In its current state, is the NBA a joke?

There has been more champions this decade in the NBA than in the 2000's, the 90's, the 80's, the 60's, and the 40's. Tied with the 50's, and only the 70's have more.

This is nothing new for the NBA. You either like it or you don't, it'll never be different than this. It is a player dominated league.