I’ve been watching professional basketball for a very long time, and in that time, I’ve seen great players come and go. When I started watching, players like Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, and Vince Carter were coming into their own, and writing their own legacy. Not to mention players like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwight Howard just starting their careers and taking the league by storm.
Sadly, all things must come to an end. LeBron, Melo, and Dwight won’t play forever, and they will eventually retire. So, with that in mind, let’s keep an eye towards the future. If you’re a new NBA fan, or a casual watcher, I want to give you the 10 players to keep an eye on for the next 10 years. Let’s jump into it.
Devin Booker
I’m starting with Book for a reason, and that reason is that he is the only person on this list that I’ve had the privilege of seeing in person. I was living in Lexington, Kentucky during Book’s time at UK, and it was a lot of fun. I think I was able to make it to something like 9 UK games, and every time I got to go, I saw something special in Booker. All eyes were on Karl-Anthony Towns, Willie Cauley-Stein, and the Harrison twins, but I knew that Book had something special inside him, and it didn’t take long for him to show that in the NBA. If you’re looking for someone who can put the ball in the basket, and hit shots for you when they matter the most, look no further than Book. As a Celtics fan, I certainly won’t forget the night he dropped 70 points on us, and I also won’t forget his heroics in The Bubble last year. He hasn’t been on a team with a lot of talent so far in his career, and he might not ever be. What I will tell you is that every time he steps on the floor, you can expect a show.
Luka Doncic
What can I say that hasn’t already been said about Luka? Electric, generational talent, the future of the league. I got to see Luka play a game against the Celtics when he was 16 years old, and even then I knew that he was going to be a special talent. When he got into the league, it wasn’t long before he was in the MVP conversation. If you’re looking for someone who controls the game in such a masterful way that usually translates into wins, look in Dallas at what Luka has done and will do. A nightly triple-double threat, Luka has demonstrated his ability to fill up the stat sheet, and early in his young career, has demonstrated the ability to be competitive in big games. Let’s not forget the show he put on against the Clippers last year, including his game winner. Luka will be in the MVP conversation for a very long time, and this is only the beginning.
Trae Young
After the explosion in popularity of the phenomenon known as Stephen Curry, it was only a matter of time that we would see a similar player, and that player is Trae Young. I hardly go a day without seeing a highlight from Trae. Whether it’s shooting from the logo, a crazy crossover, or him nut-megging the entire league, you can expect the flashy plays from Trae Young. Another player who can fill up the stat sheet every night, don’t be surprised when you look up and Trae has 40 points and 15 assists. His ability to control the game in a half-court setting is impressive for a young player and should be noticed more. I have to admit that I wasn’t a fan of Young in his time at Oklahoma due to all the attention he was getting from ESPN, but as a professional, he has deserved the hype, and he will continue the highlight worthy play for many years to come.
LaMelo Ball
LaMelo Ball is only a rookie this year, but it seems like he’s been in the public eye for a decade already. As a part of the famous Ball family, it was going to be a rough challenge to go past the heavy expectations that the world, and his father, had set for him. So far in his young career, he’s met those expectations, and in some instances, exceeded them. The way LaMelo plays is a highlight maker’s dream. Behind the back passes, no looks, alley-oops, spin moves, and all the jelly layups you could ask for. For the majority of the season, Ball has come off the bench, but even in his limited role he has shown that he has the ability to show up in your social media feed no matter the night. If you like players who can get to the rim in a fancy way, finish with acrobatic layups, or throw flashy passes, LaMelo is your guy.
Jaylen Brown
I’ve written multiple times this year about how good Jaylen Brown actually is, so I won’t write a novel about it here, but there are some things that you should know about him. Brown plays with such a fire in his game. An amazing slasher that has made some highlight worthy dunks in his young career. On top of his fiery athleticism, he’s developed into a lethal mid-ranger shooter, along with a good three-point shooter and play-maker. Brown is the prototype of a player that you’d want in the league today. Long, athletic, fast, can score, plays defense, and can lead a team. This season, with the absence of Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum for most of the Celtics’ games, Brown has become a leader on and off the court. My favorite part of him from a team standpoint is how he’s able to score in droves. Just this year he became the highest scoring player in NBA history while playing less than 20 minutes when he scored 33 in just 19 minutes against the Cavs. If you want to be apart of the Jaylen Brown fan club like I am, you’re more than welcome.
De’Aaron Fox
Two words can describe Fox’s play style. Speed. Kills. Hands down the faster player in the league with and without the ball. Sometimes when I watch him play, he’s an actual blur on my screen. His ability to get up and down the floor is unmatched, not to mention how he’s developed his game in his career. He used to only be a fast player. Now he’s an offense threat, a play-maker, a defender, and a player who’s added a mid-range and a three-point shot to his arsenal. Fox has made huge strides, this year especially, in his game and it makes me really excited for his future. I wouldn’t be surprised if we start talking about Fox as the best point guard in the league in a couple years, and this is just the beginning.
Donovan Mitchell
A lot of people didn’t expect Mitchell to be the player he is today. He had big expectations playing in Utah after Gordon Hayward left, but to everyone’s surprise, he has lived up to the hype. Let’s not forget his scoring battle with Jamal Murray last year in The Bubble, especially his 57 point outburst. Mitchell can do it all. Drives to the rim, dunks, mid-range, three pointers. He’s the definition of a three-level scorer. I think he’ll be a good scorer for a very long time in the league, and I think he still has room to improve. I wouldn’t be shocked if we start seeing him drop 55 and 60 points in a game on a more regular basis.
Ja Morant
I’m not great at giving people nicknames, but I do think that Ja’s nickname needs to be something like Highlight Factory, because that’s exactly what he is. Earth shattering dunks, crossovers that will send people to the floor, and let’s not forget the time he tried to end Kevin Love’s career. Another player who has developed his game in his young career, Ja is now a player who can run an offense, and is patient with his moves, instead of being out of control. If you take about 5 seconds to look through NBA Twitter you’ll see something amazing that Ja did, and I’m sure by the time his career is over, you’ll be able to fill an entire digital library with all of his highlights and dunks.
Jayson Tatum
JT. The Problem. The answer to Boston’s problems. With Tatum and Brown, the Celtics have been blessed with talent in these two generational talents. Steve Kerr said it best when he said that they’re both the type of players that all the NBA teams are looking for, and Tatum has certainly proved that. This year in particular, he’s really stepped up with his play-making ability, on top of being a consistent scorer. Another three-level scorer, Tatum can get to any spot he wants on the floor, and there isn’t anything anyone can do about it. As the Pistons found out earlier this year, Tatum loves the elbow jump shot, and it is as automatic as it gets. Along with being long, athletic, and a leader, Tatum has just fluidity in his game and an ice cold killer on the court. His training with Kobe Bryant a couple of years ago seems to have paid off, and I don’t think he’s done just yet.
Zion Williamson
We’ve seen it his entire life. Zion is a one in a lifetime player. We’ve seen for years how explosive offensively he can be. Not just off the lob, but driving to the rim, and doing work in the post. Just ask Rachaun Holmes. He hasn’t been as explosive defensively, but I’m sure that will come with time. Dunk after dunk, and highlight after highlight, it only becomes more and more clear that Zion is an absolute show on the floor. Outside of being a good scorer, he’s now developing his play-making ability and becoming a more well rounded player. His dunks will keep him on the highlight reels, but his body of work will make for a very long career.
Round The Game 
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