NBA Mount Rushmore Of the 2000s

[aboss4real24]

http://i1366.photobucket.com/albums/r773/aboss4real24/6b1527de21c122d18386_zps926166af.jpg

[moe94]

Someone needs to bounce for Shaq.

Iverson is a lock due to influence and popularity

Kobe and Duncan are locks due to accomplishments

Sorry, Bron, you'll get the next one.

[NewYorkNoPicks]

I'd go: Shaq / LeBron / Kobe / Duncan

if you were actually old enough to watch and understand basketball in the 00's you'd realize how important Allen Iverson was to not only the game, but culture in general.

[LeBron 06]

I'd go: Shaq / LeBron / Kobe / Duncan

this

[LeGOAT]

Lebron, Shaq, Kobe, Duncan

[Uncle Drew]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--ru0BbrakUY/UjXzwNdRRRI/AAAAAAAAFyA/Lmg4jdPEYPg/s400/Shaquille-O-Neal-laugh.gif

[coolhandsteve]

As good as AI was I'd switch him out for either Shaq or Garnett.

[Uncle Drew]

if you were actually old enough to watch and understand basketball in the 00's you'd realize how important Allen Iverson was to not only the game, but culture in general.
So what? He doesn't have a case on any of those 4 guys. Maybe 5, if we include KG.

[fpliii]

Honestly, I'd go Duncan-Kobe-KG-Dirk. Problem with LeBron (as well as Wade) is he miss the first four years of the 00s (99-00, 00-01, 01-02, 02-03). Similarly, Shaq wasn't as big a facor in the second half of the decade.

Nobody other than those six has a case, though.

[Trentknicks]

Shaq/Iverson/Kobe/Duncan

T-Mac comes close.

[LeGOAT]

if you were actually old enough to watch and understand basketball in the 00's you'd realize how important Allen Iverson was to not only the game, but culture in general.
Iverson is what was wrong with the early 2000s. Iso ball chucker and thug. The league is better without him

[sd3035]

Shaq Kobe Wade Duncan

[fpliii]

if you were actually old enough to watch and understand basketball in the 00's you'd realize how important Allen Iverson was to not only the game, but culture in general.
Who said he has to take into account impact on culture (in which case Yao would be a lock)? If Swish is just talking on-the-court, nothing wrong with his list (and I'm pretty sure that Swish, like myself, watched the entirety of AI's pro career).

[moe94]

T-Mac comes close.
T-Mac wouldn't rank even if there were 10 spots.

[SamuraiSWISH]

if you were actually old enough to watch and understand basketball in the 00's you'd realize how important Allen Iverson was to not only the game, but culture in general.
So I didn't watch, or understand basketball in the 2000s, but been watching since the early 90s. Um, ok?

:oldlol:

Iverson's cultural impact was absolutely important, but these four guys are the best players of the decade:

2000: Shaq
2001: Shaq / Kobe
2002: Shaq / Kobe
2003: Duncan
2004:
2005: Duncan
2006: Shaq
2007:
2008:
2009: Kobe
2010: Kobe
2011:
2012: LeBron
2013: LeBron

[MavsSuperFan]

Shaq, Kobe, Duncan

are locks, I dont even see how its debatable.
Lebron and Dirk had post 2010 championships so they are out.

The last spot imo would be iverson, but i could easily be talked out of that.

[scm5]

if you were actually old enough to watch and understand basketball in the 00's you'd realize how important Allen Iverson was to not only the game, but culture in general.

Rules were changed because of Shaq's dominance.

As important as AI was to the game, he was also blacklisted in the NBA.

I think it's gotta be Kobe, Shaq, Lebron, and Duncan

[moe94]

Who said he has to take into account impact on culture (in which case Yao would be a lock)? If Swish is just talking on-the-court, nothing wrong with his list (and I'm pretty sure that Swish, like myself, watched the entirety of AI's pro career).
We talking bout greatness.

Shaq/Iverson locks

[TMT]

Lebron, Shaq, Kobe, Duncan

This. End of story.

[SamuraiSWISH]

T-Mac wouldn't rank even if there were 10 spots.
RG, is that you?

[fpliii]

We talking bout greatness.

Shaq/Iverson locks
Shaq is greater than all of them, but his prime began in the 90s. I disagree on Iverson, but you're still my homie.

:cheers:

[Legends66NBA7]

Before the whole Mount Rushmore thing became cool:

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8594362&postcount=8

[NewYorkNoPicks]

So I didn't watch, or understand basketball in the 2000s, but been watching since the early 90s. Um, ok?

:oldlol:

Iverson's cultural impact was absolutely important, but these four guys are the best players of the decade:

2000: Shaq
2001: Shaq / Kobe
2002: Shaq / Kobe
2003: Duncan
2004:
2005: Duncan
2006: Shaq
2007:
2008:
2009: Kobe
2010: Kobe
2011:
2012: LeBron
2013: LeBron

The 00's weren't LeBron's time.... just like the 80's weren't Jordans time.

You look at video games where they have All-90's teams Jordan is there.... Michael Jordan IS the 1990's. Although he was drafted in 84 it just wasn't his time yet. Same goes for LeBron.

[moe94]

RG, is that you?
Let's not act like you disagree.

We'd go Kidd/Nash/Pierce deep before T-Mac is mentioned.

[SamuraiSWISH]

The 00's weren't LeBron's time.... just like the 80's weren't Jordans time.
LeBron was an elite player in 2005 - 2009, better than Iverson ever was.

[SamuraiSWISH]

Let's not act like you disagree.
shaq
kobe
duncan
bron
wade
kg
dirk
iverson
mcgrady
nash / kidd

[NewYorkNoPicks]

LeBron was an elite player in 2005 - 2009, better than Iverson ever was.

I'm not denying that, and Jordan was an elite player his rookie season in 1984-85 but it wasn't his decade yet....it still belonged to Kareem, Magic, Bird, etc

[KirbyPls]

This. End of story.

/thread

[Legends66NBA7]

Hmmmm... just thought about something. What if we did NBA Mount Rushmore for every team for the new century ?

Could be fun, I'm going attempt this.

[Straight_Ballin]

So I didn't watch, or understand basketball in the 2000s, but been watching since the early 90s. Um, ok?

:oldlol:

Iverson's cultural impact was absolutely important, but these four guys are the best players of the decade:

2000: Shaq
2001: Shaq / Kobe
2002: Shaq / Kobe
2003: Duncan
2004:
2005: Duncan
2006: Shaq
2007:
2008:
2009: Kobe
2010: Kobe
2011:
2012: LeBron
2013: LeBron

A decade is 10 years 2000-2009

Sorry, but bron is not in the conversation for the "2000's" if going by a 10 year span.

It's Shaq, Duncan, Kobe period. 4th guy would be 2nd tier.

[aboss4real24]

DO PPL realize that shaq was on the downfall of his career by the mid 2000s?

[russwest0]

Shaq, Duncan, Kobe, AI.

Easy. Next.

[aboss4real24]

Shaq, Duncan, Kobe, AI.

Easy. Next.

Kinda hard to take u serious Knowing ur a well known LB Hater

[secund2nun]

Lebron Duncan Shaq KG

Those are the 4 best players of the 2000s.

[Deuce Bigalow]

I seriously can't believe 1999 was 20 years ago.

[MavsSuperFan]

I seriously can't believe 1999 was 20 years ago.
:lol :oldlol:

[truhooper]

2000: Shaq
2001: Shaq / Kobe
2002: Shaq / Kobe
2003: Duncan
2004:
2005: Duncan
2006: Shaq
2007:
2008:
2009: Kobe
2010: Kobe
2011:
2012: LeBron
2013: LeBron

:roll:

[SamuraiSWISH]

:roll:
Am I wrong doe?

2001: 29/5/5 - ring
2002: 26/5/5 - ring
2009: 29/5/5 - ring
2010: 29/5/5 - ring

[leMVP]

Any list without Lebron is FAIL!

Lebron was the most scrutinized superstar ever graced the NBA court, he was the next MJ, He's selling the most popular shoes line after Air Jordan, he's 2 time MVP during that span.

Mine would be, Lebron - Kobe - Shaq - Duncan.

[NewYorkNoPicks]

Any list without Lebron is FAIL!

Lebron was the most scrutinized superstar ever graced the NBA court, he was the next MJ, He's selling the most popular shoes line after Air Jordan, he's 2 time MVP during that span.

Mine would be, Lebron - Kobe - Shaq - Duncan.

Dude... it doesn't matter that he was draft in 2003...his prime is now. The 2010's belong to LeBron, not the 2000's.

Lakers - 2000,2001,2002,2009 champs
Spurs - 2003,2005,2007

Shaq, Kobe, Duncan, Iverson

[T_L_P]

So I didn't watch, or understand basketball in the 2000s, but been watching since the early 90s. Um, ok?

:oldlol:

Iverson's cultural impact was absolutely important, but these four guys are the best players of the decade:

2000: Shaq
2001: Shaq / Kobe
2002: Shaq / Kobe
2003: Duncan
2004:
2005: Duncan
2006: Shaq
2007:
2008:
2009: Kobe
2010: Kobe
2011:
2012: LeBron
2013: LeBron

Do championships ultimately decide who the best player of that particular year was for you? Because Kobe definitely wasn't better than Duncan in '02. :confusedshrug:

But the Mt. Rushmore of the '00s is definitely Duncan, Shaq, Kobe and LeBron, or if you don't think LeBron should be there because he didn't play the whole decade, Garnett.

[Solefade]

lol how can you take lebron out when he dominated the latter half of the 2000's? he got two MVPs in that decade and 2007 g5 ECF was arguably the best playoff performance of that decade out of all the performances these guys had in the playoffs.

shaq/kobe/duncan/lebron


honorable mentions would be garnett/iverson/tmac/yao

[leMVP]

Dude... it doesn't matter that he was draft in 2003...his prime is now. The 2010's belong to LeBron, not the 2000's.

Lakers - 2000,2001,2002,2009 champs
Spurs - 2003,2005,2007

Shaq, Kobe, Duncan, Iverson

AI was my favourite player to watch before Lebron, but he got no business here really.

The only case can be made for KG, MVP ,DPOY, and a ring as a leader and core of one of the best teams of the decade.

[BuffaloBill]

shaq kobe duncan iverson/garnett

[DMAVS41]

Again...2010 is not part of the 00's

The 00's would be;

the 99/00 season through the 08/09 season...that is ten years. You go off of the last year in a season. Like, this season is known at the 2014 nba season. The 2010 nba season (09/10 season) was the first season of the 10's...

It's for sure Shaq, Duncan, and Kobe. Not sure who is next. Lebron only played 6 of the 10 seasons...honestly kind of hard to give it to him.

I'd vote for KG or Dirk or Iverson unless I'm forgetting someone. Probably lean towards KG because he has the title and DPOY to go along with everything else. If it was from 02 through 11...I'd definitely go with Dirk over KG, but the way it breaks I think you have to give it to KG.

Iverson definitely has a case as well.

[MJistheGOAT]

Shaq, Kobe, Duncan, KG

Honorable mention: AI, Lebron, Wade, Dirk

[Soundwave]

Shaq, Kobe, Duncan, and Iverson.

[BasedTom]

There's no shame in Lebron being left off this. Jordan is mostly remembered for what he did in the 90s, not in the 80s. Lebron will be remembered for the '10s not the '00s.

[Pointguard]

Mount Rushmore was about the most influential presidents not the best.

If you went best I could see you picking guys that were definitely winners, were the best player in the game at one point, had various titles before their name or amassed impressive record or one of a kind stats. Plus have a great presence.

Kobe, Duncan, Shaq and KG would be the best of the decade. In the 90's I could see people leaving Shaq off their list despite him being better than Malone, Hakeem, Barkley and Pippen, I think Lebron suffers the same fate here. You can't miss 40% (rookie year) of the decade, not win it all and claim it over 90%ers who have all the key elements. But Lebron is just like Shaq in their next decade so all is not lost.

As far as Influence goes AI, Yao Ming, Kobe, Lebron but it all depends on how you define influence. For me AI with most influence on peers, Worldwide it was Yao, Kobe had great presence with the old skool basketball aficionados of blood/sweat and tears, while Lebron might have the most influence on how future players will take the game up.

[MavsSuperFan]

There's no shame in Lebron being left off this. Jordan is mostly remembered for what he did in the 90s, not in the 80s. Lebron will be remembered for the '10s not the '00s.
exactly. its perfectly acceptable to leave jordan off the 80s mount rushmore.

[sbw19]

Duncan, Kobe, Shaq, KG

Wade, LeBron, AI, Dirk

Kidd, Pierce, Nash, TMac

B. Wallace, Webber, Vince, Melo

[bballnoob1192]

Dude... it doesn't matter that he was draft in 2003...his prime is now. The 2010's belong to LeBron, not the 2000's.

Lakers - 2000,2001,2002,2009 champs
Spurs - 2003,2005,2007

Shaq, Kobe, Duncan, Iverson

honestly lebron is kinda like shaq. cant really put him in the 2000 era but hes gonna fall off before the end of the 2010-19 era just like how shaq fell off in the end of the 2000 era

so i would go with kobe-duncan-ai-kg strictly for 2000-2009 era

lebron is more like 2009-2018 era
shaq was 1997-2006

[houston]

garnett/duncan/kobe/shaq

all-star mvp/all-defense/mvp/multi first team performers.

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Shaq/Kobe/Duncan/James

[miles berg]

Shaq
Duncan
Dirk
Kobe

[Jef]

Shaq/Kobe/Duncan/James

tough to argue with this

garnett/wade/pierce/kd possible for 2nd mount rushmore

artest/sheed/starbury/eddy curry lead the all-insane/most knick-like 3rd mount rushmore

[aboss4real24]

shaq struggled to even stay in shape in the 2000s

doesnt deserve to be on 2000s rushmore

[SamuraiSWISH]

Mount Rushmore was about the most influential presidents not the best.
Really? Because Lincoln, Washington, and Jefferson aren't in the discussion for best president? Come on, I've heard everything now a days.

I personally think JFK was on pace to be one of the greats, last true president before the military industrail complex took his ass out for attempting to take us out of Vietnam, and threaten the banking cartels by revealing their insidious agendas or control of the illusion of "the free world".

[Pointguard]

Really? Because Lincoln, Washington, and Jefferson aren't in the discussion for best president? Come on, I've heard everything now a days.

I personally think JFK was on pace to be one of the greats, last true president before the military industrail complex took his ass out for attempting to take us out of Vietnam, and threaten the banking cartels by revealing their insidious agendas or control of the illusion of "the free world".
There are only four folks up there and you name three and think you got the argument down pack. I think Andrew Jackson was more important than Theodore. FDR is a rival for the 2nd spot but I think he was after the monument. Woodrow Wilson did a lot of right things in pacing us for WWI. Theodore was known as the man of influence, which is why I said what I said. I realize he might be top 6 anyway before FDR hit the scene.

[Akrazotile]

Shaq - Duncan - Lebron - Perkins

[Lordsteven]

kobe, duncan, lebron, shaq

[ImKobe]

A decade is 10 years 2000-2009

Sorry, but bron is not in the conversation for the "2000's" if going by a 10 year span.

It's Shaq, Duncan, Kobe period. 4th guy would be 2nd tier.
4th would be KG IMO