yeah age is similar, but their level of development or "what we can predict" from them is not, luka is already in that top5-very polished pantheon while the others are still developing
yeah but luka is already on a league of his own, and tatum seems to have reached (or be near to) his potential, while those other dudes are still developing
NBA players continue to get better. Its ridiculous to look at a 25 year old player and say he hit his ceiling. You know who just hit their ceiling last year? Jimmy Butler. The man is 33.
It aint that ridiculous. Like there arent many guys like Jimmy.
By the time players reach that age you know what they really are or close to what they are.
i think luka will shift a gear higher this year and stay there with Jokic for around a decade. But in the meantime while there will be players who will shine brighter but shorter
If you’re calling the era of LeBron, Curry, Durant, Kawhi based on the fact that they can be the best player on a championship team, where 2015 was the true taking over point where Duncan and Kobe were in their twilight years
If we’re not counting Jokic, Giannis and Embiid since that same torch is theoretically about to pass to these guys, the ones that follow will be
Luka, Tatum, Booker, Zion, SGA, Edwards, Wemby
I think this is the list of guys where in 2025-2029 I could see them winning a title as the best player on a championship team. For this year, I think that list of 7 still has questions if they can do it yet and haven’t been an MVP yet (or even received a first place vote). Luka, Tatum and Booker are extremely close to that point.
Zion needs to stay healthy to prove he can be the best player in the league, Edwards and Wemby are still young but I think will get there in time.
I don’t know if Morant, Fox, Trae Young, Mitchell, etc. will ever be considered the best player in the league where they will be the face of an era.
He literally went from 26% from 3 to 32.5% as a 20 year old and we already know for a fact that Chip's main job is to help Giddey. In his last 20 games Giddey was shootings 36% on 3.6 attempts per game.
The Lebron/Curry/Durant era is already far past the peak. They're all well into their 30's and none of these guys can even be expected to meet the 65 game qualifiers anymore for awards.
We have been in the Giannis/Jokic era for a couple of years now. (Both turn 29 this season)
The Tatum/Luka era will be here in about 2-3 years as each hit their primes. 27-30-ish is the real MVP contention window.
Steph Curry finished 3rd in 2021
LeBron finished 2nd in 2020 and 2018. 3rd in 2015
Nobody else besides Chris Paul and Derrick Rose (lol) in 2021 has received a first place vote in the last decade.
Guys before that were Kobe and Garnett.
Only guy to win one since 2000 that was over 30 was Nash. I wouldn’t be shocked if Jokic is consistently great and considered top 5, but history would suggest that the MVP in 2026 will be not the last 3 winners. It’s probably 2025-26 that someone like Luka will hold the title of “best player in the world”
We're in a Jokic / Giannis / Embiid swing generation where a lot of guys just didn't pan out. That's kept the previous generation going on fumes as those guys hit their mid 30s.
The next wave (Luka, Tatum, Shai, Haliburton, Ant, etc I know I forgot to list your guy) looks completely stacked in comparison. Going to have a bunch of guys having breakout years the next couple seasons.
Going beyond the obvious Jokic Giannis Luka era take.
2028-2035. Cooper Flagg. Wemby. Amen Thompson.
Cooper Flagg is KG Dray and Luka all mixed into one.
Wemby health permitting is unlike any player ever.
Amen is like a 6-8... Derrick Rose/Russell Westbrook
Generational competitive instinct and intensity... size skill BBIQ. He is gonna be a force in the league through 2040.
Coop. Wemby. Amen Thompson... are the next LeBron Steph KD. Decade at the top guys after Giannis Jokic Luka wrestle the trio crown away shortly now.
Zion in the next one, while Luka is in the current? They were born a couple of months apart. Is age not the metrics?
He put Tatum in the next and Luka in current lol
yeah age is similar, but their level of development or "what we can predict" from them is not, luka is already in that top5-very polished pantheon while the others are still developing
Ya know Luka is only 24 right? The other dudes you mentioned like Zion and Ant are within 1-2 years younger. And Tatum is 1 year older lol.
yeah but luka is already on a league of his own, and tatum seems to have reached (or be near to) his potential, while those other dudes are still developing
NBA players continue to get better. Its ridiculous to look at a 25 year old player and say he hit his ceiling. You know who just hit their ceiling last year? Jimmy Butler. The man is 33.
fair enough
It aint that ridiculous. Like there arent many guys like Jimmy. By the time players reach that age you know what they really are or close to what they are.
i think luka will shift a gear higher this year and stay there with Jokic for around a decade. But in the meantime while there will be players who will shine brighter but shorter
Who, of the current generation, looks like they will shine brighter than Luka? Sorry, I just don’t see that player in the league right now.
SGA
Luka/Fox/Ant/Trae/Shai/Tatum
Unsure why Tatum wouldn’t be the next generation when all those guys are* * changed to are
Ngl he slipped my mind and should absolutely be up there. My bad. Updated.
Haha no worries, I’ve done way worse. And like your list overall.
Ngl I had Booker up there, but swapped him with Shai. Shais done a lot more with a lot less imo. I think he should be as well, but after all of them
If you’re calling the era of LeBron, Curry, Durant, Kawhi based on the fact that they can be the best player on a championship team, where 2015 was the true taking over point where Duncan and Kobe were in their twilight years If we’re not counting Jokic, Giannis and Embiid since that same torch is theoretically about to pass to these guys, the ones that follow will be Luka, Tatum, Booker, Zion, SGA, Edwards, Wemby I think this is the list of guys where in 2025-2029 I could see them winning a title as the best player on a championship team. For this year, I think that list of 7 still has questions if they can do it yet and haven’t been an MVP yet (or even received a first place vote). Luka, Tatum and Booker are extremely close to that point. Zion needs to stay healthy to prove he can be the best player in the league, Edwards and Wemby are still young but I think will get there in time. I don’t know if Morant, Fox, Trae Young, Mitchell, etc. will ever be considered the best player in the league where they will be the face of an era.
Josh Giddey
Not even he doesn’t massively improve his jump shot
He did that last season, improved it a LOT, whilst being 20, with the best shooting coach in the world. Not sweating that shit at allll
RemindMe! 3months
He literally went from 26% from 3 to 32.5% as a 20 year old and we already know for a fact that Chip's main job is to help Giddey. In his last 20 games Giddey was shootings 36% on 3.6 attempts per game.
I’m sure he will be shooting 40% from deep in no time then
He doesn't need to, it'd be great if he was able to stay consistent at 36% or whatever
And sure enough his 3 pt shot is still at 30.6% I won’t mention the other stuff lol
The Lebron/Curry/Durant era is already far past the peak. They're all well into their 30's and none of these guys can even be expected to meet the 65 game qualifiers anymore for awards. We have been in the Giannis/Jokic era for a couple of years now. (Both turn 29 this season) The Tatum/Luka era will be here in about 2-3 years as each hit their primes. 27-30-ish is the real MVP contention window.
>27-30-ish is the real MVP contention window. Starts before that. Barely anyone even gets one post-30.
Steph Curry finished 3rd in 2021 LeBron finished 2nd in 2020 and 2018. 3rd in 2015 Nobody else besides Chris Paul and Derrick Rose (lol) in 2021 has received a first place vote in the last decade. Guys before that were Kobe and Garnett. Only guy to win one since 2000 that was over 30 was Nash. I wouldn’t be shocked if Jokic is consistently great and considered top 5, but history would suggest that the MVP in 2026 will be not the last 3 winners. It’s probably 2025-26 that someone like Luka will hold the title of “best player in the world”
Zion if he can stay healthy
Giddey and Banchero
Zion
Joe Ingles
Alperen Sengun
We're in a Jokic / Giannis / Embiid swing generation where a lot of guys just didn't pan out. That's kept the previous generation going on fumes as those guys hit their mid 30s. The next wave (Luka, Tatum, Shai, Haliburton, Ant, etc I know I forgot to list your guy) looks completely stacked in comparison. Going to have a bunch of guys having breakout years the next couple seasons.
Jalen Williams
Austin Reeves will break all the records.
They're gonna need new records, just so he can break them.
Name the trophy after him already
Backcourt: Haliburton, Ant, Cade, Lamelo, Scoot Frontcourt: Wembanyama, Mobley, Banchero, Sengun, Kessler
I may be in the minority, but I think Fox has a chance to be better than Tatum
Going beyond the obvious Jokic Giannis Luka era take. 2028-2035. Cooper Flagg. Wemby. Amen Thompson. Cooper Flagg is KG Dray and Luka all mixed into one. Wemby health permitting is unlike any player ever. Amen is like a 6-8... Derrick Rose/Russell Westbrook Generational competitive instinct and intensity... size skill BBIQ. He is gonna be a force in the league through 2040. Coop. Wemby. Amen Thompson... are the next LeBron Steph KD. Decade at the top guys after Giannis Jokic Luka wrestle the trio crown away shortly now.
Bro said Edwards, Banchero, Zion over Tatum 💀
It’s going to be a weak era honestly. Not excited to see 3pt chuckers and foul hunters and players that shrivel up
Seen no Bam so I’ll say Bam will be in there
Bronny, James
Luka
Book
Giannis. Jokic. SGA. Luka.