The 50 Greatest NBA Plays of the '90s

Michael Jordan wasn't the only one starring in highlight reels.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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The 1990s may be fading from memory, but for NBA fans, they represent some of the best days in league history. For all of the sluggish, ugly ball played by the Heat and Knicks, there were also all-time greats like Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon still in the primes of their careers and still making incredible plays.

Not only did the old mainstays continue to dominate, but new faces began to emerge throughout the decade. Players like Grant Hill, Kobe Bryant, and Allen Iverson began to pop up on the highlight reels as the decade went along, ushering in a new generation of stars who would be entertaining fans for years to come.

It also helped that the NBA began to see increased TV exposure, meaning that fans now had more access than ever to their favorite players and teams. All the amazing buzzer-beaters and dunks became widely available to basketball fans across the globe, with the NBA taking its first steps into becoming the international phenomenon it is today.

Thanks to all the coverage, fans have had a chance to document pretty much every big play that happened during the decade. Here are the 50 Greatest NBA Plays of the '90s.

50. Van Exel's OT Winner

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49. Greatest Dunker Ever?

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48. Zo Sends the Celtics Home

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47. The Jet Lands in Orlando

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46. Who's This Guy?

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45. Joining Elite Company

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44. Deja Vu

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43. Spinning Around Ewing

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42. A Rookie Comes Up Huge

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41. Barkley Drains it in the Admiral's Eye

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40. Just a Little Strong

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39. Big Shot Rob is Born

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38. A Not-So-Warm Welcome Back

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37. Best Dunk Ever?

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36. Oh, What Could Have Been

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35. The "No Look" Dunk

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34. AI Crosses Up MJ

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33. The Pump Dunk

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32. Take a Bow, Toni

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31. Concussion, Anyone?

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30. The Flu Game

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29. Stockton's Best Pass?

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28. John Starks Shows He Belongs

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27. The "Shot Heard 'Round the World"

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26. Hakeem Swats Starks

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25. Baby Jordan Arrives

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24. The Bulls Meet Reggie Miller

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23. A Forgotten MJ Moment

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22. The Dunking Dutchman's Jumper

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21. The Dream Shake

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20. More Miller vs. Knicks Heroics

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19. Rex Chapman's Ridiculous Fadeaway

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18. Eddie Johnson Beats the Buzzer

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17. Stockton Sets the Record

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16. An Unlikely Hero

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15. Reggie Sinks the Knicks

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14. 8 in 8.9

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13. Paxson Gives Bulls the Title

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12. Picking Malone's Pocket

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11. Breaking the Whole Arena

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10. The Kiss of Death

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9. Talk About Disrespect...

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8. The Microwave Cooks Portland

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7. For One Night Only...

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6. Good Night, Alton Lister

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5. The Shrug

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4. The Hand Switch

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3. As Clutch As It Gets

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2. The Memorial Day Miracle

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1. A Fitting End

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