Listing the best NBA player in every decade

Michael Jordan - 1990s

The greatest NBA player ever for many, Michael Jordan simply dominated the 1990s, individually and collectively. 'His Airness' guided the Chicago Bulls to six championships between 1991 and 1998 with two different streaks of three titles in a row.

He also grabbed the Finals MVP each time, while also winning four of his five regular-season MVPs in the 1990s. For his entire career, Jordan went to 14 All-Star games, won a record 10 scoring titles, one Defensive Player of the Year award, received 11 All-NBA selections and nine All-Defensive picks, among many more unique accolades.

He is the all-time leader in career average of points per game with 30.1.

Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan - 2000s

The 2000s were very competitive in terms of individual players. While many showed tremendous greatness and brilliance, it all came in different ways. Kobe Bryant was surely the most skilled player at the time, but Shaquille O'Neal and Tim Duncan were equally great.

O'Neal won four championships, three Finals MVP awards and one regular-season MVP in the 2000s, while Duncan grabbed three titles, two Finals MVPs and two regular-season MVPs in that span.

Bryant, on his side, won four championships from 2000 to 2009, one Finals MVP award and one regular-season MVP.

It was definitely close between these three players in the 2000s and leaving one or two out would not be telling the whole story of such a great era in the NBA.

LeBron James - 2010s

LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat answers questions from the media next to the Larry O'Brien Finals Championship trophy.

LeBron James should've been in the discussion for the best player in the 2000s too, but the debate was already crowded and James did not achieve team success in that span, at least not in the form of NBA championships.

However, there aren't any doubts about LeBron James' spot in NBA history (possibly the greatest player ever) and his place as the greatest player of the 2010s.

From 2010 to 2019, James guided his teams to eight NBA Finals (of the total of 10 he's played in) and won three titles in that stretch, with three Finals MVPs. He also won three regular-season MVPs in that time, including the back-end of the 2009-10 season.

James' career will not be remembered for just one decade, though, as he perhaps remains the greatest player on the planet even today. In his entire NBA career, James has four NBA championships, four Finals MVPs (second-most in history), four regular-season MVPs, a scoring title, 17 All-Star appearances, a record 17 All-NBA selections and six All-Defensive.

Giannis Antetokounmpo - 2020s so far

Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Since 2020, Giannis Antetokounmpo has won one of his two regular-season MVPS, a Defensive Player of the Year award, an All-Star Game MVP, an NBA title and one Finals MVP award.

Greatness cannot be described without including achievements, and the 'Greek Freak' has definitely been the greatest of the incipient 2020s decades so far in that regard. The 26-year-old superstar is cementing his legacy as perhaps the greatest European player ever and his future looks tremendously bright due to his efforts on both ends of the floor and his dominance.

He is a dominant big man that probably is not fitting for this era of NBA basketball, but we saw in the 2021 NBA Finals that he is virtually unstoppable. Giannis won the 2021 NBA Finals MVP after leading the milwaukee Bucks to their first title in 50 years with two 40-point outings and a record-equalling 50 points in the clinching game.