Allen Moll is an avid NBA and College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen is a regular columnist for thehoopdoctors.com, Bleacherreport.com, UpperDeckblog.com, and his own site, Hoops Haven.
With the NBA on TNT enlisting fans to help in selecting their All Decade Top Performances, the The Hoop Doctors thought it was the perfect time to announce our very own All Decade Award Winners. We will be honoring the decade’s best individual players, teams, and performances that were simply the best over the past 10 seasons(2000-2009). This will be a multi-part series with periodic entries showcasing this era’s top moments and players. Check back often for each new installment such as Franchise of the Decade, All Decade Teams by Position, Player of the Decade, and Dunk of the Decade.
Part Four – All Decade Teams by Position
In choosing individual players for our All Decade squads, there have to be some parameters. We are taking players stats from the ’99-’00 season through the end of the Playoffs last year(‘09). We did not include this season’s numbers. Some of the selections were difficult ones because a number of today’s best players started their careers in the middle of the decade like Lebron James and Dwyane Wade. Where do they end up? Other players had a great first half of the decade and then fell off in recent years. There are a few players here that everyone would have seen coming and a few surprises. Stats listed are for this decade only. Where does your favorite player rank?
First Team
PG – Jason Kidd
In the toughest choice on the whole list, where assists are dead even, Kidd gets the nod over Steve Nash because of his impressive defensive ability. Kidd has been pretty much the same player throughout the decade while Nash has come on during the middle and latter portions. Taking the NJ Nets twice to the NBA Finals helps.
14 ppg, 9.25 ast, 7 rebs, 1.94 stls
7 Time All Star, 4 Time All NBA First Team, 1 Time All NBA Second Team, 3 Time All Defensive First Team, 2nd in ’02 MVP Voting,
His teams went to Playoffs in every year this decade
SG – Kobe Bryant
There is no doubt who the most prolific shooting guard this decade was. If Kobe was around when the original Top 50 NBA Players came out, he would most definitely be on it. His unmatched all around offensive and defensive prowess, along with his 4 NBA Titles, and scoring the most points this decade, make him an automatic 1st Team Selection.
28.2 ppg, 5.2 ast, 5.9 rebs, 1.7 stl
10 Time All Star, 7 Time All NBA First Team, 2 Time All NBA Second Team, 7 Time All Defensive First Team, ’08 MVP, 2nd in ’09 MVP Voting, 3 Time All Star Game MVP, 4 NBA Titles, 1 Finals MVP
His teams went to the Playoffs in 9 of 10 seasons
SF – Tracy McGrady
I may get a few arguments with the selection of “T-Mac” as a 1st Team selection but he gets the nod over Lebron because James has only played in 6 of the 10 seasons this decade and even though the SF spot is somewhat out of position for McGrady, but I had to find a spot for him. Besides Kobe and Iverson, McGrady has been the 3rd best offensive player this decade in spite of his seemingly endless injuries.
25.2 ppg, 6.3 rebs, 5.6 ast, 1.4 stls, 0.7 blk
7 Time All Star, 2 Time All NBA First Team, 3 Time All NBA Second Team, ’01 Most Improved Player, 2 Scoring Titles
His teams went to the Playoffs in 7 of the 10 seasons
PF – Tim Duncan
The “Big Fundamental” is another no brainer on the list and may go down as the best power forward of All Time. It came down to a choice between Duncan and Kevin Garnett. Even though Garnett has slightly better numbers, Duncan gets the nod for his 3 NBA Titles this decade.
21.4 ppg, 11.7 rebs, 3.3 ast, 0.8 stl, 2.3 blk
10 Time All Star, 7 Time All NBA First Team, 3 Time All NBA Second Team, 7 Time All Defensive Team, ’02 and ’03 MVP, 2nd in ’01 and ’04 MVP Voting, 1 All Star MVP, 3 NBA Titles, 2 Time Finals MVP
His teams went to the Playoffs in every season this decade.
C – Shaquille O’Neal
Even though Shaq has dropped off significantly in recent seasons, there is no doubting that in the first 6 years of the decade that he was not only the most dominating force in the paint this decade, but possibly in the last 25 years. More than anyone else on the list, O’Neal was the most dominant player at his prime this decade. His regular season and playoff numbers while with the Lakers in the early 2000’s are Chamberlain-esque.
23.1 ppg, 10.6 rebs, 2.7 ast, 0.5 stl, 2.1 blk
10 time All Star, 7 Time All NBA First Team, 3 Time All Defensive Second Team, 3 Time All Star MVP, ’00 MVP, 2nd in ’05 MVP Voting, 4 NBA Titles, 3 Finals MVP’s
His teams went to the Playoffs in 9 of 10 seasons.
Second Team
PG – Steve Nash
Although Nash is probably a better player right now than Kidd, Stevie will have to ride the pine. We took into consideration that Nash sat behind Kidd early in his career before Kidd was dealt to the Nets. His 2 MVP Awards probably make him the best back-up point guard in history.
16.2 ppg, 9.1 ast, 3.2 rebs, 0.8 stl
6 Time All Star, 3 Time All NBA First team, 1 Time All NBA Second Team, ’05 and ’06 MVP, 2nd in ’07 MVP Voting.
His Teams went to the Playoffs in 8 of 10 seasons.
SG – Allen Iverson
“The Answer” along with Kobe and Shaq were probably the decade’s most unstoppable forces in the NBA this decade. How Iverson at his distinct size disadvantage was able to score at will, is truly remarkable. He led all players in steals and scored the 2nd most points in the decade by winning 4 scoring titles. I know he will probably have an issue with it, but on this team, A.I. would have to come off of the bench.
28.1 ppg, 5 ast, 3 rebs, 1.8 stl
10 Time All Star, 2 Time All NBA First team, 3 Time All NBA Second Team, 2 Time All Star Game MVP, ’01 MVP, 3rd in ’99 and ’05 MVP Voting
His teams went to the Playoffs in 8 of 10 seasons
SF – Lebron James
Even though he didn’t play in 4 of the 10 seasons this decade, James undoubtedly belongs on this list. If he would have played all 10 seasons he would have better stats than virtually everyone and would be a unanimous 1st Team Selection. You can already pencil him in for the starter on the 2010’s squad.
27.6 ppg, 7 rebs, 6.8 ast, 1.7 stl, 0.9 blk
6 Time All Star, 3 Time All NBA First team, 2 Time All NBA Second Team, ! Time All NBA Defensive, 2 Time All Star MVP, ’09 MVP, 2nd in ’06 MVP voting
His teams have gone to the Playoffs in 4 of his 6 seasons this decade.
PF – Kevin Garnett
The “Big Ticket” was seemingly stuck in purgatory while in Minnesota, even single-handedly taking his squad to the postseason 5 times and winning an MVP during the early part of the decade. Although KG has been hampered by injuries recently, he still contributes at a high level and helped Boston to win a title in ’08. If it wasn’t for Duncan’s 3 NBA Titles, Garnett would be starting.
21.6 ppg, 12.1 rebs, 4.7 ast, 1.4 stl, 1.6 blk
10 Time All Star, 4 Time All NBA First team, 3 Time All NBA Second Team, 8 Time All Defensive First team, ’09 Defensive Player of the Year, 1 All Star MVP, ’05 MVP, 2nd in ’00 and ’03 MVP Voting
His teams went to the Playoffs in 7 of the 10 seasons
C – Yao Ming
In more ways than one, Yao was larger than life once he first set foot in an NBA arena back in 2002. With the back-to-the-basket big men slowly being phased out of the game during this decade, Shaq and Yao took full advantage by dominating the painted area like no other centers in the last 10 years. Although he has missed significant time due to injuries, Yao would be my back-up center. Dwight Howard, with a smaller body of work, will probably be the starting center for the 2010’s.
19.1 ppg, 9.3 rebs, 1.6 ast, 1.9 blk
7 Time All Star, 5 All NBA First team, 2 All NBA Second Team
His teams went to the Playoffs in 4 of his 7 seasons
Third Team
PG – Tony Parker
SG – Dwyane Wade
SF – Paul Pierce
PF – Dirk Nowitzki
C – Dwight Howard
