NBA 2010’s Edition: Pick Your Five – Who Runs the Decade?
The 2010s were a golden age of basketball brilliance, with players redefining the game at every position. This isn’t just a simple “pick your five” challenge — this is a war of eras within the same decade. We’re talking MVPs, champions, record-breakers, and highlight machines. The question is… which five would you trust to dominate any era? Let’s break down the choices — and why each could be the cornerstone of your squad.
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Point Guard – The Floor Generals of the Decade
Chris Paul: The purest point guard of his generation, CP3 combined surgical passing with mid-range mastery. No one orchestrated an offense with more precision.
Kyrie Irving: Maybe the most skilled ball handler in NBA history, Kyrie’s clutch shot in the 2016 Finals remains one of the decade’s defining moments.
Stephen Curry: Revolutionized the game with his limitless range and gravity-bending shooting. The only unanimous MVP in league history.
Russell Westbrook: Triple-double machine, human tornado, and relentless competitor. He brought an intensity that overwhelmed opponents nightly.
Shock factor: In a decade that embraced the three-point revolution, only one of these four truly changed the way basketball is played — and it’s Steph.
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Shooting Guard – Scorers and Assassins
Kobe Bryant: The Black Mamba’s twilight years still produced magic, with an unforgettable 60-point farewell.
Klay Thompson: The silent killer who once scored 37 points in a single quarter — a record unlikely to be touched.
James Harden: An offensive cheat code who averaged 36 points in a season while redefining the step-back three.
Dwyane Wade: Flash was still elite in the early 2010s, guiding Miami to championships alongside LeBron.
Shock factor: Klay once scored 60 points… in just 29 minutes… on only 11 dribbles.
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Small Forward – The Apex Predators
Paul George: Two-way star with smooth scoring and lockdown defense.
Kevin Durant: One of the most unstoppable scorers ever — a 7-foot sniper with guard skills.
LeBron James: The decade’s defining force — four MVPs, multiple titles, and unmatched all-around dominance.
Kawhi Leonard: The silent superstar who won Finals MVPs with two different teams while being the league’s best defender.
Shock factor: In the 2010s, LeBron appeared in eight straight NBA Finals — something that may never be repeated.
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Power Forward – The Hybrid Evolution
Blake Griffin: Posterizer-in-chief with underrated playmaking skills.
Dirk Nowitzki: Revolutionized the big man role with his one-legged fadeaway and 2011 Finals heroics.
Anthony Davis: A defensive monster and offensive mismatch nightmare.
Giannis Antetokounmpo: The Greek Freak emerged late in the decade as an unstoppable freight train.
Shock factor: Dirk’s 2011 run might be the most improbable title win of the decade.
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Center – The Anchors of the Paint
Tim Duncan: The Big Fundamental — still elite in the early 2010s, leading San Antonio to another title in 2014.
Marc Gasol: Defensive genius and underrated offensive hub.
DeMarcus Cousins: At his peak, “Boogie” was a walking 25 and 12 with guard-like skills.
Dwight Howard: Though his prime peaked late 2000s, he still dominated defensively in the early 2010s.
Shock factor: Gasol once led the league in defensive prowess and won a title while guarding peak Embiid.
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Final Thought
No matter your five, you’re picking from a pool of legends. The real shock? Most of these players are Hall of Fame locks — meaning your “fantasy” team might actually rival the greatest squads ever assembled. The only thing left to do… is draft and debate
