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Best Players of The 1990s

Jordan's Bulls defined the era with two three-peats, ringed by Hakeem Olajuwon's Rockets, the bruising Knicks and Pistons, and Stockton-and-Malone's Jazz. Defenses tightened and the mid-range game ruled.

The 1990s belonged to Michael Jordan, whose Bulls won six titles in two three-peats, but the decade's identity was bigger than one team. This was the most physical era in modern league history: hand-checking was legal, the paint was a contact sport, and a great defense could strangle a great offense. Pat Riley's Knicks and the back-to-back Olajuwon Rockets were built on exactly that premise.

Offensively the mid-range jumper and the dominant low-post center ruled. The three-pointer existed but was a complement, not the engine — so the era's value lives in shot-making wings and skilled big men rather than floor-spacing specialists. Stockton-to-Malone's pick-and-roll was the decade's most efficient set, and it is a model for how the engine rewards a clean two-man game.

The best 1990s pools are top-heavy: the Bulls lean hard on Jordan and Pippen, the Rockets on Olajuwon. Grab the stars early when the draw gives you these, then shore up the supporting positions, because the drop-off after the headliners is steeper here than in the deeper 1980s pools.

Top 15 overall

  1. 1David RobinsonC24.4 ppg · 11.5 rpg · 3.0 apg85
  2. 2Arvydas SabonisC14.2 ppg · 8.5 rpg · 2.3 apg85
  3. 3Charles BarkleyPF23.4 ppg · 11.5 rpg · 4.4 apg84
  4. 4Larry BirdSF21.6 ppg · 9.2 rpg · 7.2 apg83
  5. 5Magic JohnsonPG19.8 ppg · 6.6 rpg · 11.1 apg83
  6. 6Michael JordanSG30.8 ppg · 6.3 rpg · 5.1 apg83
  7. 7Hakeem OlajuwonC23.9 ppg · 11.6 rpg · 3.0 apg83
  8. 8Clyde DrexlerSG22.0 ppg · 6.5 rpg · 5.8 apg82
  9. 9Scottie PippenSF19.5 ppg · 7.2 rpg · 5.9 apg82
  10. 10Karl MalonePF27.2 ppg · 10.7 rpg · 3.7 apg80
  11. 11Charles BarkleySF25.2 ppg · 10.9 rpg · 4.1 apg79
  12. 12Clyde DrexlerSG19.0 ppg · 6.1 rpg · 5.5 apg79
  13. 13Grant HillSF20.7 ppg · 8.1 rpg · 6.5 apg79
  14. 14Shaquille O'NealC27.0 ppg · 11.5 rpg · 2.6 apg79
  15. 15Shaquille O'NealC27.2 ppg · 12.5 rpg · 2.4 apg79

Best by position

PG

  1. 1Magic JohnsonPG19.8 ppg · 6.6 rpg · 11.1 apg83
  2. 2Mark PricePG17.7 ppg · 2.8 rpg · 8.0 apg76
  3. 3John StocktonPG14.9 ppg · 2.9 rpg · 11.9 apg76
  4. 4Tim HardawayPG18.9 ppg · 3.5 rpg · 8.4 apg75
  5. 5Terry PorterPG16.2 ppg · 3.3 rpg · 6.4 apg75

SG

  1. 1Michael JordanSG30.8 ppg · 6.3 rpg · 5.1 apg83
  2. 2Clyde DrexlerSG22.0 ppg · 6.5 rpg · 5.8 apg82
  3. 3Clyde DrexlerSG19.0 ppg · 6.1 rpg · 5.5 apg79
  4. 4Anfernee HardawaySG19.0 ppg · 4.8 rpg · 6.3 apg77
  5. 5Jeff HornacekSG18.2 ppg · 4.6 rpg · 5.1 apg72

SF

  1. 1Larry BirdSF21.6 ppg · 9.2 rpg · 7.2 apg83
  2. 2Scottie PippenSF19.5 ppg · 7.2 rpg · 5.9 apg82
  3. 3Charles BarkleySF25.2 ppg · 10.9 rpg · 4.1 apg79
  4. 4Grant HillSF20.7 ppg · 8.1 rpg · 6.5 apg79
  5. 5Chris MullinSF21.1 ppg · 5.0 rpg · 4.0 apg71

PF

  1. 1Charles BarkleyPF23.4 ppg · 11.5 rpg · 4.4 apg84
  2. 2Karl MalonePF27.2 ppg · 10.7 rpg · 3.7 apg80
  3. 3Tim DuncanPF21.3 ppg · 11.7 rpg · 2.6 apg76
  4. 4Charles BarkleyPF16.7 ppg · 12.4 rpg · 4.0 apg75
  5. 5Shawn KempPF16.2 ppg · 9.6 rpg · 1.7 apg75

C

  1. 1David RobinsonC24.4 ppg · 11.5 rpg · 3.0 apg85
  2. 2Arvydas SabonisC14.2 ppg · 8.5 rpg · 2.3 apg85
  3. 3Hakeem OlajuwonC23.9 ppg · 11.6 rpg · 3.0 apg83
  4. 4Shaquille O'NealC27.0 ppg · 11.5 rpg · 2.6 apg79
  5. 5Shaquille O'NealC27.2 ppg · 12.5 rpg · 2.4 apg79

Teams of The 1990s

Philadelphia 76ersBrooklyn NetsGolden State WarriorsSacramento KingsDenver NuggetsCharlotte HornetsMinnesota TimberwolvesDallas MavericksDetroit PistonsLA ClippersAtlanta HawksMilwaukee BucksPhoenix SunsCleveland CavaliersMiami HeatWashington WizardsSan Antonio SpursBoston CelticsHouston RocketsLos Angeles LakersOklahoma City ThunderPortland Trail BlazersNew York KnicksOrlando MagicChicago BullsIndiana PacersUtah JazzMemphis GrizzliesToronto Raptors

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