NBA.com announced their All-Decade NBA Teams yesterday, chosen by a group of writers and broadcasters.
First Team:
G Steph Curry
G James Harden
F LeBron James
F Kawhi Leonard
F Kevin Durant
Second Team:
G Chris Paul
G Russell Westbrook
F Carmelo Anthony
F Anthony Davis
F Blake Griffin
Third Team:
G Dwyane Wade
G Kobe Bryant
F Paul George
F LaMarcus Aldridge
F Giannis Antetokounmpo
The First Team I think is pretty indisputable and hard to mess up. I guess you could argue that there is no-one to play Center, but a true center wasn't chosen on any of the teams. The only one you could really argue is Dwight, since the list did include the 2009-2010 season as part of this decade, which gives Dwight five really good seasons before he went off the reservation, including a trip to the Finals and 5 All-NBAs.
The internet is not happy with the Kobe placement, with a lot of people unfortunately thinking he got screwed being placed on the Third Team. Since this list does include 2009-2010, Kobe does squeeze in a Finals MVP and a ring into that timeframe. But his last good season was 2012-2013 which were followed by three miserable seasons, one where he blew out his Achilles and two where he was undoubtedly the most destructive player in the NBA. During his four good seasons, he did make a lot of first team All-NBAs and Defense teams, although you can argue if he got some of those based off of reputation.
I'd probably lobby for Klay Thompson for Kobe's spot; he doesn't have the counting stats or the accolades, but Klay played 8 seasons in the decade, averaged 20 ppg on 46/49/84 shooting, was a significantly better defender despite only making one all-defense team, and played in five finals, winning three rings.
First Team:
G Steph Curry
G James Harden
F LeBron James
F Kawhi Leonard
F Kevin Durant
Second Team:
G Chris Paul
G Russell Westbrook
F Carmelo Anthony
F Anthony Davis
F Blake Griffin
Third Team:
G Dwyane Wade
G Kobe Bryant
F Paul George
F LaMarcus Aldridge
F Giannis Antetokounmpo
The First Team I think is pretty indisputable and hard to mess up. I guess you could argue that there is no-one to play Center, but a true center wasn't chosen on any of the teams. The only one you could really argue is Dwight, since the list did include the 2009-2010 season as part of this decade, which gives Dwight five really good seasons before he went off the reservation, including a trip to the Finals and 5 All-NBAs.
The internet is not happy with the Kobe placement, with a lot of people unfortunately thinking he got screwed being placed on the Third Team. Since this list does include 2009-2010, Kobe does squeeze in a Finals MVP and a ring into that timeframe. But his last good season was 2012-2013 which were followed by three miserable seasons, one where he blew out his Achilles and two where he was undoubtedly the most destructive player in the NBA. During his four good seasons, he did make a lot of first team All-NBAs and Defense teams, although you can argue if he got some of those based off of reputation.
I'd probably lobby for Klay Thompson for Kobe's spot; he doesn't have the counting stats or the accolades, but Klay played 8 seasons in the decade, averaged 20 ppg on 46/49/84 shooting, was a significantly better defender despite only making one all-defense team, and played in five finals, winning three rings.