The Best Offensive NBA Players of the Last Decade
This past decade has seen some of the most sensational basketball in history. Between the wild politics, team changeups, and surpassed records, we may truly be entering a new era of the game. The period between 2010 and 2019 seems to have changed the sport of basketball forever, and all we can do is look back and marvel. The players listed here are the best offensive players of the last decade that set a new standard in the sport.
LeBron James
Analysts, fans, and anyone that regularly refers to the basketball odds are well aware that the Los Angeles Lakers are almost always the favorites in their matchups. While this comes down to the combined synergy of all the teammates working together, you cannot deny that LeBron James has a huge role in the Lakers’ success. Even after years in the league, James is still a dominant offensive player.
As the sport is always evolving, the talent evolves as well and LeBron James is often called the greatest basketball player of all time (GOAT). His achievements include eight-straight finals appearances, four championship titles, and insane scoring ability. No one controls the pace and can turn the tide of a basketball game like LeBron.
Kevin Durant
NBA fans would consider Kevin Durant as the 2nd best basketball player, just behind LeBron James, and many would actually say he is the overall best. When you compare their stats and scoring potential, it really is difficult to make a claim one way or the other. Even while battling through injuries, Durant found a way to stay at the top of his game and even stole the MVP title from James in two back-to-back seasons.
Between 2010 and 2019, Durant averaged 27.4 points a game and 7.3 rebounds. Where Durant differs from LeBron is he is often considered the league’s best “pure scorer.” Where LeBron James plays better with a team backing him and feeding him shots, Durant can play as a self-sufficient unit, making plays happen and going from rebound to rim.
Stephen Curry
Curry changed the sport in some significant ways that are still overlooked and taken for granted. Before he made a splash in the NBA, players were afraid to make the big 3-point shots because they were too risky to satisfy the mathematical approach coaches were taking. Curry was hitting these shots at an alarming rate, and defenses had to take notice. He broke several 3-point shot records and overall was one of the highest-scoring players of the last decade.
James Harden
When Harden is in the zone, he’s on fire and a pleasure to watch. His special brand of aggressive basketball has been the bane of existence for defensive players for years. Through the 2nd half of the 2010s, Harden was averaging an astounding 31.7 points per game, and his ability to crush defensive units was unstoppable. Harden may not be the best “team player,” but he certainly is a one-man offensive machine.
Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook has made his name not only through his uncanny scoring ability but flashy showmanship as well. His insane slam dunks, lighting fast rebounds, and footwork that made defenses look silly are what his reputation has really been built on. Through the last decade, he averaged 24.4 points per game, demonstrating that he was not only style but also substance. Westbrook is a solid scoring player in his own right, but he also meshed well with his teammates and became a key component in the offensive units on both the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
As the youngest player on this list, some may suggest that Antetokounmpo hasn’t earned his place yet, but his stats show otherwise. In a way few other players can match, he has been an absolute phenom both offensively and defensively and has the awards to back it up. Antetokounmpo single-handedly turned the Milwaukee Bucks around and made them the force they are today. While we sit back and wonder how much more time players like LeBron have left, we know Antetokounmpo is just getting started.
