The millennium started very promisingly for the NBA. The league was already established and the games were very popular. After the retirement of players such as Michael Jordan new rules had to be implemented. Before the 2000’s NBA, basketball was a one-man show, where the rest of the team was only there to support the main star and help them to succeed. New regulations were to make the game more balanced and less violent.
New Rules
One of the most important changes was getting rid of the illegal defense rule, which blocked zone defense strategy. Earlier, the players were using man-to-man defense, which meant assigning a player to guard another player, but after the 2001 season, the teams could opt out of that and assign their players to cover an area of the court.
5 Seconds Back to the Basket
Another change was concerning gameplay around the post and it was simply called five seconds back to the basket violation. A player couldn’t back up to the basket anymore and dribble for ten seconds, to establish better shooting position (like Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal did constantly). Now, they have only five seconds, which gives the game a more dynamic pace and doesn’t allow enormous 7-foot players to completely take over the post.
Establishment of Foul Regulations
The game became less physical due to the implementation of stricter regulation when it comes to fouls. Players couldn’t beat up each other anymore during the game and off-clock. It was necessary because the tensions were growing and the players would literally throw punches while fighting for the ball, making the game look more like MMA fight than basketball. The distinctions between technical foul and flagrant foul and heavier penalties were put into place, making the defensive player looking for more creative ways to stop the opponent from scoring.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers were going into the new millennium with a win after win. The new dynasty was established, with their star players absolutely dominating every statistic. The beginning of the century for the NBA was the Bryant-O’Neal era with the Los Angeles Lakers winning three consecutive championships.
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant is renowned for his athleticism, but the thing that made him extremely special was his winning state of mind. Bryant was like a war machine, he was dedicated and tenacious, lethal when it comes to playing basketball. He won five NBA championships and eleven All-NBA First Team spots, nine All-Defensive First Team spots. During his 20-year career, Bryant scored 33,643 points. On January 22, 2006, against the Toronto Raptors, Kobe Bryant shot 81 points making him the greatest modern scorer. In 2008 he got a well-deserved Most Valuable Player Award.
Shaquille O’Neal
The 2000s greeted O’Neal with big scrutiny due to his notorious contract renegotiations and absurd money expectations. 2000’s MVP is a true businessman and after helping the Los Angeles Lakers to their three consecutive championships he bailed on them in a look for more prosperous opportunities. and because of his famous rift with Kobe. He was transferred to Miami Heat. With the Heat, he ended up winning another championship in 2006. Shaq was one of the best centers the NBA has ever seen, at the conclusion of his career averaging 23 points and 10 rebounds per game.
LeBron James
LeBron James’ stardom is well deserved because his strategy of playing showed the NBA that the game could be played completely differently than in the 1990s NBA. He dominates the game both offensively and defensively and is one of the few players who can efficiently play in all five spots on the court. He is the only player in the NBA history that places in the top 100 in all of the statistical categories. Some of the NBA fans call him the Greatest of All Time.
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs were off to a great start, when they won the NBA championships in 1999, but were stopped by the Lakers. Led by the Twin Towers, David Robinson, and Tim Duncan, their power was growing, and in 2003 they won the second championship ring! Robinson retired after the season but Tim Duncan was here to fight. The San Antonio Spurs won the championships again in 2005 and 2007.
Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan was a very versatile player, elite scorer, and excellent defender. He is a 15-time NBA All-Star, five-time NBA champion, three-time NBA Finals MVP, two-time NBA Most Valuable Player of the Year in 2002 and 2003, and the only player to be named to both the All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams for 13 seasons straight. He is said to be one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA. Besides that, Duncan is a model athlete, loyal to his team, after retirement becoming coach assistant. Thanks to Duncan the Spurs became the only team who merged from the American Basketball Association to ever win NBA championships.
Players of the 2000s
The 21st Century marked a big shift in the way the game was played, due to an earlier mentioned change of rules and the growing importance of three-point shooting. The spotlight was moved from the centers to power forwards and point guards, giving every player a chance to become a true superstar.
Allen Iverson
Despite his unimpressive height, Allen Iverson was one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history. He used his size to his advantage, being able to quickly pass any opponent. Allen Iverson led the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA finals, becoming MVP in 2001 and leading the league in scoring four times.
Jason Kidd
Jason Kidd was a dynamic, creative playmaker who always found a way to get his teammates involved, recording more assists than any other player in the league five times throughout his career. The 10-time All-Star led the New Jersey Nets to back-to-back Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003 before winning an NBA championship with the Mavericks. Jason Kidd was a triple-double threat and he still occupies a high position on many record boards due to his all-in style of play.
Tracy McGrady
Another dark horse of the decade was Tracy McGrady, an absolute scoring threat. When he joined the Orlando Magic in 2000, he added a mid-range jump shot and quickly became one of the NBA’s top scorers. McGrady was named Most Improved Player for 2001 and also made his first All-Star Game. McGrady’s shooting stroke, which was one of the most potent in league history, helped him score 62 points for the Orlando Magic and later thrill the home crowd in Houston on December 9, 2004, with 13 points in the final 35 seconds of a comeback win against the San Antonio Spurs.
Steve Nash
From the start of his college career, Steve Nash was overlooked and forgotten, but his incredible talent and skills made him breakthrough and become one of the greatest players in NBA history. Steve Nash is the second Canadian player to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. Two-time MVP and five times assist leader, he helped the Dallas Mavericks to get back on their feet, together with Dirk Nowitzki. He is also known for his achievements with the Phoenix Suns.
Dirk Nowitzki
From faraway Germany, Dirk Nowitzki made the whole nation fascinated by the NBA. The Dallas Mavericks superstar earned his sixth spot on the all-time NBA scoring leaders list becoming the highest foreign-born scorer. Even after his retirement, he didn’t forsake his beloved team, becoming a special advisor for the Mavs.
Kevin Garnett
Kevin Garnett’s long career started with the Minnesota Timberwolves, in 2007 being transferred to the Boston Celtics with whom he won the NBA Championships in 2008. He was chosen Most Valuable Player in 2004. Garnett is renowned for his intensity, strength, and aggressive defense tactics. He’s regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time.
Chris Paul
The Mids 2000s marked the coming of Chris Paul, who is still an active point guard for the Phoenix Suns. He started as 4th overall draft pick for the New Orleans Hornets. As a rookie he led the league in steals, later becoming 11 times NBA All-Star and NBA All-Star Game MVP.
Ben Wallace
Ben Wallace made NBA history by being the greatest undrafted player when it comes to professional basketball. As a free agent, he took a few years to look for what was right for him, finally settling with Detroit Pistons in 2000, leading them to become NBA champions in 2004. He was chosen the NBA Defensive Player of the Year four times.
Carmelo Anthony
After Anthony was traded to the Nuggets in the summer of 2003, he helped them change their reputation from the league’s biggest joke to an actual playoff threat. From his rookie performance, the Denver Nuggets became regular Western Conference contenders.
NBA History
Every National Basketball Association Decade had an impact on the sport all over the world. The 2000s made the game more skill-oriented and team-oriented than the previous decade’s brutal fighting for the spotlight. Older fans might say that the NBA was watered down and lost their doggedness but it was necessary to gain more respect and for players to represent more sportsmanlike behavior. Superstars like Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan made the matches a spectacle to watch, bringing focus to the skill and sheer talent of said players. The 2000s also paved the way for players like Steph Curry to excel in a new version of our beloved game.
Who is the best NBA player of the 2000s?
Kobe was, without a doubt, the best player of the 2000s and could possibly be the greatest player in history.
Who led the NBA in scoring in the 2000s?
Kobe Bryant racked up the most points in a decade between the 1999-00 and 2008-09 seasons, with a total of 21,065 points in the 2000s.
Who was the best basketball team in the 2000s?
It was the San Antonio Spurs with 58 wins.
Who was the face of the NBA in 2000?
Shaquille O’Neal was an extraordinary NBA player from 2000-2009, not only winning four championships during that time, but also appearing in many TV and magazine commercials, guest starring on shows, and even having two reality TV series.
