Last Updated on July 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
The 2020s have already produced some of the greatest players in NBA history. While the decade is still unfolding, many stars have cemented their status through championships, MVP awards, Finals MVPs, All-NBA selections, defensive excellence, longevity, and franchise-defining performances.
Below are the most recognizable legends associated with each NBA franchise during the 2020s.
| Team | 2020s Legend | Why They’re a Legend |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Hawks | Trae Young | Franchise face, multiple All-Star selections, led Atlanta to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals. |
| Boston Celtics | Jayson Tatum | NBA champion, perennial All-NBA First Team selection, Finals leader and one of the league’s premier forwards. |
| Brooklyn Nets | Kevin Durant | Elite scorer who produced historic offensive seasons despite injuries during his Brooklyn tenure. |
| Charlotte Hornets | LaMelo Ball | Franchise cornerstone, All-Star guard and one of the NBA’s most creative playmakers. |
| Chicago Bulls | DeMar DeRozan | Revitalized the Bulls, multiple All-Star appearances and one of the league’s elite mid-range scorers. |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Donovan Mitchell | Multiple All-Star, franchise leader and centerpiece of Cleveland’s return to contention. |
| Dallas Mavericks | Luka Dončić | MVP-caliber superstar, NBA Finals appearance and one of the greatest offensive players of his generation. |
| Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokić | Multiple MVP awards, NBA champion, Finals MVP and one of the greatest centers ever. |
| Detroit Pistons | Cade Cunningham | Emerging franchise superstar leading Detroit’s rebuild into a new era. |
| Golden State Warriors | Stephen Curry | NBA champion, Finals MVP and the defining player of the modern three-point era. |
| Houston Rockets | Alperen Şengün | Rising All-Star center who has become Houston’s offensive focal point. |
| Indiana Pacers | Tyrese Haliburton | Elite playmaker who helped restore Indiana as an Eastern Conference contender. |
| Los Angeles Clippers | Kawhi Leonard | Two-way superstar who led multiple playoff runs while remaining one of the league’s best postseason performers. |
| Los Angeles Lakers | LeBron James | NBA champion, Finals MVP, all-time leading scorer and continued elite play deep into his career. |
| Memphis Grizzlies | Ja Morant | Electrifying superstar whose athleticism transformed Memphis into a contender. |
| Miami Heat | Jimmy Butler | Led multiple deep playoff runs and established one of the league’s strongest postseason reputations. |
| Milwaukee Bucks | Giannis Antetokounmpo | NBA champion, Finals MVP, MVP winner and one of basketball’s most dominant two-way players. |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | Anthony Edwards | Franchise leader, All-NBA talent and one of the NBA’s fastest-rising superstars. |
| New Orleans Pelicans | Zion Williamson | One of the NBA’s most dominant interior scorers when healthy and the face of the franchise. |
| New York Knicks | Jalen Brunson | All-NBA guard who restored New York as a legitimate Eastern Conference contender. |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | MVP-caliber superstar who led Oklahoma City’s rise to the top of the Western Conference. |
| Orlando Magic | Paolo Banchero | All-Star forward and cornerstone of Orlando’s exciting young core. |
| Philadelphia 76ers | Joel Embiid | NBA MVP, scoring champion and one of the most dominant centers of the decade. |
| Phoenix Suns | Devin Booker | Multiple All-Star, NBA Finals appearance and franchise scoring leader of the modern era. |
| Portland Trail Blazers | Damian Lillard | Franchise icon who remained one of the league’s elite clutch scorers into the early 2020s. |
| Sacramento Kings | De’Aaron Fox | Ended Sacramento’s playoff drought and re-established the Kings as a competitive franchise. |
| San Antonio Spurs | Victor Wembanyama | Generational talent whose historic start has already reshaped the Spurs’ future. |
| Toronto Raptors | Pascal Siakam | Multiple All-Star and leader of Toronto’s post-championship era before his trade to Indiana. |
| Utah Jazz | Lauri Markkanen | All-Star forward who revitalized his career and became Utah’s franchise player. |
| Washington Wizards | Bradley Beal | Three-time All-Star who remained Washington’s offensive leader through the early part of the decade. |
The Defining Legends of the 2020s
Several players have separated themselves as the defining legends of this era across the NBA:
- Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
- LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
- Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
- Luka Dončić (Dallas Mavericks)
- Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
- Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat)
- Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)
The 2020s Era
The 2020s have featured a transition from the LeBron James and Stephen Curry era to a new generation led by Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama. As the decade continues, additional players are likely to strengthen their legendary status through championships, MVP awards and sustained excellence, but the names above have already become synonymous with NBA basketball in the 2020s.