The Last Decade at a Glance
With this decade coming to a close, I’m going to be doing a two part series on this past decade, and the decade to come. In this one, I’m going to be recapping the major storylines of each year, while also highlighting the Finals matchup, first overall pick, and league MVP. Each season will include the following offseason, not the one previous to the season, as that is technically the decade before (at the beginning of the decade). As I get into more recent years, the descriptions might be more detailed, as I am more familiar with these seasons. Also, I’m not going into details of trade unless the details are relevant, and even then not all details may be included. This is meant to be readable for everyone, not just hardcore NBA fans making it a fun read, not an educational one (but maybe it can be both).
*League altering events will be bolded (hindsight is 20/20, so an event that may have seemed minor at the time, could have been league altering in the long run)
*I mark the offseason as beginning with free agency/when one site references the transaction as a part of the “next season”, where I believe it is still a part of the previous one
*The first overall pick is the pick in the year the season ended (Zion Williamson is the first overall pick of the 2018-19 NBA season, not the 2019-20 NBA season)
2009-2010
Finals Matchup: Lakers over Celtics (4-3)
MVP: LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)
First Overall Pick: John Wall (Washington Wizards)
Major Storylines
Season
Allen Iverson retires
Cavaliers trade Zydrunas Ilgauskas to Wizards, receive Antwin Jamison
Rockets trade Tracy McGrady to Knicks
Kyle Korver sets record for highest 3-point percentage in a season (53.6%)
Offseason
Thunder trade Eric Bledsoe to Clippers
Suns trade Amar’e Stoudemire to Knicks
Jazz trade Carlos Boozer to Bulls
LeBron James signs with the Heat
Raptors trade Chris Bosh to Heat
Timberwolves trade Al Jefferson to Jazz
Celtics sign Shaquille O’Neal
Pistons sign Tracy McGrady
Bulls sign Brian Scalabrine (LOL)
2010-2011
Finals Matchup: Mavericks over Heat (4-2)
MVP: Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls)
First Overall Pick: Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Major Storylines
Season
Spurs sign Danny Green
Magic trade Rashad Lewis to Wizards for Gilbert Arenas
Magic trade Vince Carter to Suns for Hedo Turkoglu
Mavericks sign Peja Stojakovic
Nuggets trade Carmelo Anthony to Knicks
Jazz trade Deron Williams to Nets for Derrick Favors
Kobe Bryant wins his fourth All-Star Game MVP
Derrick Rose becomes youngest ever MVP
Dirk Nowitzki gets his only ring (Mavericks first and only championship)
Phil Jackson retires
Offseason
Shaquille O’Neal retires
NBA Lockout delays start of season until December (Season shortened to 66 games; Offseason took place in December)
Spurs trade George Hill to Pacers for Kawhi Leonard
Mavericks trade Tyson Chandler to Knicks
Mavericks sign Vince Carter
League denies trade that would sent Chris Paul to Lakers
Hornets trade Chris Paul to Clippers
2011-2012
Finals Matchup: Heat over Thunder (4-1)
MVP: LeBron James (Miami Heat)
First Overall Pick: Anthony Davis (New Orleans Hornets)
Major Storylines
Season
Knicks sign Jeremy Lin and Linsanity occurs
Knicks sign JR Smith
Warriors trade Monta Ellis to Bucks for Andrew Bogut
Derrick Rose tears his ACL
Nets move from New Jersey to Brooklyn
Offseason
Suns trade Steve Nash to Lakers
Rockets trade Kyle Lowry to Raptors
Hawks trade Joe Johnson to Nets
Bulls trade Kyle Korver to Hawks
Knicks sign Jason Kidd
Heat sign Ray Allen
Magic trade Dwight Howard to Lakers and Jason Richardson to 76ers; 76ers trade Andre Iguodala to Nuggets and Nikola Vucevic to Magic; Nuggets trade Aaron Afflalo to Magic
Thunder trade James Harden to Rockets
Tracy McGrady retires
2012-2013
Finals Matchup - Heat over Spurs (4-3)
MVP: LeBron James (Miami Heat)
First Overall Pick: Anthony Bennett (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Major Storylines
Season
Grizzlies trade Rudy gay to the Raptors
Celtics trade Head Coach Doc Rivers to Clippers
Nuggets trade Rudy Gobert to Jazz
Jason Collins becomes the first openly gay NBA player
Ray Allen hits iconic shot to keep the Heat alive in the Finals
Offseason
Bucks trade Eric Bledsoe and JJ Redick to Clippers
Nuggets trade Andre Iguodala to Warriors
Celtics trade Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to Nets for 4 first round picks (Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum among those drafted with picks)
Rockets sign Dwight Howard
Pistons trade Khris Middleton to Bucks
New Orleans Hornets rebrand as Pelicans
Jason Kidd retires
2013-2014
Finals Matchup: Spurs over Heat (4-1)
MVP: Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder)
First Overall Pick: Andrew Wiggins (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Major Storylines
Season
Finals changes back to 2-2-1-1-1 format
Donald Sterling is banned from the NBA for life
Bulls trade Luol Deng to Cavaliers
Pacers trade Danny Granger to 76ers
Warriors hire Head Coach Steve Kerr
Mike D’Antoni resigns as Lakers Head Coach
Offseason
Grizzlies sign Vince Carter
Cavaliers resign Kyrie Irving
Cavaliers sign LeBron James
Timberwolves trade Kevin Love to Cavaliers for Andrew Wiggins
Steve Nash retires
2014-2015
Finals Matchup: Warriors over Cavaliers (4-2)
MVP: Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
First Overall Pick: Karl Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Major Storylines
Season
Charlotte Bobcats rebrand as the Hornets (Original name was the Hornets)
The NBA replay center debuted
Two rookie head coaches met in the Finals for the first time ever
Grizzlies trade Tayshaun Prince to Celtics
Celtics trade Austin Rivers to Clippers; Will be coached by his father, Doc Rivers
Nets trade Kevin Garnett to Timberwolves
Suns trade Isaiah Thomas to Celtics
Offseason
Nuggets hire Mike Malone as Head Coach
Pacers trade Roy Hibbert to Lakers
Clippers sign Paul Pierce
Nuggets trade Ty Lawson to Rockets
Spurs sign LaMarcus Aldridge
2015-2016
Finals Matchup: Cavaliers over Warriors (4-3)
MVP: Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
First Overall Pick: Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers)
Major Storylines
Season
Magic trade Tobias Harris to Pistons
Kobe Bryant drops 60 points in final game
Klay Thompson scores 37 points in one quarter (NBA record)
Spurs start the season 39-0 at home (Finished 40-1)
Warriors finish season 73-9 (Best regular season record ever)
LeBron James makes iconic block on Andrew Iguodala in NBA Finals
Cavaliers win first ever NBA Championship
Stephen Curry becomes first ever unanimous MVP
Offseason
Kobe Bryant retires
Tim Duncan retires
Kevin Garnett retires
Ray Allen retires
Bulls trade Derrick Rose to Knicks
Thunder trade Serge Ibaka to Magic for Victor Oladipo
Warriors sign Kevin Durant
2016-2017
Finals Matchup - Warriors over Cavaliers (4-1)
MVP: Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)
First Overall Pick: Markelle Fultz (Philadelphia 76ers)
Major Storylines
Season
Nuggets trade Jusuf Nurkic to Trailblazers
Magic trade Serge Ibaka to Raptors
Kings trade DeMarcus Cousins to Pelicans
Russell Westbrook records 42 triple-doubles in a season (NBA record)
Russell Westbrook averages a triple-double (First person since Oscar Robertson in the 1961-1962 season)
Warriors finish playoffs 16-1 (NBA record)
Offseason
Lakers trade D’Angelo Russell to Nets for Brook Lopez and Kyle Kuzma
Nuggets trade Donovan Mitchell to Jazz
Bulls trade Jimmy Butler to Timberwolves for Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen
Clippers trade Chris Paul to Rockets for Lou Williams, Patrick Beverley, and Montrezl Harrell
Pacers trade Paul George to Thunder for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis
Nuggets trade Danilo Gallinari to Clippers
Cavaliers trade Kyrie Irving to Celtics for Isaiah Thomas
Knicks trade Carmelo Anthony to Thunder
Paul Pierce retires
Celtics sign Gordon Hayward
Cavaliers sign Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose
2017-2018
Finals Matchup: Warriors over Cavaliers (4-0)
MVP: James Harden (Houston Rockets)
First Overall Pick: DeAndre Ayton (Phoenix Suns)
Major Storylines
Season
Suns trade Eric Bledsoe to Bucks
Clippers trade Blake Griffin to Pistons for Tobias Harris
Cavaliers trade Dwyane Wade to Heat
Nike becomes official providers of NBA apparel
Advertisements begin to appear on league uniforms
Russell Westbrook averages a triple-double for the second straight year
Offseason
Manu Ginobili retires
Hawks trade Luka Doncic to Mavericks for Trae Young (Swapped draft picks)
Spurs trade Kawhi Leonard to Raptors for DeMar DeRozan
Lakers sign LeBron James
Hornets sign Tony Parker
Warriors sign DeMarcus Cousins
2018-2019
Finals Matchup: Raptors over Warriors (4-2)
MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
First Overall Pick: Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans)
Major Storylines
Season
Timberwolves trade Jimmy Butler to 76ers
Knicks trade Kristaps Porzingis to Mavericks
Clippers trade Tobis Harris to 76ers
Grizzlies trade Marc Gasol to Raptors
Lou Williams becomes all-time leading scorer off the bench
James Harden scores 30+ points against every other team in a single season (First time ever)
Russell Westbrook averages a triple-double for the third straight season
Kawhi Leonard hits the first ever Game 7 buzzer beater against the Philadelphia 76ers to advance to the Conference Finals
Kevin Durant tears his Achilles
Klay Thompson tears his ACL
Toronto Raptors win first ever NBA Championship
Kawhi Leonard becomes the 3rd ever player to win Finals MVP with two different teams
Offseason
Dwyane Wade retires
Dirk Nowitzki retires
Tony Parker retires
Grizzlies trade Mike Conley to Jazz
Heat sign Jimmy Butler
Celtics sign Kemba Walker
Pelicans trade Anthony Davis to Lakers
Nets sign Kevin Durant
Warriors sign D’Angelo Russell
Thunder trade Paul George to Clippers
Clippers sign Kawhi Leonard
Thunder trade Russell Westbrook to Rockets
And that’s it. The last decade in one place. It’s crazy that it’s over already. We’re at the beginning of a new era of the NBA. Come back tomorrow to see what I think the next decade will look like…
*Total League Altering Events (2010-2019) - 22
