Young stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards and Luka Doncic are shining in the 2024 playoffs.
There’s usually a bit of comprehension and hesitation in the NBA when it’s about the star pecking order and that four-letter word: Next.
Like, who’s got it?
And is the evidence we’re witnessing right now compelling enough to arrive at an inevitable conclusion that change is upon us?
What this postseason says is Anthony Edwards, Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are done following footsteps. They’re making their own and stepping on necks in the process. Yes, perhaps this could be the seismic and generational shift everyone knew would happen eventually.
While LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, all well into their 30s, are at home watching on TV or doing whatever inactive superstars do with their unexpected free time in May, their spots are occupied by players much younger and just as hungry, if not more.
The history of the league has long had a succession line. Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell gave way to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird to Michael Jordan, Jordan to Kobe Bryant, Bryant to James. To name a few.
It would be a bit premature to say, with absolute certainty, that Edwards, Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander will soon start a run for championship trophies with their teams. They might not even lift one next month. Or ever in their careers.
Sometimes stuff happens to spoil the conversation and wreck the crystal ball. Ask Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley and Grant Hill, among others — all were seen as “next” during their prime.
But it sure feels like a page-turning here in the spring of 2024.
And these young players are impatient and greedy, which is what a perspective champion and superstar must be. They’re no longer asking James, Curry and the rest for autographs.
Here’s how, and why, these 25-and-under stars are announcing their attempted takeovers in these playoffs with a bullhorn:
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Revisit some of Anthony Edwards' best performances from the first round vs. Phoenix.
Body of work: At just 22, he owns the fastest-rising reputation in the league, drawing comparisons to 2006 Dwyane Wade and even Michael Jordan (pre-six championships). The latter might be a bit rich, but such is life in a social media and debate TV era, where recency bias runs unchecked and nuance is often lost in the rush to gush.
Make no mistake, though, Edwards is jumping the line and could already be a top-five pure talent in today’s game. Just ask Kevin Durant, whom he swept in the first round, or any current greats. Or, just trust your eyes. Best of all, his impact lies on both ends of the floor.
His biggest improvement is shooting. As he said the other day: “When I came into the league, the thing was, I couldn’t shoot.” Edwards’ 3-point shot remains a work in progress — he’s a career 35.3% shooter and has regressed from last season. But his confidence from that distance is better and he doesn’t hesitate to aim in big moments.
His scoring has increased every season, and aside from the growth in his mid-range game, his passing and trust in his teammates show improved basketball maturity.
End of the game? Edwards wants the last shot, not caring about the blowback if he misses.
Finally: Edwards is available. For the second straight season, he played 79 games. Yes, that’s the advantage of being young, yet he stays in supreme shape, and having a football background doesn’t hurt. Besides, while many say they love basketball, Edwards proves it.
Work to do: He just took his team into the Western Conference semifinals. At least that’s progress, considering he lost in the first round last season. The ultimate measure of greatness is playing well into May and even June, and doing it consistently.
Edwards has never won a major award, but again, he’s just getting started. He’s expected to be named All-NBA this month, which could be the first of many such honors.
Said Durant: “So impressed with Ant. My favorite player to watch … he’s gonna be somebody I’m following for the rest of his career.”
Body of work: Initially he was on the fast track for being one of the greatest international players ever. After further review, Doncic at his current pace could rank among the greatest players — regardless of birthplace.
Doncic has few peers as a playmaker, shot-creator, passer, rebounder and floor surveyor. The ability to combine elite basketball smarts and elite basketball skills is rare — even the best players in the league don’t enjoy that balance — and makes him a problem.
He’s already made four All-NBA first teams, is a four-time All-Star starter and claimed the scoring title this season (only Euro to do so). He and LeBron James are the only players to reach 10,000 points, 3,000 rebounds and 3,000 assists before turning 25.
Also, Doncic’s thirst for competition runs high. It often backfires on him — pity the referees who work his games — although it also fuels him in big moments and with the game up for grabs.
Did someone say alley-oop!? pic.twitter.com/PaGjSH7iDf
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) May 4, 2024
Doncic has only taken the Mavericks to one Western Conference Finals, but he’s still looking to be blessed with a long-running star teammate, which is necessary to make constant deep playoff runs. Dirk Nowitzki was too old to be Doncic’s co-star during their short time together, and this is just Doncic’s second season with Kyrie Irving.
Work to do: Win a Kia MVP, win a championship. That’s the to-do shortlist for Luka. Both are reasonable, especially the MVP as he could win multiple such awards.
Said Irving: “I want to see him win MVP. If it’s not going to be this year, it’s going to be in the eventual future.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Body of work: Discipline, work ethic, talent, competitive spirit. It’s all there with Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s making a strong bid to be the most dangerous scorer in the league at just 25.
About that scoring: Gilgeous-Alexander mainly works the creases and openings inside the 3-point arc, searching for that spot to pull up for the jumper. It’s all very Chris Paul-like, which is no accident since he took tips from Paul in 2019-20, their one season together.
In addition, he beats a path to the free-throw line, a sign of a creative and opportunistic player who looks to get buckets by any means necessary. He shot 87.4% from the line this season, and in the last two seasons, Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged a combined 30.7 points per game on 52.3% shooting.
He should make first-team All-NBA for the second straight season, mainly because — aside from scoring and leading the Thunder to the top of the West — his defense took another leap. His two steals per game tied him with the Sacramento Kings’ De’Aaron Fox for No. 1 in the NBA.
Work to do: Despite his knack for scoring, Gilgeous-Alexander is an average 3-point shooter (career 34.9%). Defenses will choose their poison and collapse and give him that space. If he can stretch the floor more, he’d be even better off the dribble — and nearly unstoppable.
For a point guard, his passing is solid, not superb (career assist average 4.9). However, that improved this season as he posted 5.5 apg, his highest since 5.9 apg in 2020-21. That kind of improvement is why he’s an MVP finalist.
Said Nikola Jokic: “He’s a special player. Not just this year. And the good thing about him, he wants to win. He doesn’t care about numbers. He wants to win. And I think that’s the best thing about him.”
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.
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