Best players in the World since 1996

[Ghazi]

1987: Michael Jordan
1988: Michael Jordan
1989: Michael Jordan
1990: Michael Jordan
1991: Michael Jordan
1992: Michael Jordan
1993: Dad Killer
1994: Hakeem
1995: Hakeem
1996: Michael Jordan
1997: Michael Jordan
1998: Michael Jordan
1999: Tim Duncan
2000: Shaq
2001: Shaq
2002: Shaq
2003: Tim Duncan
2004: Tim Duncan
2005: Kobe Bryant/Tim Duncan
2006: Tim Duncan/Dwayne Wade/Dirk Nowitzki
2007: Dirk Nowitzki
2008: Lebron James
2009: Lebron James
2010: Lebron James
2011: Lebron James
2012: Lebron James
2013: Lebron James
2014: Lebron James
2015: Lebron James/Stephen Curry
2016: Stephen Curry

[Ghazi]

Results: Jordan 10, Lebron 8, Duncan 5 Shaq 3 Hakeem 2 Dirk 2 Wade 1 Curry 2 Kobe 1

[Ghazi]

Lebron needs to win 2 more championships to even enter the Jordan conversation again, and he's hard pressed to win 1 right now... and if he creates a superteam it would just destroy his legacy even more as a front runner / sell out who listens to his little posse that is all about $ and not about winning.

[baseline bum]

2005: Kobe Bryant

Best player in the world when he missed the playoffs?

[da_suns_fan]

Best player in the world when he missed the playoffs?

Teams make playoffs. Players dont.

Likewise I'm pretty sure Michael Jordan was STILL the best player in the world in 1994, 1995 and 1999 even if he wasnt in the league.

Kobe was obviously the best player in the world in 2006. The guy is a total douche but his talent cant be denied .

[baseline bum]

Teams make playoffs. Players dont.

Likewise I'm pretty sure Michael Jordan was STILL the best player in the world in 1994, 1995 and 1999 even if he wasnt in the league.

Kobe was obviously the best player in the world in 2006. The guy is a total douche but his talent cant be denied .

That's retarded, Jordan was the best player in the world when he was shitting the bed against Orlando in 1995? :lmao

[Caltex2]

And in 1994, when he wasn't even practicing basketball, he was the best player? LOL. People will do all they can to avoid giving Hakeem his due respect.

[baseline bum]

And in 1994, when he wasn't even practicing basketball, he was the bets player? LOL. People will do all they can to avoid giving Hakeem his due respect.

Can you blame Suns fan for being so butthurt after blowing chances at a title in 93, 94, 95, 05, 07, and 10?

[daslicer]

And in 1994, when he wasn't even practicing basketball, he was the bets player? LOL. People will do all they can to avoid giving Hakeem his due respect.

Noticed how he said also Jordan was the best player in '99. Just a bitter suns fan taking shots at Duncan and Olaujuwon.

[AlexJones]

1999: Tim Duncan
2000: Shaq
2001: Shaq
2002: Shaq
2003: Tim Duncan
2004: Tim Duncan
2005: Shaq
2006: Dirk Nowitzki
2007: Lebron
2008: Lebron James
2009: Lebron James
2010: Lebron James
2011: Lebron James
2012: Lebron James
2013: Lebron James
2014: Kevin Durant
2015: Stephen Curry
2016: Stephen Curry

[ffadicted]

Pretty accurate tbqh

[Caltex2]

Can you blame Suns fan for being so butthurt after blowing chances at a title in 93, 94, 95, 05, 07, and 10?

And yes they did blow it. In '94 it was kinda taken from them but in '95 they choked, for certain.

[Arcadian]

Actually a pretty good list, except for excluding 04 Garnett and for including 05 Kobe.

[Kawhitstorm]

2002: Shaq

Tim was the best player/MVP in 2002 & destroyed Shaq in the playoffs despite losing the series: http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2002-nba-western-conference-semifinals-spurs-vs-lakers.html


2004: Tim Duncan

KG was the best player in 2004


2005: Kobe Bryant/Tim Duncan

Shaq was better than Kirby in 2005: Kirby missed the playoffs & was only All-NBA 3rd team.:lol

[AlexJones]

Shaq was absolutely the best player in the league in 05. Nash's first MVP was a joke

[Kidd K]

1987: Michael Jordan
1988: Michael Jordan
1989: Michael Jordan
1990: Michael Jordan
1991: Michael Jordan
1992: Michael Jordan
1993: Dad Killer
1994: Hakeem
1995: Hakeem
1996: Michael Jordan
1997: Michael Jordan
1998: Michael Jordan
1999: Tim Duncan
2000: Shaq
2001: Shaq
2002: Shaq
2003: Tim Duncan
2004: Tim Duncan
2005: Kobe Bryant/Tim Duncan
2006: Tim Duncan/Dwayne Wade/Dirk Nowitzki
2007: Dirk Nowitzki
2008: Lebron James
2009: Lebron James
2010: Lebron James
2011: Lebron James
2012: Lebron James
2013: Lebron James
2014: Lebron James
2015: Lebron James/Stephen Curry
2016: Stephen Curry

Good list aside from the "dad killer" troll. Though I disagree with a few years:

2002: I think it's Shaq/Duncan, not Shaq alone. Duncan was incredible that year.
2005: A player who does not make the playoffs does not belong on the list. You could argue him for other years if you want.
2008: I would say LeBron/Chris Paul. Paul was the real MVP that year imo. He was excellent.
2011: No Dirk mention?

[MultiTroll]

1992 Jordan
1993: Jordan
1994: Hakeem
1995: Hakeem
1996: Shaun Kemp
1997: Michael Jordan
1998: Michael Jordan
1999: Tim Duncan
2000: Shaq
2001: Shaq
2002: Tim Duncan
2003: Tim Duncan
2004: Tim Duncan
2005: Tim Duncan
2006: Tim Duncan
2007: Tim Duncan
2008: Lebron James
2009: Lebron James
2010: Lebron James
2011: Lebron James
2012: Lebron James
2013: Lebron James
2014: Lebron James
2015: Lebron James
2016: Stephen Curry

[Ghazi]

I believe Kobe's best individual year was 2005... and that his prime years were not in 2009 and 2010 when he won the championships... and from 2000-2002 he was the beta to Shaq.

I'm not saying the list is perfect, I'm open to other opinions. I could see the case for KG in 2004, and even in 2008 KG was a MONSTER that year.

[Ghazi]

Obviously the list is just a matter of opinion... even having MJ as the best player in the world is "technically an opinion"

[baseline bum]

I believe Kobe's best individual year was 2005... and that his prime years were not in 2009 and 2010 when he won the championships... and from 2000-2002 he was the beta to Shaq.


05? He was way better in 06.

[LkrFan]

# teams to repeat as champs, since 1996:

Bulls
Lakers
Lakers
Heat

Any team I miss? :downspin:

[Arcadian]

2017: Kawhi

[baseline bum]

# teams to repeat as champs, since 1996:

Bulls
Lakers
Lakers
Heat

Any team I miss? :downspin:

All these years in the lottery got you salty bro, have a michelada and chill.

[LkrFan]

All these years in the lottery got you salty bro, have a michelada and chill.

Nah, I'm good. :lol

[spurraider21]

2005 kobe :lmao

[Down Under]

1987: Michael Jordan
1988: Michael Jordan
1989: Michael Jordan
1990: Michael Jordan
1991: Michael Jordan
1992: Michael Jordan
1993: Dad Killer
1994: Hakeem
1995: Hakeem
1996: Michael Jordan
1997: Michael Jordan
1998: Michael Jordan
1999: Tim Duncan
2000: Shaq
2001: Shaq
2002: Shaq
2003: Tim Duncan
2004: Tim Duncan
2005: Kobe Bryant/Tim Duncan
2006: Tim Duncan/Dwayne Wade/Dirk Nowitzki
2007: Dirk Nowitzki
2008: Lebron James
2009: Lebron James
2010: Lebron James
2011: Lebron James
2012: Lebron James
2013: Lebron James
2014: Lebron James
2015: Lebron James/Stephen Curry
2016: Stephen Curry

Pretty good but I'd replace 2008 & 2009 LeBron with Kobe. LeBron's jumper was still bad then. Incredible Duncan was able to be a top 5 player from 1998-2009, then morph himself into an elite role player where he was still a top 15 player from 2010-2015. Just incredible longevity at such a high level.

[Caltex2]

# teams to repeat as champs, since 1996:

Bulls
Lakers
Lakers
Heat

Any team I miss? :downspin:

The thread listed teams/players since 1987, otherwise I wouldn't be a homer and add the Rockets and Pistons.

[DMC]

# teams to repeat as champs, since 1996:

Bulls
Lakers
Lakers
Heat

Any team I miss? :downspin:
You missed all the playoff teams for the past oh.. 4 seasons I suppose. In fact, one has to wonder why you even clock in these days.

[LkrFan]

The thread listed teams/players since 1987, otherwise I wouldn't be a homer and add the Rockets and Pistons.

Forgot about Rox tbh. "Never underestimate the heart of a Champion!"

--Rudy T

Pistons repeated in '89-'90 though.

[LkrFan]

You missed all the playoff teams for the past oh.. 4 seasons I suppose. In fact, one has to wonder why you even clock in these days.

Funny that you mention that. I'm indeed a "post Pau" poster, yet I'm still here during our tank seasons. Kind of debunks your little bandwagoning Laker fan theory, huh? ;)

To answer your query, as I've always said: name on the front, not necessarily the name on the back.

[FkLA]

Just lol at the suggestion that Dirk was the best player in the world at any point in his career.

[Killakobe81]

Lol that list ...

[DMC]

Funny that you mention that. I'm indeed a "post Pau" poster, yet I'm still here during our tank seasons. Kind of debunks your little bandwagoning Laker fan theory, huh? ;)

To answer your query, as I've always said: name on the front, not necessarily the name on the back.

You came in on the wagon. You stayed because you're an immigrant. Philo must be your ST anchor baby.

[LkrFan]

You came in on the wagon. You stayed because you're an immigrant. Philo must be your ST anchor baby.

:lol

[Ghazi]

Dirk was not the best player in 2011 btw... things really gelled for that Mavs team and he finally had a championship supporting cast and a championship coach. All the trades and coaching hire in the years prior paid off, and he had a highly efficient year shooting, but he was more like a top 3-4 player rather than BITW

I'm not even sure if he was the best player in 2007, but it's hard to ignore 90/50/40. The kyrptonite of the Mavs was Don Nelson, not Dirk being soft.

[DAF86]

:lol Dirk and Wade being the best players in the World at any point

2006 and 2007 was Duncan/Lebron, maybe even Kobe.

[Arcadian]

Dirk was not the best player in 2011 btw... things really gelled for that Mavs team and he finally had a championship supporting cast and a championship coach. All the trades and coaching hire in the years prior paid off, and he had a highly efficient year shooting, but he was more like a top 3-4 player rather than BITW

I'm not even sure if he was the best player in 2007, but it's hard to ignore 90/50/40. The kyrptonite of the Mavs was Don Nelson, not Dirk being soft.

Avery Johnson was his coach in 07, not Nelson.

[timtonymanu]

Avery Johnson was his coach in 07, not Nelson.

I think he means Donnie having the blueprint to beat the Mavs that year

[Jenks]

Compare it to ws/48 leader per season, helps differentiate individuals vs team accomplishments and shatters some shitty narratives.

1987: Magic
1988: Michael Jordan
1989: Michael Jordan
1990: Michael Jordan
1991: Michael Jordan
1992: Michael Jordan
1993: Michael Jordan
1994: David Robinson
1995: David Robinson
1996: Michael Jordan
1997: Michael Jordan
1998: David Robinson
1999: David Robinson
2000: Shaq
2001: David Robinson
2002: Shaq
2003: Tracy McGrady
2004: Kevin Garnett
2005: Dirk Nowitzki
2006: Dirk Nowitzki
2007: Dirk Nowitzki
2008: Chris Paul
2009: Lebron James
2010: Lebron James
2011: Lebron James
2012: Lebron James
2013: Lebron James
2014: Kevin Durant
2015: Stephen Curry
2016: Stephen Curry




1987: Michael Jordan
1988: Michael Jordan
1989: Michael Jordan
1990: Michael Jordan
1991: Michael Jordan
1992: Michael Jordan
1993: Dad Killer
1994: Hakeem
1995: Hakeem
1996: Michael Jordan
1997: Michael Jordan
1998: Michael Jordan
1999: Tim Duncan
2000: Shaq
2001: Shaq
2002: Shaq
2003: Tim Duncan
2004: Tim Duncan
2005: Kobe Bryant/Tim Duncan
2006: Tim Duncan/Dwayne Wade/Dirk Nowitzki
2007: Dirk Nowitzki
2008: Lebron James
2009: Lebron James
2010: Lebron James
2011: Lebron James
2012: Lebron James
2013: Lebron James
2014: Lebron James
2015: Lebron James/Stephen Curry
2016: Stephen Curry