90's basketball was amazing. Arguably the greatest era for basketball.

Bernstein has a hard on for shuffling people to the present and away from glorifying the past. I appreciate that sentiment, but there's no debate - the NBA in the 1990's was a golden era, and an infinitely better, more interesting league than it is now.

Is the NBA now better than it was from 2005-2015 or so? Absolutely, but it's still a far cry from the 90's era.

90's basketball was amazing. Arguably the greatest era for basketball.

Bernstein has a hard on for shuffling people to the present and away from glorifying the past. I appreciate that sentiment, but there's no debate - the NBA in the 1990's was a golden era, and an infinitely better, more interesting league than it is now.

Is the NBA now better than it was from 2005-2015 or so? Absolutely, but it's still a far cry from the 90's era.

90's basketball was amazing. Arguably the greatest era for basketball.

I think a lot of it has to do with age. I agree with your assessment that the 90s was a golden era, but given our ages at the time, that might have something to do with it. Some of the romanticism is lost in a sport when the players start becoming younger than you are. Less aura.

There was a lot more personality then too. Rodman and Malone had an Andy Kaufman/Jerry Lawler thing going on. That wouldn’t happen today because leagues are all trying to keep their images squeaky clean.

Constant free agent movement has kind of made it harder to root for teams. Young fans today root for players, not teams, which doesn’t appeal to me at all.

That's exactly right! Mikan and Cousy were like cripples with their shoes tied together. Nobody played defense and most players could barely walk. But man evolved into a perfect basketball playing machine culminating in the apex of NBA studliness in the form of one Michael Jeffrey Jordan. At that point man slowly began devolving to the ordinary players you see today and undoubtedly the NBA will have returned to Mikan-era levels of incompetence by around 2040.

Young fans today root for players, not teams, which doesn’t appeal to me at all.

Let me clarify: I think Jordan could take Lonzo in 1 on 1 and it wouldn't be that close.

Best part about this is there was a time not too long ago right here on this very message board that this fucking idiots thoughts ( Lil Danny's , not JORR) were heralded and celebrated by some lap dogs here as smart persons radio . Great show indeed.

Who are you crappin?

90's basketball was amazing. Arguably the greatest era for basketball.

Bernstein has a hard on for shuffling people to the present and away from glorifying the past. I appreciate that sentiment, but there's no debate - the NBA in the 1990's was a golden era, and an infinitely better, more interesting league than it is now.

Is the NBA now better than it was from 2005-2015 or so? Absolutely, but it's still a far cry from the 90's era.

What the hell does that have to do with anything? That’s like a Rick “gotcha” attempt.

The 1996 East All-star starters are a thing of beauty.

Penny Hardaway
Michael Jordan
Grant Hill
Scottie Pippen
Shaquille O'Neal

I think a lot of it has to do with age. I agree with your assessment that the 90s was a golden era, but given our ages at the time, that might have something to do with it. Some of the romanticism is lost in a sport when the players start becoming younger than you are. Less aura.

There was a lot more personality then too. Rodman and Malone had an Andy Kaufman/Jerry Lawler thing going on. That wouldn’t happen today because leagues are all trying to keep their images squeaky clean.

Constant free agent movement has kind of made it harder to root for teams. Young fans today root for players, not teams, which doesn’t appeal to me at all.

That's exactly right! Mikan and Cousy were like cripples with their shoes tied together. Nobody played defense and most players could barely walk. But man evolved into a perfect basketball playing machine culminating in the apex of NBA studliness in the form of one Michael Jeffrey Jordan. At that point man slowly began devolving to the ordinary players you see today and undoubtedly the NBA will have returned to Mikan-era levels of incompetence by around 2040.

No surprise here as they likely don't remember 90's basketball. I watched every game of the 90s and will tell you the best guards ever dominated the 90s. The top 10 players of the 90s were shooting guards. Saying that Hakeem was better than Pete Myers is revisionist history. Not that it is surprising.

I think a lot of it has to do with age. I agree with your assessment that the 90s was a golden era, but given our ages at the time, that might have something to do with it. Some of the romanticism is lost in a sport when the players start becoming younger than you are. Less aura.

There was a lot more personality then too. Rodman and Malone had an Andy Kaufman/Jerry Lawler thing going on. That wouldn’t happen today because leagues are all trying to keep their images squeaky clean.

Constant free agent movement has kind of made it harder to root for teams. Young fans today root for players, not teams, which doesn’t appeal to me at all.

I think dynamics were may more interesting then, too. Teams felt like they had more identity and a brand, whereas in today's game every team that doesn't have a LeBron basically tries to become Warriors Lite or some johnny-come-lately recycled failure of a Big Three.

Rivalries were legit in the 90s. I remember as a kid wishing for Reggie Miller's death. Oh, and that rat John Starks.

Now, like you said, you're shamed if you aren't appreciating greatness over rooting for your favorite team(s).

You can disagree with something a host says without hating them. You should try it some time.

Romanticizing past eras of a sport is nothing new...hockey fans do it....the '85 Bears, the '69 Cubs...blah blah blah.

One of the main premises of the Dan Bernstein handbook of sports fandom is that we should all worship the dominance of superstars over our individual teams. Leash said basically the same thing earlier. I've never subscribed to that. The 90's Dallas Cowboys, the late 80's 49ers, the Yankees....I've always hated it. Doesn't mean I don't respect the collection of talent stardom,but I find no enjoyment in seeing a single team (other than my own) win year in and year out. Boring. The NBA exemplifies this and the power of star players and it's the biggest reason I'm not big fan of the NBA.

The other side to this is Lebron dub his own grave. His press conference of going to Miami...coming back to Cleveland....playing the role of wanna be GM. The guy is an asswipe. Doesn't mean I don't think he's an amazing talent and one of the best ever....he is....he's just a douche.

Parkins did a great job yesterday explaining this....we romanticize with nostalgia. it's natural and everyone does it. Bernstein needs to learn to deal with that. Let fans be meatballs. It's what makes sports fun.