Every NBA Team’s Best Player In The 2000s

The 2000s decade in the NBA is one of the better decades of basketball we have seen as NBA fans. The league was abundant in All-Star talent, relentless defense, and players that established themselves as superstars. Teams were far more defensive-minded and less adept at shooting the three-point shot. Teams averaged 15 to 20 points per game less than the average team does in today’s game while shooting half as much as today as well. Nonetheless, the NBA was in its golden age and produced some of the most exciting basketball of all time.

The beginning of the decade was dominated by Shaq, Kobe, and the Los Angeles Lakers, who won three straight championships from 2000 through 2002. The San Antonio Spurs staked their claim as the team of the decade, winning three championships in the 2000s. The Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, and Miami Heat each claimed one championship of their own, and the Lakers again closed out the decade as NBA champions. The parity across the league was a thing of beauty, and competition was at an all-time high. Today, we speak about the players who delivered this entertaining brand of basketball on a nightly basis.

Here is every NBA team’s best player from the 2000s decade.

Atlanta Hawks – Joe Johnson

1999-00 to 2009-09 Achievements (with Hawks): 3x All-Star

When we talk about players who have “a bag”, one of the first names that come to mind for me is Joe Johnson. Defenders found themselves on an island all alone whenever they were stuck with defending “Iso Joe”. The way Johnson could create his own shot was flawless, and his mid-range jumper was on the mark, making it so much more fun to watch. He was a versatile scorer who slowed the game down to his preference in order to take over at any point in time.

From 2005-06 through 2009-10, Johnson recorded 5 straight seasons of at least 20.0 PPG. In 2007, Johnson averaged 25.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 4.4 APG on 47.1% shooting. He was named an All-Star in 6 straight seasons with the Hawks and helped lead them to 2 playoff berths in the 2000s. As far as his legacy goes, anybody who watched him play knows how talented and skilled he was. It is just too bad he never cashed for a championship ring.

Boston Celtics – Paul Pierce

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Celtics): 1x Finals MVP, 7x All-Star, 4x All-NBA Team Selection

There is no other player who embodied the Boston Celtics in the 2000s better than Paul Pierce. “The Truth” had the basketball IQ of a Greek God, seemingly always 3 steps ahead of his opponent when the ball was in his hands. He was deceptively fast and could create his own shot easily using his signature pull-up jumper for the dagger. Pierce’s jumper demanded respect, allowing him to blow by some of the league’s best defenders and finish at the basket using his big frame and crafty arsenal.

At his peak, Paul Pierce was a consistent 25.0 PPG and 7.0 RPG threat. He was selected to 7 All-Star Teams during the 200s and peaked offensively in 2006. That season, he averaged 26.8 PPG and 4.7 APG, but the Celtics finished with a below-average 33 wins. That was forgiven and forgotten when Boston acquired Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in 2008. Pierre would lead the team to the NBA Finals in 2008. The Celtics would emerge victorious, with Pierce being named Finals MVP. He averaged 21.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 6.3 APG to lead the Celtics to the 6-game series win.

Brooklyn Nets – Jason Kidd

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Nets): 5x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team Selection, 6x All-Defensive Team Selection

Jason Kidd deserves to be in all the great point guard discussions, and his work with the New Jersey Nets is the biggest piece of evidence for it. Kidd was one of if not the best passing point guards in the NBA during the 2000s. He led the league in assists back-to-back seasons with the New Jersey Nets in 2003 and 2004. The most underrated part of his game was his rebounding. Before the triple-double was as common as it is today, Kidd was the poster boy for the statistic in the 2000s, fighting the bigs of the era for boards on every single possession. Kidd’s contributions to the Nets were further evidenced by doubling their win total in his first season with the team in 2002 from 26 to 52 wins under his leadership.

The pinnacle of Kidd’s career with the Nets is very clearly his trips to the 2002 and 2003 NBA Finals. The Nets really had no business in the Finals those 2 seasons, but with Kidd running things on the court, it was inevitable. In the 2 Finals runs combined, Kidd averaged 19.6 PPG, 8.0 RPG, and 8.6 APG on 40.9% shooting. In 2002, he finished runner-up for the MVP award and finished Top 10 twice in both 2003 and 2004. Kidd and the Nets never hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy, but his impact on the franchise is cemented in NBA history.

Charlotte Hornets – Baron Davis

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Hornets): 2x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection

As one of the more versatile and electric guards in the NBA, Baron Davis is quite easily the Hornets’ best player from the 2000s. Davis was a potent scorer from the point guard position with freak athleticism and a propensity for hitting tough shots. He was a master at using his body to power through the lane and finish at the basket. He could shoot the 3-point shot well when defenders backed off a bit, and he was also highly creative as a passer and playmaker. On the defensive end, he was one of the more pesky perimeter defenders in basketball.

Baron Davis developed into an All-Star by his 3rd season in Charlotte and averaged 18.1 PPG, 8.5 APG, and 2.1 SPG while doing it. Just 2 years later, Davis would be selected to the only ALl-NBA Team of his career when he had arguably the best all-around season of his career. He averaged 22.9 PPG, 7.5 APG and led the league in steals with 2.4 SPG. Davis led the Hornets to the playoffs 5 times in his career there, nearly making an Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 2001. Among all the great point guards who have played for the Hornet’s franchise, Davis is by far the most overlooked.

Chicago Bulls – Ben Gordon

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Bulls): 1x Sixth Man of the Year

Ben Gordon was one of the faces of the 2000s “Bay Bulls” that were set to usher in a new era in Chicago after the departure of every key player from their dynasty years. Gordon was an athletic and pure scoring guard who could leap over defenders and shoot the ball well from beyond the arc. He could be streaky at times, but when he was on his game, he could carry his team for big stretches if need be. Gordon was unfairly criticized by fans and media pundits for poor defense and shot selection, which in reality, weren’t all that bad.

Gordon made a significant impact on the Chicago Bulls from the outset of his career. In his rookie season, Gordon appeared in 79 games off of the bench for Chicago. He would be named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 15.1 PPG2.6 RPG, and 2.0 APG on 41.1% shooting overall and 40.5% from three. Gordon made 4 playoff appearances with the Bulls during the 2000s and averaged 20.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG, and 3.2 APG on 40.3% shooting and 38.4% from deep. Gordon’s tenure in Chicago may not have been rewarded with an All-Star appearance, but it was enough to name him their best player of the decade.

Cleveland Cavaliers – LeBron James

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Cavaliers): 1x MVP, 1x Rookie of the Year, 5x All-Star, 2x All-Star Game MVP, 5x All-NBA Team Selection, 1x All-Defensive Team Selection

What more is there really to say about LeBron James’ first stint as a young man in Cleveland? He was the most exciting player in basketball to watch as he began to move towards the status of one of the greatest players to ever play the game. He was a man who did everything on the floor and then some while helping the Cavaliers reach new levels as a franchise. As a passer, rebounder, defender, and scorer, James took the league by storm and began to enter his name in the ring for the title of the greatest player to ever live.

James became an icon and dominant player straight away in his NBA career. In just the years we are counting for the 2000s, he averaged 27.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 6.7 APG, and 1.8 SPG. He led the Cavaliers to the 2007 NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, and even though it ended in a loss, you just knew he would be back again. He took home his first scoring title in 2008 when he averaged 30.0 PPG and his first MVP in 2009. In his MVP season, he averaged 28.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 7.2 APG, 1.7 SPG, and 1.1 BPG. James would also earn his first All-Defensive Team Selection and ended the decade, having put the league on notice that he was coming for the crown.

Dallas Mavericks – Dirk Nowitzki

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Mavericks): 1x MVP, 8x All-Star, 8x All-NBA Team Selection

Dirk Nowitzki is one of the all-time great players not only at the power forward position but overall as well. He was a dominant scorer from all three levels, and opponents could just not find a way to stop him. At 7’0’’ tall, Nowitzki was a nightmare for defenders as he could spread the floor and knock down 3-pointers with no problem. When he got his back to the basket, it was almost a sure thing he was going to score on his patented one-legged fadeaway jumper. Don’t be confused either, Nowitzki could put the ball on the floor and get to the rim too.

Nowitzki displayed the definition of consistency, recording 9 seasons with 20.0 PPG or more in the decade. He became a perennial All-Star by 2002 and would lead the Mavericks to their first NBA Finals appearance in 2006. That series ended in heartbreak for Nowitzki and the Mavs, but the news was out that Dirk was a serious problem. He furthered that point the following season when he won the MVP award averaging 24.6 PPG and 8.9 RPG on 50.2% shooting. He would also be selected to 4 All-NBA First Teams in the decade, including 3 in a row from 2005 through 2007.

Denver Nuggets – Carmelo Anthony

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Nuggets): 2x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team Selection

It seems to be lost upon NBA fans these days just how good of an offensive player Carmelo Anthony was in his younger days in Denver. Melo has always been able to pull up and shoot the ball from basically anywhere he wanted to, but that wasn’t what made him such a great scorer. It was the way he threw his weight around with defenders, shedding them in the post or driving to the rim, that made him such a threat. He could go toe-to-toe with any great defender that was put in front of him and still averaged at least 20.0 PPG.

As a rookie, Carmelo Anthony put the Denver Nuggets on his back and took them to the playoffs averaging 21.0 PPG and 6.1 RPG on 42.6% shooting. Carmelo would be an All-Star just 2 seasons later when he averaged a scorching 28.9 PPG. For the entirety of the decade, Anthony had the Nuggets in playoff contention, and Carmelo even went head-to-head in a Western Conference Finals showdown with Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. He finished his decade with the Nuggets averaging 24.2 PPG on 46.0% shooting from the field.

Detroit Pistons – Chauncey Billups

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Pistons): 1x Finals MVP, 3x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team Selection, 2x All-Defensive Team Selection

As one of the more underrated point guards of the 2000s, Chauncey Billups quietly led the 2004 Detroit Pistons to their first NBA championship since 1990. His game wasn’t flashy, but it was effective. Billups was a cerebral assassin on the floor who always made the right play and found his open teammates. He was a deadly 3-point shooter and knew how to manipulate defense in order to get to the free throw line, where he was basically automatic. Every team Billups has been on was impacted greatly by his presence, but none bigger than the Detroit Pistons.

Billups joined the Pistons in 2003 and would take little to no time settling down in his new starting role. The following season in 2004, Billups led the Detroit Pistons to an NBA championship over the Shaq and Kobe-led Lakers. He claimed the Finals MVP award by averaging 21.0 PPG, 5.2 APG, and 1.2 SPG. He shot 92.9% from the foul line, 50.9% overall, and 47.1% from three. Billups would then become an All-Star for the first 3 times of his career from 2006 through 2008. Over that span, he averaged 17.5 PPG, 7.6 APG, and 1.1 SPG.

Golden State Warriors – Baron Davis

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Warriors): N/A

Baron Davis appears for the second time on this list with a surprise selection from the Golden State Warriors. It could have easily been Monta Ellis that we chose here, but Davis’ impact and the buzz around the city at the time were far too big to ignore. Aside from his already explosive game, Davis became a much more lethal transition scorer during his time with the Warriors. He would pull up with shots that made coaches cringe but quickly shut their mouths because it went it more often than not.

Baron Davis was a bright spot for a Warriors organization that didn’t have much to cheer about in the 2000s. As the leader of the “We Believe Warriors”, Davis led the team to an upset first-round win over the No. 1 seed Dallas Mavericks in the 2007 playoffs. Davis averaged 25.3 PPG, 6.5 APG, and 2.9 SPG during those playoffs to lift a city that has zero expectations. In back-to-back seasons in 2007 and 2008, Davis averaged over 20.0 PPG, 7.5 APG, and 2.0 SPG in each season and led the league in steals in 2007.

Houston Rockets – Tracy McGrady

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Rockets): 3x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team Selection

I have to admit that when I was speaking about electrifying players earlier, Tracy McGrady was one of the first players that came to mind. McGrady was quite easily one of the better talents in basketball, with his show-stopping highlights and scoring bursts to ignite epic comebacks. Just ask the Spurs about his 13 points in 32 seconds. McGrady was a creative scorer who could dominate a game from all three levels if he wished. His bread and butter was getting to the rim by any means necessary and finishing worthy of a spot on SportsCenter.

McGrady was an All-Star for his first 3 seasons with the Rockets and led them to the playoffs alongside Yao Ming in 2 out of 3 seasons. During those seasons, McGrady averaged 25.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, and 5.8 APG. By 2009 and at just 29 years old, McGrady would begin to battle knee and back issues that would ultimately lead to the beginning of the end of his career.

Indiana Pacers – Jermaine O’Neal

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Pacers): 1x Most Improved Player, 6x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team Selection

There should be no doubt with this selection as Jermaine O’Neal comes in as the Pacers’ best player of the 2000s. O’Neal was one of the better two-way centers in the league at the time, able to dominate a game from either side of the court. He was one of the better scoring bigs at the time, with his quick footwork in the post and soft touch on short jumpers. On defense, he was an animal with quick instincts and a nose for the ball when contesting drives to the rim.

By his second season in Indiana, O’Neal was being named an All-Star and the NBA’s Most Improved Player. From 2002 through 2007, or his All-Star seasons with the Pacers, O’Neal averaged 20.4 PPG, 9.9 RPG, and 2.4 BPG. He became one of the league’s best shot blockers and a nightmare for even the best offensive centers to go against. He showed versatility on defense that saw him able to lock down smaller forwards and guards who he was switched onto. O’Neal doesn’t get the credit or recognition he deserves from the NBA.

Los Angeles Clippers – Elton Brand

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Clippers): 2x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection

After spending his first 2 seasons with the Chicago Bulls, Elton Brand would be traded to the Clippers in 2001, where he would hit the peak of his career as a player. As a slightly undersized power forward at 6’8’’, Brand used his speed and strength to outmaneuver defenses and bigger defenders, especially in the low block. He was an elite help defender in the post and an above-average post-isolation defender. Brand was a consistent 20.0 PPG and 10.0 RPG threat for the Clippers during the 2000s.

The first season that Brand arrived in Los Angeles, he became an All-Star. He averaged 18.2 PPG and 11.6 RPG to earn the honor, but it was far from his best work in a Clipper uniform. In 2006, he became an All-Star again, but this time he averaged a career-high 24.7 PPG and 10.0 RPG on 52.7% shooting from the field. Brand led the Clippers to the 2nd round of the playoffs in 2006 in his only postseason appearance with the team. He averaged 25.4 PPG and 10.3 RPG on that playoff run.

Los Angeles Lakers – Kobe Bryant

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Lakers): 1x MVP, 1x Finals MVP, 10x All-Star, 3x All-Star Game MVP, 10x All-NBA Team Selection, 9x All-Defensive Team Selection

The biggest misconception surrounding Kobe Bryant in the 2000s is that Shaq was the clear-cut best player for them in the early going. While Shaq was the most dominant force in basketball, Kobe carried his weight better than any other 2nd option in NBA history. You see, on each of those title runs, Kobe averaged 21.1 PPG or better, and in 2001, he averaged 29.4 PPG. Does that sound like a man that had to be “carried” to an NBA championship? I didn’t think so.

Kobe went on to do big things with the Lakers even after Shaq left. He took the Lakers to back-to-back Finals in 2008 and 2009 while winning the MVP award in 2008, averaging 30.1 PPG on 47.9% shooting. He won his 4th career NBA championship in 2009 and took home his first Finals MVP award as well with 32.4 PPG and 7.4 APG against Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic. Kobe Bryant, in the 2000s, became a cultural icon and face of the NBA simultaneously with one of the greatest careers in NBA history.

Memphis Grizzlies – Pau Gasol

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Grizzlies): 1x All-Star

Pau Gasol stepped into the NBA with the expectations of being a franchise cornerstone for the Memphis Grizzlies. He would go on to prove those expectations true. During his early days with the Memphis Grizzlies, Gasol became an all-around machine for the team. He would become the Grizzlies’ leading scorer and rebounder while taking them to their first playoffs as a team in franchise history.

During his first 6 and a half seasons with Memphis, Gasol averaged 18.8 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 3.1 APG, and 1.9 BPG. He was the anchor for them on both offense and defense as he led them to 3 playoff berths in that time. He earned his first All-Star selection during the 2005-06 season when he averaged 20.4 PPG, 8.9 RPG, and 1.9 BPG on 50.3% shooting from the field. He would be traded to the Lakers during the 2008 season and go on to win 2 championships alongside Kobe Bryant in 2009 and 2010.

Miami Heat – Dwyane Wade

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Heat): 1x Finals MVP, 5x All-Star, 4x All-NBA Team Selection, 2x All-Defensive Team Selection

Dwyane Wade had the type of start to his career in the 2000s that propelled him to the status of the 3rd best shooting guard of all time. He was a ruthless scorer who could get to the rim any which way that he wanted and finish with an athletic dunk or smooth layup. He was a decent passer as well and especially dangerous on fast breaks. As a defender, he became one of the best ever at the shooting guard position and recorded the most blocks by any guard in NBA history.

The 2006 NBA championship is all the evidence we need of Wade’s greatness in the 2000s. After averaging 27.2 PPG in the regular season, Wade led the Heat to the NBA Finals for a matchup with the Dallas Mavericks. After falling down 2-0 in the series, Wade led Miami to 4 straight wins and their first championship in franchise history. He was named Finals MVP after averaging 34.7 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 3.8 APG. He would go on to win 2 more titles in the 2010s alongside LeBron James as well.

Milwaukee Bucks – Ray Allen

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Bucks): 3x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection

Ray Allen may have played just 3 seasons as a member of the Bucks in the 2000s, but they were certainly good enough for him to be their selection for this list. Many people seem to forget that Allen was much more than just a 3-point shooter, even though that was his specialty on offense. He was also very creative off of the dribble, superbly athletic, and a pesky defender, to boot. Allen could score however he wanted whenever he wanted, and most of the league’s best shooting guards couldn’t stop him.

From 2000 through 2002, Ray Allen was named an All-Star in each season for the Milwaukee Bucks. Over that span, he averaged 22.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 4.1 APG on 46.5% shooting and 43.0% from three. He led the Bucks to the playoffs twice during the decade, which included an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2001. During his 3 playoff runs with Milwaukee, Allen averaged 24.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 5.2 APG.

Minnesota Timberwolves – Kevin Garnett

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Timberwolves): 1x MVP, 8x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 7x All-NBA Team Selection, 8x All-Defensive Team Selection

In an era dominated by big men at the power forward and center positions, Kevin Garnett carved a path to sit at the top with the greats. He became a two-way monster during the early parts of his career with the Timberwolves, and the results were staggering. On offense, he was a scoring and rebounding machine. He could run the floor, knock down long jumpers, and pass the ball amazingly well for a man his size. On defense, he was a menace who could power through with the best bigs of the time and had the lateral movement and speed to stick with the smaller guards and forwards.

If it hadn’t been for Kevin Garnett, the 2000s Minnesota Timberwolves would have been pretty much irrelevant. During every one of his All-Star selections with the Timberwolves in the 2000s, Garnett averaged 22.5 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.4 SPG, and 1.6 BPG. He then won the 2004 MVP award when he averaged 24.2 PPG, and led the league with 13.9 RPG, 5.0 APG, a.5 SPG, and 2.2 BPG. He led the Timberwolves all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals that season before falling in 6 games to the Los Angeles Lakers. Garnett’s impact on the franchise and bringing them to relevance makes him easily their greatest player of the decade.

New Orleans Pelicans – Chris Paul

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with New Orleans): 1x Rookie of the Year, 4x All-Star, 2x All-NBA Team Selection, 2x All-Defensive Team Selection

From the moment Chris Paul stepped on the floor with the New Orleans Hornets, you just knew he was going to be one of the all-time greats. Paul commanded an offense like no other and communicated better than any point guard in the league at the time. He was a knockdown mid-range shooter who could penetrate the lane at any given time. His passing was off the charts and what made him so elite was the effort on the defensive end of the ball. With swarming on-ball defense and intelligent off-ball awareness, Paul quickly became the best two-way point guard in the NBA.

Paul really began to hit his stride in his 3rd season with New Orleans. In 2007-08, Paul averaged 21.1 PPG and led the league in both steals and assists while leading his team to 56 wins. He would finish 2nd in MVP voting that year. Paul would have another Top 5 MVP finish in 2008-09 when he averaged 22.8 PPG and once again led the NBA in both steals and assists. He was not yet the legend he is today, but his time in New Orleans laid the foundation for what was to come from the Point God.

New York Knicks – Allan Houston

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Knicks): 2x All-Star

The 2000s era was not a great time to be a New York Knicks fan, but shooting guard Allan Houston gave fans something to cheer about. Houston was a tall and deadly 3-point shooter who killed teams nightly with his efficient shooting of the long ball. He was also very athletic, which gave him the ability to get by defenders with just a few simple moves. Known for his 3-point shooting, Houston was also a great mid-range shooter and finisher at the basket.

After helping to lead the Knicks to the NBA Finals in 1999, Allan Houston ushered in the new decade with back-to-back All-Star appearances. His best years came from 2000 through 2003 when he averaged 20.3 PPG on 45.3% shooting overall and 40.0% from deep. The Knicks would head back to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2000 but eventually fell to their rival, the Indiana Pacers. Houston’s knees would begin to give out during the 2004 season and he was out of basketball by the end of 2005.

Oklahoma City Thunder – Ray Allen

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Seattle): 4x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection

After being traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Seattle SuperSonics, Ray Allen hit his peak as an NBA player. He brought all the same attributes along with him from Milwaukee, but this time, it seemed like they were much more refined. He shot the three-ball better. Allen attacked the basket at a higher rate than ever before and he made defenders look silly when they tried to take him on in isolation.

Allen spent just 4 years in Seattle with the SuperSonics, but each one was an All-Star season. In his time in Seattle, Allen averaged 24.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 4.2 APG. He shot 44.0% from the field and 38.6% from three. Unfortunately for Allen, the Sonics made the playoffs just once during his tenure with the team and ended with a second-round loss. He averaged 26.5 PPG in 11 games in those playoffs in 2005.

Orlando Magic – Dwight Howard

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Magic): 1x Defensive Player of the Year, 3x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team Selection, 2x All-Defensive Team Selection

There seems to be an issue with NBA fans in today’s world, and that is how quickly they forget how some of these NBA legends started out as stars in the NBA. Dwight Howard was a superstar and there is no denying that fact. By the time 2009 rolled around, Howard’s face was everywhere as he became the best two-way center in basketball. With his sheer size, strength, and athleticism, Howard dominated every defender he went up against and shut down every opponent on defense as well. He was winning dunk contests and leading Orlando teams that had no business competing in the NBA Finals.

Dwight Howard didn’t develop into an All-Star until the 2006-07 season. The following year, he led the league in rebounds with 14.2 RPG and added 2.1 BPG and 20.7 PPG. In 2009, he would be named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year when he once again led the league in blocks and rebounds. He averaged 20.6 PPG, 13.8 RPG, and 2.9 BPG. The regular season was great, but the postseason run was legendary as Howard led the Magic to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1995. In those playoffs, he averaged 20.3 PPG, 15.3 RPG, and 2.6 BPG.

Philadelphia 76ers – Allen Iverson

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with 76ers): 1x MVP, 8x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 6x All-NBA Team Selection

Was there any one player that was more fun to watch during the early 2000s than Allen Iverson? He entered the decade as a superstar and prolific scorer that could not be stopped on offense despite being slightly undersized. Iverson used his legendary ball handling to create space and easy shots off of the dribble. Perhaps the most impressive part of his game was his fearlessness in the paint. Iverson took no issue with sizing up some of the NBA’s toughest centers at the time and going right at their chest for a basket.

Iverson would be named an All-Star for the 76ers every season from 200 right through when he was traded in 2007. Over that time, he averaged 29.5 PPG, 6.2 APG, and 2.3 SPG and won 3 different scoring titles. No season was more spectacular than the 2000-01 season put in by Iverson. He was named the MVP when he averaged 31.1 PPG, and 4.6 APG, and led the NBA with 2.5 SPG, the first of 3 straight steals titles. He then led the 76ers to the NBA Finals for a matchup with the Lakers. Shaq and Kobe’s Lakers were undefeated heading into the series, but that all changed when Iverson led the Sixers to a Game 1 win. The Lakers would win 4 straight from there but no one can ever forget Iverson’s legendary run in 2001.

Phoenix Suns – Steve Nash

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Suns): 2x MVP, 4x All-Star, 4x All-NBA Team Selection

The mid-2000s Phoenix Suns teams were like watching poetry in motion with Steve Nash running things from the point guard position. Nash was an offensive guru on the court, leading and facilitating the league’s most prolific offense at the time. He was also as efficient as it gets, joining the elusive 50/40/90 club 3 different times with the Suns. He was never able to get his team over the hump to an NBA championship, but he did earn some individual accolades that are still heavily debated today.

In his first 2 seasons with the Phoenix Suns in 2005 and 2006, Nash led the Suns to an overall record of 116-48 over those 2 seasons. He was named the MVP in both seasons, even as it came under scrutiny by fans and other media members who didn’t have a vote. Nonetheless, Nash earned those awards averaging 17.2 PPG, 11.0 APG, and shot 50.8% from the field. As a playmaker, Nash placed himself among the best to ever play the game where he still rightfully sits today.

Portland Trail Blazers – Brandon Roy

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Trail Blazers): 1x Rookie of the Year, 2x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection

Ask any player from the mid to late 2000s about Brandon Roy and they will tell you he was one of the most gifted basketball players they had ever seen. Roy burst onto the scene as a complete offensive weapon for Portland. He could shoot from anywhere on the floor and had explosive moves to the basket powered by his incredible first step. He could take any defense and pick it apart in a number of ways to light up the stat sheet fairly easily.

Roy is one of the biggest what-ifs in NBA history. Just as he was ascending to the top of the league, Roy’s career was cut short by a degenerative knee disease that ate away at his cartilage until there was none left. Roy was Rookie of the Year in 2007 and won the award while playing the fewest amount of games by any Rookie of the Year award winner in history. He was selected to the All-NBA Second Team in 2009, averaging 21.6 PPG and 5.1 APG for Portland. Roy would be forced to retire in 2011 at just 27 years old due to his knee condition.

Sacramento Kings – Chris Webber

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Kings): 4x All-Star, 4x All-NBA Team Selection

Chris Webber is one of the best power forwards in league history that no one gives enough credit to. During his time with the Kings during the early 2000s, his presence turned them into a legitimate championship contender but fell just shy of that goal. Webber was as versatile as they come on offense for a big man. He ran the floor extremely well and was a serious transition threat. He could knock down foul line extended jumpers with relative ease and before a man named Nikola Jokic came around, I could argue that Webber was the best big man passer we had ever seen.

Webber earned 4 straight All-Star selections to begin the decade with the Kings. During that time, he averaged 24.8 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.7 SPG, and 1.7 BPG. He also shot 47.9% from the floor. In 2002, he led the Kings to a Western Conference Finals berth where they controversially fell to the Los Angeles Lakers. Webber averaged 21.7 PPG and 9.8 RPG during his playoff career with the Sacramento Kings.

San Antonio Spurs – Tim Duncan

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Spurs): 2x MVP, 2x Finals MVP, 10x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 10x All-NBA Team Selection, 10x All-Defensive Team Selection

The 2000s decade is when Tim Duncan fully established himself as the greatest power forward to ever play the game. Duncan played the game in a slow and unexciting fashion, but that didn’t matter at all as he dominated the opposition on both sides of the ball. On offense, he could not be stopped in the post and was a very decent passer for his size. On defense, Few dared to enter the lane with Duncan looming as he was the king of blocking and altering shots attempted within his range.

During the 2000s, Duncan led the Spurs to 3 championships as he established the team as a dynasty. This was added to his already impressive 1999 championship that he delivered to the Spurs already. Duncan won Finals MVP awards in both 2003 and 2005 for the Spurs and in 2002 and 2003, he earned his first and only MVP awards. Over his 2 seasons winning MVP, Duncan averaged 24.4 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 3.8 APG, and 2.7 BPG on 51.0% shooting from the field.

Toronto Raptors – Vince Carter

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Raptors): 6x All-Star, 2x All-NBA Team Selection

When most people think of Vince Carter in the 2000s with the Raptors, they think of the ferocious and highlight reel dunker that he was. The truth is, Carter was a far better basketball player than just dunks and had so much more that accompanied his game. Carter’s athleticism was clearly his best asset, but the way he was able to create his drives to the basket was impressive, too. Carter could read offenses with great anticipation and had the moves in his arsenal to create his own shots. He was also a very decent shooter, both from three and inside the arc.

Vince began the decade heading into his prime and as an All-Star level talent. With Toronto in the 2000s, Carter averaged 24.6 PPG, 5.2 APG, 4.0 APG, 1.4 SPG, and 1.0 BPG. He also shot 44.7% from the floor overall and 39.1% from deep. Carter was able to lead the Raptors to 2 playoff appearances in the 2000s, both in 2000 and 2001. The 2000 playoffs ended in a 3-game sweep, but the 2001 playoffs ended with an all-time duel between Carter and then MVP, Allen Iverson. Iverson’s Sixers got the best of Carter’s Raptors, but it was abundantly clear that Carter was going to be a star for a long time coming, and that he was.

Utah Jazz- Deron Williams

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Jazz): 1x All-NBA Team Selection

The early and mid-2000s Jazz were not a great team as they were in the 90s and weren’t vying for any championship opportunities. One bright spot came to fruition during the decade and that was point guard Deron Williams. Deron was an electric point guard who displayed great handles, a decent jumper, and incredible moves to get himself easy shots at the rim. Before the decade was out, Williams would establish himself as an All-NBA Player and one of the better point guards in basketball.

Williams got off to a slow start after being drafted in 2005, but that all changed by the time 2008 rolled around. In the 2007-08 season, Williams averaged 18.8 PPG, 10.5 APG, and 1.1 SPG. He would be named to the All-NBA 2nd team and started a string of 4 straight seasons with 10.0 APG or more. Williams would not be named an All-Star until the 2010s, but in the late 2000s, he had made everyone aware of the talent he possessed.

Washington Wizards – Gilbert Arenas

1999-00 to 2008-09 Achievements (with Wizards): 3x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team Selection

Gilbert Arenas’ tenure with the Washington Wizards may have ended badly and surrounded by controversy, but man was the beginning of his time in D.C. fun. Arenas enjoyed a 3-year peak with the Wizards that saw him go toe-to-toe with some of the best scorers in the game and come out on top. Arenas could shoot the ball from wherever he wanted, but he could just as easily cross a defender up and take him to the hoop. He was as clutch as they come, seemingly knocking down buzzer-beaters left and right for Washington in his prime.

In his 8 seasons with the Washington Wizards, Arenas averaged 25.0 PPG, 5.3 APG, and 1.6 SPG. His real talent was on display during his three-year peak from 2005 through 2007. Over that time, Arenas averaged 27.7 PPG, 5.7 APG, and 1.9 SPG. This is also the time frame that he was selected as an All-Star and All-NBA Team member. He was still effective and worth talking about for the other 5 seasons, but this 3-year period was him at his very best. He was able to lead the Wizards to 3 playoff berths and 1 advancement past the 2nd round in Washington before leaving the team in 2010. 

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