The great debate rages on as the new age meets the old school. Crazy to think that “old school” can be considered as the early 2000’s. The new millennium showcased early stars and guys who were in the right stages of their prime, it ushered in a new look to the NBA and was in the early “post-Jordan” stages even though Michael Jordan was still playing, but as a member of the Washington Wizards. Now the debate continues, what if the talent of the early 2000’s went up against today’s crop of players. Well here is your answer, but first, there needs to be some clarification.
For the sake of argument, the comparison will be the time frame of the 1999-2000 NBA season until 2003-04 season for the 2000’s and today’s players will be compared from the 2009-10 season until this past season, 2013-14. Players that either began or ended their careers right in the middle of these time frames will be excluded from these select teams. For example, the 2003 draft class will be included in today’s player’s side. On the flip side, a guy like David Robinson, who retired in 2003 was in the decline of his career statistically and will not be considered for the 2000’s team. Each team will put it’s top three players at each position versus each other in the ultimate battle of who is better.
There’s nowhere else to start than up-top.
The point guard position.
The 2000’s team features three of the all-time greats, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, and Allen Iverson. Talk about legends right there.
Today’s point guard stars are
Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, and Tony Parker.
Moving on to the shooting guards, the 2000’s team just can’t seem to stop scoring.
Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter, and Ray Allen
Today’s players, not as star-studded, but still can score the rock.
James Harden, Dwyane Wade and Joe Johnson
The position that everyone has been waiting for, the small forward match-up. The early 2000’s team features some strong two-way players who are very versatile.
Paul Pierce, Tracy McGrady and Peja Stojakovic
Today’s players for this position need no introduction.
LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony.
The players get bigger and the names get even bigger at the power forward position, the 2000’s had no shortage of big-time guys here.
Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Webber.
Today’s game sees a different style of play from the power forwards, but still very effective.
Kevin Love, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Chris Bosh.
The biggest of them all, the centers. Pits a Superman versus…another Superman?
Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan and Ben Wallace.
Today’s team features a little more flash
Dwight Howard, Joakim Noah, and Marc Gasol.
Now before you stop reading, REMEMBER, this features the best players from a FIVE-year area. So yes, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Greg Monroe, Andre Drummond, John Wall, Al Horford, and similar players are left off today’s roster, they were heavily considered but didn’t withstand the test of time for the time frame. The same goes for the early 2000’s with a player like Chauncey Billups who didn’t come into his “Big Shot Bob” persona until about 2003, Amar’e Stoudemire who as well didn’t come into his own until about 2003 and the same for Yao Ming.
Starting lineups for a game would be:
Steve Nash
Allen Iverson
Kobe Bryant
Kevin Garnett
Shaquille O’Neal
Going up against:
Chris Paul
Dwyane Wade
Kevin Durant
LeBron James
Dwight Howard
Starting with the Point Guards, the pure Point Guard was found in the early 2000’s. Jason Kidd and Steve Nash are two of the best to EVER do it, two of the top five point guards of all time. Nash and Kidd rank in the top five in every major statistical category for point guards, Nash has won two MVP awards while Kidd has won an NBA Championship. The argument here is not about who starts, it will be Nash, but instead, who is going to let the third Point Guard, Allen Iverson, come in and dominate while stealing their minutes. Iverson was never a true “Point Guard” but due to his stature, he had to be listed as one. Iverson is a former MVP and scoring champion and could come in and dominate any game at any time but unfortunately never achieved the privilege of winning an NBA Championship.
On the flip side, today’s team features the new age point guards. Score first, ask questions later and the guy leading that charge is Russell Westbrook. The most athletic point guard in the history of the NBA, Westbrook should take a page out of Iverson’s book, suck it up and play some shooting guard and let a pass-first point guard come in to distribute the ball. The starting point guard for today’s team will be Chris Paul. The best point guard in the NBA, without a shadow of a doubt. The purest and talented point guard for a long time now, Paul controls the game, works his magic and might just be a master at the pick-and-roll. Then the secret assassin, a guy who sneaks in due to his most recent play in the past few years with the Spurs, Tony Parker. He has the best numbers of any Spurs player in the last five years overall and has consistently led the Spurs to multiple NBA Finals appearance in the last few seasons, included a title the end this season.
This position may be the most even of all. There are both sides to the coin in which the point guards can change the game and I doubt there are any other six point guards to pick over any of these guys. The point guard battle I believe is won by the 2000’s team. Their point guards listed are just three of the ALL-TIME greats. Legends, guys who are top five in any debates when you talk about all-time players.
Nash, Kidd, Iverson are picked over Paul, Westbrook, and Parker by the narrowest of margins.
The shooting guard was forever changed by one man in the 1990’s, Michael Jordan. Following in Michael’s footsteps was a young guard from Philadelphia by way of Italy, the former MVP and five-time NBA Champion, Kobe Bean Bryant. The early 2000’s was the beginning of Kobe’s dominance in the NBA. While his greatest years were still ahead of him waiting in 2005-06 and 06-07, Kobe was still an impactful force in the NBA in the early 2000’s with some help from his dominating teammate, Shaq. Kobe put up ridiculous numbers in the early part of the decade. Kobe’s decade was the 2000’s, much like Jordan’s was the 90’s and Kobe will go down as one of the best to ever do it.
The other two guards are often lost in the Kobe shuffle when you talk about great shooting guards. Vince Carter was a slam dunk champion in 2000, stuck his arm in the rim and had some great battles with Allen Iverson for years. The Raptors versus Sixers rivalry was both very real and very exciting. Carter and Iverson put up ridiculous scoring efforts trying to best one another night after night. Carter’s game developed over the years, he lost some of his flashes and brought that into developing his game more overall. He acquired a deadly jump shot including developing a three-point shot, a nice talent to move well off the ball and as of recently has developed a great defensive game. The final selection for the 2000’s team is the best shooter of all-time, Ray Allen. Ray brings the all-time three-pointers made record and during his time with the Milwaukee Bucks and Seattle Supersonics, he shot the lights out. Jesus Shuttlesworth could throw down a nice dunk from time to time early on in his career but is most well known for his deadly three-point shot, which also is the purest of jump shots that NBA has ever seen and the quickest release in the league.
Today’s shooting guards have a very similar feel, but do not play on a similar level. James Harden has a small issue with defense. He’s not the best defender but has this ferocious animal instinct to attack and score at will and dominate whenever he wants. Harden’s lack of defensive knowledge has been well documented and well announced on more than one occasion. Dwyane Wade may have lost a step recently but he still is one of the best two guards in the last five years, as well as all-time. Wade had a huge dropoff in production last season, missing a lot of time, but Wade still has the ability to score, be a consistent scorer when healthy and leads any team quietly. Wade might not be as good recently as he was in 2005-2008 but he still is effective and ranks up as one of the best shooting guards, you can’t help but respect his game. Joe Johnson is very similar to Ray Allen right now, very similar career paths but Joe seems to not have that same effect that Ray had back in the day. JJ can shoot, one of the best shooters in the league since the mid-2000’s when he was a member of the Atlanta Hawks. Johnson can score as well and even showed some flashes of youth this past season with great scoring performances for the Brooklyn Nets.
The edge obviously goes to the 2000’s team once again. Kobe Bryant alone is just too much, then if you throw in the versatile Vince Carter and lights out shooting from Ray Allen, it just isn’t fair for today’s players to even try and compete.
The Small Forward position in the early 2000’s was very, very thin. The top guys at that position, Paul Pierce, Tracy McGrady, and Peja Stojakovic, didn’t have much competition. T-Mac was a fantastic scorer, better than his cousin Vince, and he had some epic performances as a member of the Orland Magic and Houston Rockets. McGrady was a former scoring champion himself and could drop buckets at any time. The Truth, Paul Pierce was never an outstanding scorer, but his heart, commitment, and dedication on the court were never doubted by anyone. Pierce can’t score and dominate a game like McGrady or Kobe but he can score some points when called upon. Peja Stojakovic is here for one simple reason. Shooting, and not just shooting, deadly shooting. The early 2000’s featured the two best shooters of all-time in Peja and Ray Allen. Peja always shot the lights out as a member of the Kings and made sure that he always delivered when called upon.
The problem that this early 2000’s team runs into is a big problem. Three guys that could go down as three of the best of all time at any position, today’s small forward class. LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Kevin Durant.
Everyone already knows about all these guys, and everyone knows this trio would not be able to be stopped, ever. LeBron James is the best player in the NBA right now, the King of the NBA and the most dominating force in today’s game. Kevin Durant is the best scorer in the world right now and still has not hit his peak in his career, Durant can shoot from anywhere on the floor and his length helps him both offensively and defensively. Carmelo Anthony, world’s second-best scorer, a player who can get his shot from just about anywhere at any time and always makes the best out of a bad situation.
The edge obviously goes to today’s crop of Small Forwards. Those three names alone are enough to scare away anyone, including the best from the early 2000’s.
The front line altogether for both teams is very intimidating but there is one generation front line that is just so dominating and forceful that there would be no way the other would succeed. Both the Power Forwards and Centers for the early 2000’s would completely dominate today’s stars.
Today’s stars feature guys who are poor man’s versions of the 2000’s stars. Kevin Love, the best power forward in the game overall. Great passer, he can step out and drain some long-range shots and is a fantastic rebounder. Scoring has never been a problem for him, but instead, the problem may be how Love can handle intense physicality, especially against bigger forwards. LaMarcus Aldridge may be the most physical of the three choices from today’s game, but what he excels in are rebounding and defense. Aldridge seems to be missing that consistent jump shot, but it is there from time to time. Chris Bosh has changed his game as his career has progressed. Bosh is not very praised for his rebounding ability but it is top notch. He’s not afraid to step out from long range and shoot and has a great head fake that always gets players to jump way too early.
Kevin Garnett, Chris Webber, Dirk Nowitzki all bring different brands of basketball to the table. Garnett is a force that can take you inside or out and do a quick jab step to blow by you with his physical prowess and dominance. Garnett dominated power forwards in the early 2000’s and besides Shaq, was the most dominant player in the NBA. A young, hungry and driven Garnett may be the most intimidating thing of all. Chris Webber was a back to the basket scorer who could also face up and shoot a jumper if you gave him too much space. Both Webber and Garnett could also get a little rough and nasty and wouldn’t be afraid to fight for what they want. Dirk is the best international player of all-time and brought a new brand of basketball to the league. No one was used to a 7 footer who could play in the post and then step out beyond the three-point line and drain a long-range shot in your face. The defense for today’s players are used to Dirks game but for some reason, no one has been able to figure Dirk out for the last 15 years.
The contest here between the two different eras is a lot closer than most think, but the edge goes to the 2000’s. Garnett, Webber, and Dirk all bring different and dominating presences that will overwhelm the power forwards in today’s game who just would not get as physical.
It’s almost not fair to put up anyone against an early 2000’s Shaq. Shaq was the most dominating force in NBA history for a five-year span. 27 points per game, 11.4 rebounds per game and 2.6 blocks per game. Wow. Amazing. Shaq dominated and answered questions later. He was the king of “Barbecue Chicken” and just took over games. He even dominated over his other center counterparts, Tim Duncan and Ben Wallace. Tim Duncan’s illustrious career took flight after the Spurs won their first NBA Championship after the 98-99 season and Duncan never looked back. The man of a few words is a king of letting his game do the talking. He can back you down, post you up, give you a shake and then a hook to score. Get the ball in the high post, jab right then go left and you can’t stop him. Don’t forget that smooth jumper from 13 feet that he consistently hits. Ben Wallace is on this team for his defensive prowess. He was the best defensive player in the NBA for eight years. When Dennis Rodman left the NBA in 2000 someone needed to take over as a dominating rebounder and defensive standout down low and Wallace happily obliged. He wasn’t known for his scoring, by any means, never averaged more than 10 points per game in a season. Wallace came to the Pistons in 2000 and somehow secretly racked up a ton of honors like being a 4 time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006. 5 time NBA All-Defensive First Team, 2002–2006. NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2007, NBA blocks leader in 2002, and a 2 time NBA rebounding champion in 2002, 2003.
Today’s big men are very similar in the sense that all of the guys in today’s game are once again a poor man’s version of their counterparts. Seems to be a great trend.
Dwight Howard, the reincarnate of Superman Shaq, brings a very similar feel that Shaq brought early on in his career. The problem with Dwight though is that he isn’t quite cooking other centers into “Barbecue Chicken”. Dwight isn’t dominating the way we expected him too. The immense amount of drama Dwight brings with him might hinder his game, but don’t be fooled, Dwight is by far the best big man of the last five seasons. A man who might have a challenge for Dwight’s crown on top the mountain of centers is Joakim Noah. Consistency, that’s key and for Joakim Noah, nothing has changed. Noah is a defensive standout in Chi-Town, he anchors that team, that defense and has stepped up immensely the last two seasons since losing Derrick Rose. You can’t argue Noah’s effect on a game defensively and offensively, he has stepped up his game a whole lot. Noah can score when called upon, he might not be the prettiest of post players but Noah can still drop some points if needed. Marc Gasol is a big bodied center who has a nice mix between his international background and a tough old-school beast on the inside mentality. Gasol, much like his brother Pau, can step out and shoot a nice mid-range jump shot. Marc though is a whole lot bigger and stronger and can post up almost any center in the league and take over the game. Gasol might have some injury questions but in the last five seasons, Marc had a promising and great career for the Grizzlies.
The edge here goes to the 2000’s. Shaq. That’s all you need to say. Dominance was the name of Shaq’s game and centers from Vlade Divac to Jermaine O’Neal, from Arvydas Sabonis to Dikembe Mutumbo all felt Shaq’s wrath.
The 2000’s seems to easily have the 4-1 edge in the position matchup. Now where today’s talent is great, very athletic and very much skilled in scoring, The 2000’s dominated in every aspect. All the players for the 2000’s team dominated in their specific game for years. They all took skill to a new level, they were the early stages of what is the NBA today. LeBron would be the only thing that could throw a monkey wrench in the 2000’s teams dominance over today’s stars but I think if these two fantasy teams came to head and played it out on the court, the 2000’s team will win and very handily.
Plus, Steve Nash, Allen Iverson, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, and Chris Webber all starred in “Like Mike”, so that’s a life victory in itself.
But what do you think? Lets us know below!
