Top 10 Players of the Decade

1. Kobe Bryant

I couldn't see anyone else going number one but Kobe Bryant. He has dominated the last decade, scoring 81 points, 1 MVP, 4 championships, and 1 Finals MVP. Kobe has that killer instinct. He has had the most points in the last decade and is the most complete player in the NBA. He has had multiple NBA All-Defensive team awards.

Some people that say Shaq did it all. Well, they are wrong. During the 2001 NBA playoffs Kobe averaged 29 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Kobe is an excellent clutch shooter, he has already hit 5 game winners this year. He is the closest thing to Jordan and there is no one else in the league that has the fade away or the killer instinct that Kobe has.

2. Shaquille O'Neal

Shaq is easily the best center in the last decade with 3 NBA finals MVP's and 1 regular season MVP. Shaq was an unstoppable force down low during the three peat. He averaged 30 points and 15 rebounds in the first championship. It was a joke when guys like Jarred Collins and Tom MacCulloch tried to guard Shaq.

All they could do was foul out. He would just have fun and dunk on people. That's what Centers like Howard, Bynum, etc. have to learn to do.

3. Tim Duncan 

Tim Duncan is too consistent to not be in the top three on this list. He has averaged a double-double every year of his career. Tim Duncan is a perfect player who hasn't done anything wrong during his entire career. He has won four NBA titles and two MVP's, but he didn't deserve two.

Tim Duncan is behind Shaq because he wasn't as dominant. Tim Duncan's playoff and regular season stats are not as good as Shaq's. Duncan may have had a longer prime but Shaq matches his four championships.

4. Kevin Garnett

KG is a very skillful big man who has been very consistent over the last decade. He is a 12 time All-Star, one time MVP, Defensive MVP, and a very intense player. "Anything is possible," wouldn't be number four on this list if he hadn't won a ring. Garnett's career stats are 19 points and 10 rebounds.

He has been known to be afraid to go inside but he is very effective on the perimeter with his killer fade-away. Garnett's activity on defense is what almost won him a second MVP in 2008. It's also what killed Pau Gasol in the 2008 Finals.

5. Allen Iverson

The Answer is one of the toughest guards ever to play. AI plays with a lot of heart and determination. He made basketball more exciting and has one of the best crossovers ever. He is really amazing because he is so little but so effective.

The only problem with Iverson is that he has never really fit into anybody's system except for the Sixers when he led them to the finals and won a MVP. Iverson destroyed Tyronn Lue in Game One. He also won the Rookie of the Year award. Iverson is a great competitor and has been a great player in the last decade.

6. LeBron James

LeBron has been in the league for seven years and has already had such an impact. He is getting incredible numbers and leading his team to conference and NBA finals. He is so hard to guard because he is so fast and so big for his position. He is playing at his best by far this year.

He is becoming so confident in his three point shot now and it is making him unstoppable. He is also a really good passer and now that the Cavaliers have Antawn Jamison they could pull through all the way. LeBron has already won a MVP and a scoring title. LeBron has so much potential that all he is missing to be near the top is a ring. 

7. Dirk Nowitzki 

Dirk has been really good for a long time. Dirk is so deadly at the top of the key, and he can get his fade away whenever he wants. He has one of the best jump shots ever for a big man. Dirk is having one of his best years and he is in great form with his jumper. With all that, I wouldn't be surprised if the Mavericks made the conference finals.

Dirk has averaged 20 points or more in each of the last ten years. The only negative was that Dirk won a MVP that he didn't deserve. The West has just been too good this decade for Dirk to win a title. 

8. Steve Nash

Steve Nash is very underrated, especially because he is so skilled and talented. He is 6'3 and 175 lbs and he still kills players a foot taller than him every night. He has one of the best sets of fundamentals in the game. He is awesome off the pick and roll and rarely does anything wrong. He has a great three point shot. He won two MVP's and he deserved his first.

Although, I do think it's weird that Nash won it twice and Dirk won it the following year when neither of their teams made it past the conference finals. I think Nash is over looked in favor of Chris Paul and other point guards. Nash is 35, leading the NBA in assists, and is one of the best point guards of all time.

9. Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Wade knows what it takes to win and is a great scorer. He is kind of like Iverson; he plays hard every night and isn't afraid of contact. Wade wouldn't be on this list if he hadn't won a ring. Wade had one of the best performances in the Finals in the last decade. Since the finals he hasn't reached that level on a consistent basis. He doesn't enjoy how bad is team is and is really unhappy right now.

He shouldn't be crying about it because he has Michael Beasley, Jermaine O'Neal, and Quentin Richardson. The Heat are 28-28 right now and have an outside chance of beating the Cavs in the playoffs if Wade goes nuts. 

10. Jason Kidd

Jason Kidd just had another triple double the other night. What a surprise. Kidd is a great player and is in the top ten because McGrady doesn't deserve to be in it. He hasn't been good for a few years now and is overrated. Kidd does everything on the court and does nothing wrong. He always looks alive on the court and he has that weird but effective three.

He is a great passer, has led the NBA in assists three times in his career and has made multiple All-Star games. He is a decent defender and has averaged two steals through his career along with six rebounds. Kidd led his team to the finals in 2003. He had Kenyon Martin and Kerry Kittles. Kidd is very underrated and has been a great player over the last decade.