Kobe Bryant was selected as NBA player of the decade by the Sporting News. http://my.lakers.com/blogs/2009/09/24/player-of-the-decade-kobe-bryant/ Here's their All-NBA teams for this decade: FIRST G Steve Nash G Kobe Bryant F Tim Duncan F LeBron James C Shaquille O’Neal SECOND G Allen Iverson G Dwyane Wade F Dirk Nowitzki F Kevin Garnett C Yao Ming All MVPs are represented, though I think Allen Iverson is a borderline selection. Ben Wallace deserves strong consideration for the second team as well (4 time DPOY, 4 time All-star, 1 championship, numerous appearences deep in the playoffs). But how about Kobe as player of the decade? 4 championships, 1 MVP, 7 selections to All-NBA 1st team, 6 selections to All-Defense 1st team. Personally, I think it has to be between him and Tim Duncan. Thoughts?
Duncan would have gotten my vote. His team has consistently been a powerhouse, and he's always been the leader and best player. Kobe hasn't always been the leader or best player on his team, and his teams have ranged from championship quality to mediocre. Strange that this title is being handed out a year early, by the way
Technically this season (the 2010 season) would be the start of the next decade. All 10 seasons from the 00s have now passed (the first one being the 2000 season).
Technically, this decade didn't start until 2001, and the new one won't start until 2011. This all goes back to the fact that there was no year 0. But yes, in terms of public perception, a new decade begins in 2010. Doesn't mean it's correct.
Seems about right to me. I would agree that Dirk/KG should be ahead of Lebron if you look at the decade, but I guess they are already looking at how great/successful he eventually will be.
Well if we want to get more technical ( ) a "decade" is just a span of 10 years. So it can start on any year. But, yes, conventionally we think of decades as starting on years ending in a 0.
Duncan gets my vote,Kobe should be second. It's nice to see Yao getting consideration,but I don't think he has done that well. Allen Iverson deserves to be there. Pierce gets overlooked,he should be on the 1st team. He has been the NBA Finals MVP. Ben Wallace should get a vote or two for the 2nd team,based on being the heart of the Pistons NBA Championships. Lebron should not be on the 1st team, KG deserves that place. Billups should get some consideration too, he has achieved more than Nash. Nash should be on the 2nd team,he has done nothing on the defensive end.
Where is Jason Kidd on the first team? Quite honestly I might consider Chris Paul at PG on the second team. This speaks volumes to how much Steve Nash is overrated. If we considered Nash with the 1990's, he would be something like the 6th team point guard. I don't think he should be on the first team here but still people think he's an all-time great player when he clearly isn't.
Where's the case for Shaq? He is clearly the most dominant player of the last decade. 4 rings MVP 2000 3 Finals MVP 5 Finals appearances The entire first half of the decade saw no team being able to stop Shaq in his prime. Come on give credit where its due. Teams like Portland, San Antonio and Sacremento were man handled by Shaq in the post. Their big men were just abused and owned in the paint. Duncan, Mutombo, Rasheed, Webber all struggled against him in the playoffs. No one had an answer for his low post game. Come on Kobe was clearly shut down in the Finals by Detroit and recently by Boston. Those Kobe lovers give him so much media attention that its hard to really judge his greatness based on the amount hype is able to achieve. This ranking should go 1. Shaq 2. Duncan 3. Kobe
You're right. Shaq deserves serious consideration as well. But its been a steady decline for him throughout.
No,that was an error of mine. Wade above Pierce,Pierce deserves 1st team consideration,but since there are only 5 places, I'll put Paul in the 2nd team. KG gets the edge,for being a better overall player. My 1st team Duncan Kobe Shaq Wade KG 2nd team Pierce(best 2nd team player) Dirk(better than Lebron) Lebron Billups Iverson I didn't put Kidd in there, because I admit I forgot about him. Kidd is a better choice than Iverson,even Billups,but Chauncey is a NBA Champ unlike both of them. Allen has done almost as well as Dirk,but now has declined. Kidd should be in the 2nd team IMO. Nash and Ben Wallace should be 2nd team reserves.
We should just do "team of the elevencade" ranging from year ending 0 to the second year ending 1 in order to eliminate math fights.
i'd put iverson in my 3rd team and replace him with a real pg (and better player, imho) in jason kidd. my 3rd team would be: g allen iverson g tracy mcgrady f paul pierce f rasheed wallace c ben wallace my player of the decade would be tim duncan.
Im not a Lebron fan but tell me why Dirk or KG is ahead of LBJ? They pretty much accomplished the same..KG won a championship but he had Pierce and Allen..
