The New Kids On The Block
Every generation of hoops is undoubtedly defined in some part by the stars who transcend the game. Among others, our grandparents had Russell, West, and Wilt, our parents had Magic, Bird, and Jordan, and we had Kobe, LeBron, and Steph. Now, as some of today’s most influential hoopers enter their bout with father time, there is a new cohort of emerging stars poised to take over the league. With that being said, here are four of these young killers who have the potential to define the next generation of NBA basketball.
The Wonder Boy. There is no question that 21-year old Luka Doncic has already cemented himself as a modern-day marvel. The do-it-all guard nearly averaged a triple double in only his second season, shooting over 46% from the field and leading his undermanned Mavericks squad to the playoffs in a historically competitive Western Conference. Although he is not the quickest or most explosive player on the floor, Luka has an uncanny ability to create space at will, using his strong frame and nimble feet to get to the basket through contact or hit a stepback jumper in a defender’s eye. Without a doubt, his world-class fundamentals set him apart, serving as a testament to the purity of European basketball.
Smooth Operator. As a rookie, a young Jayson Tatum showed the world his bag, taking the mantle of lead scorer as the Celtics took LeBron’s Cavs to seven games. After a sophomore season in which he failed to take that big step into the realm of stars, Tatum entered his third season with some critics to answer, and answer he did. JT put up 23-7-3 on 45% shooting, establishing himself as the go-to guy for a talented Boston squad with a Finals berth within their grasp. Tatum’s patience is off the charts, and this, combined with his skillset, size, and athleticism, makes him lethal with the ball both on the perimeter and going to the rim. He plays with an aura of maturity and self-assuredness that is reminiscent of his late hero, Kobe Bryant.
Ice Trae. He may be playing for an abysmal Hawks team, but that doesn’t stop Trae Young from shining as one of the game’s brightest young stars. The second-year Oklahoma product lit it up this year, putting home nearly 30 points a game to go along with over 9 assists. Trae has an absolute clip, unafraid to pull the trigger from just about anywhere. Offensively, Trae is obviously a weapon from just about everywhere, but there is no getting around his one, glaring weakness: defense. Simply put, he was one of the worst defenders in the league last year, and that is definitely something that he must commit to working on if he wants to be the lead guy on a championship-caliber team. On the bright side, Trae draws comparisons to Warriors megastar Stephen Curry in his long range shooting capabilities as well as his ability to create opportunities for others, whether that means by using his gifted court vision or spacing out the defense.
Ja. Need I say anything more than those two letters? Rookie of the Year Ja Morant may be known for his otherworldly athleticism and recruitment story, but don’t get it twisted: he’s a hooper. The former mid-major star at Murray State put up 18 points a game on an incredibly efficient 47.7% from the field, nearly leading the young, overmatched Grizzlies to a first-round date with the mighty Lakers. His on-court intensity and maturity are signs of his blossoming role as the leader and catalyst, as his teammates feed off of his energy on both sides of the ball. His deep ball could use some work, as he shot only 33% from three during his rookie season, but his shot will come with time. He already carries himself like a vet, and it will be exciting to watch his growth both as a player and as a personality during his sophomore campaign.
These are just four of the several young killers that have the potential to inspire the next generation of hoopers. We will be following these guys closely over the next decade and will maybe see their posters on the walls of our kids one day. Thanks for reading, SHD Fam!
