Putting together NBA's greatest team from the last 10 years


The last 10 years of basketball has seen the elevation of the three-point shot and this has naturally progressed into a 'small-ball' revolution with teams in America's National Basketball Association (NBA) the natural pioneers. 
 
Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets have been torchbearers for the change in play which has threatened to put an end to the traditional 7-foot big man. 
 
Small ball is a style of play that sacrifices height, physical strength and low post offence/defence in favour of a lineup of smaller players for speed, agility and increased scoring (often and most prominently from the three-point line).
 
It should come as no surprise then that no center makes our NBA team of the last 10 years, but what Betway's team loses in physical strength, it more than makes up for in proficient scoring and winning with the five players having combined for 10 rings over the 10-year span. 
 

Steph Curry (Golden State Warriors) 

 
The best 3-point shooter of all-time, Curry has changed the game over the last decade and has played a huge role in establishing the Golden State Warriors as one of the most valuable teams in all of sport. 
 
Curry's stock has climbed simultaneously with that of the Warriors' and in the 2015-16 season he became the first player to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award by an unanimous vote as he lead the league in scoring while entering the 50-40-90 club. 
 
That same season he led the Warriors to a record-breaking 73-9 regular season record. Curry is a 3x NBA champion, 6x NBA All-Star and third on the list of total 3-point field goals made. 
 

James Harden (Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets) 

 
Arguably the most prolific point scorer in NBA history, Harden elevated his play exponentially over the last 10 years: from winning the Sixth Man of the Year award in 2012 to clinching the MVP accolade in 2018. 
 
The 8x NBA All-Star and 2x scoring champion has coined the step-back three. He also has the uncanny ability of drawing countless fouls and the Rockets system has been tweaked to fit their star player's game. 
 
Harden has averaged at least 25 points per game every season he has been in Houston and an incredible 36.1 in the 2018-19 campaign. All that is missing from his locker is the elusive Larry O'Brien but having recently re-joined forces with Russel Westbrook, 'The Beard' will be confident of adding a ring to his list of enviable accolades. 

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Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers) 

 
One of the best two-way players ever, Leonard's regular season numbers might not stack up against his peers in this team, but he really comes alive in the playoffs. 
 
The 2x NBA champion won the Finals MVP award in both his ring-winning seasons. First in 2014 when his elite defensive display spearheaded the San Antonio Spurs to victory over LeBron James and the Miami Heat and then last year when he carried the Toronto Raptors to a first NBA title with victory over an all-conquering Golden State Warriors team. 
 
Furthermore, Leonard is a 4x NBA All-Star and 2x NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and at just 28 years of age his best years are arguably still ahead of him. 

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LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, LA Lakers)

 
The best player of his generation, James will go down with Michael Jordan as the two best players in the history of the game. 
 
'King' James is a 3x NBA champion, 4x MVP (3 of which came in the last decade), 3x NBA Finals MVP and 16x NBA All-Star. He has continuously added more dimensions to his game, becoming not only a prolific defender (he is a 5x NBA All Defensive First Team player) but also an above average 3-point shooter. 
 
Arguably the most athletically gifted player ever, James is still going strong at the age of 35. Now with the LA Lakers, Lebron would've won more championships had the Cavaliers not run into arguably the best team in modern NBA history in 2017 and 2018. His teams reached the NBA Finals in eight consecutive seasons between 2011- 18. 
 

Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets)

 

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Up there with Harden as one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history, Durant has averaged more than 25 points per game in the regular season over the last decade. 
 
The 10x NBA All-Star won both his NBA rings as part of a Golden State Warriors team that will go down as one of the best teams in history. Before his move to Oracle Arena, Durant was a 4x NBA scoring champion with the Thunder and became part of the 50-40-90 club in the 2013 season. 
 
Durant doesn't only boast prodigious scoring ability, he is also an elite rim protector for his position and averages a block a game over the course of his career. Add 2x NBA Finals MVP's to his list of accolades and it easy to see why he will go down as one of the game's greats. 
 

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Published: 04/15/2020