Everything 2000s Part I

As the 2000s wind down and we enter a new decade, every sports outlet imaginable has made and debated over all-decade teams. Silly? Yes. Do I love every minute of it? Of course! Therefore, I'll take it one step further, and create an all-decade team for the NBA, NHL, and women's college basketball. (Men's college bball is left out because the best players left early for the NBA, and there's no college football because it was way too ridiculously difficult to choose between so many different positions with so many good players, and with unlimited factors) The NFL and MLB all-decade teams will come in a few days. I'll also name the team of the decade for each sport. Just remember, all the stats are from the '00s only. Some choices are obvious, others, maybe not so much. But nonetheless here they are! Part one of my all-decade teams:

NBA (yes, it is the same as Sports Illustrated's all-decade team. I realized this after I made the list): PG - Steve Nash (Dallas, Phoenix): The man one two MVP awards, probably should have won a third, was named to 6 All-NBA teams (3x first team, 1x second team, 2x third team), and was a 6-time All-Star. Led the league in assists from 2005-07. He has that X-factor that won't show up in the box score and can't be taught. Other considerations: Jason Kidd, Tony Parker, Chauncey Billups

SG - Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers): Flat out the greatest player in the NBA this decade, and one of the best ever. Period. He won 4 titles, including last year, and has averaged 28.6 points per game this decade. Was an All-Star every season, named MVP in 2008, made 7 All-NBA and All-Defensive first teams, and won back to back scoring titles in 2006 and 2007. Also won a gold medal on the Redeem Team. The most obvious choice on this list. Other considerations: Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade

SF - LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers): Being the #1 overall pick in the 2003 Draft, he didn't even play the first three years of the decade. Still, he was another obvious choice. Arguably the greatest combination of pure speed, strength, and athleticism ever, King James already has an MVP (2008), 5 All-Star selections, 3 All-NBA first teams, and a gold medal to his name. He has also vastly improved his defense, and is now one of the best defenders in the game. When he's on, he simply is not possible to stop. Oh, and he turns 25 on the 30th, so expect him to show up on this list next decade. Other considerations: Paul Pierce, Carmelo Anthony

PF - Tim Duncan (San Antonio): Duncan did not put up record-breaking numbers. But 2 MVP awards, 3 titles, and 2 Finals MVP awards in the 2000s, plus being an All-NBA/All-Defensive first or second teamer every year is enough to get him on the list. Like Nash, he has natural leadership that can't be taught. Put it this way... without Duncan, the Spurs aren't very good. Other considerations: Kevin Garnett

C - Shaquille O'Neal (LA Lakers, Miami, Phoenix): From 2000-2006, there was absolutely no doubt that Shaq was the most dominant center since the days of Chamberlain and Russell. Think about it: of 18,991 career shots, 18,969 have been inside the 3-point arc (99.9983%). He has missed over 5000 free throws. Yet he is still 5th on the all-time scoring list. That is how dominant The Big Aristotle was in his heyday. Over the last few years, time and injuries have slowed down his Hall of Fame career, but 4 titles, 3 Finals MVPs, an MVP award, and countless other honors puts him among the greatest ever. Other considerations: Dwight Howard

Team of the Decade: Los Angeles Lakers - They won back-to-back-to-back titles from '00-'02, added another last year, and appeared in one other Final, in which they lost to Boston. Finished first in the Western Conference five times, and never finished below fourth. No contest here.


NHL: G - Martin Brodeur (New Jersey): The all-time leader in wins, shutouts, most 40-win seasons, and virtually every other major record, this one is a no brainer. No one has been nearly as consistent or dependable as Brodeur. He won 4 Vezina Trophies for best goaltender, 2 Stanley Cups, and a gold medal. His performance in the 2003 playoffs, where he recorded 7 shutouts, 3 in the Finals, was the greatest postseason performance ever by a goaltender. Other considerations: Miikka Kiprusoff, J.S. Giguere, Evgeni Nabakov

D - Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit): One of the best defenseman ever. Won 6 Norris Trophies for best all-around defensive player, 2 Stanley Cups, and was named to 8 All-Star Games, and was on 7 All-NHL first teams. Was the Conn Smythe Trophy recipient in 2002 as playoff MVP. He was named "Player of the Decade" by the Sporting News, and is widely considered one of the greatest European-born players in history.

D - Chris Pronger (St. Louis, Edmonton, Anaheim): At 6'6", Pronger is big and powerful. Combined with the ability to score, it makes Pronger a force to be reckoned with. In 2000 he won the Hart Trophy for league MVP, the first defenseman since Bobby Orr to win the award. He has never won a Norris Trophy, but that's largely because of Lidstrom's dominance. Led the Ducks to a Stanley Cup in 2007. A sure fire Hall of Famer. Other considerations: Scott Neidermeyer, Ed Jovanowski

F - Peter Forsberg (Colorado, Philadelphia, Nashville): My, oh, my what could have been. Riddled by injuries throughout his career, Forsberg was the best player on the ice. The only problem is, he couldn't stay on the ice. Still, the impact he had when he played cannot be ignored. He never scored more than 30 goals in a season in the '00s, but his point production was through the roof. In every season, he averaged more than a point per game. Had it not been for his aggressive style of play, we can only wonder just how much better he could have been. Other considerations: Ilya Kovalchuk, Jarome Iginla, Jaromir Jagr

F - Alexander Ovechkin (Washington)/Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh): It's simply not possible to mention one without the other. Sid the Kid is the golden boy who is going to save hockey. Alexander the Great scores the highlight-reel goals that drive fans wild. The impact each player has had on the game post-lockout is similar to what Magic Johnson and Larry Bird did to save the NBA. Crosby was the youngest player ever to lead the league in points and win MVP in any North American sport, and is the youngest captain ever. Ovechkin has won the Rocket Richard, Art Ross, Hart, and Lester B. Pearson Trophies, all in his first 4 seasons. They will be the face of the league for years to come.

C - Joe Sakic (Colorado): The consummate teammate and captain. Could score, play defense, and was the leader of all leaders. He is 8th on the all-time scoring list, and at 37 became the 2nd-oldest player ever to record 100 points in a season. And in one of the classiest moves a player can do, after winning the 2001 Stanley Cup, Sakic's 2nd title, he accepted Lord Stanley's Cup from commissioner Gary Bettman. But instead of traditionally skating around with the Cup first, he immediately gave it to teammate Ray Bourque, who for 21 years was the NHL's best player to never win a title. He's on this list not only because of his stats. His leadership is his best quality. Other considerations: Joe Thornton

Team of the decade: Detroit Red Wings - It only seems fitting that HockeyTown is the home of the team of the decade. They won 2 Stanley Cups (2002, 2008), lost in the Finals in 2009 to Pittsburgh, and simply dominated the Western Conference. They won their division every season, led the league in wins 3 times, and total points 4 times. There's no question that the train going towards a championship runs through Detroit.


Women's College Basketball: PG - Sue Bird (UConn 1998-2002): All-time great Nancy Lieberman once said that no one meant more to their team than Sue Bird. At UConn, Bird led the greatest senior class in women's basketball history to a perfect 39-0 season and a national championship in 2002 and was named Player of the Year. She also won a title in 2000 with the Huskies, was a 3x winner of the Nancy Lieberman Award for best point guard, was the 2002 Sportswoman of the Year, and is 2nd in UConn history in assists. Finished her college career with a 144-4 record. Other considerations: Kara Lawson, Renee Montgomery

SG - Kristi Toliver (Maryland 2005-2009): Toliver started 128 of the 139 games she played in as a Terrapin. Her freshman year she burst onto the scene after hitting the game-tying 3-pointer in the NCAA Title Game against Duke. The Terps would go onto win in overtime to win the school's first ever title. She was a 2x AP All-American, Player of the Year finalist three times, and a Nancy Lieberman Award finalist three times, winning the award in 2008.

G/F - Diana Taurasi (UConn 2000-2004): Simply put, UConn had Diana, and you didn't. A two-time Player of the Year, Taurasi is one of the greatest in the game's history. Geno Auriemma said she plays like a guy, bringing an attitude and intensity that couldn't be matched. She won 3-straight NCAA titles to end her career, helped the Huskies win 70 consecutive games from '02-'04, and won 139 games in her career, compared to just 8 losses. D has done more for the women's game than perhaps anyone else, and it all started in Storrs.

F - Candace Parker (Tennessee 2005-2008): In only three years, Parker was one of the most dominant forwards ever. With the ability to dunk and hit the 3, she was stronger than guards and faster than forwards. Helped win the Lady Vols win back-to-back national titles in '07 and '08, and was Player of the Year twice. Among all the greats that came from Knoxville, Parker is second only to Chamique Holdsclaw.

F - Seimone Augustus (LSU 2002-2006): The only person on the list who didn't cut down the nets in April, Augustus was still one of the more dominant forwards of the decade. Consensus Player of the Year in '05 and '06, she led LSU to three consecutive Final Fours (they would go on to two more after she graduated), but never made it to the title game. A career average of 19.6 ppg, Augustus could beat you by aggression or finesse. LSU athletic director Skip Bertman called her, "the most important recruit in the history of LSU." Good enough for me.

Other considerations: Courtney Paris, Tina Charles, Ruth Riley

Team of the decade: Connecticut - 5 national titles ('00, '02-'04, '09). Two perfect seasons ('02 and '09). Four National Players of the Year (Bird, Taurasi x2, Maya Moore). Two other Final Four appearances. A record 70-game winning streak from 2002-2004, which which is being threatened with a 50+ game winning streak by - of course - the current Huskies. Challenging Tennessee as the most storied program in the women's game, here's how successful the decade was for Coach Auriemma and Co. After not winning a championship in 4 seasons, and a 3-year absence from the Final Four, the Husky faithful complained. Should we refer to '05-'08 as the Dark Ages of UConn basketball then?