Both times the Nets had the first overall pick in the NBA Draft, the team has taken a power forward. Was either the best in Nets history?
The Nets have had the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft twice since the franchise first took part in the event in 1977 after joining the league in 1976. In both cases, the Nets took power forwards, selecting Derrick Coleman in 1990 and Kenyon Martin in 2000.
Coleman spent five years in a Nets uniform, Martin logged four. Both helped New Jersey make the postseason multiple times, as well.
But which ranks higher on the list of the Nets’ best power forward of all-time? Does either get top billing?
Nets Wire examined the list of power forwards who’ve worn a Nets uniform over the years — having already gone through the Nets’ point guards, shooting guards and small forwards — and determined the best five in franchise history.
5. Larry Kenon
Credit: Malcolm Emmons – USA TODAY Sports
Nets Stats: 17.3 PPG | 11.1 RPG | 1.1 SPG
There are quite a few power forwards who had an abbreviated, impactful run with the Nets before quickly leaving town. Kenon, who changed his first name to Muhsin after his playing days, was the best of this batch.
He made the 1974 ABA All-Star Game as a rookie and helped the Nets win the it’s first of two ABA championships. Kenon wasn’t part of New Jersey’s second title run in 1975-76, but he was named an All-Star in his final run with the Nets in 1974-75.
In this Philadelphia 76ers re-draft from 2007, the Sixers would select Wilson Chandler rather than Thaddeus Young.
We continue our look back at past drafts in the history of the Philadelphia 76ers as we wait until the NBA resumes. We have looked back at numerous drafts so far, but now we take a look at the 2007 draft where the Sixers held the 12th pick.
The 2006-07 season was not fun for Philadelphia. The team traded franchise icon, Allen Iverson, to the Denver Nuggets 15 games into the season and they then released Chris Webber in January in an effort to revitalize a product that had gone bland. So, they focused on the continued development of Andre Iguodala and a new point guard in Andre Miller as the team slumped to a 35-47 record.
With that came the 12th pick in the draft and they selected Georgia Tech’s Thaddeus Young who would become a fixture on the team for a long time. He actually would play a key role on the 2007-08 Sixers team that surprisingly reached the postseason.
However, Bleacher Report did a re-draft of 2007 and they have Young going early to the Milwaukee Bucks at 6. Therefore, they have the Sixers selecting Wilson Chandler out of DePaul at 12.
B/R:
Denver acquired Chandler from the Knicks in the Carmelo Anthony deal at the 2011 deadline, and he overcame repeated injuries to have a strong six-plus-year run as a starting forward in Denver. He’s bounced around since then but stayed in the league as a productive veteran wing.
Chandler, of course, did end up spending some time in Philadelphia. He played 36 games, starting 32 of them, in the 2018-19 season before being sent to the Los Angeles Clippers in the Tobias Harris deal. He averaged 6.7 points and 4.7 rebounds during his time with the Sixers. He’s a career 34.1% shooter from deep.
When one considers the way the Sixers played in the 2007-08 season, Chandler may have turned out to be the better choice due to his shooting ability, but Young fit into the team’s run-and-gun style. Obviously, Young had a career that has placed him among the best in his draft class and that is why he is drafted as highly here.
The Sixers did have a second pick in the first round, they selected Daequan Cook of Ohio State at 21, but they flipped the pick to the Miami Heat for Jason Smith. In the re-draft, the Sixers selected Nick Young. [lawrence-related id=29549,29536,29527]
We now count down the top five power forwards in the history of the Philadelphia 76ers.
The power forward position has been marked by a mixture of power and grace. An elite power forward uses a mixture of both of those attributes to be able to score in the post and also be able to step out and hit a jumper when needed.
For the Philadelphia 76ers, one of the greatest players in the history of the game played the position for them. They have seen their fair share of elite power forwards come through and don their colors and we’re going to rank the top five at the position in their history.
Don’t forget to check out the rankings for the previous positions:
Bojan Bogdanovic set a career-high in scoring on March 15, 2016. The former Brooklyn Nets forward has yet to top that mark.
With the NBA going on hiatus — which NBA commissioner Adam Silver set as at least 30 days on Thursday — and New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, placing a ban on gatherings of more than 500 people for the foreseeable future due to the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, no Brooklyn Nets games will be played for the time being.
For the Nets, as much as any team, this comes at an odd time — Brooklyn was battling the Orlando Magic for the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference standings. At the stoppage of play, the Nets had a half-game advantage over the Magic.
Since there aren’t any games, each day Nets Wire will highlight major individual performances and key developments throughout Nets history:
On March 15, 2016, Bojan Bogdanovic had an offensive performance he still has yet to replicate, even though his numbers have steadily increased since the Brooklyn Nets traded him away in the middle of the 2016-17 season.
Brooklyn’s starting lineup in this 2015-16 game against the Philadelphia 76ers was Bogdanovic, Brook Lopez, Thaddeus Young, Wayne Ellington and Donald Sloan. The Sixers’ current general manager, Elton Brand, was coming off the bench for head coach Brett Brown.
There wasn’t a whole lot of defense played in this one, which worked out just fine for the Nets as they walked away with a 131-114 win (full box score).
No one took greater advantage of the offensive tone to the game than Bogdanovic. He went off for a career-high 44 points — a mark he has yet to top. The forward finished 17-for-27 from the floor (4-for-9 from deep) and grabbed eight rebounds.
“I started the game with a couple of easy free throws, easy buckets on the fast break. I had 15 or 17 after the first quarter,” Bogdanovic said after the win. “So I realized that tonight is maybe my night to get a career-high in the NBA.
“I tried (for 50), but then I missed a couple of shots and then I was like 40 is good too.”
Lopez and Young each had a double-double. Lopez finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Young scored 14 points and ripped down 16 boards.
Normally, we would be discussing the upcoming playoff schedules and what the Sixers will have to do to make a deep run into the postseason, but our focus is now on the history of the Sixers. We’ll focus on a specific game or moment each day in their history to remember the good ole days.
March 13, 2009
The Sixers were in the midst of positioning themselves for the playoffs all while hosting future Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls. Philadelphia was stuck in mediocrity as they were chugging along entering the game at even .500 record of 31-31.
The big reason this game is being remembered is it was the final game at The Spectrum where the Sixers played basketball until 1996 before moving to the building now known as the Wells Fargo Center. They won a championship while playing there in 1983 led by Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Mo Cheeks, and Moses Malone and they had plenty of terrific seasons thereafter when led by Charles Barkley.
With the demolition announced for the old building, the Sixers wanted to play one final game there in March of 2009.
The Sixers were led by Thaddeus Young who dropped 31 points on 14-for-21 shooting and had five rebounds while Andre Iguodala had 25 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Samuel Dalembert, who had four blocks in the game, had a critical rejection of Rose late which led to a Young breakaway dunk to seal the 104-101 win.
You always get the feeling it’s a special night when you see those guys. Those guys are a big part of Sixers history and you definitely want to go out there and have a great showing for them. And we did.
Philadelphia would go on to earn a 6 seed in the playoffs that season before running into the Orlando Magic in Round 1. Iguodala led Philadelphia to an upset win in Game 1 when he made a tough jumper late and Young then had a game-winning bucket in Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead, but the Magic would answer back and eventually win the series 4-2.
The Magic would go on to reach the NBA Finals before falling to the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1.
Young would spend five more seasons in Philadelphia before being sent to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the early stages of “The Process”. He averaged 13.7 points and 5.5 rebounds in seven seasons in Philadelphia. Ironically, he now plays for the Bulls after signing with them in free agency.
As for The Spectrum, it stood tall until it was demolished in November of 2010. It first opened in 1967 when both the Sixers and the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers moved in. [lawrence-related id=27580,27557,27541]
HoopsHype examines the Los Angeles Clippers’ biggest needs as we approach the trade deadline, as well as specific players they could target.
The Los Angeles Clippers, just past the midway point of the 2019-20 season, sit at 31-14, No. 3 in the West and boast the league’s No. 5 net rating (+6.2), all while only having their two big acquisitions from the summer, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, together for 18 games. In those 18 outings, the Clippers have been at another level, winning 14 times and dropping just four.
Even so, Leonard’s ongoing load management and George’s inconsistent health this year do bring some concern that Los Angeles could lag behind the NBA’s other top contenders in the chemistry department, an issue that is reportedly already starting to sprout, according to a report from The Athletic.
The upcoming trade deadline could be a way for the Clippers to bolster their rotation and stymie potential roster weaknesses.
ROSTER NEEDS
As veteran reporter Marc Stein mentioned on Thursday, the lack of consistent game action for Leonard and George this year could force the team to seek out additional wing depth on the trade market.
Doesn't guarantee that they'll make a deal, of course, but the Clippers are said to be concerned about their lack of muscle up front compared to the Lakers' length as well as the ongoing health issues Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are battling
What’s more, L.A.’s 35.6 three-point shooting percentage as a team for the season ranks a mediocre 15th league-wide, so whatever wings the Clippers do look at should be of the floor-spacing variety.
Besides on the perimeter, L.A. could also stand to upgrade their frontcourt rotation, where they have just four reliable bigs, only one of whom is anything more than just a decent role player. So an upgrade at big man could also benefit the Clippers, who have an in-town rival loaded in the frontcourt.
POTENTIAL TRADE CANDIDATES
As far as players who the Clippers could put up on the trade block in hopes of strengthening their team, pretty much anyone not named Leonard or George could probably be had for the right price.
That might seem cruel, considering the team won 48 games last season and built a strong culture that helped them land the two superstar wings in the first place, but it’s well-established that owner Steve Ballmer and executive Jerry West don’t mess around when they think they can swing a move that will help the Clippers’ chances.
For what it’s worth, Lou Williams and Patrick Beverley would probably be pretty expensive if another team came calling, so they’re probably the two safest L.A. players who aren’t Leonard or George.
The two guys who rival teams likely would covet most in a potential deal are productive big man Montrezl Harrell and second-year 2-guard Landry Shamet; the former is averaging over 19 points and seven rebounds off the bench but is a pretty so-so defender. Plus, the fact he’s in a contract year and set to get paid this summer could convince L.A. to move him now as opposed to losing him for nothing in the offseason.
Meanwhile, Shamet is a low-maintenance player shooting 41 percent from three for his career and signed to a team-friendly contract through 2021-22, making him a desirable asset to opposing franchises.
POTENTIAL TRADE TARGETS
Based on reports, it’s obvious the Clippers are trying to address what they feel are their biggest needs, in the frontcourt and on the wing.
On their roster, the only trade restriction Los Angeles possesses is that JaMychal Green would need to approve of any trade, which could make him difficult to move.
Besides that, the Clippers cannot reacquire Danilo Gallinari and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander since they traded them within the last 365 days. No need to fret about that anyway, as the Oklahoma City Thunder would probably shut down any trade talks for the latter option anyway.
DRAFT ASSETS
Although they owe three future first-round picks to the Thunder as part of the Paul George deal (2022, 2024 and 2026, specifically) as well as other potential pick swaps, the Clippers can still offer teams their 2020 first-rounder in any theoretical trade, which could come in handy.
They also have a cupboard full of second-round picks to sweeten up potential offers.
You can follow Frank Urbina on Twitter: @FrankUrbina_.
With the recent decade now suddenly in the rearview mirror, we looked at the top player who defined the 2010s for each team in the NBA.
With the recent decade now suddenly in the rearview mirror, we looked at the top player who defined the 2010s for each team in the NBA.
Atlanta Hawks: Al Horford
(Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Paul Milsap, Jeff Teague
The Atlanta Hawks were defined by their depth under former head coach Mike Budenholzer. It is what helped their entire starting lineup earn Eastern Conference Co-Players of the Month back in January 2015. But the best player during this era was Al Horford. The big man averaged 15.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game from the 2010-11 season until he left the team during the 2016 offseason.
Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce
(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Al Horford, Isaiah Thomas
Even though he won the 2008 NBA championship and the Finals MVP in 2008, Paul Pierce went on to make the Eastern Conference All-Star team three more times this decade. Before he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in the summer of 2013, he was averaging 18.9 points and 5.6 rebounds with 4.1 assists this decade. Pierce even had a chance to officially retire with the organization on a one-day contract in July 2017.
Brooklyn Nets: Brook Lopez
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Deron Williams, Joe Johnson
Before they were the franchise that managed to sign both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in the same offseason, the Nets were long led by Brook Lopez. He was a member of the team both in New Jersey and in their move to the new home in Brooklyn back in 2012, which was his first and only career All-Star appearance. During his tenure with the team this decade, the big man put up 19.7 points and 6.6 rebounds as well as 1.7 blocks per game.
Charlotte Hornets: Kemba Walker
(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Marvin Williams, Nicolas Batum
During a tough decade for the Hornets, the one thing that kept them alive and interesting was star point guard Kemba Walker. He was a part of the team as a member of the Bobcats and then when they rebranded as the Hornets. Walker was a two-time All-Star as well as a two-time recipient of the NBA Sportsmanship Award. The guard averaged 19.9 points, 5.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game for the team during the decade before he joined the Celtics.
Chicago Bulls: Jimmy Butler
(Photo by Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah
When former No. 1 overall pick Derrick Rose won MVP in 2011 at 22 years old, fans in Chicago fairly assumed they would have a new defining talent for their city. Unfortunately, serious injuries made the point guard become a less impactful player than projected. However, the blow was softened a bit with the sudden emergence of a late first-round pick in Jimmy Butler. The wing won the league’s Most Improved Player in 2015. He was a difference-maker on both sides of the ball, averaging 15.6 points and 1.5 steals per game with the Bulls.
Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James
(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love
Considering that Cleveland’s hometown hero LeBron James notably left the Cavaliers as a free agent in 2010, few would have expected him to still be the Player of the Decade for this franchise. After such an ugly exit memorialized forever with a public shaming by team owner Dan Gilbert, though, James is a player who more than made up for the first early goodbye when he actually returned in 2014. All that he had to do was win the city’s first championship in any sport since 1948. In the process, he averaged an absurd 26.1 points per game with 7.7 rebounds and 8.0 assists for the Cavs in the 2010s.
Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki
(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Shawn Marion, Luka Doncic
Even though he was drafted in 1998, the undisputed most important in the career of Dirk Nowitzki happened in 2011 when he won a title and NBA Finals MVP. While his best playing days may have been before this decade, he still managed to be a perennial All-Star. The face of the franchise, he also won the league’s award for Teammate of the Year in 2017. His presence was felt, too, during his final season in the league as he helped ease the transition into the new era led by fellow European star Luka Doncic.
Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic
(Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Kenneth Faried, Ty Lawson
The Denver Nuggets may have hit the lottery when they selected Serbian big man Nikola Jokic with the 41st overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft. Jokic is a talent like no other in the league and has become one of the more versatile players in recent memory. He has averaged 16.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists for the Nuggets and the most exciting part is that he may still plenty of room to improve. At just 24 years old, the center could also be the best player of the decade in the 2020s for the Nuggets as well.
Detroit Pistons: Andre Drummond
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Greg Monroe, Blake Griffin
Despite not coming into the league until 2013, Detroit Pistons big man Andre Drummond has the second-most rebounds in the NBA since 2010-11. He has led the NBA in rebounds three times, twice earning All-Star considerations. Drummond has been consistent in his role and despite the team not being much of a contender, he has made his presence felt day in and day out.
Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant
The things that Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry was able to accomplish during the 2010s were almost laughable. He was a back-to-back NBA MVP who won the championship three times. Curry led the Warriors to an unbelievable 73-9 regular season while topping the league in scoring and in steals in 2016 as well. He also connected on 3.8 three-pointers per game, which is 0.9 more than the next-best player during the decade. Curry has clearly redefined the way the game is played and is a generational talent unlike any we have ever seen step foot on a basketball court.
Houston Rockets: James Harden
(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Dwight Howard, Clint Capela
There has been no trade recently that changed the league quite like the one that sent the 2012 Sixth Man of the Year winner James Harden from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Houston Rockets. He has been an All-Star every year for Houston and led the league in assists 2017. The guard then led the league in scoring in 2018 as the NBA MVP and then again in 2019. Harden has put up an absurd 29.6 points with 6.0 rebounds and 7.7 assists for the Rockets. In an age of analytics, he has been the darling for general manager Daryl Morey.
Indiana Pacers: Paul George
(Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: David West, George Hill
Former Indiana Pacers wing Paul George was a four-time All-Star with the franchise, winning NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2013. The two-way star also received All-Defensive team honors three times while with the team. He averaged 18.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game for Indiana during his team with the Pacers. One of the other best factors about George is that his trade allowed Indiana’s front office to acquire two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo and potential first-time All-Star big man Domantis Sabonis.
LA Clippers: Chris Paul
(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan
Before there was Kawhi Leonard and Paul George on the Clippers, there was Lob City. None of the success happening for the franchise now would be possible if it weren’t for Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. The tide was turning when Griffin was drafted in 2009 and won Rookie of the Year in 2011. But it was solidified when they traded for CP3 in December 2011. Paul averaged an impressive 18.8 points and 9.8 assists with 2.2 steals per game when he was a member of the Clippers. He made the All-Star team five times in Los Angeles and twice led the NBA in assists during that time.
Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant
(Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Pau Gasol, LeBron James
Unlike with Nowitzki, the peak accomplishments for Kobe Bryant occurred before 2010. But even during this decade, he added another NBA title to his arsenal and an All-Star appearance each year before retiring in 2016. Bryant averaged 24.2 points per game for the Lakers starting in 2010-11, which was above average for someone who was his age. Of course, there was little more memorable than Bryant scoring 60 points in his final professional game.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: MARC GASOL
(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Mike Conley, Zach Randolph
Former Memphis Grizzlies big man Marc Gasol averaged 15.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists during his time with the Grizzlies this decade. He made three All-Star appearances while a member of the franchise, winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. The center was a fixture for Memphis, making the playoffs six times with the Grizzlies. Gasol, a World Cup winner with Spain, eventually won his first NBA title in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors after a midseason trade.
Miami Heat: Dwyane Wade
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: LeBron James, Chris Bosh
While it was obvious that James was the best player on the team, none of The Big 3 era Miami Heat would have been possible if it were not for Dwyane Wade. He was the instrumental player recruiting both James and Chris Bosh to Miami and even gave up more money in the process to allow it to happen. Wade also sacrificed his role as the key star to make room for more touches to both James and Bosh. This led to two more NBA Finals wins for Wade and All-Star appearances between 2010 and 2016. He was also able to come back to the Heat and retire with the franchise.
Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has been one of the most dominant basketball players in recent memory. He has averaged 19.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game since entering the league. After winning the NBA MVP in 2019, he has followed up with an equally impressive season so far this year. His play has been so sharp that one of the league’s most pressing questions, even now a year and a half away from his eligibility, is what will he decide to do as an upcoming free agent.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns
(Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Kevin Love, Andrew Wiggins
After trading away Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2014 offseason, the Minnesota Timberwolves were able to bounce back in some ways by grabbing No. 1 overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns. He has played the part of one of the elite big men in the NBA, averaging 22.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game since entering the pros. Towns has also made 39.6 percent of his three-point attempts, showing his versatility as an offensive force.
New Orleans Pelicans: Anthony Davis
(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Jrue Holiday, Ryan Anderson
His exit may have left a sour taste in the mouth of the New Orleans Pelicans, but Anthony Davis was absolutely stellar during his time with the team. He averaged 23.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game and also led the league in blocks three times. Davis was a six-time All-Star for the Pelicans and while he now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, his return will leave New Orleans in a fine place for the upcoming decade. Not only did the front office get an unreal surplus of draft picks in the deal but Brandon Ingram is playing like a potential superstar.
New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony
(Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images)
It was a relatively underwhelming decade for the New York Knicks under team owner James Dolan. The front office mortgaged quite a bit of their future to secure Carmelo Anthony via trade in 2011 despite knowing that the star would become a free agent that offseason. As such, the team was a bit of a one-man show under his leadership. He averaged 24.7 points as well as 7.0 rebounds per game on the Knicks, eventually leaving in 2017.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant
(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka
The Oklahoma City Thunder somehow drafted three MVP winners who all hit their primes during the 2010s. While none of them is still with the team, the one who made the biggest splash was Kevin Durant. The former No. 2 overall pick put up 28.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while also shooting 38.6 percent from three-point range. Even though point guard Russell Westbrook was the player who had the longest tenure with the team, it was obvious that Oklahoma City was the most successful version of itself with Durant on the roster.
Orlando Magic: Nikola Vucevic
(Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Dwight Howard, Evan Fournier
Orlando Magic big man Nikola Vucevic might be the most underrated NBA player of the decade. He made just one All-Star appearance, finally earning the love last season. While he originally started his career in Philadelphia, he has found a niche in Orlando. The former No. 16 overall pick has averaged 16.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game for the Magic.
Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Ben Simmons, Thaddeus Young
His career may have started off defined by injury but since he has become a healthier player, there have been few with a higher ceiling than Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid. The big man has scored 24.2 points and pulled down 11.6 rebounds per game. He made the NBA All-Rookie First Team his first year in the league back in 2017. He has made the All-Star team, All-NBA Second Team and All-Defensive Second Team in both years since.
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker
(Photo by Barry Gossage NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Goran Dragic, PJ Tucker
The Phoenix Suns have not had a decade many fans will want to look back on with fond memories. But the one takeaway is that there is at least some hope for the future due to the scoring punch of Devin Booker. He has been able to put up 21.7 points and 4.5 assists per game since he entered the NBA just two days before his 19th birthday. Booker put up 70 points back in March 2017 and at just 20 years old, he was the youngest player to put up 60 points in an NBA game. Back in March 2019, Booker had three games in a row where he scored at least 48 points.
Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard
(Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: LaMarcus Aldridge, CJ McCollum
There are few players in NBA history who have embraced their team’s city quite like Trail Blazers star has welcomed Portland into his life. After he was drafted No. 6 overall in 2012, he has turned his the Blazers into one of the most consistent contenders in the league. Lillard, who won Rookie of the Year his first season in the pros, is a four-time All-Star. He was honored with All-NBA 1st Team consideration in 2018 and led Portland to the Western Conference Finals in 2019. He has averaged 23.7 points and 6.4 assists per game for the Trail Blazers during his professional career thus far.
Sacramento Kings: DeMarcus Cousins
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Isaiah Thomas, Rudy Gay
While the Sacramento Kings had a disappointing decade in many ways, their most feared player during the 2010s was undeniably DeMarcus Cousins. He was a force to be reckoned with on the Kings, averaging 21.1 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. He earned All-Rookie First Team honors in 2011 and he then took home All-NBA 2nd Team in 2015 and 2016. The big man was also disciplined and suspended a bit too often for comfort during his time on the Kings, eventually leading to an inevitable divorce of the two parties.
San Antonio Spurs: Kawhi Leonard
SAN ANTONIO, TX – (Photo byJoe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Tim Duncan, Tony Parker
When he won NBA Finals MVP in 2014, it was clear that former No. 15 overall pick Kawhi Leonard was a special player in this league. But he was able to take his game to the next level during his time with the San Antonio Spurs, also winning back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards for his efforts in 2015 and 2016. Leonard, who led the league in steals in 2015, also came into his own on the offensive side of the floor while before his time in San Antonio came to a surprisingly ugly close that kept him sidelined for the majority of 2017-18.
Toronto Raptors: Kyle Lowry
(Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: DeMar DeRozan, Kawhi Leonard
While it was Leonard who was the undisputed best player of the team that won the Toronto Raptors their first NBA championship, veteran point guard Kyle Lowry was the heart and soul of the squad. After the team traded away his longtime teammate DeMar DeRozan during the 2018 offseason, the year was inevitably going to be an emotional rollercoaster for Lowry. But for him to respond by helping Toronto finally carry the Larry O’Brien trophy was an effort that solidified his place as the Player of the Decade for the Raptors.
Utah Jazz: Rudy Gobert
(Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors
If general fans valued defense the same way they value offense, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert would be considered one of the Top 10 players in the NBA. After he led the league in blocks back in 2017, the French big went on to win Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 and in 2019. Gobert has actually averaged 2.2 blocks per game since entering the league in 2013. He has also pulled down 10.8 rebounds per game and has connected on 63.4 percent of his total field goal attempts.
Washington Wizards: John Wall
(Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Bradley Beal, Marcin Gortat
Before his recent injury trouble, Washington Wizards point guard John Wall was an electrifying player. He has averaged 19.0 points and 9.2 assists for the Wizards since going No. 1 overall in the 2010 NBA draft. He made the All-Star team from 2014 until 2018, also grabbing All-Defensive 2nd Team honors in 2015 and All-NBA 3rd Team in 2017. Wall has averaged 1.7 steals per game, too, showing he can be a defensive stopper. Now he is on a tough contract, though he initially earned it with his previously fantastic play.
With the 2010’s coming to a close, Sixers Wire has put together the top 10 Philadelphia 76ers of the decade.
The 2010s weren’t a great decade for the Philadelphia 76ers but the franchise saw some solid talent walk onto the Wells Fargo Center court. Most people will remember this decade of Sixers basketball for the infamous “Process,” but there were some good moments for Philadelphia to reminisce on too.
As the decade comes to a close, it’s time to take a look back at the top 10 players who donned the Sixers red, white and blue jerseys.
Stats in the 2010s: 16.0 ppg 6.7 apg 6.2 rpg 1.7 spg
Carter-Williams was in Philadelphia for a total of 111 games over the course of 1.5 seasons, and it wasn’t all that pretty. He did win Rookie of the Year in 2014 and he had a few exciting games. But Carter-Willims was not the franchise point guard the Sixers wanted him to be. His award in 2014, and the numbers he put up, earn him a spot on this list.
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
