photo - AP
Happy New Year to all our readers. tLayupDrill.com takes time today to reflect back on an incredible decade of pro basketball. The decade started and ended with a familiar site: Kobe Bryant lifting the NBA Title in the air in mid-June. Of course, the circumstances around the first 3peat run with Shaq, and his redemption title seems like a lifetime ago. In between all of that, we have seen the rise of the King(Lebron), CP3(Chris Paul), Steve Nash, Melo, D-Wade, and Dirk. We saw the decade begin with The Answer willing an undermanned Sixers team to the Finals, and Iverson humbly returning to Philly after being casted off as a has-been by the rest of the league.
LayupDrill.com takes some time to reflect back on the 10 best players of the decade, with the help of YouTube video to help remind you of some of them. Enjoy.
10. Dwyane Wade – Miami Heat
D-Wade became the face of a franchise that was thirsty for a winner from the moment he set foot in South Florida in 2003. Coming from the famed Draft Class of ’03, that featured the likes of Lebron, Carmelo, and Chris Bosh, Wade enjoyed the most postseason success of that heralded list, as he had one of the best playoff runs of the decade in 2006, lifting the Heat to the title over the Dallas Mavericks.
9. Allen Iverson – Philadelphia 76ers
At one point, Iverson would have been looked at in the top five of this list, however the decline of one of the most prolific scorers in league history has taken it’s toll on the veteran. Who could forget this performance in the NBA Finals against the defending champion Lakers in 2001.
Iverson’s 3 scoring titles and 2000-01 MVP award has him in the discussion of one of the best little men in league history.
8. Kevin Garnett – Boston Celtics
Even before K.G was traded to the Celtics from the Timberwolves, he had cemented his name amongst the greats as one of the most fierce competitors in the league. Garnett owns nearly all of the Timberwolves franchise records, and had won various individual awards, including 2003-04 NBA MVP, and 2007-08 Defensive Player of the year. The one moment from the past decade that I will always remember of Garnett occurred after the Celtics had defeated the Lakers for the NBA Title.
7. Paul Pierce – Boston Celtics
For most of the decade, Paul Pierce was the face of the most storied franchise in the NBA. The Celtics began this decade as a team with a star, but not much more. Things began to come together though once Doc Rivers came on board, and then the acquistion of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. The face of the franchise was one of the most clutch players of this decade, hitting big shot after big shot when he needed too. The epic Game 7 battle against Lebron James in the 2007 Playoffs put the rest of the country on notice that Pierce is a true superstar in his own right, but his performance against the Lakers in the NBA Finals showed his true grit and determination.
6. Steve Nash – Phoenix Suns
Whether you love or hate the run-n-gun style of play the Phoenix Suns have made popular this decade, you can’t deny the talent of the floor general. 2 Time NBA MVP Steve Nash has endured many changes over the years, but his incredible playmaking ability, clutch shooting, and SportsCenter highlight passing keeps us wanting more. Check out the highlights from his 2005-06 season.
5. Jason Kidd – New Jersey Nets/Dallas Mavericks
As good as Steve Nash was this decade, anyone who can take the New Jersey Nets franchise to the NBA Finals TWICE is worthy of top 5 status. Nevermind the fact that Kidd is arguably one of the 5 best point guards of all time, his decade of greatness in both New Jersey and Dallas has no peer at the point guard position.
4. Lebron James – Cleveland Cavaliers
Let’s remember Lebron is only 24 years old. If LayupDrill.com is still going strong in December 2019, he could very well be number one of the next decade’s top 10. For now, lets reflect on some of the bigggest moments in the King’s career.
3. Shaquille O’ Neal – L.A Lakers/Miami Heat/Cleveland Cavaliers
Shaq will go down as one of the most entertaining, at times dominating, players in the history of the league. His four NBA titles has him in a tie with the two players ranked above him on our list(Duncan, Kobe). Some young fans don’t remember the O’Neal who would average 30 and 15 in an entire series against top talent. They may not recall the “Hack a Shaq” strategy the Blazers made famous in the early 2000′s. Shaq’s work ethic may be questioned by basketball purists, as he has not always kept himself in prime shape, however, moments like these are etched in NBA history:
2. Kobe Bryant – L.A Lakers
The Kobe/Shaq feud brought out the best of both future hall of famers, including 3 titles together, and 1 apart. Bryant’s rise to superstardom, then fall from grace, and rise once again is one that has not truly been seen before in today’s NBA. Bryant has some all time great performances this decade, including his 81 point explosion vs. the Raptors, and last season’s dominating show put on in MSG vs the Knicks.
1. Tim Duncan – San Antonio Spurs
Timmy isn’t the most marketable star in the NBA, and certainly not the most popular of the past decade. However, Duncan was the most consistent and the best winner of them all this past decade, and takes the top spot on our list. Duncan, nicknamed “The Big Fundamental” by rival Shaq, is a throwback big man, who relies on true fundamental skills to make up for his shortcomings against faster or stronger foes. His basketball I.Q is among the highest of all players in the league, and the intangibles in the clutch make Duncan one of the best big game players in league history.
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Lebron as usually overrated
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