Who has been the best player of the 2020s so far?

[wafflzgod]

To me, it's pretty clearly between Jokic and Giannis. Their 2023 and 2022 campaigns respectively are arguably the two best single seasons of the decade (though 20 James and 21 Curry are in the mix as well to me), and they have been the most consistent. I do think Jokic > Giannis as of right now and over the last 2, maybe 3, seasons. But Giannis was easily better in 2020 and (though to a lesser degree) better in 2021 too. Who do you think has been the best player of the 2020s so far?

[durantbird]

Jokic

[Asianiac_24]

Jokic, Luka, Giannis, in that order

[CobraCommander]

Jokic, Luka, Giannis, in that order

You are the reason I need to stay off RealGM - people say on here so much that they start believing themselves.


Giannis is now somehow underrated lol
Personal

*MVPs
• 2019: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
• 2020: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
• 2021: Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
• 2022: Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
• 2023: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers - honestly Jokic then Jokic again -
•DPOY
• 2020: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
• 2021: Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
• 2022: Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics
• 2023: Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
• 2024: Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves

Here are the important team accomplishments NBA champions and Finals MVPs since 2019:

• 2019: Toronto Raptors/ Finals MVP: Kawhi Leonard
• 2020: Los Angeles Lakers/Finals MVP: LeBron James
• 2021: Milwaukee Bucks/Finals MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo
• 2022: Golden State Warriors - Finals MVP: Stephen Curry

2023: Denver Nuggets
• Finals MVP: Nikola Jokić


The only man that did better than Giannis since 2020 is Jokic and it’s not close.

[CobraCommander]

To me, it's pretty clearly between Jokic and Giannis. Their 2023 and 2022 campaigns respectively are arguably the two best single seasons of the decade (though 20 James and 21 Curry are in the mix as well to me), and they have been the most consistent. I do think Jokic > Giannis as of right now and over the last 2, maybe 3, seasons. But Giannis was easily better in 2020 and (though to a lesser degree) better in 2021 too. Who do you think has been the best player of the 2020s so far?

Jokic and it’s weird - cause between jokic and Giannis it was close UNTIL recently ——but the rest of the league is wayyyyyyy behind these two. No one else has an mvp or a fmvp that has been as consistent as these guys- jokic having 3 or 4 MVPs settles the conversation-

Giannis MVPs coupled with dpoy and ring with fmvp puts him a significant way ahead of anyone else on the list.

If you haven’t won a ring being the best of the 2020s when the MVPs from that time frame do means you are not even remotely close to those guys individually or in regards to leading your team

[Doctor MJ]

Jokic, Luka, Giannis, in that order

You are the reason I need to stay off RealGM - people say on here so much that they start believing themselves.


Giannis is now somehow underrated lol
Personal

*MVPs
• 2019: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
• 2020: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
• 2021: Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
• 2022: Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
• 2023: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers - honestly Jokic then Jokic again -
•DPOY
• 2020: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
• 2021: Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
• 2022: Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics
• 2023: Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
• 2024: Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves

Here are the important team accomplishments NBA champions and Finals MVPs since 2019:

• 2019: Toronto Raptors/ Finals MVP: Kawhi Leonard
• 2020: Los Angeles Lakers/Finals MVP: LeBron James
• 2021: Milwaukee Bucks/Finals MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo
• 2022: Golden State Warriors - Finals MVP: Stephen Curry

2023: Denver Nuggets
• Finals MVP: Nikola Jokić


The only man that did better than Giannis since 2020 is Jokic and it’s not close.

Big picture I agree with you, but you are including 2018-19 in with the 2020s which I don’t think was the intent.

But yeah, Giannis is clearly top 2 even without that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[eminence]

Jokic #1.

Giannis vs Tatum is the discussion for #2.

[CobraCommander]

Jokic, Luka, Giannis, in that order

You are the reason I need to stay off RealGM - people say on here so much that they start believing themselves.


Giannis is now somehow underrated lol
Personal

*MVPs
• 2019: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
• 2020: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
• 2021: Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
• 2022: Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
• 2023: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers - honestly Jokic then Jokic again -
•DPOY
• 2020: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
• 2021: Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
• 2022: Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics
• 2023: Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
• 2024: Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves

Here are the important team accomplishments NBA champions and Finals MVPs since 2019:

• 2019: Toronto Raptors/ Finals MVP: Kawhi Leonard
• 2020: Los Angeles Lakers/Finals MVP: LeBron James
• 2021: Milwaukee Bucks/Finals MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo
• 2022: Golden State Warriors - Finals MVP: Stephen Curry

2023: Denver Nuggets
• Finals MVP: Nikola Jokić


The only man that did better than Giannis since 2020 is Jokic and it’s not close.

Big picture I agree with you, but you are including 2018-19 in with the 2020s which I don’t think was the intent.

But yeah, Giannis is clearly top 2 even without that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I just included 19 because it’s the start of Giannis true ascension but no one else on the list has even made it to the top of any mountains but people are calling them better than guys that have actually done it over the same years.

If you want to diminish the value of the league and their players and their champions and awards....make someone that has been playing 7 years but won nothing....make the one that has won nothing more valuable or say they have done more than a person that has done it ALL...that’s when you will see people stop caring about the sport or it’s fans....make this a beauty contest and not a on the court meritocracy. If it’s just 2020 to today - Giannis is second and then there is a long gap with guys like Embiid, Luka, Tatum, curry, Lebron all having legit claims.... but no way anyone ahead of Giannis if it’s about accomplishment over that period...it’s not close

[Djoker]

Jokic first, Giannis second then a big gap to whoever is third.

[Throwawaytheone]

.

[jalengreen]

Checked POY shares out of curiosity

Jokic: 3.896
Giannis: 1.786
LeBron: 1.03
Curry: 1.021
Tatum: 0.964

Obviously a flawed way to compare players on its own (doesn't reflect the difference between a, say, 2024 LeBron level season and a completely injured season), but I do think it speaks to Jokic's case here. The 2020s are five seasons, and for Jokic it includes: WCF loss (2020), MVP (2021), POY (2022), POY (2023), POY (2024). That's to say that his worst season here is still pretty good. I'd also take Jokic at his best over Giannis (probably the best contender) at his best, even ignoring the cumulative value difference. So it has to be Jokic for me.

[Doctor MJ]

You are the reason I need to stay off RealGM - people say on here so much that they start believing themselves.


Giannis is now somehow underrated lol
Personal

*MVPs
• 2019: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
• 2020: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
• 2021: Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
• 2022: Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
• 2023: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers - honestly Jokic then Jokic again -
•DPOY
• 2020: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
• 2021: Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
• 2022: Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics
• 2023: Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
• 2024: Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves

Here are the important team accomplishments NBA champions and Finals MVPs since 2019:

• 2019: Toronto Raptors/ Finals MVP: Kawhi Leonard
• 2020: Los Angeles Lakers/Finals MVP: LeBron James
• 2021: Milwaukee Bucks/Finals MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo
• 2022: Golden State Warriors - Finals MVP: Stephen Curry

2023: Denver Nuggets
• Finals MVP: Nikola Jokić


The only man that did better than Giannis since 2020 is Jokic and it’s not close.

Big picture I agree with you, but you are including 2018-19 in with the 2020s which I don’t think was the intent.

But yeah, Giannis is clearly top 2 even without that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I just included 19 because it’s the start of Giannis true ascension but no one else on the list has even made it to the top of any mountains but people are calling them better than guys that have actually done it over the same years.

If you want to diminish the value of the league and their players and their champions and awards....make someone that has been playing 7 years but won nothing....make the one that has won nothing more valuable or say they have done more than a person that has done it ALL...that’s when you will see people stop caring about the sport or it’s fans....make this a beauty contest and not a on the court meritocracy. If it’s just 2020 to today - Giannis is second and then there is a long gap with guys like Embiid, Luka, Tatum, curry, Lebron all having legit claims.... but no way anyone ahead of Giannis if it’s about accomplishment over that period...it’s not close

Well I mean, have you seen what LeBron did prior to 2020? If those years count when evaluating the 2020s, look out, Bron gonna be Player of the Decade again!

[PistolPeteJR]

Jokic #1.

Giannis vs Tatum is the discussion for #2.

Okay, I’ll bite.

What is the argument for Tatum at #2?

[TheGOATRises007]

Jokic clearly 1st.

[eminence]

Jokic #1.

Giannis vs Tatum is the discussion for #2.

Okay, I’ll bite.

What is the argument for Tatum at #2?

Durability - Giannis is tall Chris Paul.

[PistolPeteJR]

Jokic #1.

Giannis vs Tatum is the discussion for #2.

Okay, I’ll bite.

What is the argument for Tatum at #2?

Durability - Giannis is tall Chris Paul.

In the decade in its entirety, Giannis has largely been available.

And in any case, Tatum over Luka?

[eminence]

Okay, I’ll bite.

What is the argument for Tatum at #2?

Durability - Giannis is tall Chris Paul.

In the decade in its entirety, Giannis has largely been available.

And in any case, Tatum over Luka?

Only by a Kawhi standard.

9/10
21/23
12/12
3/5
0/6

45/56 (80.4% - slightly moreso during the RS)

Better odds he ends a season injured than healthy this decade so far.

Tatum over Luka rather easily, humongous gap on defense to the rather small gap on O.

[tsherkin]

Jokic, then Giannis, would have to be my offerings on that one. Giannis has, unfortunately, only managed 70+ games once in the 20s, but he does have an MVP and hasn't finished lower than 4th in the MVP vote since then. Semis, title, semis, first round, first round. Lots of health issues and roster turnover and so forth for the Bucks, but he's generally kept them around 50 wins even still. 58 as recently as 2023. Post-Buds hasn't been awesome, but still. He's an excellent player.

After that, debatable, but also not the point of the thread. It's those two duking it out for the title.

[SK21209]

Jokic
Giannis
LeBron
Curry
Luka

I tend to be lower on Giannis than most because individual offense > individual defense and these other guys are just much better offensive engines, but I can't put Giannis lower than 2nd. LeBron was still the best player in the league in 2020 and had a real shot at winning MVP in 2021 before the high ankle sprain, hasn't been at that same level since. Curry was pretty awesome in 2021 and was great in the playoffs on the way to a ring in 2022. He and LeBron similarly dominant for a couple of years, but haven't been as consistent as Giannis. Luka's had the consistency, but not quite the heights that LeBron and Curry had earlier in the decade IMO.

I get why Tatum is in the discussion, but these guys are just better players. You can argue Tatum is better than LeBron and Curry now (I don't think I agree, but the argument can be made), but they were WAY better than Tatum early in the decade.

[MyUniBroDavis]

Jokic
Giannis
LeBron
Curry
Luka

I tend to be lower on Giannis than most because individual offense > individual defense and these other guys are just much better offensive engines, but I can't put Giannis lower than 2nd. LeBron was still the best player in the league in 2020 and had a real shot at winning MVP in 2021 before the high ankle sprain, hasn't been at that same level since. Curry was pretty awesome in 2021 and was great in the playoffs on the way to a ring in 2022. He and LeBron similarly dominant for a couple of years, but haven't been as consistent as Giannis. Luka's had the consistency, but not quite the heights that LeBron and Curry had earlier in the decade IMO.

I get why Tatum is in the discussion, but these guys are just better players. You can argue Tatum is better than LeBron and Curry now (I don't think I agree, but the argument can be made), but they were WAY better than Tatum early in the decade.

Dont worry, He isn’t, trust your gut