All-Time Basketball › Best 1990s Lineup

Best 1990s NBA Lineup

The greatest starting five of the 1990s, chosen from every team of the decade by iKnoBall's era-adjusted engine — and the record they'd run over a full 82-game season.

793projected season
avg overall 96
93
Point Guard
Magic Johnson
1990s
99
Shooting Guard
Michael Jordan
1990s
95
Center
Shaquille O'Neal
1990s
95
Power Forward
Karl Malone
1990s
97
Center
Hakeem Olajuwon
1990s

Why This Is the Decade's Best Five

Magic Johnson headlines the 1990s at a 93 overall. The engine assembles a complete five — a lead guard, wings, and a rim presence — from across the decade's teams, then plays out all 82 games. Their 793 projection captures a decade-defining core: enough shot-creation, rebounding and defense to contend for a perfect season, measured on the same era-adjusted scale as every other decade so the comparison is fair.

Full 1990s Player Rankings

PlayerEraPosPPGOVR
Michael Jordan1990sSG31.599
Hakeem Olajuwon1990sC27.397
Shaquille O'Neal1990sC29.395
Karl Malone1990sPF27.495
David Robinson1990sC29.894
Charles Barkley1990sPF25.694
Patrick Ewing1990sC28.693
Tim Duncan1990sPF21.193
Magic Johnson1990sPG19.493
Scottie Pippen1990sSF22.092
Clyde Drexler1990sSG21.391
Gary Payton1990sPG21.891
John Stockton1990sPG15.891
Kevin Garnett1990sPF22.989
Reggie Miller1990sSG24.688
Alonzo Mourning1990sC21.387
Kevin Johnson1990sPG20.487
Grant Hill1990sSF21.487
Larry Johnson1990sPF22.186
Shawn Kemp1990sPF19.686
Chris Mullin1990sSF25.685
Tim Hardaway1990sPG23.485
Latrell Sprewell1990sSG21.085
Mitch Richmond1990sSG23.085

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Frequently Asked

What is the best 1990s NBA lineup of all time?

iKnoBall's era-adjusted engine picks Magic Johnson (Point Guard, 1990s), Michael Jordan (Shooting Guard, 1990s), Shaquille O'Neal (Center, 1990s), Karl Malone (Power Forward, 1990s), Hakeem Olajuwon (Center, 1990s) as the greatest 1990s starting five, projecting them to a 79–3 season.

How good was the 1990s NBA?

The top 1990s five projects at 79–3 with an average starter rating of 96. Ratings are era-adjusted so a dominant 1990s season is measured on the same scale as any other decade.

Who was the best player of the 1990s?

On iKnoBall's scale the top-rated 1990s player is Magic Johnson at a 93 overall. See the full 1990s rankings above.

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Ratings are era-adjusted and computed by iKnoBall's simulation engine. Records are model projections for entertainment, not predictions. Player names belong to their respective owners; iKnoBall is an independent fan-made game.