Torch Bearers of the Next Generation of the NBA

When looking at it from a larger perspective, the NBA’s history can be divided into different “generations”. Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain helped to introduce the game and then gave way to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Captain then left the league in the capable hands of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Then Michael Jordan took over. Then Kobe Bryant and then LeBron James. But who is going to be next to fill the shoes of these all time greats? The league was scoped and the most promising young candidates to replace the current legends in the NBA were chosen. In order to be considered, the players needed to be under the age of 25 and be an every-night starter at this point in their NBA career.

The Next LeBron James 1.0 is… Paolo Banchero

Magic fans would love for this to be a one-to-one comparison between the two, but it is unlikely that the young Duke product will reach the heights of The King(but really, the next LeBron James is probably still in diapers). There are striking similarities between the two at this point in their careers. Banchero is the top scorer on an up-and-coming Eastern Conference team, but struggles to shoot threes with any semblance of consistency. His playmaking is not on the same level as James’ was and may not ever get there, but that is perfectly fine. The Magic’s young core and bevy of young guards should take some of the playmaking pressure off of Banchero and allow him to continue developing his offensive game. The most important thing for him to do now is continue to grow on both sides of the floor. He doesn’t need to be an All-Defense level defender, but if he gets to net neutral, that should more than suffice. Regardless, he has the bravado and humbleness that could see him become one of the faces of the NBA in the next few years if he continues on this trajectory.

The Next LeBron James 2.0 is… Luka Dončić

You didn’t really think we could take all of LeBron James’ greatness and put that pressure on just one player, did you? Luka represents the most important piece of LeBron’s skill set that has set him apart from the rest of the all-time legends; his balance of playmaking and scoring prowess. The 24 year old Slovenian is just as likely to score 40 points on your favorite team as he is to drop 15+ assists. The Mavericks have done well to surround him with role players who can take advantage of the open looks he generates for them and may have found him the perfect running mate in Kyrie Irving, who can carry the offense in the rare minutes when Dončić rests. Luka will never be the defender LeBron is, but he has the potential to surpass him as an offensive chessmaster, which could be enough for him to make a push to become the defining player of this generation.

The Next Kevin Durant is… Victor Wembanyama

When Durant entered the NBA after his lone season as a Longhorn, he shocked the league with his playmaking and scoring ability paired with his 6 foot 10 inch frame. Wembayama is doing the same thing, give or take an extra 6 inches. Ever since the Spurs moved him to their full-time starting center, he has flourished and effectively run away with the Rookie of the Year race, all but cementing it with a recent win in his matchup with Chet Holmgren and the Oklahoma City Thunder. His fluidity with the ball in his hands and his effortless three point stroke has fans salivating over his potential. His pre-draft comparisons to Durant seemed a bit ambitious at the time, but if he keeps it up, they might be looked back on as underestimations of his talent. If the Spurs can develop a system around his unique abilities, it’s perfectly reasonable to expect them to start another long streak of playoff experiences that last not years, but decades.

The Next Stephen Curry is… Caitlin Clark?

She’s so prolific, she broke the rules of this article to stake her claim! There isn’t a player in the NBA under the age of 25 that even remotely compares to Curry’s greatness, simply because nobody outside of Damian Lillard can shoot the way he can. Clark is a different story, though, and is already inspiring young women and girls around the country to shoot from deep with reckless abandon. She just broke the all-time NCAA scoring record, surpassing Pete Maravich’s mark set at LSU in her game against then second-ranked Ohio State. As Clark prepares to join the WNBA, she attracts so much attention that she could easily continue the elevation of the league and put it on a similar stage to its male counterpart. Remember the Sabrina vs. Steph three point shootout? The snipers of the NBA better step up their game because Caitlin is coming for her crown.

The Next Chris Paul is… Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

One of the more intriguing parts of Chris Paul’s career is the immediate impact that he has had on every new team he’s joined, save for his most recent move to the Golden State Warriors. He boosts the play of his teams and does his part as a veteran, passing on his knowledge to younger players, who clamor to implement pieces of his game into their own. None have done so as successfully as Shai, though, and he might soon have an MVP trophy to show for it. His playmaking may not be on the same level as Paul’s used to be(yet), but his scoring is eerily similar, as he has become a twitchy and yet silky smooth mid-range assassin. The comp bleeds into the defensive side of the ball too, as Gilgeous-Alexander’s ball-hawking dominance has him leading the league in steals per game. It will be interesting if Shai can unlock one of the intangibles that made Paul so great; his unwavering leadership. If he can do that, the Thunder will be set for years to come.