The end of the 1980s was already considered a renaissance of the NBA but the real peak came in the 1990s. Earlier, the league had small media coverage, the games were broadcast only once a week and the public still preferred to watch baseball. In the midst of the 1980s NBA, everything changed for the better, with the rise of stars like Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics were once again established teams, the games were attended by much more viewers and it is safe to say that the NBA achieved commercial success. The future was looking great but still, what the 1990s have brought to the table, was beyond all of imagination.
Chicago Bulls
The 1990s were absolutely dominated by Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls. Oncourt and off-court The Bulls were the main interest of all of the Americans. The team had real star quality, with Scottie Pippen and the latest addition Dennis Rodman, coached by Phil Jackson.
Michael Jordan
The 1980s left off Michael Jordan as a great player with a decent team. They gave breathtaking performances, with Jordan scoring his buzzer-beaters and flying to the hoop like there was no gravity. But the team was lacking in something, and that loose element soon would be fixed, with Phil Jackson as a head coach.
Eastern Conference Finals
In the 1989-1990 season, the Chicago Bulls made it to the Eastern Conference finals but their run for victory was cut short, as always, by the Detroit Pistons who went on and won that year’s championship. But the morals weren’t lost as Phil Jackson implemented the triangle offense strategy which turned out to be a perfect match for the Bulls.
1990-1991 NBA Finals
The season opened with three losses against the Boston Celtics. It was a marking point in Jordan’s career since he hadn’t lost three consecutive games from now on, until 1998, when he retired. Such a winning streak was never made before and was never made again in franchise history.
The Bulls swept away the New York Knicks in three straight games in the first round of the playoffs. Then, in the semifinals, they beat Charles Barkley and the 5th-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in five games. In the Eastern Conference Finals, they defeated defending champion Detroit Pistons four straight times and made their maiden appearance in the NBA Finals.
In the 1991 NBA Finals, the Chicago Bulls defeated Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers in five games, bringing home the team’s first-ever championship banner. This season was the start of the legendary Bulls dynasty, which would result in another five championships for Chicago over the next seven seasons.
NBA History Was Made
The Chicago Bulls proudly claimed their title as NBA champions. The 90’s Bulls team is regarded as one of the best ever in NBA history. After a 1-2 start, the Bulls had a 14-game winning streak that ended in December. In January, they recorded a 13-game winning streak before ending the season with a 67-1 record.
Michael Jordan won his second Most Valuable Player of the Year Award and sixth consecutive scoring title, averaging 30.1 points per game while being named to the All-NBA First Team. Scottie Pippen averaged 21.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.9 steals per game.
The team won its second consecutive championship in the 1992 NBA Finals, defeating the Portland Trail Blazers four games to two. They would go on to win their third straight title in the 1993 NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns.
Michael Jordan’s First Retirement
After the 1993 season, Michael Jordan suddenly retired. His father was murdered in a robbery gone wrong, while he was going back home in the car Michael had bought him. It was extremely devastating for Michael and he went on to pursue a baseball career, something his father always wanted for him.
For the Bulls, it meant giving up the title. They got as far as Eastern Conference semifinals of the playoffs and lost to the New York Knicks (in seven games!). The New York Knicks managed to go to the finals that year but ultimately lost to the Houston Rockets.
I’m Back
The second season without Michael Jordan wasn’t very promising for the Bulls. But the star player, Jordan, came back when they needed him the most. He announced he’s going back from retirement by simply sending a fax that said “I’m back”. Sadly, the Bulls were already drenched at this point and their road to championships ended in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. They were beaten by the Orlando Magic and the NBA Title ultimately got back to the Houston Rockets.
Dennis Rodman
In the 1995-1996 season Chicago Bulls were in need of rejuvenation and they acquired controversial All-Star forward Dennis Rodman. Rodman was an extremely entertaining person to watch because of his party lifestyle and expressive behavior on the court. He publicly battled many demons, like addiction, at some point tried to commit suicide. But he managed to go through that and the Bulls gave him another life. Soon, he started to paint his hair in crazy colors, captivating the attention of famous singer Madonna. They have been the IT couple for some time, which brought even more eyes to the Chicago Bulls.
72-10 Record
The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls are widely recognized as the finest team in league history. During the league’s 50th anniversary celebration in 1996, they were named one of the Top 10 Teams in NBA History. The squad broke the record for most victories in an NBA season and won the title, finishing with 72 wins and 10 losses. The record was broken in 2015 by the Golden State Warriors, who were coached by Steve Kerr, a vital part of the 1990s Chicago Bulls.
Final Championship Season
After winning the 1996 NBA championships, the Bulls went on for another streak, winning in 1997 and 1998. The management was worried that the team is getting old, there was also a lot of tension between players and Jerry Krause. The 1997-1998 season was famously named “The Last Dance” and Michael Jordan released a documentary with never-seen-before footage of the time.
After the dispersal of Bulls, San Antonio Spurs took the crown in 1999, marking the beginning of a new era.
Honorable Mentions
Although the 1990s were dominated by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, other teams also were full of talented players. If they would play in any era besides this one, they would be recognized worldwide as one of the greatest, but they didn’t stand a chance to glow in Jordan’s shadow. After the king’s retirement, some of them went on and created their own dynasties and some of them finished their careers being known as the second-best players of the 90s.
Charles Barkley
Charles Barkley led the league in rebounding and won his first NBA rebounding title thanks to the aggressive domineer and violent style of play. In 1991, he was chosen for the NBA All-Star Game MVP Award and he was voted the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 1993.
Shawn Kemp
In the 1990s Shawn Kemp was a member of Seattle SuperSonics, who in the 1995-96 season made for strong opposition for the Bulls. The Reign Man was a strong power forward and was named NBA All-Star six times.
John Stockton
John Stockton was traditional in every sense, and that style suited him well for 19 seasons, including 17 in which he played every game on the schedule. He was a ten-time All-Star, led the league in assists for nine consecutive years, and still holds the record of assists and steals and still is considered a model point guard.
David Robinson
David Robinson was a strong force on the basketball court. Robinson spent his entire career with San Antonio Spurs as the leader of his team, helping them win two NBA titles Robinson was voted to the All-NBA First Team twice, becoming the league’s leading scorer in 1994 by scoring 71 points in the final game of the season, which put him before Shaquille O’Neal.
Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan was drafted in 1997 to San Antonio Spurs and proved his loyalty to the team, even becoming an assistant coach when retiring as a player. As a rookie, Duncan formed a duo with David Robinson and created the Spurs dynasty, even when his teammate retired. He has three Most Valuable Player of the Year titles and acquired 5 championship rings, one in 1999.
Gary Payton
Gary Payton was an eight-time All-Star and nine-time First Team All-Defensive player. He revolutionized the guard position with his defense, one of the few at his position to take over games on the defensive side from the backcourt. He helped lead the Sonics to the 1996 NBA Finals with his tenacious style of play.
Reggie Miller
Reggie Miller was one of the greatest all-around shooters in NBA history. The 6-7, 190-pound shooting guard would use his finesse to dominate the final seconds of a tight game, known as “Miller Time.” Reggie Miller acquired a stunning number of 25 thousand career points and he is second ever when it comes to three-pointers.
Kobe Bryant
The 1990s were the rookie years of Kobe Bryant, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996. Bryant was a true threat on the court, with his incredible physical abilities. But what made him stand out the most was his mental tenacity. Paired with Shaquille O’Neal they gave performances of a lifetime
Shaquille O’Neal
Last, but definitely not least, Shaquille O’Neal was a destroying force in basketball. The Orlando Magic selected Shaquille O’Neal with the first overall pick of the 1992 NBA Draft. Shaq’s influence was instant. He earned Rookie of the Year in 1993 and led the Orlando Magic to the 1995 NBA Finals. He then joined the Los Angeles Lakers, where he teamed up with Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson to win three NBA titles. He was selected Most Valuable Player of the year at the end of the decade. Besides that, Shaq is a very smart businessman and expanded his dominance to many industries, even becoming a rap star at one point.
Conclusion
The NBA was a national phenomenon in the 1990s. The players were signing million-dollar advertisement deals, the games were watched closely by a multitude of people. Kids preferred to go to the Bulls game and watch Michael Jordan play, rather than get Christmas gifts. The press was absolutely living for the NBA drama and heavy competition. But the era of Bulls had to come to an end. Luckily, it meant new talents reaching for the crown and fighting to become NBA Champion.
Which NBA team dominated the 90s?
The 1990s Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, won six NBA Championships. Many try to diminish this great accomplishment because they believe the 1990s era was weak and that the Bulls were stacked.
Was the NBA watered down in the 90s?
To rapidly expand the league, many new expansion teams were created in1988 and 1989 in cities without any NBA presence. These expansions watered down the quality of play as they sapped away the existing talent pool.
What brand were NBA jerseys in the 90s?
From 1990 to 1997, Champion was the official uniform outfitter for all NBA teams. From 1997 to 2002, Champion was the official jersey manufacturer for only a handful of teams.
