The 1980s marked the NBA’s rise in prominence in the United States. The 1990s saw the league become a global force. Michael Jordan and the Dream Team ushered in a new era of basketball, with the league’s superstars becoming household names across the developed world. And there were no shortage of brand-name players for fans to idolize.
Jordan ruled throughout the 1990s, snagging six championships and four MVPs. But he isn’t the only player worth focusing on as we search for the best player alive in every season from 1980-2020. Jordan abdicated the throne in 1994, 1995 and 1999, and the other years still featured a fierce battle for the No.