30. Allen Iverson
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A.I. is best known for dominating the following years (between 2000-2010). Iverson made the All-Star team every single season during this span. However, he also featured for four seasons during the ’90’s. In this time period, the diminutive guard averaged 25.2 PPG – including 23.5 PPG as a rookie. Though Iverson didn’t feature for the entire decade, his impact on the league during the latter portion of the ’90’s was palpable.
29. Tim Duncan
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The ‘Greatest Power Forward of All-Time’ began his illustrious career in the 1990’s. During a three-year stretch with San Antonio, Duncan was productive immediately. He averaged 22 PPG, 11.9 RPG, and 2.4 BPG. There weren’t many forwards putting up these types of numbers (let alone a rookie). The Wake Forest product flashed an advanced post game, was an above-average rebounder, and was a willing defender. Had Duncan featured for a few more years in the ’90’s, he’d skyrocket up the list considerably.
28. Isiah Thomas
Thomas is a case where he featured more prominently in another decade (1980’s) — thus limiting his overall ceiling within this specific piece. In five years during the ’90’s, Thomas made four All-Star appearances. He still proved to be an elite guard even into his early 30’s. While not the scorer he was in the prior decade, Thomas still was exceptionally gifted as an on-ball defender. He also dished out at least 8.5 assists on three separate occasions.
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27. Larry Johnson
“Grandmama” may look bad in a dress, but he looked fantastic on the court. Johnson was a beast in the best sense of the term. Burly and freakishly athletic, he terrorized opposing forwards throughout the ’90’s. The two-time All-Star produced considerably for both the then-Charlotte Hornets and the New York Knicks — averaging 16.2 PPG and 7.5 RPG throughout his career (on 50.5-percent shooting).
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26. Joe Dumars
Thomas’ backcourt mate had more of a personal prominence during the 1990’s. Dumars made six All-Star games during this decade. In a sense, the Louisiana native was ahead of the times. He prioritized the three ball when others were more in favor of the mid-range shot. Dumars shot a respectable 38.2-percent from beyond the arc — including six seasons in which he connected on least 40-percent of his tries. Dumars was easily one of the best two-guards in the league during this era.
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25. Glen Rice
Rice was the quintessential ’90’s wing. Long and physical, the Michigan native developed into a very good perimeter scorer. With the Hornets, Heat, and Lakers, Rice routinely lit it up. Rice’s most prolific season came with Charlotte in 1996. During this year, Rice had career-highs in field-goal percentage (.477), three-point percentage (.470), and points per contest (26.8). In a league chock-full of elite wings, Rice was among the best.
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24. Grant Hill
The 1990’s provided us with a glimpse into how good Hill could’ve been (if it weren’t for the damning injury bug). In six seasons during this decade, Hill was an All-Star on five separate occasions. He averaged at least 19.9 PPG in all of these years — including a career-high 25.8 PPG in the 1999-2000 season. Hill was equipped with a rare blend of physicality and athleticism. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do on the court. Had it not been for a run of detrimental injuries, Hill could’ve developed into one of the best small forwards in NBA history.
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23. Penny Hardaway
Similarly to Hill, injuries prevented Hardaway from fully living up to his mass potential. The Memphis native essentially functioned as a 6’7″ point guard. Hardaway had supreme court vision, and often punished defenders with a combination of quickness and length. He had a four-year stretch during the ’90’s in which he was an All-Star. Hardaway’s best collective season came in 1996 — when he had career highs in PPG (21.7), APG (7.1), and field-goal percentage (.573).
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22. Mitch Richmond
The shooting guard position may be a bit watered down in today’s NBA. However, in the ’90’s, two-guards were all the rage. Throughout this decade, Richmond established himself as a lethal perimeter shooter. Richmond made six-straight All-Star appearances during this time period. Coincidentally, all six came as a member of the Sacramento Kings. For the entire decade, Richmond averaged at least 17.4 PPG — including eight-straight seasons of at least 22.0 PPG. Without question, Richmond was a highly dynamic scorer.
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21. Kevin Johnson
Alongside peers Stockton, Payton, Thomas, Hardaway, and Kidd, Johnson was right there as an elite guard during the entire decade. K.J. played virtually his entire career with the Phoenix Suns. After a slow start in the ’80’s, Johnson burst onto the scene during the ’90’s — averaging at least 19.7 PPG in six seasons. He led Phoenix to a playoff berth in every single full season he had with the team. Johnson is also one of three NBA players (Oscar Robertson, Isiah Thomas) to have averaged at least 20 PPG and 10 APG in three-straight years.
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20. Tim Hardaway
Hardaway made ‘the crossover’ a fashionable thing before it became a source of embarrassment for helpless defenders. The ultra-athletic guard out of Chicago was a heavy part of the Warriors’ vaunted ‘Run TMC’ trio. In the ’90’s, Hardaway averaged at least 20 PPG in four-straight seasons. His ability to beat defenders off the dribble was immense. Hardaway lived in the paint — and thus put tons of pressure on opposing defenses.
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19. Jason Kidd
Kidd’s unselfish play — coupled with his rebounding ability and passing prowess — made him a rising star within this decade. Though Kidd established himself as a perennial all-league player during the 2000’s, he still made three All-Star appearances during the ’90’s. His pass-first mindset aided in the free-flowing nature of multiple teams he played with. Beyond that, Kidd’s physicality in the post wore down opposing point guards. Kidd’s ability to rebound the ball at such a high clip for a point guard also enabled him to ignite the fast break without any wasted time.
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18. Dominique Wilkins
Despite playing two seasons abroad in Europe during this decade, Wilkins still registers this high on the list. There was a reason he’s widely considered (still) as the face of the Atlanta Hawks’ franchise. The gifted offensive player scored from all parts of the court. Wilkins’ athleticism overwhelmed opponents — particularly in transition. Wilkins pumped in an average of 27.3 PPG en route to five-straight All-Star appearances. He tailed off during the latter part of the decade, though there’s no denying how good Wilkins was for the vast majority of the 10-year period.
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17. Chris Mullin
The height of Mullin’s career came in the early portion of the ’90’s. During the 1991-92 season, Mullin earned All-NBA First Team honors (alongside Clyde Drexler, Karl Malone, David Robinson and Michael Jordan). Mullin’s lightning-quick release made his shot nearly impossible to block. The New York native had tons of versatility on the offensive end of the floor, and also could defend multiple positions quite well. Averaging at least 25.0 PPG for four-straight seasons, Mullin was the featured attraction in Golden State’s vaunted “Run TMC” troika.
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16. Alonzo Mourning
Though the current era is immersed in small ball, there was a time in which big men reigned supreme. For any successful franchise during the ’90’s, it was nearly imperative to be equipped with a dominant big man. Upon entering the league as a 22-year-old rookie, Mourning dominated the paint. There’s no doubt the Georgetown product had a polished post game. His razor sharp shoulders cleared way for him to operate effectively down low. However, it was Mourning’s prowess on the defensive end that had people talking. He routinely pulled down double-digit totals in rebounds — and was one of the league’s best shot blockers. On four separate occasions, Mourning averaged at least 3.0 blocks (including a career high 3.9 BPG in 1998-99).
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15. Shawn Kemp
No NBA player wants to ever get ‘posterized’ in any situation. Aside from the expected embarrassment, the ‘posterization’ will live on in printed infamy forever. The 1990’s offered a decade in which players were more apt to try and defend dunk attempts. This differs from today’s era — where players will gladly move out of the way in order to not appear on a Twitter GIF five seconds later. Kemp embarrassed more players than he could count during his prime. Thunderous and wickedly powerful, Kemp was an elite athlete in the paint. He helped lead Seattle to the playoffs on seven-straight occasions. In the process, Kemp was a walking double-double.
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14. Dennis Rodman
Rodman was one of those colorful personalities we all loved. Aside from an ever-changing hairstyle and off-the-court oddities, the forward was an elite defender. Rarely has the league seen a 6’7″ forward possess sublime quickness to the point that he tenaciously defended both wings and post players. Rodman worked as hard as anyone to garner rebounding position. Without question, his instinctual prowess for grabbing the ball was a skill very few possessed. Rodman was never a scorer — though he was highly instrumental in helping create the most prolific dynasty in NBA history.
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13. Reggie Miller
One of the OG sharpshooters, Miller was simply fantastic for the Indiana Pacers. Time after time, Miller was called upon to will his team to victory during postseason play in the rough-and-tumble ’90’s version of the Eastern Conference. With unlimited range and constant movement on screens, Miller was a major pain to defend against. New York Knicks fans know all about that (as Miller scored 8 points in 8.9 seconds versus the Knicks during an 1995 playoff game). Furthering his brilliance in the ’90’s, Miller won a gold medal in the 1996 Olympics with Team U.S.A.
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12. Dikembe Mutombo
We all remember that one wagging index finger being shoved into the faces of virtually every player that
dared to enter Mutombo’s realm. The Congolese big man redefined what it meant to be a rim protector in the current scope of the NBA. For the entire decade, Mutombo was the unquestioned top shot-blocker in the league. He averaged at least three blocks a game in eight seasons — including two in which he eclipsed the four-block mark. From a rebounding perspective, Mutombo gobbled them up akin to the cookie monster with cookies. He averaged a double-double in his sleep, and thus was a premier defensive player during this period.
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11. Gary Payton
With the NBA turning into more of a scoring league, few guards in the current climate can be considered true two-way players. This is particularly the case for All-Star level guards. In the 1990’s, loafing on the defensive end of the court was never even a thought. Gary Payton not only averaged 20 and 10 on a nightly basis, but he took pride in locking up the opposing team’s best perimeter player. An absolute demon on defense, there was a reason why Payton was affectionately referred to as ‘The Glove.’ Payton made six All-Star appearances during this decade. He also was a 9-time All-Defense First-Team selection.
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10. Shaquille O’Neal
In terms of actual ability, O’Neal would likely rank No. 2 on this list. He did accomplish a great deal within the ’90’s. However, many of his top accolades — both individually and from a team perspective — came in the 2000’s. During the 1990’s, O’Neal was one of the most feared players in the league. He began his career with six-straight All-Star appearances (and seven for the decade). Aside from winning the Rookie of the Year Award in 1993, O’Neal had decade averages of 27.1 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 2.5 APG, 2.1 BPG, and 2.6 SPG. To this day, O’Neal has a case as the most dominant player the NBA has ever seen.
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9. Patrick Ewing
Though the Knicks haven’t been relevant for two decades, Ewing was the galvanizing force behind the last memory of decency within the franchise. The former Georgetown Hoya had a nine-year stretch throughout the ’90’s in which he averaged at least 20 PPG, 10 RPG, and 2.0 BPG. With a roster chock-full of colorful personalities, Ewing was the shining example of consistency. New York routinely dumped the ball to him in the paint whenever it needed a bucket. Whether this meant scoring at the rim or spreading the floor from the mid-range, Ewing was highly skilled. He’s easily one of the best players in NBA history to have never won a ring.
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8. Clyde Drexler
‘Clyde the Glide’ often got overshadowed by one other shooting guard during this period (Hint: The one shown in the picture above). With that said, Drexler was still a phenomenal wing player. Much like Payton, Drexler was a terror on both ends of the floor. A combination of length and lateral quickness bothered both guards and small forwards. Drexler was also an immensely smooth player offensively. He could stretch the defense from beyond the arc just as easily as he could attack the cup. Drexler made six All-Star appearances during the decade — which included an All-NBA First Team denotation in 1992.
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7. John Stockton
There’s a reason why Stockton has the most assists in NBA history. Cerebral and clever with the rock, the Gonzaga product routinely manipulated play with his brain. Stockton would dominate the run of play despite being ‘considered’ woefully nonathletic for the position. His exploitation of passing angles was simply phenomenal — as was his effort in being a pest defensively. Unsurprisingly, Stockton led the league in assists on nine separate occasions. He also made nine All-Star appearances during this time period.
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6. Charles Barkley
Barkley is the original unicorn. It makes no sense that a (generously listed) 6’6″ power forward with a tubby physique would dominate the way that he did. Barkley used his rotund body exceptionally well to carve out space for himself in the paint. He could bowl over the stoutest of defenders — and even had surprisingly good athleticism earlier in his career. Though Barkley’s career began in the late ’80’s, it was the ’90’s where he effectively hit his prime. Barkley led his teams to nine playoff appearances throughout the decade. In the process, the proud Auburn Tiger made eight All-Star teams and multiple All-NBA teams.
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5. Scottie Pippen
The original Robin to Batman, Pippen was the optimal fit alongside Michael Jordan. Pippen was a dogged defender. Routinely, he’d take pressure off Jordan by locking up opposing wings. Pippen made six-straight All-Star games during the ’90’s — which undoubtedly corresponded with the vaunted Bulls’ dynasty. When Jordan took a year off, Pippen engineered a season in which he averaged career highs in PPG (22.0), RPG (8.7) and SPG (2.9).
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4. David Robinson
Robinson was the elevated portion of the Robinson-Duncan duo during the 1990’s. When looking at Robinson’s career in its entirety, it’s really a question as to why he’s not mentioned in the ‘best centers of all-time’ discussion. During the ’90’s, Robinson made eight All-Star appearances, won an MVP Award (1995), led San Antonio to a title (1999), was a 4-time First Team All-Defense selection, and was a 4-time First Team All-NBA selection. Robinson was immense on both ends of the floor, and aided in redefining the center position.
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3. Karl Malone
“The Mailman” deservedly held his nickname due to the fact that he simply always delivered when called upon. Malone was a master craftsman with the ball in his hands. With Stockton carefully orchestrating things from the top of the key, there wasn’t a more potent one-two combination than the Malone-Stockton pick-and-roll. Malone had his choice of knocking down a mid-range jumper — or bowling towards the rim with a chiseled frame and vicious elbows. At one point, Malone made the All-Star team 14 out of 15 years. An 11-time All-NBA First Team selection, Malone is still certainly regarded as an all-time great — regardless of position.
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2. Hakeem Olajuwon
At times, Olajuwon resembled a ballerina on the basketball court. This isn’t a slight to his physical prowess at all — but rather a compliment in terms of how graceful the iconic center was. Olajuwon had insanely good ball skills for a big man. His soccer background also allowed for the Nigerian to be wildly coordinated on the court. He could stretch the floor from the perimeter equally as well as he could punish players around the rim. Defensively, Olajuwon was a legitimate terror. He had one season in which he averaged 24.3 PPG, 14.0 RPG, and 4.6(!) BPG. During this decade, Olajuwon led the Houston Rockets to back-to-back NBA Championships, winning the Finals MVP award both times.
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1. Michael Jordan
Do we really need to include any statistical numbers when discussing MJ? Jordan remains (sorry LeBron apologists) as the best player to ever play the game of basketball. Jordan’s competitiveness and drive to succeed remains unparalleled in the annals of the NBA. He was the unquestioned driving force behind the most prolific dynasty the sport has seen to date. Jordan could score in every way possible, lock you up on the defensive end, and then tell you about it.
He is the undisputed G.O.A.T.
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