NBA 75th Anniversary Ranking: 1980s’ top players

In the 2021–2022 NBA season, the league will commemorate its 75th anniversary, offering a chance for reflection on the rich past of the North American league. A competition that emerged in the midst of the post-World War II upheavals in American society and that supported sports’ ascent as a further draw among the country’s vast leisure options.

MORE | 1940s and 1950s’ top players | 1960s | 1970s
Professional basketball had grown significantly by the time the BAA was founded in 1946, an organization that would eventually become the NBA after merging with the NBL. It was also one of the key draws for fans.

Because of this, the NBA.com team in Spanish has chosen the top 10 players from each decade in the league, players who, because of their success and brilliance, left a legacy. It is crucial to make clear that the characters all have the same value and are not ranked from greatest to worst or part of a TOP. Following the first three decades, the NBA entered its second golden age in the 1980s. During this time, the league saw an explosion in all aspects, both on and off the court, which resulted in a significant increase in competitiveness. This was the turning point in the Lakers-Celtics rivalry’s rebirth, the offensive awakening, and the.

A lasting star like very few in history, capable of achieving a position in two consecutive decades unanimously within the NBA.com Global staff. A Kareem who started the decade in the best possible way, winning the MVP of the Regular Phase and forming a unique tandem with Magic Johnson.

Together they would form a duo to remember that took the Lakers to their most brilliant stage up to that point, winning 5 championships (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988) and reaching 3 more Finals where they lost to the Celtics and Pistons. Throughout that period, Abdul-Jabbar would only achieve one Finals MVP (1985) at the age of 37, being the oldest to accomplish such a feat.

Despite the fact that the years ultimately began to weigh on him in the latter stages, the center reached his competitive maturity in this decade. Abdul-Jabbar ended this era as the fifth-highest scorer (16,246 points), ninth-highest rebounder (5,980 rebounds), and second-highest blocker (15,594). At the top of numerous historical statistics, he ended his career in 1989 by hanging up his boots.

Barkley, Charles.

Because of his unique playing profile at the time, Sir Charles was able to establish himself in the NBA quite rapidly. The product of Alabama, who had a gifted body in the height of his career, blended the roles of small forward and power forward, playing a pivotal role in his journey with the Philadelphia 76ers.

There weren’t many players who could pull down the rebound, start the break, and finish with so little resistance as Barkley did at the time. With eight triple-doubles, he became the seventh player in the decade with the most triple-doubles.

Conversely, Barkley steadily improved and matured as a low post specialist, becoming accustomed to pressing the action and bringing his partners to those latitudes.