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Who are the top NBA players of the 1980s? Here is our top 10 countdown:
10. James Worthy: a vital part of the “Showtime” Lakers, Worthy was a 4x All-Star who averaged 17+ points and 5+ rebounds per game in the 1980s while helping lead Los Angeles to three NBA titles, including being named Finals MVP in 1987-1988.
9. Dominique Wilkins: known as the “Human Highlight Reel”, Wilkins earned four All-Star and All-NBA selections while averaging 26+ points and 6+ rebounds per game during the decade, including a scoring title in 1985-1986.
8. Kevin McHale: together with Larry Bird and Robert Parish, McHale helped lead the Boston Celtics to three NBA titles in the 1980s; individually, he was an elite all-around performer: 5x All-Star, All-NBA, 5x All-Defensive, and 2x Sixth Man of the Year on 18+ points and 7+ rebounds per game for the decade.
7. Julius Erving: one of the best dunkers in league history, Erving averaged 21+ points, 6+ rebounds, and 3+ assists per game during the 1980s while making eight All-Star and five All-NBA teams, earning the 1980-1981 MVP, and winning a title with the Philadelphia 76ers.
6. Isiah Thomas: the leader of the “Bad Boys” Detroit Pistons teams of the 1980s, Thomas was the best point guard of the decade outside of Magic Johnson; an 8x All-Star and 5x All-NBA selection, he averaged 20+ points and 9+ assists with an assist title and closed out the decade with the first of back-to-back NBA titles.
5. Moses Malone: one of the original preps-to-pros players, Malone was an All-Star every year of the 1980s on averages of 24+ points and 12+ rebounds per game; moreover, he was a 7x All-NBA selection, led the league in rebounding for five consecutive seasons, and won back-to-back MVP awards, also adding both a championship and Finals MVP in 1982-1983.
4. Michael Jordan: widely regarded as the GOAT, Jordan burst onto the NBA scene as 1984-1985 Rookie of the Year and did it all, even early on in his career: 5x All-Star, 4x All-NBA, 3x scoring champion, 2x All-Defensive, and 1987-1988 MVP and Defensive Player of the Year while averaging 31+ points, 5+ rebounds, and 5+ assists in the 1980s.
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: an All-Star every year of the decade with Lakers, Abdul-Jabbar won five titles (with a Finals MVP) and made six All-NBA and three All-Defensive teams while putting up 20+ points and 8+ rebounds per game.
2. Larry Bird: known for his fierce rivalry in the 1980s with Magic Johnson and the Lakers, Bird won three straight MVP awards in his prime (1984-1986) and guided the Celtics to three NBA titles, twice winning Finals MVP; in addition, he was a 9x All-Star, 9x All-NBA, and 3x All-Defensive selection who averaged 24+ points, 9+ rebounds, and 6+ assists for the decade while twice achieving the rare 50-40-90 feat.
1. Magic Johnson: a 6’9” tour de force who revolutionized the point guard position and was the maestro of the 1980s “Showtime” Lakers, Magic could do it all on the court – a 9x All-Star pick, 8x All-NBA selection, 2x MVP, and 5x NBA champion (3x Finals MVP), he averaged 19+ points, 7+ rebounds, and 11+ assists per game for the decade and led the league in assists 4x and steals 2x.
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Note: All statistics as of time of publication.
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Countdown 66: Top 10 MLB Players of the 1980s