CBS Sports' Top 25 NBA Players of the 21st Century

[Who]

And, I do think that Lebron and Bosh joining Wade is similar to Durant joining the Warriors.

I don't think much of The Heattles when I think of Wade. I think of him leading the Heat to the title in 2006. I think of his seasons as the main man from 2006-10. His time with LeBron does not hold much influence over my appraisal.

The 1st season with LeBron, Wade was still a top 5 player in the league. He had dropped to top 10 by his 2nd season and was in decline after that. Down to All-Star level by 2013 and 2014. It is more additive to Wade's resume in terms of longevity (high quality seasons) than a primary factor / driving force in how I think of his peak / prime / career. It is a secondary period in Wade's career. The primary period came before LeBron.

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For LeBron, you could take away that whole 4 year stretch in Miami and I would still have him as the #1 player of his generation + of the last 25 years.

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For Durant, the 2 titles with GSW are key because he never won without them. They would be less of an issue if Durant managed to win a title in OKC, Brooklyn or Phoenix.

How you view those 2 titles could swing your opinion of Durant's career / legacy in a large way.

[Roy H.]

And, I do think that Lebron and Bosh joining Wade is similar to Durant joining the Warriors.

I don't think much of The Heattles when I think of Wade. I think of him leading the Heat to the title in 2006. I think of his seasons as the main man from 2006-10. His time with LeBron does not hold much influence over my appraisal.

The 1st season with LeBron, Wade was still a top 5 player in the league. He had dropped to top 10 by his 2nd season and was in decline after that. Down to All-Star level by 2013 and 2014. It is more additive to Wade's resume in terms of longevity (high quality seasons) than a primary factor / driving force in how I think of his peak / prime / career. It is a secondary period in Wade's career. The primary period came before LeBron.

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For LeBron, you could take away that whole 4 year stretch in Miami and I would still have him as the #1 player of his generation + of the last 25 years.

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For Durant, the 2 titles with GSW are key because he never won without them. They would be less of an issue if Durant managed to win a title in OKC, Brooklyn or Phoenix.

How you view those 2 titles could swing your opinion of Durant's career / legacy in a large way.

That's fair.  My view of Durant is probably similar to your own.  I think he's a front runner, rather than the type of guy who will lift a team to a title.

With Lebron, I also agree that he'd probably be #1 even without the Heat titles.  I do think that his time with the Heat was quite disappointing:  2-for-4, and only a missed FT and Ray Allen 3-pointer from 1-3.  The Cleveland title was him lifting a team to a title.  That said, those Heat titles do boost Lebron's legacy league-wide.  If he was a two-time title winner, I think he'd be outside of the conversation for GOAT. 

And with Curry, I don't hold Durant's addition against him.  I give him full credit for all four titles, and note that except for injuries (2019) and a Draymond suspension (2016) he could have won two more.