six-time NBA Champion, Three-time First Team All-NBA, Eight-Time All-Defensive First Team
Team(s): Chicago Bulls
Career Stats: 16.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.2 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Years Played: 1987-2004

Although he was forced to play second banana to Michael Jordan throughout his career, Pippen is one of the best players the game has seen in recent memory. His incredible ability to play lockdown defense on pretty much anyone was a major reason for the Bulls' success, as it freed Jordan to avoid having to cover the other team's best player. Pippen was an outstanding offensive player in his own right as well, shooting very efficiently from the perimeter and using his incredible athleticism to run fast breaks and get to the rim at will. He ranks second all-time in points, assists, and steals for the Bulls franchise, and he averaged at least double-digit points every season except for his rookie year and his last year.

Accomplishments: 11-time All-Star, Five-time First Team All-NBA, 1981 MVP
Team(s): Philadelphia 76ers
Career Stats: 22.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.5 BPG
Years Played: 1976-1987

As high as he is on this list, Dr. J could have been even higher had he spent more time in the NBA. However, the first five years of this Rucker Park legend's professional career were spent in the ABA, where he dominated to the tune of three MVPs and three scoring titles. Once in the NBA, it was more of the same; he averaged 23.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game over his first six seasons in the league. He helped carry a talented 76ers squad to four different Eastern Conference Finals, reaching the NBA Finals in 1980-81 and 1982-83. The team's championship win in 1982-83 cemented Erving's legacy as one of the all-time greats, although his combined ABA/NBA total of 30,000-plus points scored certainly helps his cause as well.

Accomplishments: 10-time All-Star, 1992 Defensive Player of the Year, 1995 MVP, Two-time NBA Champion
Team(s): San Antonio Spurs
Career Stats: 21.1 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.4 SPG, 3.0 BPG
Years Played: 1989-2003

Prior to Tim Duncan's arrival, many wondered if Robinson would just go down as another very good player who never could win the big one. Two titles later, those questions have ceased. The reality is that Robinson was an exceptional player throughout his career, averaging over 23 points per game his first seven years in the league and finishing with a career per game average of 21.1 (including a 71-point outburst against the lowly Clippers in 1994). He also was a monster underneath, with career averages of 10.6 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game. He is a member of the exclusive 20,000 points club, and is one of only four players in NBA history to have notched a quadruple-double (34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 blocks against the Pistons in 1994).

Accomplishments: 14-time All-Star- 11-time First Team All-NBA, Two-time MVP
Team(s): Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers
Career Stats: 25.0 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Years Played: 1985-2004

Known as "The Mailman" (because he always delivered), Karl Malone was an evolutionary kind of power forward over the course of his NBA career. He prided himself on his fantastic physical condition, using weight-lifting in a way unlike any other stars previously had as he fashioned himself into a dominant force in the low post. Working in tandem with John Stockton, Malone's Jazz teams were perennial contenders as the pick-and-roll game of the two stars continually confounded opponents. During the '90s, Malone posted averages of 27.1 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game as the Jazz found themselves in the thick of the Western Conference playoff picture every season. Unfortunately, for all the good he did on the court perhaps Malone's greatest legacy will be his inability to win a championship. His Jazz teams twice made the finals, only to fall to Michael Jordan and the Bulls on both occasions as Malone struggled in big moments.

Accomplishments: 12- time All-Star, Three-time MVP, 1983 NBA Champion
Team(s): Buffalo Braves, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Bullets, Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio Spurs
Career Stats: 20.6 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.3 BPG
Years Played: 1976-1995

Pioneering the movement of high school players forgoing college to go straight to the NBA, Malone's career carried a level of big-picture importance that is still very much relevant today. Beyond that, though, he was also a great player from a very young age, capturing the MVP award at age 23 with Houston in 1978-79 as he averaged 24.8 points and 17.6 rebounds per game. He took home a second MVP trophy in 1981-82, increasing his scoring to a career-best 31.1 PPG while also leading the league with 14.7 RPG. He continued to prove his worth after signing with Philadelphia, winning another MVP and the NBA championship in 1982-83 alongside Dr. J as the Sixers stormed through the playoffs with a 12-1 record, punctuating their dominance with a four-game sweep of the Lakers. Malone would continue to play productively for several teams after that, becoming a useful bench player at the tail end of his career.

Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, Two-time NBA Champion, Three-time First Team All-NBA
Team(s): Detroit Pistons
Career Stats: 19.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 9.3 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Years Played: 1981-1994

Thomas was the undisputed leader of the "Bad Boy" Pistons, as tenacious and fearless a point guard as the league has seen. His aggressive playing style set the tone for Detroit, and behind Thomas they won back-to-back NBA championships in 1988-89 and 1989-90 before being eclipsed by the rapidly rising Bulls. Thomas' ability to facilitate was perhaps his best quality, and "Zeke" finished his career with an average of 9.3 assists per game to go along with a strong 19.2 points per game mark. He also was a menace on the defensive end, averaging 1.9 steals per game on his career and finishing ranked ninth on the all-time list. The crowning achievement of his career is undoubtedly Game 6 of the 1987-88 Finals, where with his team leading in the series three games to two and playing on a severely sprained ankle Thomas scored 25 points in the fourth quarter to try to deliver a title to Detroit. While they ultimately fell short, his sacrifice and grit will always be remembered.

Accomplishments: 12- time All-Star, 1994 NBA MVP, Two-time NBA Champion, Six-time First Team All-NBA, Two-time Defensive Player of the Year
Team(s): Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors
Career Stats: 21.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.7 SPG, 3.1 BPG
Years Played: 1984-2002

"The Dream" was one of the craftiest, most athletic big men ever to play basketball. After being mentored in the ways of the low post by Moses Malone at a young age, Olajuwon developed the kind of silky touch around the rim normally reserved for smaller guards. His patented "Dream Shake" fall-away jumper remains one of the most unstoppable shots in the history of the league. Not bad for a guy who only started playing basketball at age 15. He dominated on both ends of the floor, averaging 21.8 points per game for his career while also becoming the league's all-time leader in blocked shots and the only center to rank in the top 10 all-time in steals. His exceptional footwork at and around the basket led to numerous easy points for Olajuwon, whose meticulous nature ensured that his game would never slip even as he battled injuries late in his career.

Accomplishments: 19-time All-Star, Six-time NBA MVP, 10-time First Team All-NBA, Five-time All-Defensive First Team
Team(s): Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers
Career Stats: 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, 0.9 SPG, 2.6 BPG
Years Played: 1969-1989

Kareem was as dominant a center as the NBA will likely ever see, with his unstoppable sky hook becoming the signature move of his career and propelling him to become the greatest scorer in league history. Quite simply, Kareem owns the record books. He holds the career records for minutes played, field goal attempts and makes, All-Star selections and career points. He has the third most rebounds in history, and even the 34th-most assists. His longevity was simply amazing as he remained a productive player for the Lakers deep into his 30s, averaging 23.4 points per game at age 38. His defensive presence was palpable as well, as he finished as the league's third-ranked shot blocker in history with 2.6 per game. His battles with the Celtics as a member of the Lakers are perhaps the most memorable moments of his career, with Kareem besting his foes from Boston en route to earning the 1985 Finals MVP award 14 years after winning his first one.

Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, Three-time NBA MVP, Three-time NBA Champion, Nine-time All-Defensive First Team
Team(s): Boston Celtics
Career Stats: 24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Years Played: 1979-1992

The Celtics took a gamble in drafting Bird, as they held on to his rights for a full year while he continued to play at Indiana State. The risk turned out to be well worth it, though, as Larry Legend became one of the all-time greatest players in the history of the NBA. What he lacked in raw athleticism, he had in unparalleled ball skills. His ability not just to shoot, but also to pass into seemingly impossibly small places made him one of the premier distributors in the history of the game, on par with any of the all-time great point guards. His ridiculous shooting hot streaks were his calling card, and on nights where his shot was falling, everyone else innately knew to just give him the ball and get out of the way. His career was cut short by a bad back that used to send him to the hospital to lay in traction between games, leaving Celtics fans to wonder what could have been had he just been able to stay on the court a few more years.

Accomplishments: 12-time All-Star, Three-time MVP, Five-time NBA Champion, Ninet-time First Team All-NBA
Team(s): Los Angeles Lakers
Career Stats: 19.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 11.2 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Years Played: 1979-1991; 1995-1996

There has never been a more dynamic, magnetic player than Earvin "Magic" Johnson, an incredible blend of size and athleticism that is unmatched in the history of the game (save for perhaps LeBron James). At 6'9", Magic possessed the size of a power forward but the speed and handle of a point guard. As the director of the Lakers' "Showtime" offense, he was the driving force behind the most dangerous attack in the entire league, often dishing out ridiculous no-look assists to his waiting teammates. In averaging 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 11.2 assists per game, he nearly averaged a triple-double for his career and registered 138 for his career, the second-most in history. His 11.2 APG is the highest assists per game average in NBA history, and statistics can't even do justice to the simple "wow factor" of many of those passes. Winning five titles also speaks for itself and proves that Magic knew what it took to win, not just what it took to pad his stats.

Accomplishments: 14-time All-Star, Five-time NBA MVP, Six-time NBA Champion, Nine-time All-Defensive First Team
Team(s): Chicago Bulls
Career Stats: 30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Years Played: 1984-1998; 2001-2003

If we tried to get into listing all of Jordan's accolades and awards, we'd quickly run out of room. Quite simply, he is indisputably the greatest basketball player of all-time. It's not just that he could outscore anyone at any time; instead, it was his sheer will to win that separated Jordan from everyone else. It wasn't that he was just a competitive guy. He was pathological. His legendary intensity caused rifts with some teammates, but was also the reason why MJ has more rings than he can wear on one hand.

His work ethic meant that in clutch moments that would test his resolve, Jordan would be ready to rise to the task. From the shot over Craig Ehlo all the way to an eerily similar jumper over Byron Russell, Jordan proved that time and again no moment was too big for him. In six Finals appearances he took home six Finals MVPs and his teams never played a Game 7 in any of them. That, more than anything else, is why he has to be considered the best ever.