80) Ralph Sampson (Rockets, Warriors)

If we were ranking greatest college basketball players of the ’80s, Sampson would arguably land in the top three with Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing. He won three Naismith Awards (a total only Bill Walton can match), two Wooden Awards (something no one else has ever done), and led Virginia to the 1982 Final Four. Sampson’s NBA career got off to a similarly strong start, earning Rookie of the Year in ’83-’84, getting named an All-Star in his first four seasons, and helping the Rockets reach the 1986 NBA Finals. But he injured his back during that ’85-’86 season and was never the same, struggling in his remaining time in Houston and in a late ’80s stint with Golden State.

79) Rick Mahorn (Bullets, Pistons)

Appropriately nicknamed “McNasty,” Mahorn was one of the toughest and most bellicose players of a decade full of belligerence. He averaged eight-plus rebounds and one-plus blocks per game four times during the ’80s, peaking early on in ’82-’83 with 9.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks (plus 11.0 points) per game. Initially drafted by the Bullets in 1980, Mahorn was traded to the Pistons in 1985 and was a perfect fit in the “Bad Boys” Detroit culture. He was the starting power forward on the ’87-’88 team that reached the NBA Finals and ’88-’89 edition that won the championship.

78) Tree Rollins (Hawks, Cavaliers)

While “Tree” is his most well-known nickname and refers to his arboreal size (7’1″, 235 pounds), Rollins also rightfully earned the moniker “The Intimidator” for his defensive prowess. Not only was he 1st-Team All-Defensive in ’83-’84, led the NBA in blocks per game in ’82-’83 (with 4.29 per game, the 10th highest single season average ever), and finished in the top five in that category in four other seasons, Rollins also had the second most total blocks of any player during the decade. His 1,605 blocks over 10 seasons trailed only Mark Eaton as the ’80s rejection king. Drafted in the first round by the Hawks in 1977, Rollins was the team’s starting center for most of the ’80s, eventually forming a top tier front court with Dominique Wilkins and Kevin Willis. He signed with Cleveland in 1988 and closed out the decade coming off the bench behind Brad Daugherty. In the 1983 playoffs, Rollins provided one of the most memorable on-court confrontations in league history, when he bit Boston’s Danny Ainge during a scuffle. 

77) Mike Woodson (Knicks, Nets, Kings, Clippers, Rockets)

While the Lakers, Celtics, 76ers, and Pistons dynasties and their attendant superstars dominate our remembrances of the NBA ’80s, there will be numerous players on this list who fall into the Woodson archetype: plugging away in obscurity, racking up stats for bad teams. In Woodson’s case, he played for five franchises during the decade and made just four playoff appearances in 10 years, all of them ending in first round losses. It started with the Knicks, who drafted him in the first round in 1980 as part of an ultimately failed rebuilding effort. A shooting guard with a strong mid-range game, he eventually averaged 15+ points per game in six different seasons and for three different franchises: the Nets, Kings, and Clippers. 

76) Dave Corzine (Spurs, Bulls)

Though he was drafted by the Bullets in 1978 (and played some minor minutes for them as a rookie in the 1979 NBA Finals) and traded to the Spurs soon after, Corzine’s ultimate destination was always Chicago. Raised in the Windy City suburb of Arlington Heights and then an All-American at DePaul, Corzine returned to his hometown in 1982 when the Bulls traded for him. His best season statistically came in his first season with the Bulls, ’82-’83, when he averaged 14.0 points and 8.7 rebounds per game but the team’s success obviously shifted exponentially following the 1984 drafting of Michael Jordan. Though he was typically platooning with lesser players at center, Corzine was a staple of the early Jordan seasons, especially in the legendary 1986 series against Boston when he was Chicago’s second leading rebounder and third leading scorer.

75) Jeff Ruland (Bullets, 76ers)

Built like a redwood tree at 6’10” and 240 pounds, Ruland would plant himself in the paint for the Bullets and dare opposing defenders to move him. Most gave up easily and with good reason, as the power forward/center was so punishing that legendary Celtics announcer Johnny Most dubbed him “McFilthy” (equally bruising teammate Rick Mahorn was designated “McNasty”). Considered an afterthought in the 1980 NBA Draft after playing under Jim Valvano at tiny Iona, Ruland spent a season in Spain before landing with the Bullets and earning 1st-Team All-Rookie honors in ’81-’82. He had a breakout season in ’83-’84, averaging 22.2 points and 12.3 rebounds per game while getting named an All-Star, but a broken foot derailed his career from there, forcing him to eventually retire in 1986 at age 27.

74) Maurice Lucas (Nets, Knicks, Suns, Lakers, SuperSonics, Trail Blazers)

There’s no doubt Lucas’ best years came in the ’70s, especially on the ’76-’77 Blazers title team, but he was still racking up stats well into the ’80s as a journeyman. In February of 1980 he was traded from Portland to the Nets, the first of six relocations over the next seven years, eventually ending up back with the Blazers in ’87-’88 before retiring. Lucas’ ’80s prime came in ’81-’82, when he averaged 15.8 points and 11.3 rebounds per game for a bad Knicks team and in ’82-’83, when he was named an All-Star while playing on a great Suns team that was upset in the Conference Semifinals. He helped those Suns reach the Conference Finals in 1984, then was traded to the Lakers and backed up Kurt Rambis on the ’85-’86 team that lost to the Rockets in the Conference Finals.

73) Orlando Woolridge (Bulls, Nets, Lakers)

Before a guy named Michael Jordan came along, Woolridge was arguably the most thrilling player in Bulls franchise history, electrifying Chicago fans with his explosive dunks and scoring outbursts. Woolridge’s statistical peak surprisingly came in his two seasons as Jordan’s teammate, averaging 21.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in ’84-’85 and ’85-’86 before signing as a free agent with the Nets. Despite having his career sidetracked in 1988 by a suspension for his violation of the league substance abuse policy, Woolridge still finished in the top 50 scorers of the ’80s, with 8,724 points over 10 seasons. He closed out the decade as a key bench scorer for the Lakers in their run to the 1989 NBA Finals.

72) Larry Smith (Warriors)

In a decade that featured superstars like Chris Mullin, Purvis Short, and Joe Barry Carroll, Smith led the Warriors in total win shares in the ’80s. He was also by far the team’s leading rebounder despite struggling regularly with injuries, averaging 10.4 per game for the decade, peaking at 12.1 per game as a rookie. Beating long odds was nothing new for Smith, who was lightly recruited out of his Mississippi high school, faintly regarded during his time at the HBCU Alcorn State, and then drafted in the second round in 1980 (the same draft in which the Warriors traded Robert Parish and Kevin McHale for the #1 pick to select Carroll). Nicknamed “Mr. Mean” for his fearsome on-court persona which belied his gregarious off-court one, Smith was a fan favorite in the Bay Area and spent the entire decade with the franchise. Unfortunately, that time included just two playoff appearances but Smith was masterful in his limited opportunities there, averaging 13.8 points and 15.6 rebounds per game in the 1987 Conference Semifinals against the Lakers. Only six players had more rebounds in the ’80s than Smith.

71) Derek Harper (Mavericks)

How destructive of a defensive force was Harper on the perimeter? So disruptive that when his signature style, hand-checking, was made illegal in 2001, it was dubbed the “Derek Harper Rule” by his longtime rival Kenny Smith. Despite his reputation, Harper was named to the All-Defensive team just once in the ’80s and was never an All-Star in his entire career. But he was the heart-and-soul of the ’80s Mavericks which made the franchise’s first playoff appearance in 1985, first playoff series win in 1986, and first Conference Finals in 1988. Starting in ’86-’87, Harper averaged 17+ points, seven-plus assists, and two-plus steals per game for four straight seasons, establishing himself as one of the league’s premier point guards. He remained effective well into the ’90s, eventually making an NBA Finals appearance in 1994 with the Knicks (where his shutdown defense on Smith served as the inspiration for his namesake rule).

70) Rodney McCray (Rockets, Kings)

While he never lived up to the can’t miss prospect status as the #3 overall pick of the Rockets in 1983 (a selection they received as part of the Moses Malone trade), McCray fashioned a solid career as a wing defender and scorer before abdominal issues slowed him. Part of the “Doctors of Dunk” NCAA title-winning Louisville team (along with his brother, Scooter), McCray was an incredible athlete who developed into more of a do-it-all glue guy for the “Twin Towers” era Rockets. Case in point: as the starting small forward, he was fifth in scoring, third in rebounding, second in assists, third in steals, and third in blocks on the ’85-’86 Houston NBA Finals team. McCray was named All-Defensive twice, including 1st-Team honors in ’87-’88, right before getting traded to the Kings for Otis Thorpe.

69) Dan Issel (Nuggets)

You likely associate Issel more with the ’70s, when he was a perennial ABA MVP candidate and scoring champion contender but some of his best seasons came in the preceding decade as a 30-something. Issel averaged 21.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game from ’80-’81 to ’83-’84, extending his career as an effective tertiary scoring threat in Doug Moe’s up-tempo Nuggets offense. In his final season, ’84-’85, Issel shifted to the bench for the first time in his career, finished second in Sixth Man of the Year voting, and helped the Nuggets reach the Conference Finals.

68) Bobby Jones (76ers)

He lacked the electricity of Julius Erving, the efficiency of Moses Malone, and the play making skills of Maurice Cheeks, but Jones was arguably just as important to Philadelphia’s early ’80s success. He averaged just 10.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in his six seasons played in the ’80s but Jones brought a hustle, selflessness, and especially defensive intensity that was crucial for the Sixers and adored by fans. A former ABA All-Star and MVP candidate, he shifted to a defensive specialist role after getting traded to the 76ers in 1978 and earned 1st-Team All-Defensive honors eight times. Jones was also an NBA All-Star in 1981 and 1982 and was the do-it-all sixth man on the ’82-’83 76ers title team.

67) Joe Dumars (Pistons)

A decade that included Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Moses Malone, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earning Finals MVP honors closed out with the unassuming Dumars winning the award . It was well deserved, as the Pistons shooting guard averaged a series high 27.3 points per game while also applying his trademark lockdown defense on James Worthy in a Detroit sweep of the Lakers. It was something of a breakout performance for Dumars, who earned the starting back court job with Isiah Thomas as a rookie in ’85-’86 but was often overshadowed as the most reserved of the “Bad Boys.” All six of his All-Star appearances would come later in the ’90s but in addition to his Finals MVP trophy, Dumars was also 1st-Team All-Rookie in ’85-’86 and 1st-Team All-Defensive in ’88-’89.

66) World B. Free (Warriors, Cavaliers, 76ers, Rockets)

Though he started off the decade with his first and only All-Star appearance, the ’80s were when Free’s career was in steady decline. Of course, for the self-described “All-World” shooting guard, decline still coincided with incredible scoring outputs, and Free averaged 22+ points per game in the first six seasons of the decade before injuries caught up and completely slowed him down. It’s also notable that those big stats were being compiled on some of the worst teams of the decade, including the dismal Cavaliers under owner Ted Stepien. It was also during the ’80s that Free made the change from his birth moniker of Lloyd B. Free to the official, government name of World B. Free.

65) Dave Greenwood (Bulls, Spurs, Nuggets)

In 1979, the Lakers won a coin toss to receive the #1 pick in the NBA Draft and the rights to select Magic Johnson. The losers of that toss, the Bulls, went with UCLA power forward Greenwood with the #2 pick. Though he obviously never rivaled Johnson’s success, Greenwood had a solid ’80s, averaging 10+ points and eight-plus rebounds per game six times. His best season was his first one, earning 1st-Team All-Rookie honors (alongside Johnson and Larry Bird) and averaging a career high 16.3 points per game, but Greenwood never reached expectations and was expendable by the time of Michael Jordan’s arrival, getting dealt to the Spurs for an aging George Gervin. After a few decent seasons with San Antonio, Greenwood closed out his career with brief stints with the Nuggets and Pistons, earning a title in 1990 with the latter.

64) Dan Roundfield (Hawks, Pistons, Bullets)

An unassuming big man who started his career in the ABA when he fell to the second round of the 1975 NBA Draft, Roundfield was an All-Star three consecutive years in the early ’80s, battling against legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Moses Malone. Though he wasn’t a flashy defender (never much of a shot blocker), Roundfield was a solid, fundamental one, and was part of the first four All-Defensive teams of the ’80s, including 1st-Team twice. He also averaged 18.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game in those four seasons for the Hawks but he did struggle to stay healthy. One thing Roundfield never really did was play for a contender, reaching only as far as the Conference Semifinals with the Hawks in 1984 and the Pistons in 1985.

63) Gus Williams (SuperSonics, Bullets, Hawks)

It may have been the era of “Magic” but the ’80s also had “The Wizard” dishing out assists and bombing away from long range in Seattle. In fact, Williams was voted 1st-Team All-NBA at point guard in ’81-’82 ahead of Magic Johnson, who had to settle for 2nd-Team. The Sonics point guard also earned Comeback Player of the Year (the precursor to Most Improved Player) in ’81-’82, finished fifth in MVP voting that season, was an All-Star twice, finished in the top 10 in assists per game three times, and averaged 20.5 points, 7.8 assists, and 2.3 steals per game over a four-year stretch, starting in ’81-’82. This was all after Williams’ decade got off to a rough start, sitting out the entire ’80-’81 campaign due to a contract dispute.

62) Greg Ballard (Bullets, Warriors, SuperSonics)

In terms of team success, Ballard’s best years came early on, coming off the bench playing light minutes as the Bullets won the 1978 title and then reached the 1979 NBA Finals. But individually, he peaked in the early ’80s as the team’s do-it-all starting small forward, averaging 15.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game over the first half of the decade. Just as Ballard was cresting, Washington was slipping into mediocrity, ultimately winning just one playoff series in the entire ’80s. He was eventually traded to Golden State (for the draft rights to Manute Bol) and closed out his career with brief stints with the Warriors and Sonics. Only one Bullets player scored more points during the ’80s (Jeff Malone) but Ballard was the franchise’s leader for the decade in win shares and steals.

61) Alvan Adams (Suns)

There’s no doubt the best years of Adam’s career came early on in the ’70s, most notably when he helped the Suns reach the NBA Finals as a rookie. But he was also consistently solid throughout the ’80s, averaging 10+ points, six-plus rebounds, and four-plus assists per game five times, while holding down Phoenix’s starting center position as an anchor in the lineup. Though he never played in the NBA Finals again, Adams was a big part of the Suns team that made a surprise run to the 1984 Conference Finals. He was never a star player or had a big statistical output during the decade, but he is in the top 50 for the ’80s in total rebounds, blocks, and win shares.

60) Paul Pressey (Bucks)

His career didn’t include the statistics, accolades, or postseason success of small forward peers like Larry Bird, Julius Erving, and James Worthy, but Pressey had an immeasurable impact on the NBA as one of the original point forwards. With the ’80s Bucks typically lacking a traditional point guard, coach Don Nelson often relied on his forwards as an unconventional source of play making. Thus you had Pressey, listed at 6’5″, averaging six-plus assists per game for five consecutive seasons starting in ’84-’85. Over that stretch, he also averaged 14.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game and was named 1st-Team All-Defensive twice. Pressey was also often overshadowed by Milwaukee teammates like Sidney Moncrief but was arguably the most crucial player on the ’85-’86 squad that won 57 games and reached the Conference Finals. 

59) Joe Barry Carroll (Warriors, Rockets, Nets)

Was the #1 pick of the first draft of the ’80s worth the hype? No, Carroll fell far short of expectations, with the Warriors not only selecting him first overall in 1980 but trading away Robert Parish and the rights to Kevin McHale to do so. But was he a complete bust worthy of his “Joe Barely Cares” nickname? Also no, as Carroll had some solid seasons with Golden State, averaging 18+ points and seven-plus rebounds per game five times, getting named 1st-Team All-Rookie in ’80-’81 and an All-Star in ’86-’87, and leading the Warriors to their first playoff series victory in a decade in 1987. As the face of the mostly struggling franchise, Carroll also took on the brunt of the Warriors’ fans ire. He was finally mercifully traded to the Rockets in 1987 (in exchange for Ralph Sampson) but struggled with injuries from that point on to close out his career. Only 13 players had more rebounds in the ’80s than Carroll and only 21 players scored more total points.

58) Doc Rivers (Hawks)

They never reached as far as even a Conference Finals but the ’80s Hawks were beloved by hometown fans for their athleticism, hustle, and defensive intensity. At the heart of it was Rivers, a floor general extraordinaire. Taking over as the starting point guard almost immediately after Atlanta drafted him in the second round in 1983, Rivers averaged 12.6 points, 7.4 assists, and 2.0 steals per game over his first six seasons. He finished in the top five in the NBA in assists per game twice, was named an All-Star in 1988, and helped the Hawks reach the playoffs in five of those seasons. Over the course of the ’80s, he’s 18th amongst all players in total steals and 18th in assists, with so many of his 3,262 dishes in the decade getting memorably finished by thunderous Dominique Wilkins dunks.

57) Eddie Johnson (Kings, Suns)

No player scored more total points in the ’80s without making an All-Star appearance than Johnson. In fact, only one player, Jamal Crawford, has more career points across any decade without an All-Star nod. A lot of that came down to Johnson’s locale, spending most of the decade with the lowly Kings, first in Kansas City and later in Sacramento after their 1985 relocation. Starting in his second season, ’82-’83, the sweet shooting Johnson averaged 20.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game over the next five years with the Kings but made just two playoff appearances in that stretch, both first round losses in sweeps. He was traded to the Suns in 1987 and finally suited up for a contender, earning Sixth Man of the Year in ’88-’89 as Phoenix reached the Conference Finals.

56) Sleepy Floyd (Nets, Warriors, Rockets)

It’s been 37 years and counting now and Floyd still holds the NBA postseason records for points in a quarter with 29 and points in a half with 39. Even though the annals of basketball history have included Herculean playoff performances in the last three-plus decades from players like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Allen Iverson, and Stephen Curry, those marks are still locked down by the 6’3″ point guard with a somnolent nickname. It’s notable that Floyd set those records in a game that turned out to be the only win of the series for his Warriors, who were defeated in those 1987 Conference Semifinals by the Lakers. But those numbers were also no fluke for Floyd, who averaged 18.1 points and 7.0 assists per game for the Warriors between ’83-’84 and ’86-’87.

55) Mike Mitchell (Cavaliers, Spurs)

As the best player on the roster during one of the worst franchise eras in NBA history, Mitchell racked up stats for the Cavaliers, averaging 22.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in the first two seasons of the ’80s. He was then traded to the Spurs and shifted gears, becoming a still high scoring but more complementary player on a contender built around fellow wingman George Gervin. Mitchell and Gervin teamed up to lead San Antonio to back-to-back Conference Finals in 1982 and 1983. Mitchell was especially terrific in the latter, averaging 25.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game as the overmatched Spurs put up a fight in six games against the dynastic Lakers. An All-Star for Cleveland in 1981, Mitchell ultimately averaged 20+ points per game five times during the ’80s and is one of just 18 players to score 12,000+ points over the course of the decade.

54) Jamaal Wilkes (Lakers, Clippers)

In the 1982 NBA Finals, it was not Magic Johnson or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who led the Lakers in scoring but Wilkes, with 19.7 points per game as Los Angeles defeated the 76ers. Johnson was granted the Finals MVP trophy but Wilkes cemented himself as a Lakers franchise legend. Not that much more evidence was necessary for that case. Wilkes was already a champion with the team in 1980, an All-Star in 1981 (and again in 1983), an 18+ point per game scorer for five straight seasons, and a fan favorite for his defensive prowess and his unflappably consistent jump shot (which announcer Chick Hearn took to calling a “20 foot layup”). Wilkes was also part of the Lakers championship team in 1985 and the NBA Finals teams in 1983 and 1984 before closing out his career with one season with the Clippers.

53) Purvis Short (Warriors, Rockets)

We had previously mentioned that Eddie Johnson scored more points in the ’80s than any other player without an All-Star appearance. Second on that list was Short, who averaged 20+ points and five-plus rebounds per game for four straight seasons starting in ’82-’83 but earned no major accolades during that time. His biggest issue was that he was toiling away for the Warriors, who finished well below .500 and out of the playoffs in all four of those seasons. Short finally made his postseason debut in 1987, almost a full decade after Golden State had drafted him #5 overall in 1978 (one spot ahead of Larry Bird). Despite his injury troubles and not living up to expectations, Short was a popular player amongst Warriors fans thanks to his scoring outbursts (he averaged 28.0 points per game in ’84-’85, good for fourth in the league) and his signature “rainbow” long range shot. He’s also notable as one of nine players to score 50+ points in a game multiple times during the ’80s.

52) Rickey Green (Jazz, Hornets, Bucks)

At the onset of the ’80s, Green thought his NBA career was likely over. Despite being a first round pick in 1977, he had been already waived by two teams and was toiling away for the Hawaii Volcanoes of the CBA when the Jazz gave him a chance during the ’80-’81 season. Green made the most of it, developing into one of the decade’s premier play makers and perimeter defenders. Starting in ’81-’82, Green was Utah’s starting point guard for four seasons and over that stretch he averaged 13.8 points, 8.4 assists, and 2.4 steals per game. ’83-’84 was his peak, leading the NBA in steals, getting named to the All-Star team, and helping the Jazz make its first playoff appearance in franchise history. Once a young John Stockton took over his spot in the starting lineup, Green shifted to a bench leadership role until the Hornets selected him in the 1988 expansion draft. His 1,140 steals during the ’80s is sixth amongst all players in the decade as were his 4,346 assists.

51) Karl Malone (Jazz)

One of several players who will be coming in seemingly low on this but you have to keep in mind their best days were ahead of them in the ’90s. Malone played just four full seasons in the ’80s and had not yet peaked but still put up impressive numbers, averaging 23.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. He was also 1st-Team All-NBA for the first time in ’88-’89, an All-Star in 1988 and 1989, and All-Star MVP in the latter. That ’88-’89 season was his real breakout, with 29.1 points per game while finishing third in MVP voting and leading the Jazz to their first ever 50-win season (though in a harbinger of playoff disappointments to come, they were upset in the Conference Quarterfinals that year by the Warriors).

50) Kelly Tripucka (Pistons, Jazz, Hornets)

A Pistons player finished second in Rookie of the Year voting in ’81-’82 and his name wasn’t Isiah Thomas. Instead, it was Tripucka, whom Detroit selected #12 overall in the 1981 draft out of Notre Dame (10 spots after Thomas). Tripucka was also on the All-Star team in his rookie season (alongside Thomas) and soon after proved it was no fluke, averaging 21.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game over his first five seasons. In a blockbuster deal, he was traded in 1986 to the Jazz for Adrian Dantley but struggled in his two seasons in Utah due to injuries and arguments with coach Frank Layden. Tripucka briefly revived his career in ’88-’89 with the Hornets, who selected him in their expansion draft, averaging a team high 22.6 points per game in the franchise’s inaugural season.

49) Brad Davis (Mavericks)

For the entire 43-year history of the franchise, Davis has been a steady presence with the Mavericks, first as a player, then as a broadcaster and currently as an assistant coach. But his early playing career was a polar opposite situation of itinerancy and vagaries, winding up playing several stints in the CBA, including one with a team located in Anchorage, Alaska. This was despite being a first round pick in 1977 but Davis was considering retirement when the Mavericks signed him during their inaugural season. He became a steady mainstay at point guard for the young franchise, eventually leaving as its all-time leader in assists. He was also ahead of his time in terms of efficiency, leading the NBA in offensive rating three times despite averaging just 8.2 points and 4.9 assists per game in his career.

48) Mike Gminski (Nets, 76ers)

Never an All-Star or part of a contender, Gminski was nonetheless memorable for his rebounding production, his defensive intelligence, and, of course, his signature mullet. Drafted #7 overall in 1980 by the Nets after a star turn at Duke, Gminski struggled to find playing time early in his career as he attempted to bulk up to meet the rigors of the NBA. But he was surprisingly athletic and especially adept at rebounding, racking up 4,937 over the course of the ’80s, good for 15th most. In the final four seasons of the decade, he averaged 16.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per game for the Nets and 76ers. In his brief time in Philadelphia, Gminski teamed up with Charles Barkley and Rick Mahorn as one of the most intimidating front lines ever seen. 

47) Gerald Henderson (Celtics, SuperSonics, Knicks, 76ers)

Only one player bridged the divide of the heated Celtics vs. Pistons rivalry in the late ’80s and that was Henderson. He was drafted by Boston in 1980 and was part of the team’s 1981 and 1984 NBA titles, as the starting point guard in the latter. In the 1984 NBA Finals, Henderson provided one of the greatest highlights in NBA history, stealing a James Worthy pass and laying it in to tie game two late. The Celtics traded Henderson to the Sonics in 1984 for a first round pick (which they eventually used on Len Bias) and he peaked statistically in Seattle, averaging 13.2 points and 6.5 assists per game in his two full seasons there. He wound up on the “Bad Boy” Pistons in 1989, signing with the team and earning a third championship ring in 1990.

46) Bill Cartwright (Knicks, Bulls)

As the third overall pick of the Knicks in 1979, anything short of super stardom was going to be considered a disappointment for Cartwright. He had the size, talent, and pedigree (a product of the same San Francisco program that produced Bill Russell) to seize the dominant New York center mantle from the recently retired Willis Reed and carry the franchise through the ’80s. Things started off well enough, with Cartwright averaging 20.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in ’80-’81 but cratered soon after due to various foot injuries that caused the big man to miss essentially the entire ’84-’85 and ’85-’86 seasons. Of course, by then the Knicks had a new savior in Patrick Ewing and in 1988, Cartwright was shipped off to the Bulls for Charles Oakley. Initially just a thorn in Michael Jordan’s side, Cartwright eventually settled in as a key piece of three championship teams in Chicago in the ’90s.

45) John Stockton (Jazz)

Just like his longtime teammate Karl Malone a few spots below him, Stockton’s ’80s output is the more minor element of his overall career. The first round pick in 1984 made his initial All-Star appearance right at the end of the decade in 1989. But it was ’87-’88 when he first led the NBA in assists, with 13.8 per game, setting off a streak of nine straight seasons where Stockton was the assist king. ’88-’89 was arguably Stockton’s best statistical season, with 17.1 points, 13.6 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and a career high and league leading 3.2 steals per game. In addition to making his first of 10 All-Star appearances that year, he was also named 2nd-Team All-NBA, and made his debut on the All-Defensive team. In a testament to just how prolific he was, Stockton played in just 60% of the decade but finished 10th in total assists amongst all players in the ’80s and 14th in steals (he eventually became the all-time leader in both categories).

44) Walter Davis (Suns, Nuggets)

The ’80s were a time of great successes for Davis but also of recurring injuries, scandals, and postseason disappointments that would ultimately define his career. His peak arguably came in his first three seasons, which happened in the ’70s, but Davis also averaged 18+ points per game five times during the ’80s, thanks largely to his mechanically perfect jumper, and was named to three All-Star teams. ’81-’82 was the season where his real trouble began, missing 27 games due to a fractured elbow and returning as a still effective but not-quite-the-same player. Further injuries followed, including a major ligament tear in his knee, as did three stints in rehab for alcohol and/or cocaine abuse. Just as Davis seemed to revive his career in ’86-’87, with a throwback performance that earned him the sixth and final All-Star appearance of his career, he was indicted for cocaine trafficking, bringing an end to his polarizing era as a Suns franchise legend.

43) Vinnie Johnson (SuperSonics, Pistons)

When Johnson was born in 1956, the microwave was a relatively new invention and still a novelty product, and Frank Ramsey was just developing the new role of sixth man for the Celtics. By the ’80s, the microwave was ubiquitous in American homes and so was “The Microwave,” a nickname bestowed on Johnson for his ability to heat up quickly off the bench as Detroit’s sixth man. On almost any other team in the NBA, Johnson would have been a starting shooting guard putting up bigger numbers but for the Pistons, he gladly averaged just 12.0 points per game for his career as a key piece of the team that won championships in 1989 and 1990. Though he’s synonymous now with the “Bad Boy” Pistons, Johnson actually got his start with Seattle, who drafted him #7 overall in 1979 before trading him to Detroit just two years later.

42) Calvin Natt (Trail Blazers, Nuggets, Spurs)

Like most of his teammates on the ’80s Nuggets, Natt’s stats and retrospective reputation got a major boost from playing in Doug Moe’s high octane offense. In fact it was an instant shot in the arm, with his career scoring peak (23.3 points per game) and lone All-Star appearance coming in his initial season in Denver, ’84-’85 (he also finished 11th in MVP voting). There was also instant gratification for the team, which reached the Conference Finals in 1985 for the first and only time in Moe’s tenure (they were swept by the Lakers). Before playing for Denver, Natt had several solid seasons with the Trail Blazers, who eventually traded him to the Nuggets for Kiki Vandeweghe in a blockbuster. 

41) James Donaldson (SuperSonics, Clippers, Mavericks)

One of the most efficient and unique low post scorers of the ’80s, Donaldson racked up more points during the decade than any other lefty besides Artis Gilmore. In his first full season with the Mavericks, ’86-’87, he averaged a double-double, with 10.8 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. Then, in ’87-’88, he made his lone All-Star appearance (despite averaging just 7.0 points per game) and led the NBA in postseason field goal percentage as the Mavericks reached the Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. His 63.7% shooting in ’84-’85 (while with the Clippers) also led the NBA for the regular season and was the fifth highest total of the decade amongst any player. 

40) Jim Paxson (Trail Blazers, Celtics)

Portland’s leading total scorer of the ’80s wasn’t Clyde Drexler or Kiki Vandeweghe but Paxson, who spent eight-and-a-half years with the franchise after they drafted him in the first round in 1979. At 6’6″, Paxson towered over most opposing shooting guards and put his height advantage to good use, with a high arching jump shot and refined post game. He peaked for three seasons starting in ’81-’82, averaging 20.6 points per game during that span and making two All-Star Game appearances (he was also 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’83-’84) before starting to struggle with injuries. While the Blazers were a consistent playoff team in his time there, Paxson didn’t suit up for a real contender until he was traded to the Celtics in 1988. But that turned out to be a disastrous pairing, as the aging Paxson struggled on the court and made trouble off it, supposedly bad mouthing Larry Bird behind his back to the press.

39) Fat Lever (Trail Blazers, Nuggets)

One of the more underrated players of the ’80s, Lever was consistently great for almost the entire decade but often overlooked, due largely to playing mostly for non-contenders. In the last three seasons of the decade, Lever averaged 19.2 points, 7.9 assists, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per game, an incredible statistical run. Those rebounds are especially impressive in the context of Lever standing just 6’3″, which was likely a generous listing. He compiled by far the most rebounds in the ’80s of any guard and was third amongst all players in total steals for the decade and 11th in assists. One more impressive Lever stat: in the 1989 Conference Quarterfinals, he became one of just two players in the ’80s (along with Magic Johnson) to total 20+ points, 15+ assists, and 10+ rebounds in a single playoff game (which was, appropriately, a Nuggets loss to the Suns).

38) Marques Johnson (Bucks, Clippers)

If not for a ruptured disk in his neck, suffered early in the ’86-’87 season, Johnson likely would have been even higher on this list. Unfortunately, that injury essentially ended his career at age 30. Even with that brevity and with his best seasons actually coming in the ’70s, Johnson was a beast in the ’80s. While revolutionizing the “point forward” system as a play making big man in Don Nelson’s innovative offense, Johnson was the leader in scoring and assists for the ’82-’83 Bucks that reached the Conference Finals, and then the top scorer for the Bucks as they made a return appearance in 1984. He was also an All-Star four times during the ’80s, 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’80-’81, and Comeback Player of the Year in ’85-’86, when he briefly revived his career with the Clippers. 

37) Tom Chambers (Clippers, SuperSonics, Suns)

In the 1987 All-Star Game, which many consider the greatest edition in the exhibition’s history, it was the hometown hero Chambers getting MVP honors in Seattle over certified legends like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Moses Malone, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (the latter three of which never earned the award in their career). It was a watershed moment for an underrated player, who is 10th in total scoring amongst all players in the ’80s and has the second most career points amongst players not in the Hall of Fame. Chambers also made history in 1988 as the first ever high profile unrestricted free agent, leaving the Sonics to sign with the Suns.

36) Reggie Theus (Bulls, Kings, Hawks)

Perhaps you know him best as a longtime studio analyst and broadcaster, or as coach of the Kings in the ’00s, or as the star of the ’90s NBC sitcom “Hang Time” but once upon a time, Theus was one of the most prolific scorers and passers of the ’80s. He’s one of just four players to total over 12,000 points and over 4,000 assists during the decade, on the list alongside all-time legends Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Isiah Thomas. Theus’ scoring peak came in ’82-’83 with the Bulls, with 23.8 points per game but he added increased play making to his repertoire in the late ’80s, averaging as much as 9.6 assists per game for the Kings in ’85-’86. The face of the Bulls franchise for several years, Theus was traded to the Kings in 1984 just ahead of Michael Jordan’s arrival in Chicago. He made two All-Star appearances in the ’80s and averaged 18.5 points points and 6.7 assists per game for the decade but reached as far as the Conference Semifinals just once, with the Bulls in 1981.

35) Danny Ainge (Celtics, Kings)

A second round pick in 1981 despite a star turn at BYU (which included an all-timer buzzer beater in 1981), Ainge slowly worked his way into the Celtics rotation, eventually becoming the starting shooting guard on the teams that reached three consecutive NBA Finals, starting in 1985. As that Celtics dynasty began to wane in the late ’80s, Ainge peaked statistically, taking over more of the scoring and play making loads while still maintaining his trademark intensity. He even made a somewhat surprising All-Star appearance in 1988, the same season he led the NBA in three-point field goals (becoming the first player ever to make over 100 in a season). Traded to the Kings in 1989, Ainge became an unpredictably effective journeyman in the ’90s, spending time with contenders in Portland and Phoenix.

34) Clyde Drexler (Trail Blazers)

Almost all of Drexler’s career highlights came in the ’90s, from his two NBA Finals appearances with the Trail Blazers to his title with the Rockets to his inclusion on the Dream Team to his 1st-Team All-NBA nod in ’91-’92. But the ’80s were also a great time for Drexler and not just for his NCAA exploits (leading “Phi Slamma Jamma” Houston to the Final Four in 1982 and 1983). He made his first three All-Star appearances in 1986, 1988, and 1989, his All-NBA debut in ’87-’88, and had his all-time high scoring average in ’88-’89, with 27.2 points per game. Along with Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins, Drexler is one of three players who scored over 9,000 points in the ’80s and over 9,000 points in the ’90s.

33) Rolando Blackman (Mavericks)

Along with fellow 1981 draftee Mark Aguirre, Blackman put the young Mavericks franchise on the map. While Aguirre was usually the team’s leading scorer, Brad Davis their top play maker, and Derek Harper the defensive stalwart, Blackman was a do-it-all glue guy who helped the team make five consecutive playoff appearances starting in 1984. His consistency during the decade was almost uncanny, averaging 18+ points, three-plus rebounds, and three-plus assists per game in every season between ’83-’84 and ’88-’89. Born in Panama City (though mostly raised in New York), Blackman was also notable as the first NBA player ever from Central America.

32) Terry Cummings (Clippers, Bucks)

A perfect microcosm of the ’80s for Cummings are one trade and one near trade that happened in the same year. The near trade came first in June of 1984, with the Bulls reportedly offering the #3 pick (which was used on Michael Jordan) to the Clippers for Cummings. Not only is that the ultimate what if scenario of the decade, it also shows just how motivated the Clippers were to unload a guy who had just beat out Dominique Wilkins and James Worthy to earn Rookie of the Year and averaged 23.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game in his first two seasons. The actual trade happened a couple months later, as Cummings was unloaded on the Bucks. By the end of the decade, he was a two-time All-Star, 2nd-Team All-NBA once, and one of just 10 players to total over 12,000 points and 4,000 rebounds for the decade. But he also eventually set the mark for most playoff appearances (14) without reaching the NBA Finals (it was later broken by Jermaine O’Neal).

31) George Gervin (Spurs, Bulls)

You likely associate Gervin first in your mind with the ’70s, his ABA and early NBA heyday, but he was still only 27 years old when the ’80s began. The “Ice Man” won his fourth and final NBA scoring title in ’81-’82, finishing with 32.3 points per game. Only two other players, Michael Jordan and Bernard King, managed to average 32+ points per game in a season during the decade. That ’81-’82 season was also the fifth and final time Gervin was named 1st-Team All-NBA, and his second opportunity in the Conference Finals with the Spurs. They made a return trip in 1983 but in both cases were overwhelmed by the Lakers dynasty, leaving Gervin as one of the all-time greatest players without an NBA Finals appearance. He was shockingly traded to the Bulls in 1985, teaming up for one season with Michael Jordan (who was none too happy about it) before retiring from the NBA and playing several seasons in Europe.

30) Kiki Vandeweghe (Nuggets, Trail Blazers, Knicks)

If you take away his rookie campaign in ’80-’81, Vandeweghe averaged 23.8 points per game over the course of the ’80s, totaling 13,775, which places him eighth amongst all players for the decade. His peak came early in his career, when his nearly unstoppable fadeaway jumper was a major asset in the up-tempo Nuggets offense. In ’82-’83 and ’83-’84, Vandeweghe averaged 28.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, while getting named to two All-Star teams. Initially drafted by the expansion Mavericks in 1980, Vandeweghe immediately asked for a trade, preferring to suit up for his hometown Lakers or the Knicks team that once employed his father, Ernie. After three seasons with Denver and four with Portland, Vandeweghe finally got his wish to play in New York thanks to a 1989 trade but struggled with injuries while a member of the Knicks and retired soon after.

29) Larry Nance (Suns, Cavaliers)

In a rare trade that benefitted both teams in the short term and long term, the Suns dealt Nance to the Cavaliers in 1988 in a package built around then rookie point guard Kevin Johnson. Johnson was superfluous in Cleveland thanks to Mark Price, while Nance was a perfect fit, an athletic forward with shooting and finishing skills. Nance’s best stats (and his inaugural Slam Dunk Contest victory) did come in his time in Phoenix, with a notable streak of four straight seasons starting in ’84-’85 where he averaged 19+ points and eight-plus rebounds per game. A well-rounded player who was named All-Defensive three times in addition to his two All-Star appearances, Nance is one of four players who totaled over 10,000 points, 4,000 rebounds, 1,000 assists, 1,000 blocks, and 500 steals in the ’80s, along with Moses Malone, Robert Parish, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

28) Bernard King (Warriors, Knicks, Bullets)

Between his getting traded to the Warriors in 1980 and the debilitating ACL tear that halted and forever altered his career in 1985, King was about as good as it gets offensively. He averaged 24.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game during that span, was 1st-Team All-NBA twice and 2nd-Team All-NBA once, finished as high as second in MVP voting (in ’83-’84), and won the ’84-’85 scoring title. That was also the era when King captured the imagination of NBA fans nationwide with two especially impressive performances: his 60-point game against the Nets on Christmas Day in 1984, and his single-handedly carrying the Knicks to a near upset of the Celtics in the 1984 Conference Semifinals. King’s 32.9 points per game that earned him the scoring title in ’84-’85 was the highest average of the decade by a player other than Michael Jordan.

27) Artis Gilmore (Bulls, Spurs, Celtics)

His all-time career field goal percentage record is not long for this world, as four active players are currently ahead of him and will likely remain so until they retire. But Gilmore will forever remain the most efficient player of the ’80s. He shot an incredible 63% for the decade and no other qualified player was above 60%. Another ’80s superlative for Gilmore: his 9.378 points during the decade were by far the most of any left-handed shooter. A former ABA champion and MVP, Gilmore was a seasoned veteran by the ’80-’81 season at age 31 but lasted almost the entire decade in the NBA, stepping away in 1988 after a brief, difficult stint with the Celtics (he proceeded to play one more season in Italy before retiring at age 39).

26) Buck Williams (Nets)

These statistical milestones might be starting to feel arbitrary at this point but here’s another one for you: Williams was one of just five players to total over 10,000 points and over 7,000 rebounds during the ’80s. He did all of it toiling away for a Nets team that made the postseason regularly but were eliminated early every time, reaching the Conference Semifinals just once, in 1984. Williams still managed to make three All-Star teams, won Rookie of the Year in ’81-’82, and averaged 15+ points and 10+ rebounds per game in each of his first seven seasons. Right at the end of the ’80s, he was traded to the Trail Blazers and spent the ’90s as a more complementary player on a title contender, playing in the NBA Finals twice.

25) Byron Scott (Lakers)

There are certainly players behind him on this list who put up more impressive statistics and compiled more individual accolades but Scott hit the proverbial lottery of spending the ’80s on the Showtime Lakers. That stroke of luck is even more striking when considering that he was drafted by the snake bit Clippers in 1983 before getting traded to the Lakers a few months later in exchange for Norm Nixon. After taking over the spot halfway through his rookie season, Scott was ultimately the starting shooting guard on Lakers teams that reached five NBA Finals during the ’80s, winning three titles . But make no mistake, though he was never an All-Star, Scott also wasn’t a mere role player. He was the leading playoffs scorer on the ’87-’88 Lakers title team, averaged 16+ points per game in four different seasons, and regularly proved his worth as a terrific perimeter defender.

24) Hakeem Olajuwon (Rockets)

You know a player had a successful career when they were drafted ahead of the greatest of all time and no one questions the decision in retrospect. It actually came down to a coin flip for the Rockets in 1984 and they won the rights to select Olajuwon #1 overall (if they had lost the coin flip, would they have taken Michael Jordan at #2 over Sam Bowie? It’s an intriguing what if). The Nigerian center (who still went by Akeem in the ’80s) had an immediate impact, averaging 23.0 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game in his first five seasons, while making the All-Star team each year and getting named All-NBA four times. It was also an instantaneous turnaround for Houston, which had averaged 60 losses in the two seasons before Olajuwon arrived and then had a winning record in each remaining season of the ’80s, even making a surprise trip to the NBA Finals in 1986.

23) Cedric Maxwell (Celtics, Clippers, Rockets)

When the Celtics earned their first championship of the Larry Bird era in 1981, there were four future Hall of Famers on the roster in Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and Tiny Archibald. But the Finals MVP trophy was granted to Maxwell , who was Boston’s leading scorer in the series, plus second in rebounding and third in assists. For an encore, he put on a performance for the ages in game seven of the 1984 NBA Finals, with a near triple-double as the Celtics defeated the hated Lakers. Maxwell was rewarded that summer by getting re-signed (somewhat ironically as the first Celtics player ever given a contract under the new regulation named after Larry Bird) but was shockingly traded just a year later to the Clippers for Bill Walton. The rest of Maxwell’s career was a struggle due to a knee injury hampering him and he retired in 1988 at age 32. He still stands as the only Finals MVP that didn’t make an All-Star appearance in their career.

22) Mark Aguirre (Mavericks, Pistons)

As the #1 overall pick in 1981, Aguirre was considered a savior for a young Mavericks franchise and came through on his end of the bargain. Though he didn’t deliver an NBA Finals appearance for Dallas, it wasn’t for lack of trying, as Aguirre averaged 24.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in his six full seasons with the Mavericks. When Dallas was looking to rebuild late in the decade, Aguirre was traded during the ’88-’89 season to the Pistons in exchange for Adrian Dantley. Reunited with his close friend Isiah Thomas, Aguirre was a crucial piece of the ’88-’89 Pistons title team as the starting small forward. With over 14,000 points, Aguirre was the sixth leading scorer in the NBA during the ’80s and came close to winning the scoring title in ’83-’84, finishing right behind the man for whom he’d eventually be traded, Dantley.

21) Charles Barkley (76ers)

Thanks to a trade from six years earlier, in which they sent World B. Free to the Clippers, the 76ers had the #5 pick in the 1984 NBA Draft, despite finishing with the third best record in the NBA in ’83-’84. They used it on a freight train from Auburn in Barkley, who looked primed to continue on the success built by Julius Erving and company in the eight years prior. But the ’80s proved to be a disappointing time for Barkley’s title aspirations (not that the ’90s turned out much better), as Erving and Bobby Jones aged rapidly, Andrew Toney suffered with the effects of a broken foot, and Moses Malone seemed arguably indifferent. Philly reached the Conference Finals in Barkley’s rookie year but never again in his eight seasons with the franchise. Nevertheless, he quickly became a superstar, making three All-Star teams in the ’80s, leading the NBA in rebounding in ’86-’87, and getting named 1st-Team All-NBA in ’87-’88 and ’88-’89.

20) Mychal Thompson (Trail Blazers, Spurs, Lakers)

The ’80s started off rough for Thompson, who missed the entire ’79-’80 season due to a broken leg (suffered while playing offseason pick-up ball in his native Bahamas). Though that injury likely ultimately stunted his career overall, he did recover better than expected, averaging 17.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game over the first half of the decade. Drafted as a 23-year-old (#1 overall in 1979), Thompson’s prime was already winding down by the summer of 1986. He was traded twice over the course of nine months, first from the Blazers to the Spurs and then from the Spurs to the Lakers. Now a sixth man, backing up Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and A.C. Green, Thompson earned back-to-back championships with Los Angeles in 1987 and 1988. According to our metrics, only one player (his Lakers teammate Michael Cooper) had a better decade than Thompson without making an All-Star appearance.

19) Dominique Wilkins (Hawks)

One of the greatest offensive forces of the ’80s, Wilkins was nicknamed the “Human Highlight Film” for his array of camera ready dunks that wowed fans across the country. Also possessing a killer short jumper, Wilkins was the scoring champ in ’85-’86 with 30.3 points per game and finished the decade with 14,557 points, placing him fifth overall. Maybe even more impressive: only two players who started their career in 1982 or later like Wilkins, even managed to top 10,000 points for the decade (Michael Jordan and Terry Cummings). An All-Star and All-NBA four times in the ’80s, Wilkins also finished as high as second in MVP voting in ’85-’86, and was the centerpiece of three of the five greatest Slam Dunk Contests of all time (including his 1985 win). His 1988 Conference Semifinals duel with Larry Bird is legendary but would ultimately prove to be the zenith of Wilkins’ postseason success, as his Hawks teams never reached even a Conference Finals during his career, let alone an NBA Finals.

18) Jack Sikma (SuperSonics, Bucks)

Likely the most surprising entry in our top 20 here for most readers, Sikma was arguably the most unsung superstar of the ’80s. He was never an MVP candidate during the decade and didn’t really show up on statistical leaderboards (save for his league leading 92.2% free throw shooting in ’87-’88) but was a consistent and reliable force throughout, usually for contenders. A key component of the Sonics teams that reached the 1978 NBA Finals (in his rookie season) and won the 1979 title, Sikma cemented himself as a certified franchise legend in the ’80s. He averaged 18+ points and 10+ rebounds per game in the first five seasons of the decade, while getting named to the All-Star team every year. Traded to the Bucks in 1986, Sikma remained effective into his 30s, ultimately averaging 17.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game for the decade. Only five other players totaled over 12,000 points and over 5,000 rebounds during the ’80s and in 2019 he joined all of them in Springfield as a long overdue Naismith Hall of Fame inductee.

17) Michael Cooper (Lakers)

In a dynasty that lasted 12 seasons and included nine NBA Finals trips, only three players were there for all five Lakers titles of the ’80s: Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Cooper. This was an expected result for Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar, both #1 overall picks, but Cooper had a decidedly more circuitous route to NBA success. Unassuming and extremely thin, he was lightly recruited out of high school, eventually winding up at New Mexico after a junior college stint. Cooper was then a third round pick of the Lakers in 1979 but developed into arguably the best perimeter defender of the ’80s and a cornerstone of the Showtime roster. He was named Defensive Player of the Year in ’86-’87, on the All-Defensive team eight times during the ’80s, and, maybe most impressively, was cited by Larry Bird as the toughest defensive opponent he faced in the NBA.

16) Maurice Cheeks (76ers)

The ’80s were tumultuous decade, both in the NBA and the U.S. at large, but one constant was Cheeks at the starting point guard spot for Philly. In fact, his time in that position dates back to his rookie season, ’78-’79, and didn’t end until the 76ers traded him to San Antonio in the summer of 1989. Along the way, Cheeks was a four-time All-Star, 1st-Team All-Defensive four times, finished in the top 10 in the NBA in assists five times, and was the floor general for the ’82-’83 championship 76ers, one of the greatest teams in league history. Only two players, Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson, had more assists during the decade than Cheeks’ 5,225, and no one had more steals than his 1,585.

15) Dennis Johnson (Suns, Celtics)

The ’70s were when Johnson earned his Finals MVP award with the SuperSonics but the ’80s were when he peaked statistically (19.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game in ’81-’82) for one franchise (Phoenix) and had his talent truly recognized and unlocked by another (Boston). At the dawn of the ’80s, Johnson was considered a talented but unorthodox and a potential flame-out due to his clashes with teammates and coaches. By the end of the decade, he was widely regarded as one of the greatest two-way players of the era, even though his reputation would remain underrated indefinitely (see his 14-year wait for a posthumous Hall of Fame induction and his exclusion from the 50 Greatest Players and 75 Greatest Players lists). A three-time All-Star during the decade, Johnson was also included on the All-Defensive team seven times, was 1st-Team All-NBA in ’80-’81, and was a key part of the 1984 and 1986 Celtics championship teams.

14) Bill Laimbeer (Cavaliers, Pistons)

Remembered now as arguably the baddest of the “Bad Boys” Pistons , Laimbeer was also a skilled and nuanced player, with a reliable short jumper and an aptitude for complex schemes. Traded to Detroit from the Cavaliers in 1982, Laimbeer held down the starting center spot for the Pistons for the remainder of the decade. He averaged 15.4 points and 11.6 rebounds per game over that span but the stats tell only some of the story. Laimbeer’s true talent was getting under the skin of opponents and coaxing them into bad decisions, most notably with Robert Parish in the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals. A four-time All-Star, Laimbeer led the NBA in rebounding in ’85-’86 with 13.1 per game, finished in the top five in the category four other times, and was second in total rebounding for the decade, behind only Moses Malone. Appropriately enough, Laimbeer was also the NBA leader in total personal fouls during the ’80s, with 2,646.

13) Michael Jordan (Bulls)

How about that, a list where Jordan comes in 13th? While the ’90s were the time of Jordan winning six championships, six Finals MVP trophies, four league MVP awards, and generally supplanting Bill Russell as the greatest player of all time, the ’80s laid the groundwork for all that. Jordan won his first MVP in 1988, his first three of an eventual 10 scoring titles (including with a career high 35.0 points per game in ’87-’88), and finally led the Bulls to the Conference Finals in 1989. Despite not starting his career until 1984, Jordan’s 73.4 win shares were 13th highest total of the decade, and his 11,263 points placed him 26th on the list.

12) Sidney Moncrief (Bucks)

In 2022, Marcus Smart became just the sixth guard to win Defensive Player of the Year. The first was Moncrief, who won the inaugural award in ’82-’83, then repeated as the honoree in ’83-’84, becoming the only guard ever to earn it multiple times. It was especially impressive considering that Moncrief never racked up the gaudy steals or blocks stats that usually portend the trophy’s voting. He also was never an elite scorer or play maker but Moncrief was just plain one of the best all-around players of all time, let alone the ’80s. He was also a winner, leading the Bucks to the playoffs every season of the ’80s and to the Conference Finals in 1983, 1984, and 1986, in arguably the most competitive Eastern Conference era of all time. In addition to his Defensive Player of the Year wins, Moncrief also had a stretch of five straight seasons starting in ’81-’82 where he was All-NBA, All-Defensive, an All-Star, and finished in the top 10 in MVP voting.

11) James Worthy (Lakers)

While most #1 overall draft picks find themselves stuck on a roster mired in mediocrity for the foreseeable future, Worthy hit the jackpot in 1982, landing with the defending champion Lakers just as their dynasty was getting started. They ended up with that pick thanks to a shrewd trade two years prior with the Cavaliers and over the next couple years, Worthy slowly took over Jamaal Wilkes’ spot as an athletic wing in the up-tempo Showtime offense. By the end of the decade, he was a four-time All-Star and a three-time champion, earning the nickname “Big Game James” for his postseason exploits, most notably in the 1988 NBA Finals win over the Pistons, in which he was the leading scorer, closed things out with a triple-double in game seven, and rightfully earned the Finals MVP award.

10) Alex English (Nuggets)

It was the decade that brought us Dominique Wilkins, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan, but no one scored more points during the ’80s than English. After getting drafted in the second round in 1976 and cycling through three franchises in his first four seasons, English settled in as the ultimate weapon in Doug Moe’s up-tempo offense in Denver. He averaged at least 23.8 points per game in every season of the decade, peaking at 29.8 per game in ’85-’86 and earning a scoring title with 28.4 per game in ’82-’83. It was all done without much flair or fanfare, as English emphasized an efficient approach to his offensive game (his shooting percentage during the decade was considerably higher than peers like Bird, Wilkins, and Mark Aguirre) and was able to score from almost anywhere on the court. He was conversely notable for struggling defensively and reached as far as the Conference Finals just once (in 1985) and never the NBA Finals. 

9) Adrian Dantley (Jazz, Pistons, Mavericks)

Only two players (Alex English and Moses Malone) scored more points in the ’80s than Dantley’s 16,254 and only one player (Michael Jordan) won more scoring titles than his two. But for Dantley, it was also a decade of what ifs, as his supposed difficult personality led to him getting traded multiple times away from teams that were blossoming into title contention. This took him from the Lakers right as they drafted Magic Johnson to the Jazz, who unloaded him right as John Stockton and Karl Malone were getting started, to the Pistons, who traded him during the ’88-’89 season which ended with them winning their first title. In addition to his scoring titles in ’80-’81 and ’83-’84, Dantley also averaged 30+ points per game for four straight seasons, was an All-Star five times during the ’80s, 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, and earned Comeback Player of the Year honors in ’83-’84 (when he returned strong from a torn ligament in his wrist).

8) Julius Erving (76ers)

The first league MVP of the ’80s, Erving earned the award in ’80-’81 just as he was entering his late prime. He was still only 31 at the time but there were some heavy miles on his knees from his early ABA days and his stats slowly dipped up until his 1987 retirement. In 1983, Erving finally won an elusive NBA championship, after NBA Finals losses with the 76ers in 1977, 1980, and 1982. He was also 1st-Team All-NBA three times during the decade, 2nd-Team All-NBA once, an All-Star seven times, and MVP of the 1983 All-Star Game. Though his best seasons arguably came in the ’70s and he’s only eighth on our list, Erving was still recently named to the NBA ’80s all-decade team as part of the league’s 75th anniversary celebration.

7) Isiah Thomas (Pistons)

Few players have altered the fortunes of a franchise like Thomas with the Pistons. When they drafted him #2 overall in 1981, Detroit had prevailed in just one playoff series in the prior 15 years, had never won a championship, and was over three decades removed from its last NBA Finals appearance. At the end of the decade, they were the cream of the crop, winning back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990. It was a total team effort, no doubt, but Thomas was the centerpiece and the engine. He appeared in seven All-Star Games during the ’80s, was 1st-Team All-NBA three times and 2nd-Team All-NBA twice, the league assists leader in ’84-’85 (with 13.5 per game), and finished second in the decade in total assists, second in steals, and 11th in points. The “Baby Faced Assassin” also made some enemies along the way, most notably Michael Jordan, who never forgave Thomas for freezing him out during the 1985 All-Star Game.

6) Kevin McHale (Celtics)
5) Robert Parish (Celtics)

With just one transaction on June 9, 1980, the Celtics acquired McHale and Parish and a dynasty was truly born. They formed the most formidable front court of the decade and possibly ever, alongside Larry Bird, winning championships in 1981, 1984, and 1986, and making additional Finals appearances in 1985 and 1987. Parish, who started his career with the Warriors in 1976 and didn’t retire until 1997, was the fourth leading rebounder of the ’80s, sixth in blocks, and 13th in points. He was also an All-Star seven times during the ’80s and 2nd-Team All-NBA in ’82-’83. McHale, who played his entire career in Boston, was 12th in the NBA in rebounds during the ’80s, fourth in blocks, and 12th in points. He was named to five All-Star teams during the decade, 1st-Team All-NBA in ’86-’87, All-Defensive five times, and Sixth Man of the Year twice.

4) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Lakers)

On April 16, 1980, Abdul-Jabbar celebrated his 33rd birthday at a crossroads. He had just been named league MVP for a record sixth time and the Lakers had just finished off a Conference Semifinals victory over the Suns. But a rookie Magic Johnson had supplanted him as the team’s biggest star, a sentiment further solidified just a couple weeks later when Johnson took over at center for an injured Abdul-Jabbar and led the Lakers to the title. While that seemed to mark the end of Abdul-Jabbar’s reign as arguably the best player in basketball for a solid decade, he still played out the entirety of the ’80s and did so effectively. He’s one of just three players to compile over 10,000 points, over 5,000 rebounds, over 1,000 assists, over 1,000 blocks, and over 500 steals during the ’80s (Robert Parish and Moses Malone were the others) and did so while shooting 56.7% from the floor. In 1985, Abdul-Jabbar became the oldest ever Finals MVP at age 38, while helping the Lakers win their third of five championships during the decade.

3) Moses Malone (Rockets, 76ers, Bullets, Hawks)

There’s an interesting parallel in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Malone, who was already in his seventh season in ’80-’81 but was still only 25 years old. A couple years later, he reached the pinnacle of NBA success, earning both league MVP and Finals MVP in the same season. It was the third and final MVP of Malone’s career and would turn out to be his only championship but he played in 12 more seasons, finally retiring in 1997 at age 40. He made the All-Star team in every season of the ’80s, was 1st-Team All-NBA three times, 2nd-Team All-NBA three times, and 1st-Team All-Defensive once. Malone compiled by far the most rebounds of the decade with 9,079 (no one else reached 8,000) and the second most points with 16,963. There was also a major off-court component to Malone’s contributions to the ’80s, as the first superstar restricted free agent to change teams in 1982 and one of the first to test unrestricted free agency in 1988, when he left the Bullets for the Hawks.

2) Larry Bird (Celtics)
1) Magic Johnson (Lakers)

Their rivalry defined the decade and ultimately, so did their friendship. The golden age of NBA ’80s basketball truly began on October 12, 1979, when Bird and Johnson made their respective debuts, and ended on August 18, 1992, when Bird officially followed Johnson into retirement. Along the way, they battled in three epic NBA Finals, with Johnson’s Lakers getting the upper hand in 1985 and 1987 after Bird’s Celtics were victorious in 1984. Five of the 10 league MVPs handed out during the decade were granted to one of these two players, as were five of the 10 Finals MVP trophies. They participated in eight of the 10 All-Star Games against each other, appeared together on seven of the 10 All-NBA teams, and one or both played in all 10 NBA Finals. Johnson easily led all players in assists during the ’80s while Bird was fourth on the leaderboard in total points and in the top 10 in rebounds, assists, and steals.