# NBA's lack of parity.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbas-lack-of-parity/824373
**Category:** The Game Room
**Created:** [November 11, 2018, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbas-lack-of-parity/824373 "2018-11-11T23:12:37Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@CastletonSnob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CastletonSnob)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2018, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbas-lack-of-parity/824373/1 "2018-11-11T23:12:37Z")
What do you think has contributed to the NBA’s lack of parity? The Warriors and the Cavs have played each other in the finals for 4 years in a row.
---
### Author:  [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2018, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbas-lack-of-parity/824373/2 "2018-11-12T05:22:02Z")
I liked when it was more fair, like the Lakers of the 80s making the Finals all but once during the 80s, and the Celtics being there half the time as well. Or when Chicago blew up everyone with Jordan/Pippen for the majority of the 90s. Or Lakers 2.0 spending most of the 2000s in the Finals, only to be replaced by the Spurs when they decided to take a season off. Or since then, when whoever won the East was (insert LeBron’s team here).
The NBA has never had parity. Prior to the salary cap, it was big markets dominating everything. With the salary cap, they also capped salaries, so someone like James, Curry, Leonard, or Durant can have an incredible effect on the court while still being paid below market value. The NBA combines the inanity of the MLB’s “cap” with the outsize impact of NFL quarterbacks for true superstars. They’ve never pretended to desire parity, only that the dominating teams change it up every decade or so.
---
### Author:  [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2018, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbas-lack-of-parity/824373/3 "2018-11-12T13:59:57Z")
[Is this the monthly NBA parity thread?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=863575)
---
### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2018, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nbas-lack-of-parity/824373/4 "2018-11-12T14:01:35Z")
I’m not sure what happened here (the OPs are word-for-word identical!), but I’ll close this one.