The 50 Greatest NBA players of the 21st century, ranked

Stars are stars but which players are the absolute best since the start of the 2000s?
Kobe Bryant, LeBron James
Kobe Bryant, LeBron James | Victor Decolongon/GettyImages
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43) Ben Wallace

NBA legend Ben Wallace has the distinction of being the only undrafted player to make the cut, with his defense and rebounding being his calling cards. Wallace started his career with the Washington Bullets/Wizards and the Orlando Magic before being included in the Grant Hill sign-and-trade with the Detroit Pistons. That turned out to be a huge deal for the Pistons, who received what would end up being a terrific defensive player.

In his first stint with Detroit, Wallace emerged as a game-changing rim protector and rebounder, anchoring an incredible defense. Over those six seasons, Wallace would win Defensive Player of the Year four times, make an All-NBA and an All-NBA defensive team five times each and be selected to the all-star team four times.

While during his peak, he only averaged 7.9 points on 47.4 percent shooting, he made up for it by producing a stellar 2.8 blocks, 1.6 steals, and 12.9 rebounds while leading the league in boards twice and rejections once.

That resulted in the Pistons making five straight Eastern Conference Finals with Wallace as well as back-to-back NBA Finals and winning a championship in 2004. That success resulted in him making the Basketball Hall of Fame and making him one of the 50 best players of the 21st century.