The top 25 NBA players of the past 25 years: 10-6

8. Nikola Jokic

Career Stats: 22.2 ppg; 11.1 rpg; 7.5 apg; 1.3 spg; 56/36/83 shooting splits.

Accolades: NBA Champion; 3x MVP; Finals MVP; 8x All-NBA; 8x All-Star; Rebounding Champion; Assists Champion.

Jokic is almost universally regarded as the best passing big man of all time. He’s also the most complete offensive player of this century. No matter what you need, Jokic can provide. He’s a monster down low, where his size, footwork and touch are unmatched. He has the handles and understanding of angles to shake a man, despite his lack of speed, and he can light you up from three, if needed. His passing, obviously, is unparalleled.

Jokic has posted a triple-double average the past two seasons, and came close the two prior. At the Paris Olympics, he led Serbia to a bronze medal and became the first man to lead the tournament in points, rebounds and assists, highlighting his statistical dominance.

No matter who guards him, Jokic finds a way.

7. Kevin Garnett

Career Stats: 17.8 ppg; 10.0 rpg; 1.3 spg; 1.4 sbg.

Accolades: Hall of Fame; NBA Champion; MVP; Defensive Player of the Year; 9x All-NBA; 15x All-Star; 12x All-Defense; 4x Rebounding Champion.

Had he been born 20 years later, Garnett would have been Victor Wembanyama before Victor Wembanyama. A legit 7-footer (don’t believe the measurements) with guard skills and a jumper that would certainly have extended the three-point range had he chosen to shoot them, KG was a force at both ends of the floor.

Garnett hauled Wolves teams constantly dragged down by sub-par ownership into the playoffs, only to be undone by a lack of supporting talent. His move to Boston finally bringing him a well-deserved ring.

6. Kevin Durant

Career Stats: 27.1 ppg; 6.9 rpg; 4.4 apg; 0.9 spg, 0.8 bpg; 50/39/88 shooting splits.

Accolades:2x NBA Champion; 2x Finals MVP; 12x All-NBA; 16x All Star; 4x Scoring Champion.

How on Earth do you guard a near 7-footer, with precise footwork, off-the-bounce wiggle, athleticism and a buttery jumpshot? That’s not a rhetorical question. Rather, it’s something NBA defenses are still asking themselves on a nightly basis.

It’s laughable how easy Durant makes it look when putting up a 30-piece. The soon-to-be 38-year-old remains just about as potent now as he was when he first led the league in scoring …16 years ago.

It’s staggering to think what Durant may have been had it not been for foot injuries – including a ruptured Achillies – that have robbed him of both game time and explosiveness.