Here it is. The All-NBA Decade Teams (1st, 2nd, & 3rd) for the 2010’s. As the decade comes to an end, TLSM is here to give you the best players of the 2010’s.
TLSM has been researching and documenting who should represent the decade since February of 2019.
We did not merely go by stats, popularity, or base our decision on what a panel thinks. We looked at winning, style of play, awards (monthly & yearly), along with who we will remember most fondly for years to come.
First, let’s talk Honorable Mentions (6 guys) because it was tough to leave all of these players off the All-NBA Decade Teams.
HM No. 1: Andre Iguodala
Finals MVP in 2015. All-Defensive 1st team selection in 2014 (his first year with the Warriors). 2nd team All-Defensive selection in 2011 with Philadelphia. All-Star Selection in 2012 with Philly. Five straight Finals appearances, and three-time NBA champion (majority as a key member off the bench) make it hard to keep him off an All-Decade team.
If I had it my way (copyright Frank Sinatra), I’d have him on the 3rd Team All-Decade. Unfortunately, he won’t be the guy people will remember when discussing the Warriors from the 2010’s.
HM No. 2: Tim Duncan
Tim helped lead the Spurs to an NBA Title in 2014 and definitely was not the main reason why. He also had three 2nd Team All-Defensive selections, three All-NBA selections (two 3rd team, one 1st team), and four All-Star selections. Duncan missed a couple shots in the 2013 NBA Finals that normal “Prime Timmy” would have made. You also knew he was on his last legs.
He aged gracefully, and was still an elite defender right up until he retired. He’s definitely in the 2000’s 1st team All-Decade Power Forward spot, and nobody will debate that. In fact, you could debate him into the 3rd team All-Decade 2010’s. He simply did not have the same impact. As a Spurs fan, even I’m content with this.
HM No. 3: Kyrie Irving
I know, I know, “Chris, you’re an idiot.” I can hear it now. How is Kyrie not on an all-decade team? Simply, he didn’t accomplish as much as the other elite guards this decade. He’s the greatest finishing point guard of the decade. He hit one of the most memorable shots in NBA history in Game 7 of the 2016 Finals. Irving unbelievably factored into why Cleveland won their first title as a city in over fifty years.
Kyrie made six All-Star appearances. A 2nd and 3rd team All-NBA appearance. He also made Uncle Drew the movie. If he were healthy in the 2015 NBA Finals, stayed with the Cavaliers, and frankly stayed on the court more often, he would be on a team. But, with the other guys in front of him, I’m sure you’ll see why he’s left off.
HM No. 4: Kevin Love
People forget about Minnesota Kevin Love. He was the best passing big man for about a five-year stretch in the NBA and nobody was even close. His ability to post and dominate the glass as a smaller sized forward/center was stuff of pure grit and toughness. Don’t sleep on what he did in Minnesota before helping the Cavs win the title in 2016.
He led the league in 2010-11 in rebounds with 15.2 on a 17-win Timberwolves team while averaging 20 points per game. The next two (healthy) seasons (minus 2012-13 where he only played 18 games) he averaged 26 points and 13 rebounds. In both of those seasons, he gained 2nd Team All-NBA recognition. He also had five All-Star appearances during the decade, but many would call this a safe bet to leave him off.
HM No. 5: Serge Ibaka
Serge IBLOCKA! A monster during the decade with the Oklahoma City (OKC) Thunder especially defensively. He simply changed the outcome of series when he was healthy, and without his presence, OKC would likely not have made the 2012 NBA Finals.
Serge led the league in blocks twice during the decade, and was a three-time representative as 1st team All-Defense. Ibaka was extremely instrumental in the Thunder’s success early in the decade and even at the end of the decade winning an NBA Championship with the Toronto Raptors. I think it’s fair to mention him in the conversation, but nobody is rushing to put him on an All-Decade team.
HM No. 6: Tony Parker
You can make a legit case for Parker being 3rd Team All-Decade, but if Kyrie isn’t in, then Tony shouldn’t be either. People forget the run Tony had from 2012-14 where he was legitimately a top five point guard in basketball for a three-year stretch. He was All-NBA 2nd team for those three years, was an All-Star those three years, and obviously helped win a title in 2014.
Spurs fans won’t forget that amazing game winner in Game 1 of the 2013 NBA Finals, but if he wasn’t a Spur, he may have never been considered. He went to Charlotte to end his career and will go down as the greatest French player in NBA history along with the greatest point guard in Spurs history.
3RD TEAM ALL-DECADE 2010’s
C: Chris Bosh
PF: Anthony Davis
SF: Paul George
SG: Kobe Bryant
PG: Chris Paul
The theme should be easy here: INJURIES!
Yes! There were so many injuries this decade that it was only appropriate the 3rd team All-Decade had guys who were heavily impacted by injuries. Ironically, they all ended up on the same team not solely because of injuries, but who knows what they all would have done had they stayed healthy.
Chris Paul
Clearly, CP3 is a top three point guard of the decade. In my eyes, a top 10 point guard all time, and a sensational two-way player who could dominate both ends of the floor unlike many in the history of the game. Unfortunately, his left knee injury to begin the decade in 2009-10 for the Hornets shortened his season to 45 games.
Incredibly, with dedication and hard work, he played 80 games the next season and led the entire league in steals averaging 2.4 per game. For the next three years, he led the league in steals like he did the previous two seasons before his knee injury in 2009-10. In 2013-14, he bounced back to his 2007-08 & 2008-09 form by leading the league in assists and steals in the same year for the Clippers. He joined the Clippers in 2011-12 and took them to places they hadn’t seen as a franchise.
He was a seven-time All-Star during the decade, six-time All-NBA (three 1st, two 2nd, one 3rd), seven-time All-Defense (six 1st, one 2nd), and led the league in assists for two years. In 2015, the Clippers won a Game 7 over the Spurs in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. While hitting the game winner, he pulled his hamstring. Fortunately, he recovered to play the next series. Unfortunately, the Clippers blew a 3-1 series lead to the Rockets, missing out on going to the Western Conference Finals.
CP3 will be most remembered being traded in the Summer of 2017 from the Clippers to the Rockets. In the 2018 Western Conference Finals, the Rockets were in control of Game 5 late and again Chris pulled his hamstring. He would remain out for the rest of the series. The Rockets led that series 3-2 going into Game 6 and it was well thought that if CP3 were healthy, the Rockets would have made the 2018 NBA Finals.
Kobe Bryant
I’ll admit, putting Kobe in was difficult because he could have easily been left off only playing half of the decade. It’s hard to leave him off though because of his impact on the league along with walking into the decade as an NBA Champion. Winning his 5th career title in 2010 was truly the pinnacle for him in the 2010’s. It’s an interesting conversation having him on the All-Decade team because his stint was so short. It also comes with huge questions regarding if he would have stayed healthy and never tore his Achilles in 2013.
Prior to his injury during the decade he was a four-time All-NBA Player (all 1st team), three-time All-Defense (two 1st, one 2nd), and even before/during/after his injury he was voted to the All-Star game all seven years he was available. Kobe played a total of 41 games between the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons. The remarkable part is that he came back to play his final season at 66 games and obviously scored 60 points in the final game of his career.
It’s understandable to put somebody else in Kobe’s place. Imagine what he could have been if he stayed healthy considering how great he was the first 3-4 years into the decade. This is why he made the list. He was still playing at an All-Time elite level before his injury, and he would have kept playing that way another couple more years at a minimum if the injury had never occurred.
Paul George
His first few years portrayed him as an average player who could be a solid role player off the bench until 2012-13 when it all came together. Making his first All-Star game and pushing the Heat to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals, he was becoming an absolute star before everybody’s eyes. 2013-14 was the same story except Paul got even better. Then FIBA 2014 happened.
One of the most gruesome injuries in basketball history as he came down off a layup, and need I say no more. Everybody thought his career was over. He took a year to really figure everything out, rehab, and come back better than ever. In 2015-16 he played 81 games and made the All-Star game in his first full year back.
The next four years he would improve beyond his pre-injury days by becoming a Defensive Player of the Year candidate and an MVP candidate for Oklahoma City. PG13 made 6 All-Star games, 5 All-NBA teams (one 1st, four 3rd), 4 All-Defense teams (two 1st, two 2nd) along with leading the league in steals in 2018-19.
Anthony Davis
AD has had many injury problems since joining the NBA. He had a long list of issues this decade staying on the court. Outside of a two year stretch from 2016-17 & 2017-18 he hadn’t played 70 games in his career for an entire season. In 2014-15 he was in the conversation for MVP late in the year and he had only played 68 games. He blocked 2.9 shots per game that season and 2.8 the season before.
We all know what he did at Kentucky winning the 2012 NCAA Championship. He’s posted numerous games of 50 points & 20+ rebound games and he had a 5×5 game in 2018-19 season. It’s fair to say the best is yet to come for Anthony Davis especially if he stays healthy. During the decade he was a six-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA (all 1st team), three-time All-Defense (one 1st, two 2nd), and three-time blocks leader.
Chris Bosh
Chris would have made an All-Decade team had he stayed healthy. Hence why he’s on this 3rd team All-Decade anyways. He adjusted his game for the modern day in the final couple seasons of his career. I think he would have made many more All-Star games along with helping the Heat stay relevant.
He was set to become the main focus of the team until his blood clots showed up in 2016. Bosh was an All-Star all seven years he played during the decade, winning two NBA Championships, and appearing in four straight NBA Finals. Chris was always a stellar defender even though he never made an All-Defensive team. He’s another example of a guy who could easily be higher up on the All-Decade conversation if health didn’t play a factor.
2ND TEAM ALL-DECADE 2010’s
C: Dwight Howard
F: Draymond Green
G/F: Klay Thompson
G: James Harden
G: Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook
Clearly, the 2nd best Point Guard of the decade based on production and legacy for the 2010’s. It helps he averaged a triple double for three straight years and is the only person to ever do that. You can make the debate that he is the most athletic point guard of all time. He was the definition of a Tasmanian Devil during the 2010’s.
Could he be on the 1st Team All-Decade? Sure. Should he? No. His one Finals appearance in 2012 just doesn’t help him get the push into 1st Team All-Decade. The shot he made against the Denver Nuggets in 2017, clinching a multitude of things, will be the moment we remember Westbrook.
During the decade he was an eight-time All-Star, MVP in 2017, led the NBA in points in 2014-15 & 2016-17, and led the NBA in assists in 2017-18 & 2018-19. Westbrook also had eight All-NBA Selections (two 1st, five 2nd, one 3rd). Say what you want about Mr. Triple Double, but nobody will ever question his heart nor his effort on a basketball court.
James Harden
How in the world is Harden only 2nd Team All-Decade? Simply, not enough playoff success. Much like Westbrook, his only Finals appearance was back in 2012 back when he was 6th Man of the Year. During the decade, Harden easily improved the most of any NBA Player. He went from averaging less than 10 points per game in his rookie season in 2009-10, to becoming league scoring champion back to back years finishing out the decade (averaging 36+ points per game in 2018-19). His regular season accomplishments were absolutely astonishing in the second half of the decade.
The debate can be made that he SHOULD be on the 1st Team All-Decade. His final five years of the decade, he easily could have won MVP 4 of 5 seasons (2015, 2017, 2018 {which he did win}, & 2019). Very few would have been offended if he did. If Harden had led any of his Houston teams to the NBA Finals, I guarantee he’d be in the 1st Team All-Decade. Honestly, if you have him there, I completely understand.
He had five 50+ point triple doubles during the decade and had numerous moments where he had to carry his short-handed teams to victory. One of the major flaws people will remember from this decade is the way that Harden accumulated his points. His ability to bait referees and get nearly every ticky tack call on his way to the basket was visually offensive, but strategically choreographed.
His ability to flail when needed to get to the free throw line, his insatiable step back that we all swear is a travel in real time, visually, it just doesn’t feel right watching him control the basketball. In reality, it’s simply brilliance. The way he could navigate the offense without passing, and honestly he was simply the marvel of the decade in regards to scoring the basketball. An assassin with every move in the book along with grace that simply comes with an innate ability to constantly work on his craft.
During the decade, he was a seven-time All-Star, the 2016-17 assist leader, 2018 MVP, and 2018 & 2019 Scoring Champion along with being named six-time All-NBA (five 1st, one 3rd).
Klay Thompson
The best pure shooter of the decade at the 2 guard position and the best two-way player at the 2 guard position in the league for the entire decade. He could guard any perimeter player you put him on and you knew it would be a tough night. He could play both forward and guard if needed especially on a position-less Warrior team that went to five straight NBA Finals.
Klay Thompson was possibly the streakiest player in the NBA this decade where he would go off for 60 points on only 11 dribbles, or he’d score 37 in one quarter. He also had one of the best playoff performances this decade in the 2016 Western Conference Finals in Game 6. He shut down Oklahoma City making a record 11 three pointers in a playoff game.
Every shot seemed like a game altering basket. The nights he was hot, he was the shot man. The nights he was cold, he was the lock down guy. Certain nights, Klay simply just did his job. Most nights, he was the reason the Warriors were unstoppable. Being apart of a dynasty in Golden State definitely helps his case. Even then, there were points during the 2010’s where Klay was considered a top 10 player in basketball.
Klay was a five-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA (two 3rd), 2019 All-Defensive team and simply overlooked on a three-time champion Warriors team. His resume may not warrant him being on 2nd Team All-Decade, and maybe not even 3rd Team All-Decade. His key contribution to the Warriors this decade warrants him in the discussion based on everything he accomplished on one of the greatest runs in the NBA History.
Draymond Green
The wild child of the decade. He was the glue to the Warriors dynasty from 2014-2019. He was the motor that started the car, the straw that stirred the drink, and he was the heart of the beast. Without Draymond Green, I can GUARANTEE, the Warriors DO NOT win a title this decade. That’s not because of the 2016 NBA Finals either. He was just THEM encapsulated.
His intangibles and intelligence spatially on the court were mesmerizing to basketball junkies. During the decade, Draymond made three All-Star teams, led the league in steals in 2016-17, Won Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, was five-time All-Defense (three 1st, two 2nd), and two-time All-NBA (one 2nd, one 3rd).
His stats and awards do not do justice to what your eyes told you when watching him. Everything he did away from the statistical portion of the game was simply perfection. He clearly had a mouth and got away with it a lot, but his ability understand the presence of that team was sheer brilliance we may never see again.
Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard is the last great prototypical center in (possibly) NBA History. Not this modern day, jack up three’s play-every-where-centers. I mean a TRUE center. Envision how great James Harden was the last five years of the decade. Dwight Howard’s first five years of the decade were like that, but for a center. He was so good at center, nobody even debated how good he was, it was just known.
During the decade he made five All-Star teams, five All-NBA Teams (three 1st, one 2nd, one 3rd), was three-time rebounding champion, 2010 block champion, three-time All-Defense (all 1st team), two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and frankly easily the best center in basketball for the first half of the decade.
If he didn’t get hurt and found ways to adjust his game to the modern NBA, he easily would have made 1st Team All-Decade. Dwight was the perfect example of a guy not evolving into the mold of what the game eventually became: Outside Prevalent.
1ST TEAM ALL-DECADE 2010’s
F: LeBron James
F: Kevin Durant
G/F: Kawhi Leonard
G: Dwyane Wade
G: Steph Curry
Steph Curry
Steph changed the style of basketball during the middle portion of the 2010’s. He defined an era so quickly that his greatness didn’t feel it ever caught up to his critics. He’s the greatest shooter of all time and that’s simply no debate. His second half of the decade is one of the greatest runs by any Point Guard ever.
He won three championships, two MVP’s, 402 threes made in 2015-16 along with that unanimous MVP. Led the league in three pointers five times in a row, broke the three point record and broke his own record two times after that.
Six-time All-Star. Six-time All-NBA (three 1st, two 2nd, one 3rd). Scoring & steals champion in 2016, and joined the 50-40-90 club in 2016. His team came out of nowhere in 2014-15 and they had one of the greatest runs of all time. Curry was the face of that, and the most incredible part is, each year he found ways to improve his game.
A miraculous talent who shined on and off the basketball court finding ways to only improve and be the best point guard of the 2010’s.
Dwyane Wade
I know Harden could easily be here, but Wade had to be here. He helped orchestrate one of the most talented teams of all time in the 2010-2014 Miami Heat with LeBron, Bosh, and Mr. Miami Heat himself. There’s a lineage that needed to be met based on previous decades. In my opinion, Wade is the 3rd greatest shooting guard of all-time behind Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. Kobe was easily 1st Team All-Decade 2000’s Shooting Guard. Michael Jordan was easily 1st Team All-Decade 1990’s Shooting Guard.
Could Wade be on the 2nd Team All-Decade? Sure. 3rd Team All-Decade? That’s just down right disrespectful. But it didn’t feel right if I put Harden in here above somebody who clearly played the game the right way. It’s not that Harden doesn’t, it’s just different. Besides, Wade would be a perfect piece on a team flooded with superstars on the 1st Team All-Decade 2010’s.
Wade was an eight-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA (one 1st, one 2nd, two 3rd), two-time NBA Champion, one-time All-Defense (2nd team), and All-Star Game MVP in 2010. Wade was unfortunately one of those players that played well in both decades. He could easily be lower in this field of players. I just feel with his ability to bring a super team to Miami and his ability to stay elite in a decade full of incredible guards, he did more for Miami as a franchise than he did for himself. That’s truly what the game of basketball is supposed to mean in my eyes. That’s Dwyane Wade to perfection.
Kawhi Leonard
This man is the only player to win a championship in two different conferences. Along with winning Finals MVP through two different conferences. That’s never been done before. He’s only been in the NBA for nine seasons and it only feels like he’s getting started. His impact on the game has already been legendary so he had to make the 1st Team All-Decade 2010’s. Kawhi constantly makes himself better year after year on both ends of the court.
Already one of the greatest defenders of all time. One of the best two way players of the decade if not THE best two way player of the decade. Only a three-time All-Star for the decade, and three All-NBA Selections (two 1st, one 2nd). Back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year Awards (2015 & 2016), five-time All-Defense (three 1st, two 2nd), and led the league in steals in 2015. Don’t forget winning the NBA Championship in 2014 with the Spurs & 2019 with the Raptors and winning Finals MVP both times.
His legacy is remarkable for how subdued he was during the decade. His legend only grows going into the 2020’s.
Kevin Durant
The most lethal scorer of the decade. KD’s MVP season in 2014 was one of the best offensive seasons ever. Averaging 32 points per game. Scoring 25+ points per game for 41 straight games breaking Michael Jordan’s record. That season was so dominate by KD, basketball insiders wondered if the game of basketball had been broken.
He led the league in scoring three years in a row (four times overall in the decade). KD was a 10-time All-Star, MVP (2014), and two-time NBA Champion (2017 & 2018) winning Finals MVP both years. He also joined the 50-40-90 club in 2013, was nine-time All-NBA (six 1st, three 2nd), and All-Star Game MVP in 2012 & 2019.
KD was absolutely spectacular this decade and clearly one of the best players in basketball. That also doesn’t make it easier to acknowledge his championships. When he joined the Golden State Warriors in the Summer of 2016, it felt like an era had been tainted. Instead, it was an opportunity to watch KD take the next step in his career.
LeBron James
Simply put the best player of the decade and frankly nobody is even close. This man OWNED the 2010’s. His decade was so great it makes other players look inferior. LeBron goes so far above and beyond adjectives, its simply laughable and frankly, disgustingly absurd. He simply defined this decade, and is the greatest player of the 2010’s.
We talk about Michael Jordan in the 90’s and Magic Johnson in the 80’s. I’m not sure they thoroughly dominated one decade like this man. LeBron may not be the G.O.A.T., but he’s definitely the G.O.A.T. of annihilating one decade.
During the decade LeBron made 10 All-Star teams. 10 time All-NBA (nine 1st, one 3rd), and six-time All-Defense (five 1st, one 2nd). Three MVP’s (2010, 2012, & 2013), three-time NBA Champion, and three-time Finals MVP. He also won an All-Star MVP in 2018. LeBron terrorized the league with eight straight NBA Finals Appearances in the decade. I’m pretty sure that’s never going to happen again in our lifetimes.
There it is. The All NBA Decade Teams for the 2010’s. Cheers to an exciting new decade in the 2020’s!
