The 75 greatest NBA players of the 2000s, ranked
By Cal Durrett
7) Allen Iverson
Despite being one of the most popular players of his era, Allen Iverson is somewhat polarizing when it comes to all-time player discussions. Iverson put up big numbers, especially during the 2000s, which coincided with his prime.
He played a total of 682 games during the decade, averaging a staggering 28.1 points and 6.2 assists, primarily for the Philadelphia 76ers and later the Denver Nuggets. Not only that, but he made six all-NBA teams and seven All-Star appearances, as well as winning League MVP in 2000–2001, en route to carrying the Sixers to the NBA Finals.
His iconic Game 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals saw him score 48 points and clench the win with a shot over Tyronn Lue. Nevertheless, the Shaq and Kobe Lakers overwhelmed the Sixers and won their second of three straight championships. Nevertheless, Iverson leading that Sixers team to the NBA Finals is a feat in and of itself since it is considered to be one of the worst teams to ever make the Finals.
That is made all the more impressive by the fact that he was listed at just 6'0 but many believe him to be even shorter. That may explain some of his inefficiency, with him favoring pull-up midrange jumpers, one of the worst shots in basketball. To his credit, he was far more efficient playing in Denver, proving that his greatness could adapt.