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Daniel Leonard ranks the top 10 NBA players of the 21st century.
Today I will be ranking the 10 greatest players of the 21st century. Now, for those who might be a little confused about what years go into the rankings for this, let me explain it to you. The 21st century officially started in 2001, so I will only be ranking players who had numerous prime years after the 2000 season. That means even if a player was drafted before 2001, they can still be included in my rankings if they played well enough.
Now let me explain the criteria behind my rankings. To me, the three most important things are sustained dominance, accolades, and success to your situation. I will take winning championships into account for the rankings, but it won't be a deciding factor in my rankings. Winning championships is a team accomplishment, so there's only so much an individual can do to effect that outcome. That's why I rank players based on their success relative to their situation; I give more grace to overachievers in contrast to underachievers.
Now that you understand my ranking system and the central idea of this article, let's hop straight into it. If you have any questions or concerns, ask me on Twitter at @danieldleonard7.
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10. Dwyane Wade
Career Stats: 22.0 PTS, 4.7 Reb, 5.4 AST
Accolades: 13x All-Star, 8x All-NBA, 3x NBA champ, 3x All-Defense, 1x Finals MVP
Dwyane Wade, aka the Flash, is one of the best-slashing guards in NBA history. Wade's lightning-quick speed, unbelievable athleticism, and sneaky strength made him one of the greatest volume slashers ever. Once he was able to pair his insane physical tools with a very respectable mid-range game, he became a superstar right away. He was able to win the Miami Heat's first championship ever behind an amazing playoff run and finals. Though he was never a great outside shooter, he was still one of the most consistent and efficient scorers in the league.
He paired his nuclear offensive game with an even more stellar defensive game. Wade had six seasons of averaging over a block per game, which is unheard of for a guy of his size. He was able to always show up in big moments and always have a positive impact in the playoffs, no matter what team was constructed around him.
Full Dwyane Wade 2006 highlights 🔥🔥pic.twitter.com/GcbATo0ppk
— FastBreakPhenom (@FastBreakPhenom) April 30, 2024
Even though I believe the Heat kind of squandered Wade's general peak with very lackluster talent, they more than made up for it by supplying him with Chris Bosh and LeBron James in the latter years. Now let me dive into why Wade isn't higher on my list compared to other guys coming up.
Wade, to me, does not have the general longevity that some of the upcoming players have. Although I understand that those years were robbed away from him by nagging knee injuries, I simply can't rank him any higher. Once Wade's athleticism declined due to injuries, he also regressed as a shooter, which simply made him a way harder fit in the modern NBA. Though he still had great intangibles and was a great secondary playmaker, his body simply failed him in the end.
9. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Career Stats: 23.4 PTS, 9.8 REB, 4.9 AST
Accolades: 2x MVP, 8x All-Star, 8x All-NBA, 5x All- Defense, 1x DPOY, 1x NBA Champ, 1x Finals MVP
Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the most physically dominant players in NBA history, only behind some players ahead of him on this list. Though he had a slow start to his career once entering his prime, Giannis was one of the most unstoppable slashers ever, no matter the position. He is a true matchup nightmare; he is too agile and quick for bigger guys and way too strong and lengthy for smaller guys.
He is a top-three slasher in NBA history to me; the sheer volume of shots he takes and makes around the rim is only comparable to Shaq in the modern era. His slashing is so dominant that coaches like Nick Nurse were forced to create defensive schemes like the wall; essentially, all five defenders are in a massive gap, which helps deter Giannis from making any attempts near the rim. If you pair a great slashing game like that with above-average playmaking and historic defense, then you have a legend. Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the best roam defenders ever, and he also has amazing versatility to have spot minutes guarding 1–5.
📊 2018-19:
27.7 PPG | 12.5 RPG | 5.9 APG📊 2019-20:
29.5 PPG | 13.6 RPG | 5.6 RPGCelebrate @Giannis_An34’s 26th birthday with his BEST highlights from his back-to-back #KiaMVP seasons! #NBABDAY pic.twitter.com/N4SDsj6kxF
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2020
The reason why Giannis Antetokounmpo isn't higher is because, although he has been historically great from around the rim, he has been pretty bad from all other places on the floor. Also, as I stated earlier, Giannis is a great roam defender, not a one-on-one defender. When guarding shifty players on the perimeter, he simply doesn't have the footwork to stay with them, and in the post, some bigs are simply too strong. Sometimes people overrate his defense a little too much because he has a DPOY, but he is still a great defender.
The only reason he was able to jump Wade is because his peak is so great and has no signs of slowing down. If he can add a couple of great or all-time great seasons to his resume, he will be moving up on my list.
8. Nikola Jokic
Career Stats: 20.9 PTS, 10.7 REB, 6.9 AST
Accolades: 3x MVP, 6x All-Star, 6x All-NBA, 1x NBA Champ, 1x Finals MVP
Nikola Jokic is one of the most transcendent players in NBA history. Even though, from an optic standpoint, his physical tools aren't overwhelming, his IQ, intangibles, and pure skill are second to none in his position. Jokic is well recognized as the best passing big man in NBA history. He has elite vision and can run the offense from anywhere on the court, which is unheard of from a center. He seems to have a counter to any defensive scheme thrown at him and consistently outsmarts players. He also has an elite touch around the basket, which has made his post-game unstoppable. Jokic has the brute strength to overpower smaller guys and ballet-like footwork to embarrass bigger guys.
Nikola Jokic had it rolling from tip-off, scoring 18 of the @nuggets first 23 points on his way to 37 points, 8 boards, and 6 assists to force Game 5! #MileHighBasketball
Game 5: GSW vs DEN, Wed. 10pm/et on TNT pic.twitter.com/ACg4mKCwkY
— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2022
Jokic is also just as efficient when shooting from outside the paint, whether that be from mid-range or three. He truly is an elite three-level scorer with multiple historic regular seasons and playoff seasons. When you pair those accomplishments with an MVP award three times, it's hard to deny his greatness in his position.
I stand pretty firm on this ranking for Jokic, and I also think he has a great chance to possibly move up in the coming years. Also, I know that Jokic is not a great defensive player, and that was one of my previous knocks on him. But, after watching him more closely these last few years, it showed me he can be a plus on defense when it's needed. It is still early in Jokic's prime, but his resume is already shaping up to be a historic one, not only in his position but also in all-time rankings.
7. Kevin Durant
Career Stats: 27.3 PTS, 7.0 REB, 4.4 AST
Accolades: 14x All-Star, 4x Scoring Champ, 2x NBA Champ, 2x Finals MVP, 1x MVp, 1x ROY, 11x All-NBA
Kevin Durant is one of the most misunderstood players in the league. I feel like a lot of people underestimate his greatness and resume simply because they dislike his move to the Golden State Warriors. Kevin Durant is easily a top-three scorer in NBA history to me. He truly is the definition of a three-level scorer; he has a high volume from all three portions of the floor and is efficient at all levels as well. He has the skill and handle to get to any spot he needs to at any moment in the game. He is slender, but he has enough quickness and length to still get his shot off on any kind of defense.
Highlights from a season-high 45 points from Kevin Durant 🔥
(via @NBA)pic.twitter.com/3bbNHVGRWV
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) November 29, 2022
KD is a plus on the defensive end of the ball as well; his length helps him serve as a good secondary rim protector. He also is not a slouch guarding on the ball; he can pretty much guard 1-4 anytime he is asked to. He has plenty of moments from historic playoff and regular seasons that I don't think can be matched from an efficiency standpoint. Also, for him to still be playing at an all-time level after an Achilles injury is something that shouldn't be taken lightly at all.
The one weakness Durant does have is his passing; even though it's gotten better later in his career, sometimes it shows up in big moments. He is very loose with the ball sometimes, and it causes him to turn the ball over at an abnormally high rate, which has cost his teams in series. Though he has some all-time great performances, he also has some really bad ones that cause him to be looked at in a bad light by some people. My only gripe is that Durant is purely a jump shooter these days. I kind of expected that after such a horrific injury, but that one-dimensional style has made it easier for teams like the Timberwolves and Celtics to gameplan for him in the previous series.
6. Kobe Bryant
Career Stats: 25.0 PTS, 5.2 REB, 4.7 AST
Accolades: 18x All-Star, 5x NBA Champ, 2x Finals MVP, 15x All-NBA, 12x All- Defense, 1x MVP, 2x Scoring Champ
17 years ago today, Kobe Bryant began one of the greatest scoring streaks in NBA history. We haven’t seen anything like it since.
65 points, 23-39 FG
50 points, 17-35 FG
60 points, 20-37 FG
50 points, 16-29 FG pic.twitter.com/eChCB4ct2a— Kobe Bryant Stories & Motivation (@kobehighlight) March 16, 2024
Kobe is easily cemented in basketball history as one of the greatest players ever, regardless of the era. He was a superb scorer and truly dominated the midrange area at a level only comparable to Michael Jordan. He was also a respectable three-point shooter, which made him even more of a matchup nightmare. He truly mastered the art of scoring and is the second-best in history, in my opinion. Even with his athleticism slowly declining, he found more ways to put up historic numbers on that end. He was a great playmaker and often got his teammates open consistently just by being aggressive in trying to score because, frankly, no one could guard him one-on-one. He was also a good defender; when he was able to key in on certain matchups, he would put his defensive talent on display. He had quick hands and feet and was strong enough to bruise bigger players like Carmelo Anthony.
Now let me tell you why he is so low on my list because I know that my opinion on Kobe is not the general consensus. Kobe, in my eyes, was a great scorer without a doubt but was able to benefit massively early on in his career from the low post-gravity of Shaq. He was able to consistently face weaker defenses because they were schemed around stopping Shaq. Now that Shaq left, people might argue that he won two championships without knowing why he would be higher, but I already said championships aren't a deciding factor for me. I think Kobe doesn't face as much criticism for his playoff shortcomings as compared to other players. Kobe for most of his career, was in advantageous situations to win, except for the mid-2000s. Kobe is an all-time great in my book, but I think far too often people don't dive into his full career and only highlight the great parts.
5. Kevin Garnett
Career Stats: 17.8 PTS, 10.0 REB, 3.7 AST
Accolades: 15x All-Star, 4x Reb Champ, 12x All-Defense, 9x All-NBA, 1x DPOY, 1x Champ, 1x MVP
Kevin Garnett is the most underrated player in NBA history. Let me explain why. Rarely do I ever see people give him his well-deserved credit, and that goes for old and new NBA fans. Kevin was an example of a modern-day big that was kind of just in the wrong era, but he still dominated. On the offensive side of the ball, he had an amazing mid-range jumper that was deadly off the dribble or in catch-and-shoot situations. He was slender, but he used that build to his advantage; he was very quick and agile for his size. He had a smooth handle that allowed him to break down bigger players and sometimes even smaller guys as well.
Kevin was also a great passer; even with very limited spacing, he used his scoring threat to get his teammates open while in the post. On defense, Kevin was a true do-it-all guy; he was an elite rim protector. He could roam and cover ground like no one else could, and he could also block shots in the post consistently, even with his small frame. Kevin's defensive IQ and intangibles allowed him to anchor great defenses even with mediocre talent. He could also comfortably guard ball handlers; he was so comfortable guarding perimeter players that the Timberwolves were fine with switching most things on defense with him.
Kevin Garnett obliterating defenders for a minute straight.
FILTHY. 🗣 pic.twitter.com/CjT0PPhI2m
— Hoops (@HoopMixOnly) July 16, 2024
Now you might still ask, "How could Kevin be ahead of Kobe?" Even though Kevin never won in Minnesota, I still think he overachieved with very minimal talent. He was the engine of the offense and the defense, which allowed him to have multiple MVP-type seasons. I always thought Kevin was a winning player, and nothing backed that opinion up more than when he was in Boston. I believe Garnett was at the tail end of his prime, and yet once he was in a good situation, he was able to lead them to a historic defense and a championship. The same logic can be used in Minnesota as well; once they got him a real co-star, he instantly got a Western Conference finals berth. All in all, I think Kevin deserves a lot more credit for his historic career.
4. Shaquille O'Neal
Career Stats: 23.7 PTS, 10.9 REB, 2.5 AST
Accolades: 15x All-Star, 4x NBA Champ, 3x All-Defense, 1x MVP, 3x Finals MVP, 14x All-NBA, 1x ROY, 2x Scoring Champ
Shaq is easily the most physically dominant and imposing player to ever step foot in the NBA. There has never been a player who could single-handedly force teams to employ big men with no talent for the sole purpose of guarding Shaq. He hit the ground, running and proving to be a matchup nightmare for any big man, no matter how good they were on the defensive end. Shaq's game elevated even more after his time in Orlando.
Shaq highlights will never stop being fun to watch
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) December 13, 2023
In LA, Shaq truly reached his peak and was unstoppable. He forced teams to collapse in the paint just to have a chance at containing him when he was in the post. Shaq had 14 years straight of averaging a 20-point double-double, which doesn't even tap into how great he was. He was agile enough to beat other centers down the court consistently, and even when he couldn't get close enough to dunk it, he had good enough touch around the rim to always finish. He was just as good on defense; he anchored multiple great defenses.
The one thing that I loved about Shaq as well was that his all-time great production always carried over into the post-season while he was in his prime. He was so dominant that it always eased the jobs of his co-stars and enabled his teams to always reach their full potential. Shaq has a few cases of underperforming, but the way he dominated in so many seasons is more than enough to make up for those seasons.
3. Stephen Curry
Career Stats: 24.8 PTS, 4.8 REB, 6.4 AST
Accolades: 10x All-Star, 1x Finals MVP, 2x Scoring Champ, 4x NBA Champ, 2x MVP, 10x All-NBA, 1x STL Champ
STEPH CURRY'S 50-POINT GAME 7.
EVERY SINGLE POINT.#PLAYOFFMODEHe'll be back in action on Tuesday night 🍿
LAL/GSW Game 1: 10 PM ET on TNT pic.twitter.com/RwmH97S7O5
— NBA (@NBA) April 30, 2023
Hands down, Stephen Curry is easily the greatest shooter to ever touch a basketball. He is an automatic threat once he passes half-court; nobody else in the NBA can say that. We have never seen someone revolutionize the way that offense is played like Steph did. I don't think Steph gets enough credit for being such a volume outside shooter and still having some of the best efficiency that we have ever seen. Not to mention Steph is one of the greatest off-ball players ever, so even when the ball isn't in his hands, you have to still respect him.
Curry spearheaded a dynasty and was able to be the catalyst for some of the best offenses in the modern era. I think Steph is underrated in two facets of his game, his passing and defense. People always say that Steph isn't a great playmaker, but he uses his shooting gravity to force two people to commit to him, and he always makes the right play after.
Steph is not a great defensive player, but similar to Larry Bird, I think he is a good team defender. No matter how much teams try to hunt him on defense, he has always been good enough on that end to not hurt his team. I don't think there will ever be a player that matches Curry's shooting volume and efficiency. Curry has also had some all-time great playoff runs that showed me he deserved to be ranked this high. He might be higher on my board compared to others, but when you have such an enormous effect on the game, you have to give him his props.
2. Tim Duncan
Career Stats: 19.0 PTS, 10.8 REB, 3.0 AST
Accolades: 15x All-Star, 15x All-Defense, 15x All-NBA, 1x ROY, 2x MVP, 5x Champ, 3x Finals MVP
The big fundamental Tim Duncan is the best power forward to ever play. Some people rank him highly only because he won a lot, but I rank him this highly because of his play. First off, I don't think there has ever been a player to come into a situation right away as the best player and win a championship in his second season. Duncan created a historic defensive frontcourt with David Robinson, and that allowed the Spurs to win with a mediocre backcourt. Duncan doesn't get the credit he deserves for being the ultimate glue that held the Spurs dynasty together, even when it was not in great situations.
When people look back at his career, they tend to gloss over the fact that Tim was the engine for a historic offense and defense. He was the ultimate rim protector and was interchangeable guarding power forwards and centers; then, on offense, he was the main contributor to the Spurs' low post offense. The underrated part of Tim's production, too, is his elite longevity on both ends; even when he wasn't moving well at all, he still found ways to be more than productive.
1. LeBron James
Career Stats: 27.1 PTS, 7.5 REB, 7.4 AST
Accolades: 20x All-Star, 2ox All-NBA, 1x ROY, 6x All-Defense, 4x Finals MVP, 4x MVP, 1x Scoring Champ, 4x NBA Champ
10 minutes of LeBron James highlights from the 2021-22 season. Enjoy. 👑 pic.twitter.com/gk9neFyWDs
— NBA UK (@NBAUK) August 12, 2022
LeBron has had plenty of people try to downplay his greatness, but he is easily the greatest player of the 21st century. Never have we seen a player who is as physically dominant as him be so great at passing, shooting, and handling the ball. James has carried some of the worst supporting casts to heights they never should have been at. He has also adjusted to the times, which many players haven't been able to do.
He started as a bad jump shooter in the league, but as his athleticism diminished a little, he has taken amazing strides in shooting the ball efficiently. On the defensive side of the ball, he is just as good—a true Swiss army knife. He can guard perimeter players 1-4 with ease and can blow up passing lanes with his anticipation. Also, he is a great rim protector; he has made a living off of destroying fast break attempts with his impeccable timing.
Sure, he has had some bad series, but when you have the best longevity the league has ever seen, you are bound to fail a couple of times. But the way he has responded to those failures is what makes him the best of this century, to me. When his back has been against the wall and his team has no other option but to depend on him, he has come through. James is the best floor-raiser in NBA history, and it is not particularly close. The longevity and the countless all-time great seasons he has had make him an easy pick for number one.
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