The 2000s delivered an era of star-studded basketball that remains some of the most exciting in NBA history.
With arguably half of the Top 10 greatest players of all time dominating the court during this decade, fans witnessed legendary battles that redefined the league.
Here, I rank the 10 best NBA players of the 2000s.
Top 10 NBA players of the 2000s 10. Tracy McGrady 
Michael Jordan guarding Tracy McGrady
Credit REUTERS – Scanpix
Accomplishments (1999-2000 – 2008-2009):
7x All-Star 7x All-NBA 2x Scoring Champion
Teams:
24.4 PPG 6.3 RPG 5.2 APG 1.4 SPG 0.9 BPG
Tracy McGrady should be among the first names mentioned when considering the best NBA players of the 2000s.
McGrady absolutely dominated at the start of the decade, winning the NBA scoring title twice, including one season in which he averaged over 32 points per game.
If not for the injuries that significantly shortened his career, we would likely speak of him even more highly.
He most likely would have added at least a couple more All-Star and All-NBA selections – and perhaps even a championship – to his résumé.
Instead, his career will forever remain one of the biggest “what if” stories of all time.
9. Allen Iverson 
Allen Iverson
Credit AP – Scanpix
Accomplishments (1999-2000 – 2008-2009):
10x All-Star 2001 MVP 6x All-NBA 3x Scoring Champion 3x Steals Champion
Teams:
28.1 PPG 3.6 RPG 6.2 APG 2.2 SPG
Allen Iverson is the player who defines the 2000s.
AI captured the hearts of millions, from his off-court style to his incredible handles and streetball-inspired play.
While he, like T-Mac, never secured an NBA title, his 2000-01 campaign remains one of the greatest individual seasons in history.
That year, he led an underdog Philadelphia 76ers squad to the NBA Finals, where they eventually fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games.
Iverson won the NBA MVP that season, posting a dominant stat line of 31.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game.
8. Steve Nash 
Amar’e Stoudemire guarding Steve Nash
Credit Getty Images-Scanpix
Accomplishments (1999-2000 – 2008-2009):
6x All-Star 2x MVP 6x All-NBA 3x Assist Champion 16.2 PPG 3.2 RPG 9.1 APG 0.8 SPG
Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash was the centerpiece of the iconic “7 Seconds or Less” Phoenix Suns teams of the mid-2000s.
His incredible court vision, playmaking, and shooting ability made him the ideal point guard, leading one of the best offenses of the era.
Despite debates over his back-to-back MVP wins, Nash cemented his status among the top NBA players of the 2000s by fundamentally changing the game through extreme pace, early shot-clock threes, and high pick-and-roll spacing.
7. Dwyane Wade 
Dwayne Wade
Credit Getty Images – Scanpix
Accomplishments (2003-2004 – 2008-2009):
5x All-Star 2006 Finals MVP 2006 Champion All-Rookie 2x All-Defense 4x All-NBA 2009 Scoring Champion 25.2 PPG 4.9 RPG 6.7 APG 1.8 SPG 1 BPG
As a Miami Heat superstar, Dwyane Wade was one of the most unstoppable mid-2000s NBA players.
During his prime, Wade’s blend of unparalleled speed, athleticism, and skill made him a nightmare for opposing defenders.
His 2006 NBA Finals performance against the Dallas Mavericks is still considered one of the best Finals showings of the modern NBA era.
“Flash” led the Heat to the 2006 championship, averaging 34.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists, earning Finals MVP honors.
6. Dirk Nowitzki 
Dirk Nowitzki
Credit Reuters-Scanpix
Accomplishments (1999-2000 – 2008-2009):
8x All-Star 2006 MVP 9x All-NBA 23.6 PPG 8.9 RPG 2.8 APG 0.9 SPG 1 BPG
Dirk Nowitzki redefined the power forward position in the 2000s.
Possessing an exceptional shooting touch from anywhere on the floor, Nowitzki was virtually unstoppable during his mid-to-late 2000s prime.
His signature one-legged fadeaway became one of the most unguardable moves in NBA history, bringing him incredible success.
During his 2007 MVP campaign, he led the Mavericks to a 67-15 record while averaging 24.6 points and 8.9 rebounds on historic 50-40-90 shooting splits.
5. Kevin Garnett 
Kevin Garnett
Credit AFP-Scanpix
Accomplishments (1999-2000 – 2008-2009):
10x All-Star 2008 Champion 2004 MVP 2008 DPOY 10x All-Defense 8x All-NBA 4x Rebounding Champion
Teams:
21.6 PPG 12.1 RPG 4.7 APG 1.3 SPG 1.6 BPG
Garnett’s tenure with the Minnesota Timberwolves peaked in 2004, when his MVP performance led the franchise to its first Western Conference Finals.
Although he never surpassed that level of success with the Timberwolves, his value was undeniable.
In 2007, he was traded to the star-studded Boston Celtics in one of the biggest trades in NBA history.
With the Celtics, Garnett immediately won a championship in his first season and claimed the Defensive Player of the Year award, cementing his status as one of the greatest forwards ever.
4. LeBron James 
LeBron James
Credit T.Tumalovičius, reporteris.com
Accomplishments (2003-2009):
5x All-Star 2009 MVP Rookie Of The Year 5x All-NBA 2009 All-Defense 2008 Scoring Champion 27.5 PPG 7 RPG 6.7 APG 1.8 SPG 0.9 BPG
Some still believe this version of LeBron James is the greatest we’ve ever seen.
Carrying the Cleveland Cavaliers on his back, James transformed them into perennial contenders, a feat highlighted by leading the team to its first-ever NBA Finals in 2007.
Remarkably, LeBron remains among the league’s elite today, even as its oldest active player.
3. Shaquille O’Neal 
Shaquille O’Neal with Kobe Bryant
Credit AP – Scanpix
Accomplishments (1999-2000 – 2008-2009):
9x All-Star 2000 MVP 3x Finals MVP 4x Champion 8x All-NBA 3x All-Defense 2000 Scoring Champion
Teams:
23.1 PPG 10.6 RPG 2.7 APG 2.2 BPG
Shaquille O’Neal secured four titles in the 2000s and stood as the league’s most dominant force during the decade’s first half; however, a late-career decline places him third on this list.
Following his 2006 title with the Miami Heat, injuries began to derail his career and diminish his on-court impact.
Despite that, his accomplishments earlier in the decade cement his place in history as one of the best centers to ever play the game.
Though many believe he deserved multiple MVP awards, O’Neal somehow finished his career with only one, despite leading the Lakers to the league’s most recent three-peat.
2. Tim Duncan 
Tim Duncan with Tony Parker
Credit Getty Images – Scanpix
Accomplishments (1999-2000 – 2008-2009):
10x All-Star 2x MVP 2x Finals MVP 10x All-Defense 10x All-NBA 3x Champion 21.4 PPG 11.7 RPG 3.3 APG 2.3 BPG
Tim Duncan is a symbol of one of the most dominant franchises of the 2000s, the San Antonio Spurs.
“The Big Fundamental” led the Spurs to three NBA championships during this era, earning league MVP twice and Finals MVP honors.
As the widely acknowledged greatest power forward in NBA history, Duncan firmly secures the No. 2 spot on this list.
His consistency and impact on both ends of the floor may not get as much attention among fans, but his accomplishments speak for themselves.
1. Kobe Bryant 
Kobe Bryant
Credit Reuters-Scanpix
Accomplishments (1999-2000 – 2008-2009):
10x All-Star 2008 MVP 2009 Finals MVP 4x Champion 10x All-NBA 10x All-Defense 2x Scoring Champion 28.2 PPG 5.9 RPG 5.2 APG 1.7 SPG
The closest thing we’ve seen to Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant dominated the 2000s for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Between a three-peat alongside Shaquille O’Neal, a legendary 81-point performance, and his 2009 title, the Black Mamba cemented his legacy as 2nd best shooting guard of all time and the greatest Laker ever.
Beyond being a lethal offensive talent, Bryant was an elite defender who earned ten consecutive All-Defensive selections during the decade.
The fact that he secured only one MVP award in 2008 underscores the depth of talent in this era–a golden age that Kobe defined as its most thrilling superstar.
Edvinas Kuzas began his basketball media career in 2025, joining BasketNews as a Daily Writer. He brings a deep understanding of the sport, shaped by years of following both its history and trending topics. Alongside his writing, he is currently pursuing a degree in basketball coaching, further expanding his knowledge of the game. This combination allows him to provide more analytical, insightful, and opinion-based perspectives on basketball.
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