5 PICKS
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Best Players of The 2000s

Shaq and Kobe's Lakers three-peat opened the decade, Tim Duncan's Spurs were its model of consistency, and Allen Iverson carried the torch for smaller scorers. Team defense and the half-court game were king.

The 2000s opened with the most dominant interior force the modern game had seen — Shaquille O'Neal — and the Lakers three-peat he and Kobe Bryant built around him. But the decade's defining franchise was the San Antonio Spurs, whose beautiful, fundamentals-first team game around Tim Duncan turned consistency into a dynasty.

Rule changes early in the decade loosened hand-checking and nudged the league toward perimeter skill, but team defense and the half-court possession still decided games. Allen Iverson proved a small, ball-dominant scorer could carry a team to the Finals; Detroit's 2004 champions proved five connected two-way players could beat a roster of stars. Both lessons translate directly to drafting.

When the draw lands you in a 2000s pool, value defense and efficiency. The Spurs and Pistons pools reward balanced, two-way builds, while the Lakers and a handful of others give you a true alpha to construct around. This is the era where ignoring rim protection and rebounding will quietly cost you close games.

Top 15 overall

  1. 1Kevin GarnettPF22.5 ppg · 12.7 rpg · 5.0 apg85
  2. 2LeBron JamesSF27.5 ppg · 7.0 rpg · 6.7 apg80
  3. 3Tim DuncanC21.4 ppg · 11.7 rpg · 3.3 apg79
  4. 4Manu GinóbiliSG14.7 ppg · 4.1 rpg · 3.6 apg79
  5. 5Dirk NowitzkiPF23.6 ppg · 8.9 rpg · 2.8 apg78
  6. 6Shaquille O'NealC27.0 ppg · 12.0 rpg · 3.3 apg78
  7. 7Kobe BryantSG28.2 ppg · 5.8 rpg · 5.3 apg77
  8. 8Kevin GarnettPF17.5 ppg · 8.9 rpg · 3.0 apg77
  9. 9Tracy McGradySG28.1 ppg · 7.0 rpg · 5.2 apg77
  10. 10Dwyane WadeSG25.2 ppg · 4.9 rpg · 6.7 apg77
  11. 11Elton BrandPF20.3 ppg · 10.3 rpg · 2.7 apg76
  12. 12Karl MalonePF22.9 ppg · 8.6 rpg · 4.3 apg76
  13. 13Paul PierceSF23.3 ppg · 6.3 rpg · 4.0 apg76
  14. 14Yao MingC19.1 ppg · 9.3 rpg · 1.6 apg75
  15. 15Chris PaulPG19.4 ppg · 4.8 rpg · 9.9 apg75

Best by position

PG

  1. 1Chris PaulPG19.4 ppg · 4.8 rpg · 9.9 apg75
  2. 2Chauncey BillupsPG17.0 ppg · 3.3 rpg · 6.4 apg74
  3. 3Gilbert ArenasPG25.8 ppg · 4.3 rpg · 5.6 apg73
  4. 4Gary PaytonPG22.7 ppg · 5.2 rpg · 8.7 apg70
  5. 5Sam CassellPG17.1 ppg · 3.0 rpg · 6.4 apg69

SG

  1. 1Manu GinóbiliSG14.7 ppg · 4.1 rpg · 3.6 apg79
  2. 2Kobe BryantSG28.2 ppg · 5.8 rpg · 5.3 apg77
  3. 3Tracy McGradySG28.1 ppg · 7.0 rpg · 5.2 apg77
  4. 4Dwyane WadeSG25.2 ppg · 4.9 rpg · 6.7 apg77
  5. 5Ray AllenSG21.9 ppg · 4.7 rpg · 4.0 apg74

SF

  1. 1LeBron JamesSF27.5 ppg · 7.0 rpg · 6.7 apg80
  2. 2Paul PierceSF23.3 ppg · 6.3 rpg · 4.0 apg76
  3. 3Shawn MarionSF18.4 ppg · 10.0 rpg · 2.0 apg74
  4. 4Grant HillSF25.8 ppg · 6.6 rpg · 5.2 apg72
  5. 5Andrei KirilenkoSF12.5 ppg · 5.8 rpg · 2.8 apg71

PF

  1. 1Kevin GarnettPF22.5 ppg · 12.7 rpg · 5.0 apg85
  2. 2Dirk NowitzkiPF23.6 ppg · 8.9 rpg · 2.8 apg78
  3. 3Kevin GarnettPF17.5 ppg · 8.9 rpg · 3.0 apg77
  4. 4Elton BrandPF20.3 ppg · 10.3 rpg · 2.7 apg76
  5. 5Karl MalonePF22.9 ppg · 8.6 rpg · 4.3 apg76

C

  1. 1Tim DuncanC21.4 ppg · 11.7 rpg · 3.3 apg79
  2. 2Shaquille O'NealC27.0 ppg · 12.0 rpg · 3.3 apg78
  3. 3Yao MingC19.1 ppg · 9.3 rpg · 1.6 apg75
  4. 4Pau GasolC18.9 ppg · 8.6 rpg · 3.1 apg72
  5. 5Amar'e StoudemireC21.1 ppg · 8.9 rpg · 1.4 apg72

Teams of The 2000s

Chicago BullsOrlando MagicBrooklyn NetsMiami HeatCleveland CavaliersPhoenix SunsLA ClippersMemphis GrizzliesDenver NuggetsMilwaukee BucksToronto RaptorsAtlanta HawksCharlotte HornetsGolden State WarriorsDallas MavericksBoston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ersHouston RocketsNew York KnicksMinnesota TimberwolvesUtah JazzPortland Trail BlazersIndiana PacersSacramento KingsDetroit PistonsWashington WizardsOklahoma City ThunderNew Orleans PelicansLos Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs

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