The 50 greatest NBA players of the 2020s (so far), ranked
By Cal Durrett
The end of the 2023–24 NBA season marked the midway point of the 2020s and its ninth decade overall. While it can be hard to draw conclusions from something unfinished, the first five seasons of the decade have seen a number of young stars emerge from the ranks of more established stars.
Unlike in previous decades' time, the 2020s featured several veteran superstars who maintained their place at the top of the league long enough to cross paths with the next generation of great players. Since we're only a few years into the 2020s, it can be challenging to create a definitive ranking of the 50 greatest NBA players of this decade thus far. However, here's a preliminary list based on performance thus far, impact on winning, and potential for the remainder of the decade.
Honorable mention:
51) Kyle Lowry
Future Hall of Famer Kyle Lowry was coming to the end of his nine-year run with the Toronto Raptors at the start of the decade, with him averaging 19.4 points and 7.5 assists during his last All-Star season in 2019-20. Since then, he has slowly but steadily declined, going from 19.4 points to 17.2, 13.4, 11.2 and then 8.1 points as he's aged.
While he failed to live up to expectations after joining the Miami Heat, he still proved to be a valuable player during their unlikely run to the NBA Finals in 2023, with him pushing the pace in the second unit. All things considered, he has held up surprisingly well since he is still going into his late 30s and while he might only play another season or two in the NBA, he has averaged 13.7 points and 6.3 assists in 282 games thus far this decade.
Those numbers will likely drop some as he plays an increasingly smaller role but he could always win another championship, which would solidify his legacy. Ultimately, while the 2010s were far better for Lowry, he still had an All-Star season and seamlessly transitioned into being a role player, giving him enough of a resume to be considered one of the greatest players of the 2020s.