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UCLA Basketball: The 10 best men’s basketball players since 2000

By Mike Regalado

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 29: Norman Powell #4 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates after the game against the Utah Utes at Pauley Pavilion on January 29, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. UCLA won 69-59. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 29: Norman Powell #4 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates after the game against the Utah Utes at Pauley Pavilion on January 29, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. UCLA won 69-59. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 29: Norman Powell #4 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates after the game against the Utah Utes at Pauley Pavilion on January 29, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. UCLA won 69-59. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 29: Norman Powell #4 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates after the game against the Utah Utes at Pauley Pavilion on January 29, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. UCLA won 69-59. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

Go Joe Bruin takes a look at 10 of the best UCLA basketball players to where the blue and gold since the year 2000.

Since 2000, the UCLA basketball team has had some outstanding individuals play in blue and gold. Go Joe Bruin takes a look at who the 10 best were in the last two decades.

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Though UCLA has been up-and-down and gone through two coaching changes in that time, there were still many hard working Bruins dedicated to their team. Even in the worst of seasons, there have been players that have given their all for UCLA.

But on the upside, there has been some incredible talent that helped resurrect the Bruins back to national prominence. Here are the 10 best Bruins since the year 2000…

10. Norman Powell (2011-15)

Career Stats: 9.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.1 spg, FG% .461

Powell was one of the most dependable players this century. He is one of the few players that played all four years and still made the jump to the NBA.

At UCLA, he was on a bit of a roller coaster ride as he had to help bridge the gap between the Ben Howland and Steve Alford eras. Coming out of Lincoln High School in San Diego, Powell was one of the top shooting guards in California. When he got to UCLA, he was used very conservatively. It wasn’t until Alford got a hold of him after his sophomore year that we got to see him come out of his shell.

In his junior and senior year, we saw a Powell that was explosive and fierce. Under Howland, he was told be reserved. Under Alford, he broke out like a man on fire. Powell would attack the rim and leave no prisoners. Along with his defensive skills honed by Howland, he was the spark plug UCLA needed in his final two years.

His efforts got him recognition among NBA execs and during the 2015 NBA Draft was taken 26th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks, though was immediately traded tot the Toronto Raptors where he has called home for the last three seasons.