EDITOR’S NOTE: Welcome Roger Johnson, an Ultimate Hoops league and Life Time pickup ball legend, to the UH Media team as a contributor.

With 2020 just around the corner, it’s time to reflect on the great basketball that we’ve witnessed over the past 10 years and recognize the players who defined the decade of the 2010s. Drum roll please……

NBA

1. LeBron James - Without question the King of the decade and quite possibly the GOAT. 10-time All Star, 10-time All-NBA, three-time MVP, three-time Finals MVP, and three-time champion. We are all witnesses.

2. Kevin Durant - The most prolific scorer of the decade, averaging 28 ppg. with four scoring titles, making him the youngest to ever do it. 10-time All Star, nine-time All-NBA, 2013-14 MVP, two-time Finals MVP, and two-time champion.

3. Steph Curry - The greatest shooter of the past decade; and all of the decades before that too. Not given enough credit as a transformational force in the game – his unlimited shooting range and embrace (ok more like a bear hug) of the 3-point shot has ushered in a new style of play that has been mimicked throughout the NBA. Six-time All Star, six-time All-NBA, two-time MVP, and three-time champion.

4. James Harden – Once a bench player in OKC, we now know him as a permanent resident at the free-throw line. In Houston, that is, where he has become one of the greatest offensive players the game has ever seen. Two-time scoring champion – well on his way to number three with the incredible start he’s had this season. Seven-time All Star, six-time All-NBA, and 2017-18 MVP.

5. Russell Westbrook - Made the triple-double look easy and brought back memories of the legendary Oscar Robertson, for those of us old enough to remember the Big O. Averaged a triple-double three consecutive years, including his MVP season of 2016-17. Led the league in scoring and assists twice during the decade. Eight-time All Star and eight-time All-NBA. OKC fans must be permanently thunderstruck… three of the five best players (Durant, Harden and Westbrook) of the past decade on the same team at one time – it could have been a Big Three second to none in NBA history.

6. Chris Paul - The preeminent point guard of the past decade (I consider Curry, Harden, and Westbrook combo guards). Led the league in assists twice and registered more steals than anyone over the past 10 years. Seven-time All Star, six-time All-NBA. While he has no championships on his resume, we can’t help but wonder how many he might have if David Stern hadn’t nullified his trade to the Lakers. Would he and Kobe have formed the best backcourt of all time?

7. Kobe Bryant – While nearing the end of his great career, the Black Mamba was still a seven-time All Star, four-time All-NBA and the Finals MVP in 2009-10 when he won his fifth and final championship. The iconic 61-point performance to cap his brilliant career is the stuff legends are made of. Will we ever see another player get a jersey retired for each decade he played in? #8 #24

8. Carmelo Anthony - He’s baaack! Yes, it’s nice to see Carmelo’s career resurrected with the Blazers but people are quick to forget that he was a dominant offensive force in the past decade. Led the league in scoring in 2012-13 with nearly 29 ppg. Eight-time All Star and three-time All-NBA. Christmas mornings just aren’t the same without Hoodie Melo kicking off the all-day NBA marathon.

9. Dwyane Wade - Get out the life jackets….the last member of the Banana Boat Crew (LeBron, CP3, Melo, and DWade) is on board. Eight-time All Star, four-time All-NBA and teamed with LeBron for two championships in Miami during the decade.

10. Dwight Howard - Stop the laughter and don’t tug on Superman’s cape, this list is for the past decade and not the past few seasons. Howard was the league’s premier center for much of the past 10 years. 5-time All-NBA performer who ranks second in rebounds, third in blocks and second in field goal percentage.

NCAA

1. Anthony Davis (Kentucky) – One of the most influential “one and dones” for John Calipari’s Wildcats. The Unibrow was the consensus national player of the year and led Kentucky to the 2011-12 NCAA championship where he was named the Most Outstanding Player.

2. Zion Williamson (Duke) – Another player who had a remarkable freshman year that culminated with him being named the National Player of the Year. While his Blue Devils fell short of a national championship, they were must-see TV every night. With jaw-dropping athleticism, Zion shocked the world (and Instagram) with all 52 of his highlight-reel dunks.

3. Doug McDermott (Creighton) - College basketball’s premier scorer in the past decade. Scored more than 3,100 career points, ranking sixth on the all-time list. Three-time All-American and consensus National Player of the Year as a senior.

4. Jalen Brunson (Villanova) – Left-handed point guard who was an outstanding leader on two championship teams for the Wildcats. All-American and consensus National Player of the Year as a junior.

5. Shabazz Napier (UConn) – Another two-time champion who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2014 Final Four. An All-American as a senior and scored nearly 2,000 career points.

6. Kemba Walker (UConn) – Led the Huskies to the NCAA title in his junior year averaging almost 24 ppg. Most Outstanding Player at the Final Four, consensus All-American and hit enough clutch jumpers to fill a One Shining Moment video on his own.

7. Jimmer Fredette (BYU) - Scoring wizard for the Cougars with unlimited range. Led the nation in scoring as a senior with 28.9 ppg and finished his career with nearly 2,600 points. Consensus All-American and National Player of the Year as a senior.

8. Buddy Hield (Oklahoma) - Another high-scoring guard who averaged 25 ppg in 2015-16 on his way to becoming an All-American and National Player of the Year. Best player out of the Bahamas since Klay’s dad, former Minnesota Gopher great Mychal Thompson.

9. Kyle Guy (Virginia) – Might seem like a surprise pick, but Guy was a two-time All American and led Virginia to the 2018-19 NCAA title where he was named the Most Outstanding Player. And who will ever forget the three clutch free throws against Auburn that sent the Cavaliers into the title game? He just wasn’t the Guy, he was the Man; not even Bruce Pearl could ice him out.

10. Jared Sullinger (Ohio State) - Only played two years of college basketball but was a two-time All-American leading the Buckeyes to back-to-back Big Ten titles.

10 best of the next decade

Who will be the next generation of hoops stars? Here’s a sneak preview at 10 players, age 25 and under, who could own the decade of the 2020s.

1. Luka Doncic (age 20 – Dallas Mavericks) – Last year’s Rookie of the Year and a leading candidate for this year’s MVP, averaging a near triple-double that includes a mind-boggling 30.4 ppg, 9.9 rebounds, and 9.3 assists. Scary to think that he will just be reaching his prime at the end of the decade. Appears to be the heir to LeBron’s throne.

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo (age 25 – Milwaukee Bucks) – If Luka falters, the Greek Freak is certainly willing and able to make his claim to the throne. Giannis is part of the foreign invasion that is changing the face of the NBA. He is the reigning MVP, three-time All Star, and three-time All-NBA. If he continues to improve at his current rate, he will join the conversation as one of the all-time greats.

3. Karl-Anthony Towns (age 24 – Minnesota Timberwolves) – KAT is the most gifted offensive big man in the game today, coupling a great low-post game with 40% shooting from behind the arc. With all due respect to Dirk Nowitzki, he may well be the best shooting big in NBA history. 2015-16 Rookie of the Year and an All-NBA selection last year. Averaging 22.5 ppg and 11.8 rebounds for his career.

4. Devin Booker (age 23 – Phoenix Suns) – Already ranks as one of the league’s best shooters and is an ever-improving playmaker. At just 20 years old, the kid poured in 70 points against the Boston Celtics. Currently on pace to join the exclusive 40/50/90 club this year. Close friends and college teammates with KAT; how did Kentucky not win the title? John Calipari has some explaining to do.

5. Nikola Jokic (age 24 – Denver Nuggets) – Without question the best passing big in the NBA. The Joker had a breakout season in 2018-19 when he was named an All Star, All-NBA and finished fourth in the MVP voting. Averaged 20.1 ppg, 10.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists.

6. Joel Embiid (age 25 – Philadelphia 76ers) – A dominant low-post presence who has “trusted the process” to post career averages of 24.1 ppg and 11.5 rebounds. Would certainly be higher up the list if not for all the injuries; he’s missed more than 250 games in his career. He, Towns, and Jokic are battling for recognition as the best center in the game. Interestingly, it’s too early to tell in their head-to-head matchups: Towns seems to get the better of Jokic, Jokic gets the better of Embiid, and Embiid gets the better of Towns.

7. Trae Young (age 21 – Atlanta Hawks) – Stock continues to rise after a stellar rookie season. Currently averaging nearly 28 ppg and 9 assists. With his playmaking and long-range shooting, the comparisons to Steph Curry have proven to be justified. Hard to believe that he was not even the best player on his Nike EYBL AAU team. That honor went to Michael Porter Jr. of the Nuggets whose career has been slowed by injuries.

8. Emoni Bates (age 15 – Ypsilanti Lincoln High School) – 6’8 small forward who was named Michigan’s Player of the Year as a freshman, leading his team to the state title while averaging nearly 29 ppg. Generally considered the best high school prospect since LeBron and has already appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. If LeBron is the King, then Emoni is Simba.

9. Anthony Edwards (age 18 - University of Georgia) – A do-it-all shooting guard who many expect to be the number-one pick in next year’s NBA draft. Averaging nearly 21 ppg for the Bulldogs, highlighted by a 37-point performance against Michigan State that included a 33-point outburst in the second half. 

10. Chet Holmgren (age 17 - Minnehaha Academy High School) – The game’s next unicorn, a 7-footer with guard skills. Currently ranked as the number two junior in the nation by ESPN. Given his skill set and lean build he is being compared favorably to another “Slim Reaper” - Kevin Durant. Part of a high school program that has captured three straight Minnesota Class 2A state titles. Gathered national attention this past summer at the Under-Armor Elite camp when the video of his cross-over and dunk on Steph Curry went viral.