The 75 greatest NBA players of the 2000s, ranked

The 2000s were an important decade for the NBA, with new stars emerging to carry the league into a new era. But which players were the best of the decade?

Tim Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal
Tim Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal | Jed Jacobsohn/GettyImages
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62) Jalen Rose

Current NBA analyst and former NBA player Jalen Rose had himself a solid 2000s after looking as though he might be a draft bust. This after being a key member of Michigan's famed Fab Five and being selected 13th overall in the 1994 NBA Draft. After two mediocre seasons in Denver, he was traded to the Indiana Pacers, where he was a backup small forward for three seasons before being given the chance to start.

That turned out to be a smart decision and he broke out in the 1990–00 season, averaging 18.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4 assists. That resulted in him winning Most Improved Player. He was even better in 2000–01 and 2001–02. Rose posted 20.5 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists in 00-01 before being traded to the Chicago Bulls in 01-02. That resulted in him playing 83 games while averaging 20.4 points

In 2003–04, he put together his best season, averaging 22.1 points per game but his numbers dropped after being dealt to the Toronto Raptors. He bounced around from there, playing in Toronto, New York, and Phoenix before retiring in 2007. Given how his career started, Rose managed to play surprisingly well in the 2000s, averaging 17.6 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in 565 games, showing that he was a good player while also winning a major award.