The NBA at 75: The best players of the past 25 years

Author Sean Sylver

March 10th, 2021 10:34 AM

With the NBA exiting an awkward (but ultimately pretty entertaining) All-Star Weekend amid a pandemic, many hoops fans are looking forward to getting vaccinated and returning to arenas in the near future.

We can also look ahead to the league celebrating its 75th anniversary with typical fanfare next season.

It’s been 25 years since the NBA unveiled its list of 50 Greatest Players. The season to follow was a celebration of the milestone, with everybody from Bill Russell to Michael Jordan appearing at that year’s midseason showcase in the greatest assembly of hoops talent the world has ever seen.

One can only assume that we’ll soon get a new list of the 75 Greatest Players in NBA History.

While you could probably write a book about who the next 25 might be, I thought it might be fun (and more efficient) to compile an All-Star team for the past quarter-century.

There are some caveats. For instance, a number of the original 50 Greatest were still playing in 1996. To ensure this team truly represents the last 25 years without favoring past achievements, I’ve removed those names from consideration (except for one). That includes all members of the 1992 Dream Team.

Also, the goal is not to just look at stats or All-Star selections, but to identify players who defined the NBA over a 25-year span. Arguments can be boosted by accolades or team accomplishments – sure – but a player’s impact on and off the court should be considered.

With that said, let’s start the list, and the subsequent debate.

The Roster:

• Kevin Garnett

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  It’s crazy that KG’s first season in Boston was his 13th in the NBA. After logging 40 minutes a night the previous decade-plus in Minnesota, he kicked off his run in green with an NBA championship and Defensive Player of the Year honors.
  
  The 2004 Most Valuable Player was a prototype for today's 7-footers who refuse to live with one foot bolted in the paint. KG did it all, with a legendary intensity that made him one of the all-time greats.

• Stephen Curry

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  In a recent conversation, From Hang Time to Prime Time author Pete Croatto submitted that in a previous generation, Steph would’ve been deployed as a specialist, a la Steve Kerr. The comparison is a bit extreme, but Steph’s bountiful offensive talents might not have been as appreciated 25 years ago.
  
  Lucky for today's fans.
  
  While Curry benefited from changes to the game, his play also altered the trajectory of the sport going forward. He's got a trophy case full of hardware to back up that claim.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo

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  Hoops pundits love to use the term “unicorn” these days.
  
  The freshly minted All-Star Game MVP is king of the unicorns. Still growing when he entered the league, the Greek Freak transformed into a physical beast: the kind of night in, night out hurricane the opposition just has to hope doesn't send a tree flying through the living room window. His proprietary blend of power, quickness and skill has been acknowledged with back-to-back MVPs.
• Allen Iverson

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  While little guys dominate the game today, Iverson was able to look to one name for inspiration: Nate "Tiny" Archibald, the only player 6-foot-1 or shorter to win a scoring title before he did. An irresistible force challenging the immovable guardians of the NBA's rims, Iverson's 6-foot, 165 pound frame and giant heart willed the 2001 Sixers to the NBA Finals.
  
  A terror in transition and a half court pinball who audaciously welcomed the bright lights, A.I.'s stylistic and cultural influence is also impossible to ignore.

• Dirk Nowitzki

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  As the league continues to welcome talented European imports, Nowitzki remains the gold standard of players from the continent. A curiosity when he entered the league, Dirk played forever, put up numbers, and was the centerpiece of a franchise that compiled 11 straight 50-win seasons amid an ever-changing supporting cast.
  
  Nowitzki got his ring in 2011; his Mavs defeating LeBron James and the heavily favored Miami Heat. The rest is history.

• Steve Nash

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  A two-time MVP, Nash had a 12-year stretch where he averaged double-digit assists and 50 percent shooting. You can draw a straight line from his leading role in Mike D’Antoni’s “seven seconds or less” offense to the high-scoring contests we see today.
  
  On the heels of a bruising decade ushered in by the Bad Boy Pistons and Pat Riley's Knicks, Nash’s free-wheeling play in the new Millennium injected fun back into the product.
• Jason Kidd

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  The talented floor general changed the trajectory of a sad sack franchise. With Kidd running point, the Nets made their only two appearances in the NBA Finals after a 25-year post-Dr. J hangover.
  
  A two-way threat, Kidd was a four-time All-Defensive first teamer, collected five assist titles and was voted All-NBA first team five times in an era that also featured Iverson, Nash and Gary Payton at his position.

• Tim Duncan

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  “The Big Fundamental” in on the short list of greatest big men to ever lace up a pair of high-tops. The anchor of four title teams in San Antonio, the two-time MVP pushed the profile of the Spurs franchise past the previous high water mark set by Dream Teamer and Hall of Famer David Robinson.
  
  Duncan didn't need to be flashy to beat nearly everybody else on this list. He was just that good.

• Kevin Durant

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  The best pure scorer of a generation, the four-time scoring champ is shooting over 50 percent from the field for the ninth consecutive season. And while some criticized his 2016 signing with Golden State, he absolutely cashed in on the opportunity, pulling down consecutive Finals MVP trophies.
  
  Following an Achilles injury, he's back in the hunt in Brooklyn. An absolute joy to watch.
• LeBron James

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  He’s in the G.O.A.T. conversation.
  
  There’s nothing more that needs to be said to qualify his inclusion here.

• Kobe Bryant

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  The Black Mamba’s untimely passing last winter revived discussions of Bryant’s place among the all-time greats.
  
  Another layup selection for this team.

• Shaquille O’Neal

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  One of the most dominating players in basketball history. Shaq was such a star, he made the NBA’s 50 Greatest list after just four seasons. Therefore, I'm making an exception.
  
  You can't talk about this era of NBA hoops without mentioning Shaq.

A Starting Five of Snubs

• Dwayne Wade

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  Three championship rings and low-key the dirtiest player in the game. You don’t try to break Rajon Rondo’s arm and make my list.

• James Harden

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  I've never once turned on League Pass and said, “I gotta see what James Harden is doing.” I know what he’s doing. Somebody has already tweeted the gaudy stat line, along with the accompanying video of him flailing to draw a foul or forgetting to play defense. Pass.

• Kawhi Leonard

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  I’d rather have the Claw on this squad than Wade or Harden. Kawhi is the reason Canada has an NBA title. This two-way talent remains among the favorites to win the game's top prize, now with a third franchise.
• Chris Paul

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  The stats are hard to ignore. A true point guard in an era where the lines have been blurred, CP3 boasts seven All-Defensive first team selections, four assist crowns and four appearances on the All-NBA first team.

• Gary Payton

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  "The Glove" strung together six consecutive All-Defensive nods and was All-NBA twice during the time period, but the timing of this exercise fails to consider the full impact of his impressive career.

Generation Next

Two guys I’m confident I’ll be writing about if I do this again 25 years from now…

• Luka Doncic

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  A modern day Magic Johnson. By the time he’s done, he may have a better resume than former Mavericks teammate Nowitzki.

• Bradley Beal

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  Will pass 13,000 career points this year as a 27-year old. Finally out of John Wall's shadow, Beal is scoring in a fashion we haven't seen since Kobe Bryant averaged 35 points per game back in 2005-06.
  
  I know, James Harden had a higher scoring average just last year. James Harden doesn't count. That's not basketball.

Sean Sylver can be heard on 98.5 The Sports Hub. Talk hoops with him on Twitter @TheSylverFox.

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