Earlier last week, ComplexSports tweeted a photo that showed who they thought were deserving of being on the 2010’s all-decade first, second and third team.
Here is what they had for players on their teams.
ComplexSports first team:
Stephen Curry
James Harden
Lebron James
Kevin Durant
Kawhi Leonard
ComplexSports second team:
Chris Paul
Russell Westbrook
Carmelo Anthony
Blake Griffin
Anthony Davis
ComplexSports third team:
Dwayne Wade
Kobe Bryant
Paul George
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Lamarcus Aldridge
This list should not be scored popularity of a player, but by production and results that these players had from 2009-2019. What we will be basing our decisions off of is the production that these players have had during their time these past 10 years. This includes their points scored, rebounds and assist every season that they played. As well as basing most decisions off of their success as a player in the league (accolades) and the success that they led their team to (playoff record, regular season records and championships).
With that being said, here are all of 2010’s decades teams.
Devereaux’s First team:
Stephen Curry
James Harden
Lebron James
Dwanye Wade
Kevin Durant
It’s hard to deny Curry and James from being on the first-team list. James has been an All-Star every year this decade, a three-time MVP (2009, 2012, 2013), and won all three of his championships during this era (2012, 2013, 2016) and was Finals MVP in each.
Curry has been a second half monster of this era, and even though he started off slowly and injury riddled in the first half of this decade he has been one of the few players in this decade to win two MVPs (2014, 2015).
Curry has been the best shooter in this time period. In almost every season he has played, Curry has broken the three pointers made record.
We also agreed with ComplexSports that Durant and Harden are deserving to be on the First Team.
Both players have been the best scorers in the league, each earning multiple scoring titles, multiple All-Stars and an MVP to their name during this decade. We replaced Leonard with Wade on the first team, because Wade has had more dominant seasons in comparison to Leonard.
The former Miami Heat shooting guard has won two championships (2012, 2013), and even though he took the secondary role of playing behind James for four years when they both played for the Heat, Wade was still the reason why the team had such success with and without James on the team.
Devereaux’s Second Team:
Chris Paul
Russell Westbrook
Kawhi Leonard
Dwight Howard
Dirk Nowitzki
Chris Paul is deserving to even be considered for the First Team. However, even though he has been the best point guard almost every year his team success has not shown much to be desired.
Paul has multiple All-Star selections, six-time First Team all-defense, three All-NBA first-teams, two All-NBA second-teams and an All-NBA third-team selection.
Paul has been consistently dominant in the regular season, but has yet to receive an MVP, or defensive player award.
The former Rocket has not even been to the NBA Finals, and has once made it past the second round of the playoffs.
Russell Westbrook was the 2017 MVP and has averaged a triple-double in the past three seasons. No other player in this decade has even averaged a triple-double in one season.
Leonard has been one of the best players on all three teams combined, but only had average seasons from 2011 (when he was drafted) to 2014. He is a two-time finals MVP (2014, 2019).
If we were basing this list from 2015-present, we would have him higher. But, there were players more deserving than Leonard at the moment.
Howard and Nowitzki were left off this list surprisingly. It is very hard to imagine that people would leave out two of the best big men to play in the league.
Nowitzki won a championship in 2011 and was awarded Finals MVP. He led his team to the playoffs for many years, which saw a few All-NBA second and Third Team selections along with seven All-Star appearances during this decade.
Howard during this decade was a two-time defensive player of the year winner, as well as receiving three First Team selections, one Second Team selection and a Third Team selection as well. Howard has been a six-time All-Star selected player. Even though many believe Howard the past three years has been irrelevant, his numbers still show that he can be one of the best rebounders and defensive centers in the league when healthy.
Devereaux’s Third Team:
Paul George
Tim Duncan
Kobe Bryant
Carmelo Anthony
Giannis Antetokounmpo
We agree with ComplexSports that George and Antetokounmpo are deserving the Third Team slot as both players have been great the past few years.
Both are multiple time All-Stars and each have been on the First Team All-NBA. Antetokounmpo was just recently awarded the 2019 MVP, which definitely solidified his spot. Just like the Leonard situation if this list was based off the years 2015 to present day, both these players would be ranked higher.
Duncan was a shocker, he retired in 2016 but so did Kobe Bryant and Complex still had him on the list.
Although Duncan did not win any MVPs or Finals MVPs during this decade, he still managed to be the anchor to a championship team in 2014.
In this decade he was selected to three All-NBA teams, and three All-NBA defensive teams. He was an All-Star five times as well, while being one of the main guys on his very successful run with the Spurs.
Originally, we did not agree with ComplexSports about having Bryant on any team. We considered replacing him for Klay Thompson, Damian Lillard or even Kyrie Irving. But looking at his accolades, Bryant was so dominant from 2009-2013 that I just did not have the heart to remove him.
Bryant had won the Finals and the Finals MVP in 2010, and had insane stats for the next four years up until his injuries started in the late 2013-2014 season.
Bryant’s success in four years, and average play for another three years could not be going under the radar. If Bryant did not get injured with his Achilles in the 2013-2014 season, we positive he would have had a few more accolades and possible another championship under his belt.
It was hard to rank Anthony on this list, as his playoff record from 2009-2019 is not very good. His statistics are amazing, as he has been a 20-point scorer and won a few scoring titles in his day.
But he has never won an MVP or defensive player of the year and his best accomplishments are eight All-Star appearances, two all NBA Second Team selections and one Third Team selection. The reason why we kept Anthony on the list, was because of his team situation. Playing for a struggling Knicks and leading them to a few playoff berths is impressive on its own, along with his ability to score the ball anywhere.
Anthony is one of the better scorers in the league but is not nearly accomplished enough in this decade to see his stock rise any further.
