I watched an NBA game from every decade

The NBA game has drastically changed over the past 70 years. I picked an NBA finals game from each decade going back to 1950 and compared and contrasted the overall style of play.

Some of the players included in the video: Bill Russell, Bill Walton, Julius Erving, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Steph Curry.
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0:00 Intro
0:57 1950's Knicks vs Pistons
4:44 1960's Celtics vs Lakers
8:36 1970's Sixers vs Trail Blazers
13:00 1980's Celtics vs Lakers
17:21 1990's Bulls vs Jazz
21:47 2000's Pistons vs Lakers
25:26 2010's Heat vs Thunder
28:42 2020's Warriors vs Celtics

[JxmyHighroller]

Genius concept for a video. Great work man!

[jackprecip]

Horford in his first 7 years in the NBA took a grand total of 29 three-point shots, and the next 7 years took over 1300 three-point shots. That's mind blowing.

[Ev-qqkq]

No wonder the 90’s had the most dominant bigs. Those rules really helped them when it came to one on one sequences

[Danburkett]

Concerning the dribbling with one had in the 60s, the rules at the time said you had to keep your hand directly on top of the ball or it would be a carry. So doing a crossover was basically impossible.

[bradygagne]

This video is perfect example of why I continue to say it’s extremely hard to compare players from each era

[NT-orwh]

Really love the Al Horford transformation. I’ve always argued players like Hakeem would’ve developed a 3-pt shot if he played in this era. Good players always find a way to adapt.

[bigdavido]

Wow! this was EPIC! I learned so much of the old school 90s games I watched as a kid. Most eloquent explanation of illegal defense ever. It all makes so much sense now.

[ragecage]

Implementing the ABA is prolly why the game changed so immensely from the 60 to the 70s. Would love a review of one of their games

[Huesos]

I really admire those men from the 50s and 60s. While they were not nearly as talented or athletic as the players just a decade or two later, they still discovered things that then became fundamental basketball. Naismith invented the game, but these men discovered it. I salute them.

[NeverwascooL]

The wildest part of the first game was sometimes it looked like there was more than 10 guys on the court. It was pretty chaotic

[jacobbradbury]

I've watched, played, and coached basketball for a long time. This video is extremely well done!

[fcdraw]

The biggest challenge for NBA teams today is to figure out how to effectively defend the 3 point shot. When someone does we will see an upset like the 2004 finals.

[roundleft]

Those Jordan and Malone fadeaways are a thing of beauty.

[pbCafe]

1960s actually does sound difficult 😂 you basically have to do every movement perfectly. And they complain about fouls now you literally got one for touching someone back then 😭

[amybenzaquen]

18:51 John Stockton was a great passer and an excellent mid range shooter

[de]

I like to split the 1950s into two different eras. The latter half of decade saw more jumpshots and more layups. Especially as a new generation of players came into the league to phase out some inaugural players and as mentioned earlier about the shot clock's addition.

[logicaldude]

That’s actually the best description of Illegal Defense that I’ve come across.

[Infeckted-mpxp]

People forget just how good, Bill Walton really was. Dude was just different.

[Mmacrossfirekenai]

Excellent video. I think the only thing missing is the 1975-1976 ABA championship game. That would have revealed Doctor J's influence in the open court, going to the basket, and all-around skills. Even the crossovers and dribbling that was not seen in the clogged NBA paint finals of 1977. ( There is a clip on YouTube of an ABA Doctor J crossing over his man at the 3 point line, taking 1 or two dribbles and then ramming It in over 7-2 ABA and NBA Hall of Famer centre Artis Gilmore). Remember, the ABA had the 3-point shot since 1967 and also recorded stats we take for granted today like blocks, steals, before the NBA did. The ABA set the tone with their more exciting free flow game that the NBA much later adopted through absorbing the 4 ABA teams and the talent like Doc, David Thompson and George Gervin.

[MrZola]

I'm surprised you didn't mention the "pick n roll." From at least the 70s, at all levels of basketball, it has been a dominating play, and remains almost unstoppable today.