The 2010s are coming to an end on Tuesday. It is now time to take a close look at the top five National Basketball Association players over the last decade.
5) Dirk Nowitzki – Dallas Mavericks
The native of Wurzburg, Germany had a phenomenal decade with the Dallas Mavericks before retiring on April 10, 2019. Playing primarily as a power forward, Nowitzki was an all-star six times, and six times averaged 20 points or more in a season. Nowitzki’s biggest moment in his career came in the decade when he won the 2011 NBA Finals. Nowitzki became only the third international player to win the Bill Russell Award for the NBA Finals most valuable player as the Mavericks beat the Miami Heat in six games.
4) Kawhi Leonard – Los Angeles Clippers
The native of Los Angeles, California sparkled during the decade with the San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors. A three-time all-star, Leonard was known for his defense more than his offense with the Spurs. He led the NBA with 2.3 steals per game in 2014-15 and was the NBA’s defensive player of the year in 2014-15 and 2015-16. It is the playoffs where Leonard shined the most. He won the Bill Russell Award with the Spurs in 2014 and the Raptors in 2019, leading his teams to an NBA Championship both times.
3) Kevin Durant – Brooklyn Nets
The native of Washington, District of Columbia was an NBA All-Star every season during the decade (seven times with the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2010 to 2016 and three times with the Golden State Warriors from 2017 to 2019). Four times in the 2010s, Durant led the NBA in scoring, including a career-high 32 points per game in 2013-2014. Twice, in 2017 and 2018, Durant led the Warriors to an NBA Championship, and on both occasions won the Bill Russell Award. Durant also won the 2014 NBA Most Valuable Player award and was the NBA All-Star Game MVP twice in 2012 and 2019.
2) Stephen Curry – Golden State Warriors
One of the best point guards in NBA history, Curry, a native of Akron, Ohio, was an all-star for six straight years from 2014 to 2019. In 2015-16, Curry led the NBA in points per game (30.1), steals per game (2.1) and free throw percentage (.908). He also led the NBA in free throw percentage three other times during the decade. Three times Curry won the NBA Finals with the Warriors (2015, 2017 and 2018) and twice Curry was the NBA MVP (2015 and 2016.
1)LeBron James – Los Angeles Lakers
Like Curry, James is a native of Akron, Ohio, and like Durant, was an NBA All-Star for every year during the decade. James played five seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, four seasons with the Miami Heat and one season with the Los Angeles Lakers. Every season during the 2010s, James averaged a minimum of 20 points per season. He won the NBA Finals thrice (2012 and 2013 with Miami and 2016 with Cleveland). In each of those three years, James also won the Bill Russell Award. James was also the NBA MVP in 2010, 2012 and 2013, the NBA All-Star Game MVP in 2018 and was the Associated Press Athlete of the Decade in 2019.
