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The start of the 2000s marked a big shift in the NBA, coinciding with the end of the Michael Jordan era and the beginning of a new one. The 2000s saw superstars such as Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett, and Tim Duncan come into their own. Meanwhile, younger stars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokic entered the league during the 21st century.
That changing of the guard has resulted in a new generation of superstars that have dramatically increased the league's popularity. Stars are stars and plenty have played since the start of the 2000s but which players are the best of the best of the era?
We'll answer that question by taking a look at the 50 greatest players of the last 25 years (from 1999–00 through the 2023–24 season). Factors such as stats, individual success, team success, and overall impact will be used to determine the best players. Let's get started!
Honorable mentions:
52) Al Horford
51) Shawn Marion
#50-41
50) Amar'e Stoudemire
Although his career didn't finish on the strongest of notes, Amar'e Stoudemire definitely had enough of a resume to warrant inclusion on this list. Stoudemire was selected ninth overall in 2002 and made an immediate impact, even winning Rookie of the Year, showing early on that he had major potential. In his sophomore season, he saw his scoring jump by more than seven points per game, up to 20.6 points and emerged as one of the best young players in the NBA.
However, his career didn't really take off until the 2004–05 season, after the arrival of Hall of Famer Steve Nash. For seven seasons, the duo were the backbone of the "Seven Seconds or Less Suns," with Stoudimire averaging a terrific 23.2 points, 9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game.
He made the all-star team and All-NBA in five of those seasons and helped the Suns reach the Western Conference Finals twice before leaving for the New York Knicks. In 2010-11, he had one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 25.3 points and 8.2 rebounds for the Knicks before injuries saw him steadily decline to close out his career. However, during his prime with the Phoenix Suns, Stoudimire was one of the better players in the NBA.