The 10 Best NBA Players of Each Decade: 2000s

The NBA’s global footprints have made it one of the fastest-growing leagues in professional sports, and the emergence of superstars is a big reason for that.

No period of the league’s history promoted the growth of stars more than the 2000s, when dozens of names emerged as defining figures of the game for generations to come.

As this shift from system-driven play to superstar dominance occurred, 10 men in particular etched their names in basketball immortality more than any others during the 2000s.

1. Kobe Bryant

If anyone had the right to lay claim to the title of “Face of the NBA” in the aftermath of Michael Jordan’s retirement, it was Kobe Bryant. Kobe’s trademark pull-up jumper had kids around the world shouting his name in pickup games, and his contributions on the court have been matched by few.

Bryant averaged 28.2 points per game between 2000 and 2009, topped with an 81-point outing against the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 22, 2006. He helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers to four appearances in the NBA Finals that decade, winning three times. Throw in an NBA Most Valuable Player nod in 2008 to go along with two scoring titles, and Bryant found himself as the defining star of the 2000s.

2. Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan has plenty of accolades that serve as a testament to his talents, but his leadership and team contributions have him on the short list of greatest big men in NBA history. The 6-foot-11 Duncan was the lynchpin of the Spurs dynasty of the 2000s, with his play in the post delivering three NBA Championships that decade.

Duncan thrust himself into the conversation for best power forward to ever play by averaging a double-double with 21.4 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. He would also collect back-to-back MVP honors in 2002 and 2003.

3. Shaquille O’Neal

If the 2000s served as the end of the era of the big man, then there were several iconic ones to send it out in style.

Shaq asserted his presence in the ’90s with the Orlando Magic, but his move to the Lakers allowed him to grow into a monster. His sheer size and physicality were unmatched, as he and Bryant took the Lakers to three consecutive NBA Finals wins. Shaq would win NBA Finals MVP in each of them, along with the 2000 NBA MVP Award. He’d finish the decade averaging 23.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per contest.

4. LeBron James

Though the 2010s would be when LeBron James would truly cement his greatness, the 2000s are when we were first introduced to a kid from Akron.

Dubbed “The Chosen One” out of high school, LeBron more than lived up to the hype. He’d capture Rookie of the Year his first season, and would make six All-Star appearances during the decade. James took home two NBA MVP trophies in that time, averaging 27.5 points per game. His elite play would take the Cleveland Cavaliers to the 2007 NBA Finals, the catalyst for the beginning of endless comparisons to Michael Jordan.

5. Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett is one of the most intense players to have ever stepped foot on the court, and when you consider the caliber of big men in the league at the time, it’s easy to understand why. Even with that competition, Garnett delivered big en route to a Hall of Fame career.

The Timberwolves and Celtics legend averaged 21.6 points and 12.1 rebounds per game during the 2000s, capturing an MVP Award in 2004. However, his play was headlined by helping bring Boston back to prominence by knocking off Kobe and the Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals, a boost to his legacy few players can say they have.

6. Allen Iverson

If you ever questioned who was the most electric player in the NBA during the 2000s, this man was “The Answer.”

A prolific and athletic scorer, Allen Iverson was the face of Philadelphia basketball in the early 2000s, leading the 76ers to the NBA Finals against the Lakers in 2001 while capturing league MVP honors. Iverson would go on to win four scoring titles during the decade, averaging 28.3 points per game across stints with the Sixers, Nuggets, Pistons, and Grizzlies.

Though Iverson wasn’t interested in practice, he was the ultimate gamer.

7. Dirk Nowitzki

Few power forwards have scored at the rate Dirk Nowitzki did during the 2000s, as he transformed the role of the position at that time.

Nowitzki was a four-time All-NBA 1st Team selection during the decade, capturing an MVP Award en route to shooting nearly fifty percent from the field during the 2008-2009 season. His first championship would come in the following decade, but his stamp as a big man who could shoot would change the trajectory of guys his size for years to come.

8. Jason Kidd

If the point guard is the quarterback of the NBA, then Jason Kidd was the Patrick Mahomes of his time.

Kidd broke out with the New Jersey Nets, leading them to two NBA Finals appearances, and pairing up with (honorable mention for this list) Vince Carter to form one of the greatest duos in the league. He averaged 13.9 points and 9.1 assists per game from 2000 to 2009, displaying elite basketball IQ and court awareness.

9. Steve Nash

Steve Nash, meanwhile, was the perfect point guard for Mike D’Antoni’s offensive juggernaut in Phoenix during the 2000s. Nash led the NBA in assists five times in that period, and averaged 16.4 points per game.

Nash is arguably the greatest Canadian player in NBA history, and captured two MVP Awards during his run in Phoenix. He also made seven All-Star Game appearances.

10. Dwyane Wade

Shaq was the big acquisition that made the Miami Heat championship contenders, but Dwyane Wade’s emergence in 2006 was the reason they actually captured one at the time.

The 2003 fifth overall pick was the perfect complement to Diesel, winning 2006 NBA Finals MVP after leading the Heat to a title win over the Mavericks. Wade was an All-Star six times during the 2000s, averaging 25.2 points per game while also being heralded for his defensive skill set.