Alright, let’s gab about them basketball fellas from the 1980s. You know, the ones my grandkids keep yappin’ about.
The Big Shots
First off, gotta talk ’bout that Jordan fella. Michael Jordan, they call him. Now, I ain’t seen much of him playin’ live, but the young’uns, they swear he’s the best ever. Says he could fly, that boy. Jumped higher than a beanstalk, they tell me. And he scored like nobody’s business. Folks say he started out in the ’80s, and man, did he leave a mark. He and that other fella, what was his name? Oh yeah, Scottie Pippen. Them two, they was like peas in a pod, always winnin’ stuff. Made them Bulls somethin’ special.
Then there’s Magic Johnson. Now, he was somethin’ else. Big ol’ smile, always happy-go-lucky. But don’t let that fool ya, he was slick on the court. Passed the ball like it was on a string, and he could score too. He played with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, that tall drink o’ water. Kareem, he was already a star when the ’80s rolled around, but he kept on goin’, still a force to be reckoned with. And that skyhook of his? Unstoppable, they say. Magic and Kareem, they made the Lakers the team to beat, always in them championships.
And don’t forget about Larry Bird. That boy from French Lick, Indiana. Folks say he was country strong, just like us. He wasn’t flashy, but he got the job done. Shot the ball like a dream, and tough as nails. Him and Magic, they had this big rivalry goin’, Lakers versus Celtics. Them games, they was somethin’ special, everybody gathered ’round the TV, cheerin’ and hollerin’. The whole country was watchin’.
- Dominique Wilkins: Now, this fella, they say he could dunk like nobody’s business. Jumped so high, seemed like he could touch the roof. He and Jordan, they had some dunk contests, folks still talk about ’em. Said he put on a show every night.
- Julius Erving: They called him “Dr. J,” fancy name, huh? He was one of the high-flyers too, before all these other young fellas came along. Smooth as silk, they said. Scored a bunch of points and played real good defense.
- Moses Malone: This fella, he was a bruiser. Tough as they come, grabbed all the rebounds. They said he was a “Chairman of the Boards,” whatever that means. Played hard every night, that’s for sure.
- Charles Barkley: Another tough guy. They called him the “Round Mound of Rebound.” He wasn’t as tall as some of them other fellas, but he was strong and he could jump. Always scrappin’ and fightin’ for everythin’.
- Hakeem Olajuwon: They called him “The Dream,” and for good reason. This fella had moves nobody ever seen before. Footwork like a dancer, they said. And he could block shots like nobody’s business. Started his big career in the 80s, and went on to be even bigger later, they say.
- Clyde Drexler: Oh, and that Drexler fella, another one who could fly. Part of that team with Hakeem, made them Rockets real good. Smooth player, could do it all.
Now, there’s a whole bunch of other fellas playin’ back then, too many to name. But these guys, they were the cream of the crop, the ones everybody talked about. The ’80s, that was a good time for basketball. The game was tough, and the players, they were somethin’ special. They played hard, they played fair, and they entertained the crowds. That’s what matters, ain’t it?
These fellas, they made basketball what it is today. They paved the way for all them young’uns runnin’ around now. And even though times have changed, and the game’s a little different, folks still remember the ’80s, the golden age of basketball, some say. It was a time of legends, a time of rivalries, and a time of pure, unadulterated basketball.
So next time you’re watchin’ them youngsters play, remember where it all come from. Remember them fellas from the ’80s, the ones who made the game what it is today. They might be old-timers now, but they’ll always be legends in my book.
Tags: 1980s Basketball, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, NBA Legends, Basketball History, Dominique Wilkins, Julius Erving, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Scottie Pippen, Moses Malone, Charles Barkley, Top Basketball Players.