Defining Players at each postion per 10 year stretches

[An Unbiased Fan]

Spinoff of the defining player per 10 year stretches thread. For the sake of sanity, positions are limited to Guard, Forward, Center

50-59:
G - Cousy
G - Bill Sharman
F - Paul Arizin
F - Dolph Schayes
C - Mikan

55-64:
G - Cousy
G - Oscar
F - Petit
F - Baylor
C - Russell

60-69:
G - West
G - Oscar
F - Baylor
F - Petit
C - Russell

65-74:
G - West
G - Oscar
F - Barry
F - Hondo
C- Wilt

70-79:
G - Walt Frazier
G - Tiny Archibald
F - Dr J
F - Barry
C - Kareem

75-84:
G - Magic
G - Gervin
F - Bird
F - Dr J
C - Kareem

80-89:
G - Magic
G - Isiah
F - Bird
F - Dr J
C - Kareem

85-94:
G - Magic
G - MJ
F - Barkley
F - Malone
C - Hakeem

90-99:
G - Stockton
G - MJ
F - Pippen
F - Malone
C - Hakeem

95-04:
G - Kobe
G - MJ
F - Malone
F - TD
C - Shaq

00-09:
G - Kidd
G - Kobe
F - Dirk
F - TD
C - Shaq

05-14:
G - Wade
G - Kobe
F - Lebron
F - Dirk
C - Howard

10-19:
G - CP3
G - Curry
F - Lebron
F - KD
C - Howard

15-24*: (so far)
G - Curry
G - Harden
F - Lebron
F - Giannis
C - Jokic

[LAL1947]

Spinoff of the defining player per 10 year stretches thread. For the sake of sanity, positions are limited to Guard, Forward, Center

Very nicely done, especially the 1980-89 to present.

[Dutchball97]

Solid list. The only thing that jumps out at me is Dirk over KG in 00-09 though. In the best player per 10 year thread the only guys mentioned for 00-09 were Duncan, Kobe, Shaq and KG so I'm not sure why you'd have Dirk over KG at forward.

[An Unbiased Fan]

Solid list. The only thing that jumps out at me is Dirk over KG in 00-09 though. In the best player per 10 year thread the only guys mentioned for 00-09 were Duncan, Kobe, Shaq and KG so I'm not sure why you'd have Dirk over KG at forward.

You're right, forgot about KG there.

[70sFan]

Good list, I wouldn't change too much. Maybe Duncan in place of Shaq at 2000-09 team, which would give place for Dirk and KG at forwards.

[LAL1947]

Good list, I wouldn't change too much. Maybe Duncan in place of Shaq at 2000-09 team, which would give place for Dirk and KG at forwards.

That's a good suggestion, Shaq was quite done after 2006-07.

[Stalwart]

75-84 is a tough one at the C position. Does Moses have a case over Kareem?

[70sFan]

75-84 is a tough one at the C position. Does Moses have a case over Kareem?

He does, but I wouldn't put him ahead. Kareem's worst seasons (1983 and 1984) are considerably better than 1975 and 1976 for Moses. I also think that Kareem peaked considerably higher than Malone.

Even if you call 1979-84 Moses vs 1975-80 Kareem even, then 1975-78 Moses is clearly worse than 1981-84 Kareem.

[capfan33]

75-84 is a tough one at the C position. Does Moses have a case over Kareem?

No but I'm biased. With that being said, even if you're really high on Moses I don't think anyone thinks that peak Moses is better than peak Kareem, which is essentially what you would be arguing here if you put Moses over Kareem.

[ShotCreator]

Kobe over Stockton and Payton from 95-04 is indefensible.

Jordan being top SG in that same period just doesn’t seem realistic either. I wanna say Ray Allen was just better overall.

Nash not being in the 05-14 group over Wade or Kobe doesn't track either.

[cupcakesnake]

I think Nash is getting a huge miss here, but it might be due to the year cutoffs. Nash was the definite "defining" point guard from 2005-2008 (and makes all-NBA and the WCF in 2010). But you're giving Kidd the nod from 2000-2009 (Kidd was better over the first half) and Wade the nod from 2005-2015 (conveniently capturing 100% of Wade's prime.)

[cupcakesnake]

Good list, I wouldn't change too much. Maybe Duncan in place of Shaq at 2000-09 team, which would give place for Dirk and KG at forwards.

That's a good suggestion, Shaq was quite done after 2006-07.

Yeah I think the Shaq decline clearly begins a lot earlier than people casually assume. His prime ends in 2004. He was given some benefit of the doubt that year with all the Lakers drama. He got huge MVP buzz in 2005, dropping weight and transforming Miami. But I think there was a lot of narrative to that. He wasn't putting up prime Shaq numbers, and we didn't realize how good Wade was. I think he proved that a little in the playoffs (never averaged 20ppg in the playoffs again after leaving LA). I read his autobiography, and he talks so much about his injuries over that chunk.

Not that I don't think Shaq wasn't still really good and arguably the NBA's best center for a couple more years, but I think the decline started earlier than most fans care to remember. He stayed a brutally effective offensive player until the end, but with less of that dominant high end value, and obviously defensively we all saw how bad it got.

[70sFan]

I think Nash is getting a huge miss here, but it might be due to the year cutoffs. Nash was the definite "defining" point guard from 2005-2008 (and makes all-NBA and the WCF in 2010). But you're giving Kidd the nod from 2000-2009 (Kidd was better over the first half) and Wade the nod from 2005-2015 (conveniently capturing 100% of Wade's prime.)

Good point, Nash has to be on 2000-09 team.

[Colbinii]

Kobe over Stockton and Payton from 95-04 is indefensible.

Payton had MVP finishes of 9, 6, 6, 3, 9, 6, 6 and 110 WS/50.9 VORP.

Kobe had MVP finishes of 12, 9, 5, 3, 5 and 73.6 WS/31.0 VORP.

I think the argument for Kobe needs to be he was so much better at his peak but I dont see that as the case here.

Jordan being top SG in that same period just doesn’t seem realistic either. I wanna say Ray Allen was just better overall.

Would you have Payton/Stockton or Payton/Allen?

Jordan likely had the 3 best SG seasons over this period but only half a season in 1998 and then two mediocre seasons with Washington.

Nash not being in the 05-14 group over Wade or Kobe doesn't track either.

[/quote]

I agree.

[weekend_warrior]

Not a huge fan of Howard in 10-19. Feels like he didn't do much anymore ever since his departure from Orlando in 2012. There aren't all that many alternatives of course, this is easily the weakest selection in your entire list. Maybe even Marc Gasol there?