NBA History: 50 best NBA players of the 21st century

50 greatest NBA players from 21st century: 22. Ray Allen

Ray Allen occupies a high position among the pantheon of great NBA shooters. Very few — some may argue none — have ever poured in 3-pointers as prolifically and as proficiently as Allen. He began his career in Milwaukee, where he spearheaded some of the Bucks’ greatest offensive teams. He then made the move to Seattle, which was followed by Boston. It was there that he won the first of two championships. His second ring, of course, came in the twilight years of his career with LeBron James and the Miami Heat.

While Allen was largely considered the weakest link in Boston’s revered Big Three, one cannot discount his impact on the game and the basketball narrative of the last century. Allen’s postseason battles with Allen Iverson in 2001 are legendary. Even his contributions in Miami, with his prime well in the rearview mirror, were critical to the Heat’s toppling of San Antonio in the 2013 Finals.

Well before the NBA’s 3-point revolution, Allen spread the floor and scrambled defenses with regularity. He was a prodigious deep threat, even in his Milwaukee days. He led the NBA in 3-pointers made thrice over the course of his career. His quick trigger and picture-perfect technique are invaluable teaching tools to any aspiring shooter.

Allen was far more than a shooter, though. He could get his own in isolation, and was a better defender than his reputation would suggest. Allen played both sides of the ball well, and spent much of his career as a focal scorer despite his off-ball brilliance. He made 10 All-Star appearances and two All-NBA teams. His spot on this list is undisputed.

50 greatest NBA players from 21st century: 21. Klay Thompson

If only a couple names sit above Ray Allen in the pantheon of great shooters, one of them is Klay Thompson. The second Splash Brother — the yang to Stephen Curry’s yin. To some, Thompson is the greatest shooter in league history, rivaled only by his teammate. In eight NBA seasons, Thompson has never shot below 40 percent from deep. From his second season on, he has never averaged fewer than six attempts per game.

Thompson has perhaps the textbook jump shot mechanics. There’s no wasted movement, no errant twitch of the elbow nor foot out of place. Thompson can square and shoot on a dime, and is undoubtedly the league’s best spot-up marksman. He does less on the ball than Curry, but such is life next to the greatest point guard of a generation.

In addition to his many exploits behind the arc, Thompson is a staunch perimeter defender who had carried out several high-profile assignments in the postseason. Thompson has only one All-Defensive nod to his name from 2019, but he was always an important cog in Golden State’s defense. At its peak, Golden State’s defense was arguably the best in basketball.

Thompson’s name is indelibly tied to the greatest regular season team in history, as well as arguably the greatest postseason team we’ve ever seen. The Warriors’ dynasty was unlike very few in NBA history, and Thompson’s unique shooting gravity played a key role in making the Warriors’ offense as unbeatable as it was. He has three rings to show for it, and even more Finals appearances under his belt. We can only hope he returns strong from injury next season.