Top 10 NBA Players of the Decade

Alright, this list is going to be tough to do, just because all these guys haven't been playing for the WHOLE decade. So we're going to take into count a multitude of factors. Preference is going to be given for guys that played all 10 years.

1) Kobe Bryant
Years: 10
Key Stats: 28.2 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 5.2 APG
Awards:
4x NBA Championships
1x NBA Finals MVP
1x NBA MVP
10x NBA All-Star
2x NBA Scoring Leader
7x All-NBA First Team
7x All-Defensive First Team
3x NBA All-Star Game MVP

What more needs to be said about this guy? Closest thing we have ever seen to Michael Jordan. He does it all: he scores, he creates, he plays D, and he wins. When they said he couldn't win without Shaq, he shut everyone up in 2009. Easily the best player of the decade. Perhaps the best shot in the game. and if you're going to play him tight cause of the shot, he'll just burn you on the dribble. Kobe is simply one of the most unstoppable offensive forces in NBA history. I think the scariest part of all this is the fact that he's only 30 right now. He could play at this level for at least another 4-5 years.

2) Tim Duncan
Years: 10
Key Stats: 21.4 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 50.5 FG%
Awards:
3x NBA Championships
2x NBA Finals MVP
2x NBA MVP
10x NBA All-Star
9x All-NBA First Team
7x All-Defensive First Team
1x NBA All-Star Game MVP

Ah, the Big Fundamental. Tim Duncan may be the most boring, swag-less superstar any sports league has ever seen. But who cares? The numbers do the talking. Multiple championships, MVP's, and All-Star selections. He's a force on both sides of the court, and is the centerpiece of the Spurs "dynasty". That and come playoff time you're guaranteed to have a chance no matter who your opponent is - he's almost a guaranteed 20 point player on any given night.

3) Shaquille O'Neal
Years: 10
Key Stats: 22.7 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 58.5 FG%
Awards:
4x NBA Championships
3x NBA Finals MVP
1x NBA MVP 
9x NBA All-Star
1x NBa Scoring Champion
7x All-NBA First Team
3x NBA All-Star Game MVP

Even with the huge drop-off in production from Shaq in the past 3-4 years, his stats over the last 10 years average out to a ridiculous amount. This decade wasn't even the best 10 years of his career (I'd say '93-'03 was, where he was 28.1PPG, 11.9RPG, 57.8 FG%). Regardless, the guy was the key component of the Lakers' 3-peat, and was easily the most dominant force in the league for the first half of the decade. His championship with Miami just helps add to the legend.

3) Kevin Garnett
Years: 10
Key Stats: 21.4 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 4.6 APG
Awards:
1x NBA Championship
1x NBA MVP
1x NBA Defensive Player of the Year
10x NBA All-Star
4x All-NBA First Team
8x All-Defensive First Team
1x NBA All-Star Game MVP

Kevin Garnett is perhaps the most versatile big man to ever play in the NBA. And he may be the most imposing 2-way force this league has seen over the past 10 years. He was a defensive and offensive monster. He can beat you off the dribble or on the boards. He can hit the mid-range jumper or beat you in the post. He was stuck on a poor Minnesota team for most of his career, a waste when you think of all the things a legit contender could have done with KG in the lineup. The minute he went to a contender, he won a championship - a testament to what he brings. With him in the lineup, Boston always has a chance.

5) Allen Iverson
Years: 10
Key Stats: 27.9 PPG, 6.2 APG, 31.2 3P%
Awards:
1x NBA MVP
10x All-Star
3× Scoring Champion
2x All-NBA First Team
2× NBA All-Star Game MVP


Perhaps one of the biggest tragedies in the NBA this decade was how Iverson was never given the tools to create a contender. With the 76ers, he was simply unstoppable. I never thought I'd see a 6' guard score at will against much larger players playing the same positions. Although he never won a championship, the guy single-handedly took the Sixers to the NBA Finals in 2001. If there was ever a one-man show, it was that team. He took a lot of flack for his attitude, but you can't deny he was neck-and-neck with Kobe in terms of unstoppable scoring for the greater part of this decade. Odd that he was never put on the all defensive team when he led the league in steals for so long.

6) Steve Nash
Years: 10
Key Stats: 16.3 PPG, 9.21 APG, 43.4 3P%
Awards:
2x NBA MVP
6x NBA All-Star
3x NBA First Team

3x NBA Assist/Game Leader


Although not the scorer everyone else on this list has been, Nash is arguably top-5 in impact upon the game in the way he could control the pace with his creativity, speed, and skill.The only 2x MVP winner other than Duncan in this decade, he probably deserved a third (the one that went to Dirk) , but we know that's only reserved for legends. Nash his proof you don't need to be the biggest athlete to dominate in the NBA. He literally turned every guy he played with into twice the player they would have otherwise been, and his style has suited him even in his old age. And don't think this guy can't score, because he's done it when necessary. He just realizes his team has a better chance with him distributing than with him taking all the shots. Him being above Dirk and Lebron is iffy with him never making it to the Finals, but I think it's common consensus that this guy has turned the Suns from the NBA basement to annual playoff contention almost all by himself.

7) Lebron James
Years: 7
Key Stats: 27.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 6.8 APG
Awards:
1x NBA MVP
5x All-Star
1x NBA Scoring Champion
3x All-NBA First Team
1x All-Defensive First Team
2x NBA All-Star Game MVP

Since entering the league back in '03, James has been carving himself out a Kobe/Jordan like resume. He's only 24 right now, and has plenty of time to blossom as he approaches the prime of his career. But like Dirk, one of the most unique match-ups in the world. At nearly 6'9, he has the body of a strong post player, yet he has the athleticism, ball-handling, and awareness of a guard. He'll blow by your bigger defenders, and jump and shoot over your smaller ones. Along with Kobe is among the most unstoppable scorers in this league. Watch for him to have a similar resume once he reaches age 30. Only thing stopping him from being higher is the limited time we've had to see him play.

8) Dirk Nowitzki
Years: 10
Key Stats: 23.7 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 38.2 3P%
Awards:
1x MVP
8x NBA All-Star
4x All-NBA First Team

He's been the best non-American in the world for a while now, and still presents one of the most unique match-up problems in the NBA. The 7' 3-point shooter is perplexing to guard. You stick a big man on him that far out of the paint, and he finds the open man underneath or drives by him. You stick a smaller dude on him, he shoots over him. He is the key component of the Mavs' success the last 7-8 years, and it was his MVP-year dominance that led them to the best record in the league a few seasons back, as well as an NBA Finals a year earlier.

9) Dwyane Wade
Years: 7
Key Stats: 25.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 6.6 APG
Awards:
1x NBA Champion
1x NBA Finals MVP
5x NBA All-Star
1x NBA Scoring Champion
1x All-NBA First Team

In his limited time, we have seen Wade accomplish some pretty big achievements. Finals MVP, contention for multiple MVP's, All-Star games. This guy is destined for a Kobe/Lebron-esque season again this year, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him have a similar career path as those 2 when it's all said and done. He's playing on a terrible Heat team right now, and It'll be interesting to see where he goes after this year. If he joins a contender, we could see more rings on his finger very soon.

10) Tracy McGrady 
Years: 10
Key Stats: 24.4 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.2 APG
Awards:
7x NBA All-Star
2x NBA Scoring Champion
2x All-NBA First Team

Never did I think McGrady would have a better career than his cousin Vince Carter, but he really has. He was among the top-3 players in the game for the first half of the decade, probably deserving one of the MVP trophies Duncan ended up walking away with. He had a very Kobe-like game before injury troubles began to plague him, and even now is capable of dropping 30+ on any team if he's feeling up to it. His playoff failure has been well-documented, however, and is a major let-down when considering his other achievements.


Honorable Mentions:

Vince Carter - the guy averaged 23.7 PPG for the decade, and has been a clutch performer throughout. Also perhaps the greatest highlight-reel in NBA history.

 Jason Kidd - If not for the past couple years, he might have averaged a near-triple double on the career. Not to mention one of the better defensive players in the game for a good chunk of the decade