Just how weak were the late 90's?

[dankok8]

There is about 10-15 HOF players in their primes playing in the entire 29-team league from 1997-1999.



HOF Players in Their Primes from 1996-1997 to 1998-1999 (Three Seasons)

Point Guards: Jason Kidd, Gary Payton

John Stockton was still playing but he averaged 13/9 and made 1 All-Star game. Basically a good role player and nothing more.

Shooting Guards: Michael Jordan, Reggie Miller, Mitch Richmond

Joe Dumars was also playing in the league but was a total shell. The new generation of guards was way too young.

Small Forwards: Scottie Pippen

Dominique Wilkins and Chris Millin still played but were totally washed up.

Power Forwards: Karl Malone, Tim Duncan

Charles Barkley was still a quality player but way past his best years. He averaged 17/12 on 48% shooting and made 1 All-Star game.

Centers: Shaquille O'Neal, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo

Hakeem Olajuwon averaged 20/9 in this stretch and made 1 All-Star game. Shell after 1997.

Patrick Ewing put up decent numbers and made 1 All-Star game when healthy but missed almost one entire season's worth to injury. He too was past his prime on both ends.

David Robinson missed one entire season to injury, had one really good season in 1998, then became a good role player in 1999.

Shaq missed more than a season's worth of games to injuries and Alonzo almost a season's worth but they played on a high level when healthy.





If the whole picture isn't bad enough, the entire Eastern Conference had Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Reggie Miller, Dikembe Mutombo, and Alonzo Mourning that were HOF players playing in their primes. And of course MJ and Scottie played on the same team. That is an absolutely atrocious showing and you won't find anything that weak in NBA History. Not to mention that Reggie, Dikembe, and Alonzo weren't exactly superstar caliber players at any point in their careers.





Let us see who some of the guys that made All-NBA Teams are in these 3 seasons.

Grant Hill -- 1x 1st Team, 2x 2nd Team
Tim Hardaway - 1x 1st Team, 2x 2nd Team
Glen Rice - 1x 2nd Team, 1x 3rd Team
Vin Baker - 1x 2nd Team, 1x 3rd Team
Anthony Mason - 1x 3rd Team
Rod Strickland - 1x 2nd Team
Antonio McDyess - 1x 3rd Team



And now some of the All-Stars in that span in addition to the guys above. Mind you there was no contest in 1999 because of the lockout so we may be missing on a few megastars.

Steve Smith
Rik Smits
Antoine Walker
Jayson Williams
Eddie Jones
Nick Van Exel
Terrell Brandon
Christian Laettner
Chris Gatling
Tom Gugliotta
Detlef Schrempf
Latrell Sprewell



So is this the weakest 3-year stretch ever?

[ballinhun8]

99-02 pretty bad.


04-07? Teams barely scoring so I doubt any HOFers were out there except for the obvious ones.

[mehyaM24]

pretty weak

although the rules implemented ATT kind of balanced some of that out.

handchecking & physical play weren't looked down upon - or banned, plus you got to see some of the best defenses ever (the heat and knicks were atrocious on offense, but slowed the game down to a crawl).

i generally agree though - there was a serious talent drought those 3 years

[Donkey4trading]

1999 was the worst season of NBA basketball since the merger.

[Showtime80']

The effects of the underwhelming first wave of the "hip hop" generation are still felt to THIS DAY and is the reason why the NBA had to go through a rule changing binge like they went through from the mid 90's onward.

That time period featured the continued failure of the much hyped 90's generation (Shaq, Penny, LJ, Kemp, Payton, Mourning, Marbury, Iverson, KG, Webber, Hill, Robinson, Kidd etc..) to take the torch away from the remnants of the 80's Golden Age generation (Jordan, Pippen, Ewing, Stockton, Malone, Olajuwon, Drexler, Rodman, Barkley etc...)

The league hoped those new players would become the face of the league, begging winning titles and creating rivalries like those players from the 80's did, NEVER HAPPENED!!! Aside from a few odd years, the 80's guys took turns whipping on the 90's hip hoppers!

Thus what was left from 1997 to 1999?, 5 original dream teamers in the downside of their careers (Jordan, Pippen, Malone, Stockton and Robinson) dominating the league while winning more than they ever did before.

Once the 80's guys started fading away, the blemishes of the league that had been accumulating since the mid 90's were magnified BIG TIME!!! And to this day, even with a little recovery from mid the 2000's onward, the league is STILL suffering from the decrease in fundamentals and selfish attitudes that started during the 90's.

[Sarcastic]

Do you see the guys who make All NBA now? Joachim Noah, Dwight Howard, Marc Gasol. These guys couldn't hold a candle to some of the guys you mentioned. Deandre Jordan made 3rd team, and has 0 moves and can only catch alley-oops.

[feyki]

1999 was the worst season of NBA basketball since the merger.

+764864644

And 94-01 era damn weak .

[Showtime80']

I agree sarcastic!

At least in the late 90's you still had guys like Jordan, Malone, Pippen, Barkley, Ewing, Stockton, Robinson and Olajuwon still doing work while guys like Shaq, Penny, Mourning, Kemp, Payton and Miller presenting a solid second tear of stars!

In 2015 it is absolutely pathetic!!! It's basically the 2/6 in the Finals more beta than alpha LeBron James and circus shooting midget Steph Curry as the protagonist and then everyone else including manufactured stars like Harden and Dumbrook!

[Sarcastic]

Amare Stoudemire made 1st team All NBA in 06-07 with 20.4/9.6 and awful defense.

Let that sink in for a second.

[tmacattack33]

There is about 10-15 HOF players in their primes playing in the entire 29-team league from 1997-1999.



HOF Players in Their Primes from 1996-1997 to 1998-1999 (Three Seasons)

Point Guards: Jason Kidd, Gary Payton

John Stockton was still playing but he averaged 13/9 and made 1 All-Star game. Basically a good role player and nothing more.

Shooting Guards: Michael Jordan, Reggie Miller, Mitch Richmond

Joe Dumars was also playing in the league but was a total shell. The new generation of guards was way too young.

Small Forwards: Scottie Pippen

Dominique Wilkins and Chris Millin still played but were totally washed up.

Power Forwards: Karl Malone, Tim Duncan

Charles Barkley was still a quality player but way past his best years. He averaged 17/12 on 48% shooting and made 1 All-Star game.

Centers: Shaquille O'Neal, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo

Hakeem Olajuwon averaged 20/9 in this stretch and made 1 All-Star game. Shell after 1997.

Patrick Ewing put up decent numbers and made 1 All-Star game when healthy but missed almost one entire season's worth to injury. He too was past his prime on both ends.

David Robinson missed one entire season to injury, had one really good season in 1998, then became a good role player in 1999.

Shaq missed more than a season's worth of games to injuries and Alonzo almost a season's worth but they played on a high level when healthy.





If the whole picture isn't bad enough, the entire Eastern Conference had Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Reggie Miller, Dikembe Mutombo, and Alonzo Mourning that were HOF players playing in their primes. And of course MJ and Scottie played on the same team. That is an absolutely atrocious showing and you won't find anything that weak in NBA History. Not to mention that Reggie, Dikembe, and Alonzo weren't exactly superstar caliber players at any point in their careers.





Let us see who some of the guys that made All-NBA Teams are in these 3 seasons.

Grant Hill -- 1x 1st Team, 2x 2nd Team
Tim Hardaway - 1x 1st Team, 2x 2nd Team
Glen Rice - 1x 2nd Team, 1x 3rd Team
Vin Baker - 1x 2nd Team, 1x 3rd Team
Anthony Mason - 1x 3rd Team
Rod Strickland - 1x 2nd Team
Antonio McDyess - 1x 3rd Team



And now some of the All-Stars in that span in addition to the guys above. Mind you there was no contest in 1999 because of the lockout so we may be missing on a few megastars.

Steve Smith
Rik Smits
Antoine Walker
Jayson Williams
Eddie Jones
Nick Van Exel
Terrell Brandon
Christian Laettner
Chris Gatling
Tom Gugliotta
Detlef Schrempf
Latrell Sprewell



So is this the weakest 3-year stretch ever?

Wtf?

A top 5 of MJ/Shaq/Pippen/Payton/Malone isn't bad.

We just now had a stretch much worse than this. Before Steph Curry, Antonio Davis, and Westbrook turned into super-stars the past year or so, Lebron and Durant were really the only super-stars out there.

James Harden mighta been the third best player in 2014. Really. I'm serious.

[dankok8]

Wtf?

A top 5 of MJ/Shaq/Pippen/Payton/Malone isn't bad.

We just now had a stretch much worse than this. Before Steph Curry, Antonio Davis, and Westbrook turned into super-stars the past year or so, Lebron and Durant were really the only super-stars out there.

James Harden mighta been the third best player in 2014. Really. I'm serious.

Shaq missed more than a season's worth of games to injuries. Pippen was on a decline as well. Jordan was still great but not on the level of peak Lebron or this season's Curry.

It's not a great top 5 at all.

[Showtime80']

Want to see a real top 10 list, check out the 1987 MVP voting:

Magic, Jordan, Bird, McHale, Wilkins, Barkley, Olajuwon, Thomas, Moses!!!

Puts last year's or probably ANY of the last 25+ years top ten MVP voting list to absolute shame!

[TaLvsCuaL]

No agenda at all :roll:

[tmacattack33]

Shaq missed more than a season's worth of games to injuries. Pippen was on a decline as well. Jordan was still great but not on the level of peak Lebron or this season's Curry.

It's not a great top 5 at all.

Shaq played in 60 games and the playoffs in 1998...with a great PER of 28.8.

And you had good honorable mentions for the top 5 in 1998.

Honorable mentions in 1998: Grant Hill, Tim Duncan, Alonzo Mourning, David Robinson

Honorable mentions in 2013: Dirk, Paul George, Westbrook, Blake Griffin




Not sure what your point is anyway, but I'm guessing you have some kind of agenda here.

[DoctorP]

This is the reason the league mandated rules changes and it worked.

[PHILA]

Apr 24, 1997

The league has become simply too boring to watch.

At least that's the conclusion drawn by one of the NBA's legendary stars, Wilt Chamberlain, who, as always, had a few other observations about the league during a recent visit to New York.

Wilt Chamberlain, one of the game's legends, says the NBA has become a boring league dominated by endorsement-driven athletes. "The public-relations guys have sold us all a bill of goods," Chamberlain said. "They're the real stars of the league."

"The best part of the game", he said, "is the commercials, in which players hustle and play defense -- two things fans rarely see in actual games. The league would have us believe these guys walk on water," said [Wilt Chamberlain], who averaged 30.1 points and 22.9 rebounds during his 14-year career with the Philadelphia and Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers. "The truth is, they're really just walking in mud."

[DoctorP]

Apr 24, 1997

The league has become simply too boring to watch.

At least that's the conclusion drawn by one of the NBA's legendary stars, Wilt Chamberlain, who, as always, had a few other observations about the league during a recent visit to New York.

Wilt Chamberlain, one of the game's legends, says the NBA has become a boring league dominated by endorsement-driven athletes. "The public-relations guys have sold us all a bill of goods," Chamberlain said. "They're the real stars of the league."

"The best part of the game", he said, "is the commercials, in which players hustle and play defense -- two things fans rarely see in actual games. The league would have us believe these guys walk on water," said [Wilt Chamberlain], who averaged 30.1 points and 22.9 rebounds during his 14-year career with the Philadelphia and Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers. "The truth is, they're really just walking in mud."


It's true.... all of it.

[PHILA]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vnQ7c1y-vM

[Hey Yo]

That time period featured the continued failure of the much hyped 90's generation (Shaq, Penny, LJ, Kemp, Payton, Mourning, Marbury, Iverson, KG, Webber, Hill, Robinson, Kidd etc..) to take the torch away from the remnants of the 80's Golden Age generation (Jordan, Pippen, Ewing, Stockton, Malone, Olajuwon, Drexler, Rodman, Barkley etc...)
How much winning / team success did the bolded above achieve when they first came into the league? How many of them went to 1 of the 6 expansion teams (from 1988-96) early in their careers like Mourning, Shaq, LJ, and KG? You have your list of 90's hyped up so-called "failures" when the bolded above went through the exact same thing at some points of their careers.



The league hoped those new players would become the face of the league, begging winning titles and creating rivalries like those players from the 80's did, NEVER HAPPENED!!! Aside from a few odd years, the 80's guys took turns whipping on the 90's hip hoppers!
BREAKING NEWS:.....Vetern players/teammates take turns whipping on expansion teams and historical shit franchises who have multiple rookie contracts making up their starting 5!!

The only reason there were rivalries in the 80's was because there was no such thing as free agency until the summer of 1988. Stars stayed with their teams cause they weren't getting traded unless it was a really bad situation between ownership and player or it was mutual.


Thus what was left from 1997 to 1999?, 5 original dream teamers in the downside of their careers (Jordan, Pippen, Malone, Stockton and Robinson) dominating the league while winning more than they ever did before.
What did Stockton, Malone and Robinson win?

[feyki]

Apr 24, 1997

The league has become simply too boring to watch.

At least that's the conclusion drawn by one of the NBA's legendary stars, Wilt Chamberlain, who, as always, had a few other observations about the league during a recent visit to New York.

Wilt Chamberlain, one of the game's legends, says the NBA has become a boring league dominated by endorsement-driven athletes. "The public-relations guys have sold us all a bill of goods," Chamberlain said. "They're the real stars of the league."

"The best part of the game", he said, "is the commercials, in which players hustle and play defense -- two things fans rarely see in actual games. The league would have us believe these guys walk on water," said [Wilt Chamberlain], who averaged 30.1 points and 22.9 rebounds during his 14-year career with the Philadelphia and Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers. "The truth is, they're really just walking in mud."


:rockon: :rockon:

[DoctorP]

Fundamentals were also at an all-time low at the time. GMs favored athleticism. Things have balanced out lately.

[Smoke117]

Fundamentals were also at an all-time low at the time. GMs favored athleticism. Things have balanced out lately.

How exactly have they balanced out? GMs have and will always favor athleticism over fundamentals. You can teach fundamentals...you can't teach athleticism.

[ArbitraryWater]

Do you see the guys who make All NBA now? Joachim Noah, Dwight Howard, Marc Gasol. These guys couldn't hold a candle to some of the guys you mentioned. Deandre Jordan made 3rd team, and has 0 moves and can only catch alley-oops.

Dwight Howard is one of the 40-50 greatest players ever..

[DoctorP]

How exactly have they balanced out? GMs have and will always favor athleticism over fundamentals. You can teach fundamentals...you can't teach athleticism.

I think GMs have realized that you need a better balance of athleticism and skills for a prospect and not just athleticism.

[3ball]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vnQ7c1y-vM
The 80's and 90's were a cakewalk compared to what Wilt faced in the 60's.. But the 2000's and 2010's were a cakewalk compared to the 80's and 90's..

It's an empirical fact that since the league began in 1949, the NBA has made the rules softer and softer as the years have progressed - they've continually made it easier on the players to appease the fans.

In the 80's and 90's, the paint was less congested than the 60's and 70's.. However, the 2000's and 2010's see literally NO congestion - today's 3-point shooting/spacing and defensive 3 seconds keep the paint literally empty on a perpetual basis.

Furthermore, perimeter defense in today's game is hands-off - hands-off defense means there is league-mandated SPACE between defender and ballhandler on the perimeter...

The mandatory space that perimeter defenders must give ballhandlers, along with lower physicality, and spacing/wide open lane make today's game the weakest, softest, and most diluted version of the game we've seen yet, by far.

[Hey Yo]

Amare Stoudemire made 1st team All NBA in 06-07 with 20.4/9.6 and awful defense.

Let that sink in for a second.
Maybe that's why the NBA made 'All NBA defense teams' separate??

[Asukal]

Apr 24, 1997

The league has become simply too boring to watch.

At least that's the conclusion drawn by one of the NBA's legendary stars, Wilt Chamberlain, who, as always, had a few other observations about the league during a recent visit to New York.

Wilt Chamberlain, one of the game's legends, says the NBA has become a boring league dominated by endorsement-driven athletes. "The public-relations guys have sold us all a bill of goods," Chamberlain said. "They're the real stars of the league."

"The best part of the game", he said, "is the commercials, in which players hustle and play defense -- two things fans rarely see in actual games. The league would have us believe these guys walk on water," said [Wilt Chamberlain], who averaged 30.1 points and 22.9 rebounds during his 14-year career with the Philadelphia and Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers. "The truth is, they're really just walking in mud."

So ILt got bored and decided to die instead? :whatever:

[Asukal]

The 80's and 90's were a cakewalk compared to what Wilt faced in the 60's.. But the 2000's and 2010's were a cakewalk compared to the 80's and 90's..

It's an empirical fact that since the league began in 1949, the NBA has made the rules softer and softer as the years have progressed - they've continually made it easier on the players to appease the fans.

In the 80's and 90's, the paint was less congested than the 60's and 70's.. However, the 2000's and 2010's see literally NO congestion - today's 3-point shooting/spacing and defensive 3 seconds keep the paint literally empty on a perpetual basis.

Furthermore, perimeter defense in today's game is hands-off - hands-off defense means there is league-mandated SPACE between defender and ballhandler on the perimeter...

The mandatory space that perimeter defenders must give ballhandlers, along with lower physicality, and spacing/wide open lane make today's game the weakest, softest, and most diluted version of the game we've seen yet, by far.

This is why I can't take what you say seriously. You know nothing 3ball stfu. :whatever:

[3ball]

This is why I can't take what you say seriously. You know nothing 3ball stfu.


I played D1 ball against many NBA players, whereas you've never played.

Here are the empirical facts - since the league began in 1949, the NBA has made the rules softer and softer as the years have progressed.. They've continually made it easier on the players to appease the fans.. This isn't disputable.

In the 80's and 90's, the paint was less congested than the 60's and 70's.. However, the 2000's and 2010's see literally NO congestion - today's 3-point shooting/spacing and defensive 3 seconds keep the paint literally empty on a perpetual basis.

Furthermore, perimeter defense in today's game is hands-off - hands-off defense means there is league-mandated SPACE between defender and ballhandler on the perimeter...

The mandatory space that perimeter defenders must give ballhandlers, along with lower physicality, and spacing/wide open lane make today's game the weakest, softest, and most diluted version of the game we've seen yet, by far.

[3ball]

.
Show me where today's game has the physicality, paint-camping, or lack of spacing seen here:


https://media.giphy.com/media/vg9cWWxKRr04g/giphy.gif



Otoh, penetration is an automatic, built-in component of today's game, due to the spaced-out, wide open driving lanes and hands-off perimeter defense - the result is an easy, drive-and-kick.. Boring AF:


http://cdn.makeagif.com/media/10-17-2015/2dhvwh.gif

[La Frescobaldi]

Dwight Howard is one of the 40-50 greatest players ever..

you really think so ?

he was sure awesome before that back injury wasn't he? the real deal.

[swagga]

Amare Stoudemire made 1st team All NBA in 06-07 with 20.4/9.6 and awful defense.

Let that sink in for a second.

Amare was a BEAST back then. James harden is getting all nba teams and MVPs these days ... all this trolling in this thread and this shit sticks out like a white college girl at a black party.

[swagga]

you really think so ?

he was sure awesome before that back injury wasn't he? the real deal.

4 sweeps of DPOY and getting to the finals as the clear cut main man while being top 5 in MVP for 5 straight years. If not for peak physical lebron dwight would've realistically gotten 1-2 MVPs ... how can he NOT be top 50?

[24-Inch_Chrome]

I played D1 ball against many NBA players, whereas you've never played.
Prove it.

[3ball]

Prove it.
I've posted pictures of me playing college ball on ish before, but what difference does it make?

You can just say "that isn't you"

[24-Inch_Chrome]

No proof? Cool.

[3ball]

how can he NOT be top 50?


because he isn't a top 10 center all-time:

Walton
Ewing
Mikan
Robinson
M Malone
Olajuwon
Shaq
Russell
Kareem
Wilt

and more

[3ball]

.
Previous eras had better bigs, and their wings were also superior:



...2000-2014.................1984-1998

Kobe Bryant.............. Michael Jordan
LeBron James............ Magic Johnson
Kevin Durant............. Larry Bird
Dwayne Wade........... Clyde Drexler
Russell Westbrook..... Gary Payton
Tracey McGrady........ Dominique Wilkins
James Harden........... Grant Hill
Kawhi Leonard.......... Scottie Pippen
Paul Pierce............... Adrian Dantley
Carmelo Anthony....... Alex English
Vince Carter............. James Worthy
Allen Iverson............ Penny Hardaway
Jason Kidd................ Jason Kidd


Honorable Mention 1984-1998: Doctor J, Dennis Rodman, Reggie Lewis, Reggie Miller, Sidney Moncrief, Joe Dumars, Eddie Jones, Mitch Richmond, Alvin Robertson, Detlef Schrempf, Dennis Johnson, Latrell Sprewell, Ronaldo Blackman, Fat Lever, Glen Rice, Chris Mullin, Kiki Vandeweghe (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0ZCbZq8wWg), Mark Aguirre, Jamaal Mashburn

Honorable Mention 2000-2014: Ron Artest, Shawn Marion, Andre Igouodala, Ray Allen, Paul George, Manu Ginobili, Brandon Roy, Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler, Joe Johnson, Rip Hamilton, Gilbert Arenas, Michael Redd, Draymond Green, Peja Stojakovic, Antawn Jamison, Luol Deng, Rashard Lewis
.

[swagga]

because he isn't a top 10 center all-time:

Walton
Ewing
Mikan
Robinson
M Malone
Olajuwon
Shaq
Russell
Kareem
Wilt

and more

son, if you want to troll at least do it properly. Mikan :lol Walton had 1 year and then he was a sad trainwreck. Not to say that not being in the 10 centers logically implies him not being a top 50 player.

Step your game up hoe.

[3ball]

.
Previous eras had better bigs, and their wings were also superior:



...2000-2014.................1984-1998

Kobe Bryant.............. Michael Jordan
LeBron James............ Magic Johnson
Kevin Durant............. Larry Bird
Dwayne Wade........... Clyde Drexler
Russell Westbrook..... Gary Payton
Tracey McGrady........ Dominique Wilkins
James Harden........... Grant Hill
Kawhi Leonard.......... Scottie Pippen
Paul Pierce............... Adrian Dantley
Carmelo Anthony....... Alex English
Vince Carter............. James Worthy
Allen Iverson............ Penny Hardaway
Jason Kidd................ Jason Kidd


Honorable Mention 1984-1998: Doctor J, Dennis Rodman, Reggie Lewis, Reggie Miller, Sidney Moncrief, Joe Dumars, Eddie Jones, Mitch Richmond, Alvin Robertson, Detlef Schrempf, Dennis Johnson, Latrell Sprewell, Ronaldo Blackman, Fat Lever, Glen Rice, Chris Mullin, Kiki Vandeweghe (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0ZCbZq8wWg), Mark Aguirre, Jamaal Mashburn


Honorable Mention 2000-2014: Ron Artest, Shawn Marion, Andre Igouodala, Ray Allen, Paul George, Manu Ginobili, Brandon Roy, Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler, Joe Johnson, Rip Hamilton, Gilbert Arenas, Michael Redd, Draymond Green, Peja Stojakovic, Antawn Jamison, Luol Deng, Rashard Lewis

.
So how could anyone say previous eras were weak when their bigs and wings were superior?

The reality is that TODAY'S era lacks quality compared to previous eras, and today's rules make the game easier for the players than ever before (hand-check ban, defensive 3 seconds).

[90sgoat]

This agenda thread is hilarious:

League Leaders 1996-97:

Scoring

MJ 29.6
Malone 27.4
Rice 26.8 - 48/47/87 (prime Curry shooting)
Shaq - 26.2
Richmond - 25.9 45/43/87
Spreewell - 24.2
Iverson - 23.5
Hakeem - 23.2
Ewing - 22.4
Ellis - 21.9 (without injured D.Rob)
Gill - 21.8
Payton - 21.8
Miller - 21.6
Grant Hill - 21.4

and on and on.

Assist leaders

Marc Jackson - 11.4
Stockton - 10.5 (scoring 14 ppg on 55/43/86 - a guard shooting 55%)
KJ - 9.3
Kidd - 9
Strickland - 9
Mighty Mouse - 8.8
Hardaway - 8.6
Van Excel - 8.5
Pack - 8.4 (one of best small dunkers ever)
Marbury - 7.8
Iverson - 7.5 (he had to play point guard until rules changed)
Grant Hill - 7.3 (to go with 21.5 ppg and 9 rpg, Lebron wishes he could rebound like that and Hill was shorter and weighed less)

Blocks

Shawn Bradley - 3.4
Mutombo - 3.3
Shaq - 2.9
Mourning - 2.9
Erwing Johnson - 2.8
Ewing - 2.4
Divac - 2.2
Hakeem - 2.2
Garnett - 2.1

Notice all the two way big men players. Prime Dwight is basically prime Mourning.

Steals

Mookie Blaylock - 2.7
Doug Christie - 2.5 (the great Kings defender)
Payton - 2.4
Eddie Jones - 2.4 (while scoring 20+ ppg)
Rick Fox - 2.2 (while being Shaqs role player along with Eddie Jones who got SWEPT by Jazz)
Wesley - 2.1
Iverson - 2.1
Stockton - 2.0 (while 10 apg)

3pt FG%

Glen Rice - 47% (yep that is that 'bum' Glen Rice scoring 26ppg on 47% 3pt, better stats than James Harden the co-mvp and Rice was not close to MVP that year)
Kerr - 47%
KJ - 44% (while scoring 20+ and dishing 9+ assists and dunking the ball)


Weak competition?

Not in any way. This was a time when league leaders were not specialists like Kyle Korver or Ibaka, but two way players. The league leaders were complete players.

This was the last year with the rookie class of 84-86 still being in tail end of their prime. After that the league dropped off massively as witnessed by the poor play and poor scoring of the next generation until rules changed.

[La Frescobaldi]

4 sweeps of DPOY and getting to the finals as the clear cut main man while being top 5 in MVP for 5 straight years. If not for peak physical lebron dwight would've realistically gotten 1-2 MVPs ... how can he NOT be top 50?
i don't know man there have been so many great players over the years and decades my head starts to swim thinking about them all lol!!

he was incredible over on the Magic that's all I know

[swagga]

i don't know man there have been so many great players over the years and decades my head starts to swim thinking about them all lol!!

he was incredible over on the Magic that's all I know

his defensive impact is really clear when you enumerate the other relevant players on the team:
jameer nelson
hedo turkoglu
rashard lewis
even with pietrus/lee/gortat as defensive role players that team had a lot of huge holes on defense : perimeter, post, pnr, you name it, they were exposed. Howard just erased all these mistakes. imo what he did back then is really underrated today.