The 75 greatest NBA players of the 2000s, ranked
By Cal Durrett
The 2000s were an important decade for the NBA after the league's popularity exploded during the 1980s and 1990s. After Michael Jordan's second retirement in 1998, it wasn't clear who would become the next face of the NBA.
Entering the decade, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, and Tim Duncan are the most likely options. The answer was all of the above, with the league relying on several superstars to carry the league into the 21st century.
Without a singular superstar like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, or Jordan, it led to increased parity throughout the league, with teams such as the San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, and Miami Heat all winning at least one championship in the decade.
That trend has only continued with the league's two most dominant teams, the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, winning only three championships in the last fifteen seasons, with more great players in smaller markets helping lead their teams to championships. That all started during the 2000s, and with that being said, now's the time for us to take a look back and determine the 75 greatest players of all time.