Golden age?

[Jaydumo20]

I just heard Evan Roberts call today's NBA the sport"s "Golden Age".

It took me by surprise. Im sure he has his reasons.
Is this Giannis/Jokic/Wemby era the Golden Age? What about college ball?

Extra Credit- When was the "Golden Age" in each sport, in your opinion. Is it now for some sports?

MLB
CBB (M/F)
NFL
CFB
NHL
PGA

*up to you to define the parameters of "Golden" or "Era"

 

[ConnHuskBask]

I'm guessing it's in terms of individual talent? With that respect he may be right.

I liked 90s NBA eastern conference rock fights and all the rivalries that entailed.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

This will devolve into Old School vs Modern NBA and no one will give an inch.

The only point I will (hopefully) make is that I am hellbent this is the most talented the sport has ever been. Whether you like the way the game is played or not, I really don’t think that’s anywhere near a crazy statement.

 

[Deepster]

I just heard Evan Roberts call today's NBA the sport"s "Golden Age".

It took me by surprise. Im sure he has his reasons.
Is this Giannis/Jokic/Wemby era the Golden Age? What about college ball?

Extra Credit- When was the "Golden Age" in each sport, in your opinion. Is it now for some sports?

MLB
CBB (M/F)
NFL
CFB
NHL
PGA

*up to you to define the parameters of "Golden" or "Era"

I have no idea what he means but the NBA is at its worst level since the cocaine era.

 

[Scoe]

Which era has the better bettors?

 

[mussels]

This will devolve into Old School vs Modern NBA and no one will give an inch.

The only point I will (hopefully) make is that I am hellbent this is the most talented the sport has ever been. Whether you like the way the game is played or not, I really don’t think that’s anywhere near a crazy statement.

Have to agree. Based on international growth, the talent pool they’re drawing from is larger than ever.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

I prefer when the average NBA score was 80-76 not 125-120

 

[Palatine]

It is the age of golden paychecks. But Russell versus Chamberlain is hard to match in any era.

 

[superjohn]

NBA 90's. Elite talent and a better brand of basketball. People were way more into it and the best player ever was the most recognizable person on the planet along with the other MJ. There are some great individual talents now and nobody has ever seen a freak like Wemby but it's not the product it once was and it's too easy to put up numbers now. Austin Reaves and Tyrese Maxey are putting up like 37 ppg so far.

NFL- I can't say but I liked it way more when players could lay the wood on each other, QB's weren't treated like little old ladies, and running backs were the focal point.

College hoops- mid 90s for me in terms of me watching but late 70s early 80's was the best. The top end talent was incredible.

College football- I don't know but the best team I've ever seen was the 2001 Miami Hurricanes.

Boxing- I give the edge to the 80s with Hagler, Hearns, Leonard, and Duran over the 80's with Ali, Frazier, Foreman

Tennis- the big 3 era of Djokovic, Nadal, Federer. There were guys like Murray and Wawrinka who could beat them in majors and win majors. Alacaraz and Sinner are incredible but the rest of the tour is mugs.

NHL- I don't know nearly enough about hockey to say.

PGA- golf is boring and I don't follow it closely but any generation over now where most of the top players play in Saudi Arabia and nobody watches them.

 

[navery12]

Yes, today is the golden age of the NBA. The last 10-15 years or so is the most talented and best basketball it's ever been. If you like watching 80-75 rock fights I'm sure you can find a fun high school league to follow

MLB - Currently
CBB (M/F) - Currently
NFL - Brady/Manning years

Don't follow those nearly as closely so open to other ideas but

CFB - early BCS years probably. I've never found college football particularly compelling

NHL - I guess the early Ovechkin/Crosby years

PGA - Tiger/Phil era

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Yes, today is the golden age of the NBA. The last 10-15 years or so is the most talented and best basketball it's ever been. If you like watching 80-75 rock fights I'm sure you can find a fun high school league to follow

MLB - Currently
CBB (M/F) - Currently
NFL - Brady/Manning years

Don't follow those nearly as closely so open to other ideas but

CFB - early BCS years probably. I've never found college football particularly compelling

NHL - I guess the early Ovechkin/Crosby years

PGA - Tiger/Phil era

Only argument/addition I would have is I would say Mid-2000’s CBB may have been up there. I would honestly just say like 2004/5-Modern day has been golden age.

 

[Matrim55]

The only point I will (hopefully) make is that I am hellbent this is the most talented the sport has ever been. Whether you like the way the game is played or not, I really don’t think that’s anywhere near a crazy statement.

 

[HW611]

Think the golden era for the NBA is happening currently. The talent in the league is just remarkable thanks to the international players and the role players have never been better. Even though Americans aren’t as good as they used to be.

CBB was the 2004-2009 era for me. Perfect mix of juggernaut blue bloods, diaper dandies, and just a level of individual play we really haven’t seen since.

MLB was the steroid era. Idc

CFB was the mid 2000s BCS era.

NFL never really seems to fall on or off. This era of QBs are just as good and exciting as the mid 2000s. It’s between those two. Legendary receivers came from that 2000s period and defenders though so maybe I give that the edge.

Seems like a lot of sports peaked in the 2000s to be honest.

 

[navery12]

Only argument/addition I would have is I would say Mid-2000’s CBB may have been up there. I would honestly just say like 2004/5-Modern day has been golden age.

I could be convinced of that. I just think with NIL the talent has never been better in college basketball

 

[superjohn]

I could be convinced of that. I just think with NIL the talent has never been better in college basketball

It was significantly better when the top players played several years of college and were upperclassmen instead of leaving after their freshman year. Just look at the All-America teams now compared to back in the day.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

It was significantly better when the top players played several years of college and were upperclassmen instead of leaving after their freshman year. Just look at the All-America teams now compared to back in the day.

Talent distribution is definitely better now/last 20 years, and the second level players are starting to stay longer with NIL.

 

[RuffRuff]

All sports are better - the athlete is simply better due to info/tech/fitness and specialization, and globalization. It’s just that their personalities are far more boring. Show me today’s Iverson. Ron Artest?

What we don’t have is all the juicey narratives, the regional rivalries, the old school detest for you rival. All the stuff that makes it more entertaining. Players don’t have as much grit or chip on the shoulder anymore, they were brought up through club teams. The Cam Spencer’s are few and far between.

Data and analytics has also lead to things like load management, which lessen the quality of the reg season.

MLB talking about realignment regionally which could make things very interesting that way. But the aspect of rivals barely exists anymore. Do Sox players truly hate the Yanks anymore? Do they take on their fan base? I don’t really see it. Everyone is afraid of being a bad viral on SM these days. Players don’t have edge.

Quality is up, personality is down.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

All sports are better - the athlete is simply better due to info/tech/fitness and specialization, and globalization. It’s just that their personalities are far more boring. Show me today’s Iverson. Ron Artest?

What we don’t have is all the juicey narratives, the regional rivalries, the old school detest for you rival. All the stuff that makes it more entertaining. Players don’t have as much grit or chip on the shoulder anymore, they were brought up through club teams. The Cam Spencer’s are few and far between.

Data and analytics has also lead to things like load management, which lessen the quality of the reg season.

MLB talking about realignment regionally which could make things very interesting that way. But the aspect of rivals barely exists anymore. Do Sox players truly hate the Yanks anymore? Do they take on their fan base? I don’t really see it. Everyone is afraid of being a bad viral on SM these days. Players don’t have edge.

Quality is up, personality is down.

Spot on. Every sport will have better players in the current day than 10-20 years prior. That’s just the natural evolution of athletics. Doesn’t mean the sport is more fun or watchable. Current NBA, to me, is eh. You can take 5 steps to the hoop and apparently no one cares. NFL you can give the QB a pat on the back and it’s roughing the passer. CBB everything is a touch foul. I think over-officiating has collectively made most sports worse. Soccer a prime example with VAR.

 

[navery12]

It was significantly better when the top players played several years of college and were upperclassmen instead of leaving after their freshman year. Just look at the All-America teams now compared to back in the day.

But that's my point, that's why I'm saying today is the golden age. With NIL we're starting to see guys stay in college longer and much better teams overall

 

[superjohn]

College basketball All-American teams recently...

2024-2025
1st team- Johni Broome, Walter Clayton, Cooper Flagg, Mark Sears, Braden Smith

2nd team- PJ Haggerty, Kam Jones, RJ Luis, John Tonje, JT Toppin

3rd team- LJ Cryer, Hunter Dickinson, Eric Dixon, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Zakai Zeigler

2023-2024
1st team- RJ Davis, Zach Edey, Dalton Knecht, Tristen Newton, Jamal Shead

2nd team- Hunter Dickinson, Kyle Filipowski, DaRon Holmes, Tyler Kolek, Mark Sears

3rd team- Johni Broome, Jaedon LeDee, Caleb Love, Baylor Scheierman, Terrence Shannon

Back in the day...

1984-1985
1st team- Patrick Ewing, Keith Lee, Xavier McDaniel, Chris Mullin, Wayman Tisdale

2nd team- Len Bias, Johnny Dawkins, Jon Koncak, Mark Price, Kenny Walker

3rd team- AC Green, Alfrederick Hughes, Roy Tarpley, Sam Vincent, Pearl Washington

1983-1984
1st team- Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Sam Perkins, Wayman Tisdale

2nd team- Sam Bowie, Michael Cage, Devin Durrant, Chris Mullin, Leon Wood

3rd team- Lorenzo Charles, Keith Lee, Alvin Robertson, Melvin Turpin, Michael Young

1982-1983
1st team- Dale Ellis, Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan, Ralph Sampson, Wayman Tisdale

2nd team- Clyde Drexler, Derek Harper, Keith Lee, Steve Stepanovich, Darrell Walker

3rd team- Antoine Carr, Kenny Fields, Sam Perkins, John Pinone, Ennis Whatley

1981- 1982
1st team- Terry Cummings, Quintin Dailey, Sleepy Floyd, Kevin Magee, Ralph Sampson

2nd team- Lester Conner, Dale Ellis, Keith Lee, Terry Teagle, James Worthy

3rd team- Dan Callandrillo, Ricky Frazier, Ricky Pierce, Paul Pressey, Dominique Wilkins

I'm not even getting into the late 70s teams with Bird, Magic, and Moncrief

 

[UConnTrumbull]

College basketball All-American teams recently...

2024-2025
1st team- Johni Broome, Walter Clayton, Cooper Flagg, Mark Sears, Braden Smith

2nd team- PJ Haggerty, Kam Jones, RJ Luis, John Tonje, JT Toppin

3rd team- LJ Cryer, Hunter Dickinson, Eric Dixon, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Zakai Zeigler

2023-2024
1st team- RJ Davis, Zach Edey, Dalton Knecht, Tristen Newton, Jamal Shead

2nd team- Hunter Dickinson, Kyle Filipowski, DaRon Holmes, Tyler Kolek, Mark Sears

3rd team- Johni Broome, Jaedon LeDee, Caleb Love, Baylor Scheierman, Terrence Shannon

Back in the day...

1984-1985
1st team- Patrick Ewing, Keith Lee, Xavier McDaniel, Chris Mullin, Wayman Tisdale

2nd team- Len Bias, Johnny Dawkins, Jon Koncak, Mark Price, Kenny Walker

3rd team- AC Green, Alfrederick Hughes, Roy Tarpley, Sam Vincent, Pearl Washington

1983-1984
1st team- Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Sam Perkins, Wayman Tisdale

2nd team- Sam Bowie, Michael Cage, Devin Durrant, Chris Mullin, Leon Wood

3rd team- Lorenzo Charles, Keith Lee, Alvin Robertson, Melvin Turpin, Michael Young

1982-1983
1st team- Dale Ellis, Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan, Ralph Sampson, Wayman Tisdale

2nd team- Clyde Drexler, Derek Harper, Keith Lee, Steve Stepanovich, Darrell Walker

3rd team- Antoine Carr, Kenny Fields, Sam Perkins, John Pinone, Ennis Whatley

1981- 1982
1st team- Terry Cummings, Quintin Dailey, Sleepy Floyd, Kevin Magee, Ralph Sampson

2nd team- Lester Conner, Dale Ellis, Keith Lee, Terry Teagle, James Worthy

3rd team- Dan Callandrillo, Ricky Frazier, Ricky Pierce, Paul Pressey, Dominique Wilkins

I'm not even getting into the late 70s teams with Bird, Magic, and Moncrief

It’s not even a debate. Now you get 1st team guys who barely get drafted.

 

[superjohn]

But that's my point, that's why I'm saying today is the golden age. With NIL we're starting to see guys stay in college longer and much better teams overall

Not better than the early 80's and mid 90's where all the top players stayed in college. The top players who are first round talents and many who are second round talents leave right away now.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

I just heard Evan Roberts call today's NBA the sport"s "Golden Age".

It took me by surprise. Im sure he has his reasons.
Is this Giannis/Jokic/Wemby era the Golden Age? What about college ball?

Extra Credit- When was the "Golden Age" in each sport, in your opinion. Is it now for some sports?

MLB
CBB (M/F)
NFL
CFB
NHL
PGA

*up to you to define the parameters of "Golden" or "Era"

MLB - Early 1960s, but now is pretty awesome

CBB - Hmm…pretty consistent?

NFL - Early 2000s?

CFB - Late 1990s?

NHL - Late 1990s? Now is pretty awesome too.

PGA - 1960s/1970s

 

[superjohn]

Spot on. Every sport will have better players in the current day than 10-20 years prior. That’s just the natural evolution of athletics. Doesn’t mean the sport is more fun or watchable. Current NBA, to me, is eh. You can take 5 steps to the hoop and apparently no one cares. NFL you can give the QB a pat on the back and it’s roughing the passer. CBB everything is a touch foul. I think over-officiating has collectively made most sports worse. Soccer a prime example with VAR.

I agree with your overall point but why do you think the athletes have evolved so much?

 

[HW611]

College basketball All-American teams recently...

2024-2025
1st team- Johni Broome, Walter Clayton, Cooper Flagg, Mark Sears, Braden Smith

2nd team- PJ Haggerty, Kam Jones, RJ Luis, John Tonje, JT Toppin

3rd team- LJ Cryer, Hunter Dickinson, Eric Dixon, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Zakai Zeigler

2023-2024
1st team- RJ Davis, Zach Edey, Dalton Knecht, Tristen Newton, Jamal Shead

2nd team- Hunter Dickinson, Kyle Filipowski, DaRon Holmes, Tyler Kolek, Mark Sears

3rd team- Johni Broome, Jaedon LeDee, Caleb Love, Baylor Scheierman, Terrence Shannon

Back in the day...

1984-1985
1st team- Patrick Ewing, Keith Lee, Xavier McDaniel, Chris Mullin, Wayman Tisdale

2nd team- Len Bias, Johnny Dawkins, Jon Koncak, Mark Price, Kenny Walker

3rd team- AC Green, Alfrederick Hughes, Roy Tarpley, Sam Vincent, Pearl Washington

1983-1984
1st team- Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Sam Perkins, Wayman Tisdale

2nd team- Sam Bowie, Michael Cage, Devin Durrant, Chris Mullin, Leon Wood

3rd team- Lorenzo Charles, Keith Lee, Alvin Robertson, Melvin Turpin, Michael Young

1982-1983
1st team- Dale Ellis, Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan, Ralph Sampson, Wayman Tisdale

2nd team- Clyde Drexler, Derek Harper, Keith Lee, Steve Stepanovich, Darrell Walker

3rd team- Antoine Carr, Kenny Fields, Sam Perkins, John Pinone, Ennis Whatley

1981- 1982
1st team- Terry Cummings, Quintin Dailey, Sleepy Floyd, Kevin Magee, Ralph Sampson

2nd team- Lester Conner, Dale Ellis, Keith Lee, Terry Teagle, James Worthy

3rd team- Dan Callandrillo, Ricky Frazier, Ricky Pierce, Paul Pressey, Dominique Wilkins

I'm not even getting into the late 70s teams with Bird, Magic, and Moncrief

2005-2009 All American teams

2005

Andrew Bogut	Utah
Chris Paul	Wake Forest
Dee Brown	Illinois
Hakim Warrick	Syracuse
J.J. Redick	Duke
Wayne Simien Jr	Kansas

1st Team

Deron Williams	Illinois
Ike Diogu	Arizona State
Luther Head	Illinois
Salim Stoudamire	Arizona
Sean May	North Carolina

2nd Team

2006

Adam Morrison	Gonzaga
Brandon Roy	Washington
J.J. Redick (2)	Duke
Randy Foye	Villanova
Shelden Williams	Duke

1st Team

Allan Ray	Villanova
Dee Brown (2)	Illinois
Leon Powe Jr	California
P.J. Tucker Jr	Texas
Rodney Carney	Memphis
Rudy Gay Jr	Connecticut
Tyler Hansbrough	North Carolina

2nd Team

2007​

Acie Law IV	Texas A&M
Alando Tucker	Wisconsin
Arron Afflalo	UCLA
Kevin Durant	Texas
Tyler Hansbrough (2)	North Carolina

1st Team

Chris Lofton	Tennessee
Greg Oden Jr	Ohio State
Jared Dudley	Boston College
Joakim Noah	Florida
Nick Fazekas	Nevada

2nd Team

2008

Chris Douglas-Roberts	Memphis
D.J. Augustin Jr	Texas
Kevin Love	UCLA
Michael Beasley	Kansas State
Tyler Hansbrough (3)	North Carolina

1st Team

Chris Lofton (2)	Tennessee
D.J. White	Indiana
Luke Harangody	Notre Dame
Roy Hibbert	Georgetown
Shan Foster	Vanderbilt
Stephen Curry	Davidson

2nd Team

2009

Blake Griffin	Oklahoma
DeJuan Blair	Pittsburgh
James Harden	Arizona State
Stephen Curry (2)	Davidson
Tyler Hansbrough (4)	North Carolina

1st Team

Hasheem Thabeet	Connecticut
Jeff Teague	Wake Forest
Jodie Meeks	Kentucky
Luke Harangody (2)	Notre Dame
Sherron Collins	Kansas
Ty Lawson	North Carolina

2nd Team