By: Drew Fenny
The first, second, and third teams from the last 25 years of NBA hoops
We are now officially a quarter-century into the millennium, 25 years since the year 2000. There is no better time to recap this iconic era of basketball than by breaking down the league’s absolute best players into the definitive All-NBA Teams of the 2000s. Here are my picks:
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FIRST TEAM
- PG: Steph Curry
- SG: Kobe Bryant
- SF: LeBron James
- PF: Tim Duncan
- C: Shaquille O’Neal
At point, Stephen Curry is an easy choice. Curry didn’t just become the greatest shooter ever; he completely revolutionized offensive spacing and forced the entire league to rethink how basketball is played. While I think prime Dwyane Wade was better than the best version of Kobe, Kobe’s longevity wins out.
At small forward, no need to overthink this one; LeBron James is the centerpiece of the quarter century. His combination of longevity, versatility, and all-around dominance makes him arguably the most complete player the sport has ever seen.
In the frontcourt, Tim Duncan embodies winning. Duncan anchored one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history through elite defense, consistency, and unselfish leadership, and at center, Shaquille O’Neal was the most physically dominant force of the modern era. Even though nearly half of Shaq’s best years came in the 90s, he still makes the cut for his post-2000 production.
SECOND TEAM
- PG: James Harden
- SG: Dwyane Wade
- SF: Kevin Durant
- PF: Kevin Garnett
- C: Nikola Jokic
At point guard, James Harden earns the nod thanks to one of the most productive offensive peaks ever. Harden won the 2018 MVP, led the league in scoring three times, and has averaged roughly 24+ points and 7+ assists for his career while redefining isolation offense and step-back shooting.
At shooting guard, Dwyane Wade brings championships and legendary playoff moments. Wade won three titles and delivered one of the greatest Finals performances ever in 2006, averaging 34.7 points to carry Miami to its first championship.
On the wing, Kevin Durant is simply one of the greatest scorers in basketball history. With four scoring titles, two Finals MVPs, and career averages around 27 points per game, Durant’s shot-making ability at nearly seven feet tall remains unmatched.
At power forward, Kevin Garnett represents intensity and two-way dominance. The 2004 MVP and 2008 champion anchored elite defenses for over a decade while averaging about 17 points, 10 rebounds, and elite defensive impact throughout his Hall of Fame career.
And finally, at center, Nikola Jokić might be the most unique superstar the league has ever seen. A three-time MVP and 2023 champion, Jokić has redefined the center position with historic playmaking, becoming the offensive engine of a championship team while averaging near triple-double numbers at his peak.
THIRD TEAM
- PG: Chris Paul
- SG: Steve Nash
- SF: Kawhi Leonard
- PF: Giannis
- C: Dwight Howard
The toughest cuts from my third team came down to a few legendary names:
Dirk Nowitzki: Despite his MVP and legendary 2011 championship run, his career included a fair share of playoff failures. At his peak, I simply don’t value him over Giannis or KG.
Anthony Davis & Pau Gasol: Leaving them off came down to a simple reality: Dwight Howard successfully carried the Magic to the NBA Finals as his team’s best player, a feat neither Pau nor AD ever pulled off on their own.
Prime Steve Nash is one of the five best offensive players we’ve ever seen, and Chris Paul’s all-around game is what gives him the nod over players like Allen Iverson and Jason Kidd.
Explore more from Drew; ‘Predicting the NBA’s Top 10 Players in 2031′.
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