The Athletic's Top 25 of the 21st Century

Fairly good. Shai should be higher.

I'm not sure what Carmelo's doing there, though. I'd rather have Jimmy Butler, Damian Lillard, Ray Allen, or perhaps even Kyrie Irving. Hell, I'd take the "role player" types like Draymond or Manu over him.

[url]https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6779342/2025/11/10/nba-top-25-21st-century-ranking/?source=user_shared_article[/url]

1) LeBron James
2) Steph Curry
3) Tim Duncan
4) Kobe Bryant
5) Nikola Jokic
6) Kevin Durant
7) Shaquille O’Neal
8) Giannis Antetokounmpo
9) Dirk Nowitzki
10) Dwyane Wade
11) Kevin Garnett
12) Kawhi Leonard
13) Chris Paul
14) James Harden
15) Steve Nash
16) Russell Westbrook
17) Allen Iverson
18) Dwight Howard
19) Luka Doncic
20) Paul Pierce
21) Anthony Davis
22) Jason Kidd
23) Jayson Tatum
24) Carmelo Anthony
25) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Lebron should be higher.

[QUOTE=Im Still Ballin;15042039]Fairly good. Shai should be higher.

I'm not sure what Carmelo's doing there, though. I'd rather have Jimmy Butler, Damian Lillard, Ray Allen, or perhaps even Kyrie Irving. Hell, I'd take the "role player" types like Draymond or Manu over him.

[url]https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6779342/2025/11/10/nba-top-25-21st-century-ranking/?source=user_shared_article[/url]

1) LeBron James
2) Steph Curry
3) Tim Duncan
4) Kobe Bryant
5) Nikola Jokic
6) Kevin Durant
7) Shaquille O’Neal
8) Giannis Antetokounmpo
9) Dirk Nowitzki
10) Dwyane Wade
11) Kevin Garnett
12) Kawhi Leonard
13) Chris Paul
14) James Harden
15) Steve Nash
16) Russell Westbrook
17) Allen Iverson
18) Dwight Howard
19) Luka Doncic
20) Paul Pierce
21) Anthony Davis
22) Jason Kidd
23) Jayson Tatum
24) Carmelo Anthony
25) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander[/QUOTE]

Not a terrible list. Nash should be ahead of Harden & Kawhi. Kawhi, Iverson & Westbrook are a few spots too high.

Giannis should honestly be ahead of Shaq considering Shaq played lots of prime seasons during the 90's.

Logging my dissent for posterity....Russ should not be on this list at all.

Anthony Davis above Jason Kidd :roll:

[QUOTE=FultzNationRISE;15042067]Anthony Davis above Jason Kidd :roll:[/QUOTE]

Eh, I love Kidd, but he did start out during the mid 90's, so you can't count those seasons.

[QUOTE=1987_Lakers;15042068]Eh, I love Kidd, but he did start out during the mid 90's, so you can't count those seasons.[/QUOTE]

Actually Im not even counting those seasons.

Kidd played in three finals this century, a couple of them as his team's best player.

Davis played the robin role in one finals and was hurt 80% of his career.

The fact Kidd played some years in the 90s is pretty irrelevant IMO. Kidd was the more significant player this century.

I'd take SGA over all of these.

13) Chris Paul
14) James Harden
16) Russell Westbrook
17) Allen Iverson
20) Paul Pierce
21) Anthony Davis
23) Jayson Tatum
24) Carmelo Anthony

[QUOTE=1987_Lakers;15042060]
Giannis should honestly be ahead of Shaq considering Shaq played lots of prime seasons during the 90's.[/QUOTE]

Shaq won all of his rings in the 2000s. 2000 Shaq is better than any version of Giannis.

Shaq has more rings and a better peak, all in the 00s. There is no way Giannis is ahead of him.

1) Kobe
2) Curry
3) Duncan
4) Shaq
5) Lebron

[QUOTE=Nowoco;15042073]Shaq won all of his rings in the 2000s. 2000 Shaq is better than any version of Giannis.

Shaq has more rings and a better peak, all in the 00s. There is no way Giannis is ahead of him.[/QUOTE]

Shaq peaked higher, but he only had around 5 elite seasons during the 00's. Giannis has been a superstar for about a decade now, has 2 MVPs and had a dominant run in 2021 which resulted in a championship. Gannis did more this century.

This list is utter garbage. Where's Bronny on it?

[QUOTE=ImKobe;15042080]1) Kobe
2) Curry
3) Duncan
4) Shaq
5) Lebron[/QUOTE]

We know.

Lists like this should only include players drafted in 2000 or later. Cutting of years of 90's players is dumb.

[QUOTE=Nowoco;15042072]I'd take SGA over all of these.

13) Chris Paul
14) James Harden
16) Russell Westbrook
17) Allen Iverson
20) Paul Pierce
21) Anthony Davis
23) Jayson Tatum
24) Carmelo Anthony[/QUOTE]

My first thought was SGA is too low. i guess they ding him because he is so young.

Chris Paul way too high.

Westbrick a little too high as well.

Honestly, pretty good list, my only real qualms are Kidd's a few spots too low, and I'd swap out Tatum & Melo for a number of guys, I'd probably go with Ray & Butler as their replacements.

I'm not even saying he deserves to make it, but it's crazy McGrady's not even making these lists anymore, he was definitely better than several guys who made it.

Is it crazy to put Duncan over Curry? Seems like you can't be wrong either way.

[QUOTE=Wally450;15042356]Is it crazy to put Duncan over Curry? Seems like you can't be wrong either way.[/QUOTE]

If people are being honest, no-one is taking Curry over Duncan to build a team. Not a chance.

[QUOTE=Nowoco;15042367]If people are being honest, no-one is taking Curry over Duncan to build a team. Not a chance.[/QUOTE]
No one? That's ridiculous :lol In our current era I bet Steph would honestly get more consideration than Duncan would.

[QUOTE=Nowoco;15042072]I'd take SGA over all of these.

13) Chris Paul
14) James Harden
16) Russell Westbrook
17) Allen Iverson
20) Paul Pierce
21) Anthony Davis
23) Jayson Tatum
24) Carmelo Anthony[/QUOTE]

SGA shouldn't even be on the list :roll:

That overrated flopper doesn't belong

KD ahead of Shaq :D I get Shaq only 00-05 considers really but for the purpose of these lists you should just include the early 00 primers who also dominated 90s in full.

[QUOTE=Manny98;15042594]SGA shouldn't even be on the list :roll:

That overrated flopper doesn't belong[/QUOTE]

Russ has no argument in the world over SGA. Zero.

[QUOTE=ralph_i_el;15042601]Russ has no argument in the world over SGA. Zero.[/QUOTE]


Not that I disagree, but the main thing that disfavors SGA vs others on the list right now is he's only been a star for about three years. He has the least longevity of anyone on the list for now. In a few years if they do the list again he'll obviously move much higher.

[QUOTE=FultzNationRISE;15042659]Not that I disagree, but the main thing that disfavors SGA vs others on the list right now is he's only been a star for about three years. He has the least longevity of anyone on the list for now. In a few years if they do the list again he'll obviously move much higher.[/QUOTE]

I ain't given him too much credit for a buncha regular season gimmick ball. I am admittedly a hater.

[QUOTE=FultzNationRISE;15042659]Not that I disagree, but the main thing that disfavors SGA vs others on the list right now is he's only been a star for about three years. He has the least longevity of anyone on the list for now. In a few years if they do the list again he'll obviously move much higher.[/QUOTE]

I ain't given him too much credit for a buncha regular season gimmick ball. I am admittedly a hater.

Shaq should be over Durant.