Affecting the league structure! US media evaluated the top ten operations of the 21st century. James was on the list three times, and Doncic s transfer was only fourth!

In the world of NBA, there are many transactions or signings of various seismic levels, and after these transactions and signings, they have a huge impact on the pattern of the NBA, and it is a moment that will be recorded in history. Recently, the famous American media The Athletic also selected the top 10 most shocking operations in the NBA since the 21st century. Among them, LeBron James was on the list three times. Every choice he made was a major moment. Let us take a look at the top ten transactions or signings below, and explore why they are on the list!

Tenth place: The Cavaliers selected LeBron James

The tenth place is that the Cavaliers selected LeBron James in 2003. As one of the great players in NBA history, Lao James has already received huge attention before entering the NBA. Throughout the entire history of the NBA, I am afraid that no player has been able to get such a huge amount of traffic before entering the NBA.

For the Cavaliers, selecting James was also the best draft in their team history. In his first season in the NBA, James averaged 20+5+5 per game and won the Rookie of the Year trophy. After that, he scored 27+7+7 in consecutive seasons, successfully helping the Cavaliers rise. Although he failed to help the team win the championship in his first seven seasons with the Cavaliers, he led the team to the best record of 66 wins and 16 losses in team history, and led the team to the finals. This is the peak of the Cavaliers.

Ninth place: The Bucks selected Giannis Antetokounmpo

In ninth place, the Bucks selected Antetokounmpo. It has to be said that the Bucks' draft is definitely no less than the selection of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar that year. After Antetokounmpo joined the team, he quickly ushered in growth. It was also his rise that the Bucks ushered in the most glorious period in team history.

In the past 12 years, Antetokounmpo has averaged 24 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game, and has won titles including the championship, mid-season championship, regular season MVP, All-Star Game MVP, and Finals. With honors including MVP, Most Improved Player Award, DPOY, etc., there is no doubt that he has become the best player in the history of the Bucks. Even among all power forwards in NBA history, he has ranked behind Tim Duncan and deserves all praise and respect.

Eighth place: Kawhi Leonard moves to the Clippers

The eighth place is a bit surprising, that is Leonard's move to the Clippers in 2019, which probably not many fans would have predicted at the time. Although Leonard was not able to help the team win a championship after joining the Clippers, it has to be said that his transfer did have a huge impact on the NBA pattern.

He also arrived with Paul George. After that, the Clippers started the "superstar policy" and were able to compete with the Lakers in Los Angeles. Especially in the 20-21 season, Leonard successfully helped the team reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time in team history, which can be regarded as a certain breakthrough. Of course, when he joined, the Clippers also made a wedding dress for the Thunder, helping them acquire a large number of young players, and finally completed the championship last season.

Seventh place: The Nuggets selected Nikola Jokic

In seventh place, the Nuggets selected Nikola Jokic. This ranking is worthwhile, although when he joined the NBA, about Kich seems to be an ordinary and mediocre center, but he used his historical vision and connection ability to help the Nuggets complete their rise. Before Jokic came out, I am afraid no one could imagine that a center could play like a point guard. In the past two seasons, Jokic has shown extremely terrifying dominance, averaging 29+12+11 per game, leading the Nuggets to the most brilliant performance in team history.

Now Joki is only 30 years old, but he has already won a championship, 3 regular season MVPs, 1 Finals MVP, 1 Western Conference Finals MVP and other honors. He has established himself as the greatest player in team history and redefined a new style of play. This is of great significance to the NBA and has also rewritten the entire history.

Sixth place: The Warriors selected Stephen Curry

The one who can be ranked before Jokic is the Warriors selecting Stephen Curry in 2009, although Curry's performance in the early stages of his career was not It was so eye-catching, but starting from the 14-15 season, he and the Warriors created an unparalleled small-ball style of play. In 8 years, they entered the finals a total of 6 times and won 4 championships, defining an era that belonged to them.

And it is precisely because of Curry's sudden emergence that the NBA has completely entered the small ball era. Three-pointers and fast breaks have completely replaced the traditional positional warfare style of the past. Even because of Curry's existence, many traditional centers' vision has completely changed an era. Curry is indeed worthy of this ranking.

Fifth place: LeBron James returns to the Cavaliers

The fifth place is James' return to the Cavaliers in the summer of 2014. At that time, James had already achieved great success with the Heat. He not only led the team to the Finals for four consecutive years, but also won 2 championships. He personally even won 2 regular season MVPs and 2 FMVPs. It can be said that he has achieved success..

Returning to Cleveland this time undoubtedly gave me a chance for redemption. In fact, it was true. After forming the Big Three with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, the Cavaliers became the hegemon of the Eastern Conference. They entered the Finals for four consecutive years. In the 2016 Finals, they staged a great comeback from a 1:3 deficit, bringing the Cavaliers the first championship in team history. The phrase "Cleveland, This is for" You" has become a popular saying. Even though nearly 10 years have passed, it is still fresh in the memory of many Cavaliers fans.

Fourth place: Luka Doncic moves to the Lakers

And the fourth place is the earthquake-level transaction last season. Doncic and Anthony Davis exchanged clubs and became a member of the Lakers. It is hard to believe that a top star who was once regarded by the team as the team's leader for the next 20 years after Dirk Nowitzki and who just led the team to the Finals in 2024 was actually traded away by the team the next year, and the reason given was even more absurd.

However, for the Lakers, their operation is quite great. Now Luka Doncic is only 26 years old. For at least the next five years, the team will have the most top team building cornerstone, and with LeBron James' career coming to an end, as long as they fully build the team around Doncic in the future, they have a great chance to make a comeback in the future and once again become the hegemon of the Western Conference.

Third place: The Celtics form the Big Three

Before the Celtics won the championship in 2008, few fans could have imagined that the future NBA would form a team-building atmosphere. But the success of this team allowed other teams to see a good opportunity to break the situation, so the Green Army formed the Big Three combination of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, which had a huge impact on the NBA structure both at the time and later.

The three veterans had a tacit understanding at that time. They sacrificed a lot of data and ball rights for each other, but what they got in exchange was a record of 66 wins and 16 losses in a single season, and they also won the championship that season. And in the following years, although they missed the championship, they have always been the most terrifying existence in the East. It was not until they reached age that they ushered in their decline. After that, many NBA teams started the era of giants, and transactions and signings became more and more eye-catching. The source of all this came from the Celtics' Big Three combination.

Second place: Kevin Durant joins the Warriors

In the summer of 2016, Durant, who became a free agent, made a choice that shocked the world, which was to directly sign with the Warriors, who had a record of 73 wins and 9 losses last season. At that moment, basically all fans foresee the future, that is, the NBA is about to usher in its finale.

In the 16-17 season, this Warriors team was invincible. In the regular season, it only took three quarters to completely kill the suspense of the game. In the playoffs, they even achieved a record of 16 wins and 1 loss, and won the final championship with almost no pressure.

Immediately afterwards, they completed their title defense in 2018. If it weren't for Draymond Green's blatant internal strife, maybe Durant would have stayed with the Warriors for a long time. But even if Durant left in 2019, the shock that the five-star Warriors team brought to the fans is irreplaceable, and it may be difficult for such a phenomenal team to appear again in the future.

First place: LeBron James made the decision.

The first big event was in the summer of 2010, when LeBron James announced his decision to bring his talents to the South Coast on live television. At that time, James had just won two regular season MVPs and was basically the number one player in the league.

After he joined the Heat, his teammates were Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. All three of them were core players of their respective teams. After joining the Heat, even if the Celtics still had the old Big Three, the Eastern Conference was already their world. In fact, this is indeed the case. In the next four years, the Heat completely dominated the entire Eastern Conference and achieved two consecutive championships in the Finals. Although the way James announced his transfer was somewhat controversial, it is undeniable that this Heat team is indeed one of the most successful teams in NBA history.