As the new decade began, lists were popping up everywhere debating who was on the All-Decade NBA team for the 2010s. So, like any NBA discussion it’s time to make some way too early predictions for the next decades All-NBA team.
A lot of factors were considered making this list including, age, health, on-court production and projecting the development of each player. It should be noted that given all the variables involved that rookies and players not yet in the league will not be put on this list due to lack of relevant data, apologies to Zion Williamson.
Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic is the youngest player on this list but he may be the most well rounded offensively. Doncic is averaging more points and assists than any other player at 20 years old in league history. The Mavericks star is averaging a near 30-point triple-double in just his second year in the league and is leading his team to the best offensive rating in NBA history.
From the time Doncic stepped on an NBA court it was clear he would be a force for years to come, but Doncic made huge improvements in almost every statistical category in his second season, his cerebral playmaking and scoring ability allow him to take over games. Doncic has his team well into the playoff hunt at this point in the season and has established himself as a legit MVP candidate for years to come. If Doncic makes another jump like he did this year he could end up being the greatest player of the coming decade.
Trae Young
Trae Young is the shining example of what is to come in the NBA. Steph Curry brought us into the new 3-point era and Trae Young is kicking the door in. Trae Young has shot and made more 3-pointers than any other 21-year-old in NBA history, and is a threat shoot from anywhere on the court. Young is shooting 37% from the 3-point line this season, a stat made even more incredible considering his average 3-point attempt is about four feet behind the line at just over 27.5 feet, making him the deepest shooter in the league. For reference, Steph Curry’s longest average for a season was 26.9 feet.
Young’s deep shooting stretches defenses and allows him to make use of his playmaking. In his second season, Young is averaging just under nine assists per game, and is fourth all time in both assists and assist percentage by a 21-year-old. With generational passing, all-time deep shooting and an elite handle, Trae Young is one of the most exciting and electrifying players we’ve seen in the NBA. As the league continues to emphasize 3-point shooting and the floor continues to spread out, Trae Young will only get more valuable.
Ben Simmons
Simmons is the most unpredictable and possibly the most frightening player on the list when it comes to his development. The 6-foot-10 swingman has established himself as an exceptional player in transition and one of the leagues premier defenders. Simmons uses his size and physicality to produce easy buckets for himself, shooting 68 percent at the rim, the highest among guards with at least six attempts per game. Simmons has also proved to be an all-time passer, his 8.4 assists this season is the most ever averaged by a player 6-foot-10 or above in the 3-point era.
Ben Simmons is the key to Philadelphia’s title hopes and will need to continue to develop to ensure his position on the next All-Decade team, but at just 23-years-old Simmons has shown flashes of greatness and if put in the right position he can prove to be one of the greats of the generation.
Anthony Davis
Davis is the only player on this list that was arguably also on the 2010’s All-Decade team, and the 26-year-old is poised to have an even better stretch in the second half of his career. The three-time block champion is making his case as the best defensive player in the league, and is a favorite to win the Defensive Player of the Year Award, all while leading the top seed Lakers in scoring and rebounding. Davis is the definition of efficiency for the modern big man, boasting the third highest career PER of all time, just behind his teammate LeBron James, and Hall of Famer Michael Jordan.
Davis may get a head start on this decade’s ring count, as his team appears to be the best suited to win championships of any player on this list. If Davis secures a few rings, and maybe an MVP or two at some point, he can cement himself as the premier big man of the decade.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
In many people’s eyes, Antetokounmpo may already be the best player in the world. The reigning MVP is on pace to put up the highest PER in league history, Antetokounmpo’s freakish size and athleticism allow him to shoot 74% on shots at the rim, getting those shots at the highest rate in the league this season.
His team is currently on pace to have the all-time best defensive rating and the largest margin of victory in NBA history. Antetokounmpo has proven he can do essentially everything on both sides of the court and is the frontrunner to win this year’s MVP. What is most exciting about Antetokounmpo is that at 25-years old he is just reaching his prime, and he may be just a jump shot away from changing the conversation from the All-Decade list to the All-Time list.
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