Kids who watch NBA games in the 90's would instantly see the stark difference of the game back then from the game they see now. Today's NBA is heavily reliant on 3-point shooting, floor spacing, and versatility on both sides of the court. However, nearly thirty years ago, in fact — even ten years ago — the game was pretty much unrecognizable. There wasn't much emphasis on the 3-point shot and big men dominated inside the paint. The game was more cramped and much slower as compared to what we see now with all the pace-and-space and position-less basketball.
Fans love to play “what if” games. They also love to compare players from different eras. Obviously, all-timers such as Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Karl Malone would undoubtedly still churn out Hall of Fame careers in any era. However, there was some serious talent in the 1990's and there are some stars who, unfortunately, didn't get the recognition they deserved.
But put them in a time machine and drop them in the league right now, and for sure, they would be bonafide stars. Here are the five best players who would have excelled in today's NBA.
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf
Before there was Stephen Curry, there was Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. The LSU star, drafted third overall by the Denver Nuggets in 1990, pulled up from 30 feet out in transition before the Golden State Warriors superstar made it cool.
A 6-foot point guard with elite ball handling skills, Abdul-Rauf also possessed a sweet shooting stroke that made him one of the most dynamic scoring guards in the league. The 1993 Most Improved Player led the NBA in free-throw shooting percentage in the 1993-94 and 1995-96 seasons. To this day, 95.6 percent mark for the 1993-94 season is the third highest all-time in a single season.
Abdul-Rauf never made an All-Star team in his career. Nonetheless, the spit-fire guard was clearly ahead of his time and would undoubtedly be an even bigger star if he was born at least two decades later.
Glen Rice
Glen Rice turned in a productive 15-year career that saw him average 18.3 points in a flat 1,000 career games. Though just a three-time All-Star, Rice was undoubtedly an absolute stud in his prime. The Michigan standout possessed a well-rounded offensive game highlighted by a picture-perfect stroke that made him one of the best 3-point shooters in the 1990's. He was great at coming off screens and could heat up in hurry on any given night. At 6-foot-7, Rice also had the length and athleticism to rise above and shoot over his defenders.
This allowed him to shoot with outstanding efficiency from the floor, especially from long range. Rice averaged over 20 points for six out of seven seasons from 1992 to 1998. Over that stretch, he turned in 22.2 points per game while shooting over 41 percent from three. He averaged a career best 26.8 points in the 1996-97 season with the Charlotte Hornets, while shooting an absurd 47 percent from downtown.
With his size and elite shooting, Rice would certainly be a perfect fit in the league right now. He played small forward for much of his career, but would likely feature as a stretch four in small ball lineups if ever a time machine brought him to the NBA today.
Mitch Richmond
Arguably one of the most overlooked stars of the decade, Mitch Richmond was as elite as they come when it comes to putting up points on the board. Nicknamed “The Rock,” Richmond averaged over 20 points through the first 10 seasons of his career.
Richmond was a player who could score in a multitude of ways and was an absolute sniper from beyond the arc. At 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, the 1989 Rookie of the Year possessed an elite shooting stroke and athleticism. Richmond certainly had all the tools to be a superstar in the NBA.
Unfortunately, Richmond spent majority of his prime playing on some awful Sacramento Kings teams that only made the playoffs once in his seven seasons there. Through that stretch, however, the 6-foot-5 guard made six All-Star appearances and averaged 23.3 points per game, while shooting over 40 percent from long distance.
Richmond would surely be much more appreciated if he played in today's NBA. The dude was a straight bucket-getter while playing in a league that didn't give much emphasis on his best skill: the 3-pointer. A 25-point scorer in his prime, it's not hard to imagine Richmond dropping 30 a night in this era.
Chris Webber
Most NBA fans would remember Chris Webber as the cornerstone of the early 2000's Sacramento Kings teams that almost topped the almighty Los Angeles Lakers. However, Webber actually played a good chunk of his career in the 1990's.
Drafted first overall in the 1992 NBA draft, Webber pretty much turned every team he went to into a winner. In his rookie season, he led the Golden State Warriors to the playoffs. When he arrived to the Washington Wizards, he helped snap their nine-year playoff drought in 1997. And of course, he made the Kings one of the best teams in the league.
A 6-foot-10 power forward with brute strength and athleticism, Webber also possessed a savvy offensive game. He had a good handle on the ball and had a soft touch with both passing the rock and shooting from the perimeter. With the league putting much emphasis on 3-point shooting, Webber, a career 29.9 percent shooter from long range, would undoubtedly adapt and develop his skills more as a shooter. Without a doubt, these skills would make Webber thrive in today's NBA.
Reggie Miller
Reggie Miller is arguably the perfect player to put on a time machine from the 1990s and drop in today's NBA. The Pacers lifer put Indiana on the map and carried the franchise for nearly two decades. Featured in some of the greatest moments in NBA history, Miller was one of the most polarizing stars of the decade.
Many fans, however, argue whether Miller was a true star during his time in the NBA, mainly because his numbers don't jump out the page at first glance. A five-time All-Star, he averaged 18.2 points per game throughout his 18-year career. Miller, likewise, never became a “25 points a night guy” at any point in his career. In fact, his best season-long output came in the 1989-90 season, where he put up 24.6 points per game. He also averaged over 20 points just six times in his career.
But Reggie was clearly ahead of his time. For someone who was exclusively known for his 3-point shooting, Miller actually just averaged just 4.7 3-point field goal attempts through his career, making 1.4 a game.
Imagine him in this era, though, coming off screens with all this pace and space. He would easily launch 10 to 12 threes a game, while converting 3 to 4 triples a night. That would easily make him a 25-point scorer in today's NBA, which is undoubtedly in superstar category.
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