NBA 2000-2005 SEASONS
The 2000s were marked by the dominance of several teams and players. The Los Angeles Lakers, led by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, won three consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002. This period, known as the "Three-peat," was guided by coach Phil Jackson.
In 2003, the NBA saw one of its most talented draft classes, including LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade. These players would go on to have highly successful careers and significantly impact the league.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS 2000'S
In the mid-2000s, the San Antonio Spurs, led by Tim Duncan, and the Detroit Pistons, known for their strong defensive play, also claimed championships.
Later in the decade, the Boston Celtics, with their "Big Three" of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen, won a championship in 2008. The Lakers also returned to prominence, winning back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010.
BOSTON CELTICS 2008 BİG TREE
The 2010s were marked by the rise of the Golden State Warriors, who won championships in 2015, 2017, and 2018, largely thanks to players like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. The team's dominance was further solidified by the addition of Kevin Durant in 2016.
LeBron James also made his mark during this time, leading the Miami Heat to championships in 2012 and 2013, the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first-ever championship in 2016, and the Los Angeles Lakers to their 17th championship in 2020.
THE LEGEND OF LEBRON JAMES IS BORN
He has also made significant strides off the court. There has been a greater emphasis on player empowerment, social justice issues, and global outreach. The league has become a year-round spectacle, with the drama of the offseason and free agency often garnering as much attention as the games themselves
This is a high-level overview of the NBA after 2000. The league has experienced many changes, with various teams and players leaving their mark on the sport's history.
2005-2005 UNFORGETTABLES
2000-2001 SEASON
Teams and Regular Season: The season began on October 31, 2000, and ended on April 18, 2001. It consisted of 29 teams, each playing 82 games. The San Antonio Spurs had the best regular season record with 58 wins and 24 losses.
Eastern Conference Champions: The Philadelphia 76ers, led by MVP Allen Iverson, won the Eastern Conference. They finished the regular season with a 56-26 record. Iverson was a standout player, averaging 31.1 points per game during the regular season.
Western Conference Champions: The Los Angeles Lakers, led by the dynamic duo of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, won the Western Conference. They ended the regular season with a 56-26 record, the same as the 76ers.
NBA Finals: The Lakers and the 76ers faced off in the NBA Finals. The Lakers won the series 4-1, securing their second consecutive championship. Shaquille O'Neal was named Finals MVP for the second year in a row.
2001 LAKERS CHAMPION
All-Star Game: The All-Star game was held on February 11, 2001, at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. The East won the game 111-110, with Philadelphia 76ers' Allen Iverson named as the All-Star MVP.
Awards: Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Other notable award winners included Dikembe Mutombo (Defensive Player of the Year) and Mike Miller (Rookie of the Year).
Notable Events: This season was notable for the Lakers' playoff run. They went 15-1 in the playoffs, which is the best playoff winning percentage in NBA history. The only playoff game they lost was Game 1 of the NBA Finals to the 76ers.
This season marked the beginning of the Lakers' early 2000s dominance and was a high point in Allen Iverson's career.
2001-2002 SEASON
Teams and Regular Season: The season began on October 30, 2001, and ended on April 17, 2002. The league was made up of 29 teams, with each team playing 82 games. The Sacramento Kings had the best regular season record with 61 wins and 21 losses.
Eastern Conference Champions: The New Jersey Nets, led by Jason Kidd, won the Eastern Conference. They finished the regular season with a 52-30 record.
Western Conference Champions: The Los Angeles Lakers, with the duo of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, won the Western Conference. They ended the regular season with a 58-24 record.
NBA Finals: The Lakers and the Nets faced off in the NBA Finals. The Lakers swept the series 4-0, securing their third consecutive championship, a feat known as a "three-peat." Shaquille O'Neal was named Finals MVP for the third year in a row.
2002 LOS ANGELES LAKERS GAME SQUAD
All-Star Game: The All-Star game was held on February 10, 2002, at the First Union Center in Philadelphia. The West won the game 135-120, with the Lakers' Kobe Bryant named as the All-Star MVP.
Awards: Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Other notable award winners included Ben Wallace (Defensive Player of the Year) and Pau Gasol (Rookie of the Year).
Notable Events: This season was notable for the Lakers' "three-peat" under coach Phil Jackson. It was the first time a team had won three consecutive NBA championships since the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s.
LEGENDARY COACH PHIL JACKSON
This season solidified the Lakers' early 2000s dominance and marked a significant year for the New Jersey Nets, who made their first NBA Finals appearance.
2002-2003 SEASON
Teams and Regular Season: The season began on October 29, 2002, and ended on April 16, 2003. The league consisted of 29 teams, each playing 82 games. The San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks had the best regular season record in the league, both with 60 wins and 22 losses.
Eastern Conference Champions: The New Jersey Nets, once again led by Jason Kidd, won the Eastern Conference. They finished the regular season with a 49-33 record.
Western Conference Champions: The San Antonio Spurs, led by Tim Duncan, won the Western Conference. They ended the regular season with a 60-22 record.
NBA Finals: The Spurs and the Nets faced off in the NBA Finals. The Spurs won the series 4-2, securing their second championship. Tim Duncan was named Finals MVP.
2003 MVP TIM DUNCAN
All-Star Game: The All-Star game was held on February 9, 2003, at the Philips Arena in Atlanta. The West won the game 155-145 in double overtime, with Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves named as the All-Star MVP.
Awards: Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Other notable award winners included Ben Wallace (Defensive Player of the Year) and Amar'e Stoudemire (Rookie of the Year).
Notable Events: This season was also significant as it marked the end of Michael Jordan's NBA career. He retired for the third and final time after playing two seasons with the Washington Wizards.
FAREWELL OF THE LEGEND
"I've never lost a game, I just ran out of time." (Jordan)
This season marked the rise of the San Antonio Spurs as a dominant force in the NBA and the continuation of the New Jersey Nets' strong performance in the Eastern Conference.
2003-2004 SEASON
Teams and Regular Season: The season began on October 28, 2003, and ended on April 14, 2004. The league consisted of 29 teams, each playing 82 games. The Indiana Pacers had the best regular-season record in the league, with 61 wins and 21 losses.
Eastern Conference Champions: The Detroit Pistons, led by Chauncey Billups and Ben Wallace, won the Eastern Conference. They finished the regular season with a 54-28 record.
Western Conference Champions: The Los Angeles Lakers, led by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, won the Western Conference. They ended the regular season with a 56-26 record.
NBA Finals: The Pistons and the Lakers faced off in the NBA Finals. The Pistons won the series 4-1, capturing their third championship. Chauncey Billups was named the Finals MVP.
DETROIT PISTONS 2004
All-Star Game: The All-Star game was held on February 15, 2004, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The East won the game 136-132, with Shaquille O'Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers named as the All-Star MVP.
Awards: Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Other notable award winners included Ron Artest (Defensive Player of the Year), LeBron James (Rookie of the Year), and Hubie Brown (Coach of the Year).
Notable Events: This season marked the debut of future superstars LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, who were all drafted in the highly-touted 2003 NBA Draft. Additionally, the 2003-2004 season saw the Lakers form a "super team" by adding veterans Karl Malone and Gary Payton to their roster, although they ultimately fell short in the Finals.
SUPER TEAM - PAYTON AND MALONE
The 2003-2004 NBA season was notable for the rise of the Detroit Pistons and the beginning of a new era in the league with the arrival of several future Hall of Famers.
2004-2005 SEASON
Teams and Regular Season: The season began on November 2, 2004, and ended on April 20, 2005. The league consisted of 30 teams, each playing 82 games. The Phoenix Suns, led by Steve Nash, had the best regular-season record in the league, with 62 wins and 20 losses.
Eastern Conference Champions: The Miami Heat, led by Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade, won the Eastern Conference. They finished the regular season with a 59-23 record.
Western Conference Champions: The San Antonio Spurs, led by Tim Duncan, won the Western Conference. They ended the regular season with a 59-23 record.
NBA Finals: The Spurs and the Detroit Pistons faced off in the NBA Finals. The Spurs won the series 4-3, securing their third championship. Tim Duncan was named the Finals MVP.
2005 DETROIT PISTONS CHAMPIONSHIP ENJOYMENT
All-Star Game: The All-Star game was held on February 20, 2005, at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. The East won the game 125-115, with Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers named as the All-Star MVP.
Awards: Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Other notable award winners included Ben Wallace (Defensive Player of the Year), Emeka Okafor (Rookie of the Year), and Mike D'Antoni (Coach of the Year).
2005 MVP: STEVE NASH
''Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard. Never underestimate the power of dedicate.'' (Steve Nash)
Notable Events: This season marked the end of Reggie Miller's NBA career. He retired after playing 18 seasons with the Indiana Pacers. Also, this was the first season that the Charlotte Bobcats played, bringing the number of teams in the NBA to 30.
The 2004-2005 NBA season was marked by the dominance of the San Antonio Spurs and the Phoenix Suns, and the emergence of the Miami Heat as a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference.
The most magnificent moment of 2000-2005 is the legendary farewell of the legend
to be continued...
