NBA Picks of The Year

The Spurs and Lakers dominated the decade and forged the NBA's best rivalry Chauncey Billups was the best free-agent signing -- a future Finals MVP for Detroit The new synthetic basketball, unveiled in 2006, proved to be a short-lived disaster

PLAYER OF THE DECADE: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs

The greatest power forward in NBA history, Duncan was the reason San Antonio became the only team to make the playoffs every year of the decade. He was the most valuable team player of his era, an active defender who chased pick-and-rolls out to the three-point line and yet hustled back to protect the rim and control the boards. Offensively, the Spurs played through him as a passer in the post, and his dependable mid-range jumper off the backboard will be part of his highlight reel when he checks into Springfield.
BEST COACH: Phil Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers Not only did he lead the Lakers to six NBA Finals and four championships over the decade, but he also found time to reclaim a damaged relationship with Kobe Bryant to help him become a championship leader -- something that many people believed was irredeemable. No coach gets more done by saying less than Jackson, who enters the next decade with an NBA-record 10 championships overall.
BEST GM: Gregg Popovich/R.C. Buford, Spurs Buford did the exhaustive legwork and brought the options to president-coach Popovich, who had final say over all decisions. Together they formed the best management team in the league, maintaining a disciplined payroll over this decade while continuously mixing and matching role players to fit around Duncan, Tony Parker (last pick of the first round in 2001) and Manu Ginobili (a second-round pick in 1999 who debuted in 2002). The Lakers won more championships, but the Spurs claimed three of their own while becoming the third team in NBA history with 10 consecutive 50-win seasons.
Click here for Ian Thomsen's complete All-Decade team
BEST FRANCHISE: Lakers As mentioned above, they won four championships and went to the Finals another two times. Though it seemed an eternity to Kobe, GM Mitch Kupchak spent a relatively quick three years to rebuild a new finalist roster after Shaquille O'Neal was moved to Miami in 2004.
WORST FRANCHISE: Golden State Warriors While the Clippers and........................full article