There is something about the 90s NBA basketball that is impossible to recreate. Players were superheroes, jerseys mattered, no social media, just vibes, rivalries, and guys who actually felt like characters.

NBA went from must watch to unwatchable

You mentioned the problem, social media is a huge difference. These players now are in your face all the time, you know so much more about their personal life now. Part of having that aura or it factor involves the unknown. Too many podcasts, too much access.

The rules were firmly established from over decades of play. The Center was the anchor on the team, which made for complex and strategic strategy. Different body types factored into their respective positions. Players took winning and losing seriously. Defense existed.

and they didnt play for the money - they played for the love of basketball

2 things that stood out from that clip alone to me: 1. They seemed to be the same person on and off the camera 2. They seemed like they really just loved to hoop

Grown ass man looking for a superhero ?

The last great decade…..now the NBA is a political platitude for very UNEDUCATED clowns to speak

💯 now everyone is the same. All 5 players tried to do the same things. Back then position mattered and organized. Shooters, bruisers, playmakers, etc. now it’s just a positonless street ball.

the internet destroyed the novelty of everything. you couldnt just google anything you wanted, athletes included. you saw them when they played. that's it. no netflix docs. no podcasts. no packages to watch every game. u heard about them & saw them when they happened to be on TV

Yeah, you can’t recreate your brain was still developing.

That’s because you were a child

the 90s were a whole different time

Well to start with, you see how those bigger players actually play down low? Also the shooters don’t take 2 steps then jump backwards 5’ to throw up a 3 from the logo.

Intentionally or not, MJ has this figured out: he doesn‘t whore himself out for podcasts, interviews, TV analysis. Keeps the mystique alive. Shows up once in 30yrs, drops the greatest basketball doc ever, vanishes.

Agreed. In some ways it was the victory lap of what 80s basketball put into place. The nature of the gameplay forced everyone to have an identity from one end of the court to the other. Now it feels like everyone is analytics placeholders setting each other up for wishy-washy 3s.

Best era ever

Yeah, it was basketball. Not this absolute unwatchable, local fitness center, cry baby shit that is taking place nowadays. Hell, since Kobe left and passed.

Basketball was watched regularly on national TV, and available for free on local TV. Nowadays, watching is paywalled behind regional sports networks and several streaming apps. It’ll never captivate the attention of a casual viewer the same way it did back then.

It was also FAR more physical! 80/90’s basketball was closer to hockey than it is current NBA basketball.

It’s cause they were men. Now they are all raised by momma. Bunch of beta boys. No college. No legs all injuries.

Exactly. We don’t know everything about them. We didn’t need to. They were titans.

.@KingJames is a bitch. Wouldn’t survive one game with real basketball players.

Vastly superior game, coming out of the brilliant management of David Stern in the 80s to put the focus on the players and the rivalries without degrading the product…Stern was a genius.

80's and 90's NBA was the best of Basketball. The Love of the game , the passion for the game , the heart and hustle for the game. I was blessed to witness both and will never forget those days. NBA action is fantasticcccc

NBA players used to be cool. Even the early 2000’s. Vince Carter felt like the coolest dude alive

Add Wayne Gretzky, Bo Jackson, Ken Griffey Jr. The 90's sports in America were a fantastic time.

And they respected the generation before them 💯

I miss it so much. I miss wondering if the Knicks or Pacers had built up enough to de-throne the bulls.

Even the early 2000s. It all started going down hill 2010.

Same as soccer with a few exceptions. It was pure talent and players who played for the love of the game. Now it’s social media, tattoos. It has changed for the worse 😔

Dazzling Dunks & Basketball Bloopers!

Jordan going off on LL 😆

Back then it was extremely rare for a 18 or 19 year old to get into the NBA. They usually all played 4yrs in college unless you were a top 50 NBA player. Today 19 yr olds are the norm. There’s very little growth taught & there’s no icon to emulate or look up to.