From one era reaching an end to the next that has the potential to be just as strong, Jordan Poole seems primed to connect Golden State’s present to its future. Jordan Poole of the Golden State Warriors comes from a long line of overachievers. For the Warriors, the dynasty that no one saw coming, have
25-under-25
Trae Young has the potential to take the Atlanta Hawks to heights they’ve never reached in the modern era. He just has to keep doing the work. Dominique Wilkins was an incredible basketball player hardly anyone outside Atlanta ever thinks about because his teams never won anything. That wasn’t his fault; he was repeatedly brilliant
R.J. Barrett signed a four-year extension during the offseason with the Knicks and could be on the cusp of a breakout season. R.J. Barrett is no stranger to disrespect. As soon as he was drafted by the New York Knicks with the No. 3 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, it began. Because of the
As a rookie, Herb Jones was already one of the most impactful defenders in the NBA. And the versatile forward is just getting started. It’s generally a safe assumption that first-year NBA players will struggle on defense. As modern offenses create more space on the floor and use an increasingly wide range of set plays,
Death. Taxes. The return of Zion Williamson to the top of the NBA elite. All these things seem inevitable — as long as Zion’s body holds up, they will be. Zion Williamson has not been the NBA’s version of Thanos in a long time. He has not played a basketball game since May 4, 2021
Desmond Bane may not get the headlines that Ja Morant receives. All he does is make the Grizzlies’ offense more dangerous, and continue to prove those that wrote him off wrong. In case you didn’t know, Desmond Bane is underrated. Even when he is seemingly appropriately rated, that rating is wrong. It’s not because of
Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies has made his claim as the face of the next generation of superstars ready to take the game of basketball to another level. For this season, Ja Morant has been chosen as the very best NBA player under the age of 25 by the team here at The Step
The game of Cade Cunningham is both classic and something entirely his own. As the Pistons’ roster improves so do the possibilities for him. Cade Cunningham’s name rolls off the tongue like a Sunday morning comic strip your great-grandparents might have read, and there is something old about his game. Cunningham branches from the James
Luka Doncic plays basketball like a video game, piling up stats and achievements. But can he thrive while still letting go of the controller? A cigarette burns on the screen’s left side. To the right sits a rubbed-down blue chalk cube. These are objects whose use wears them thin. The voiceover belongs to the director.
Evan Mobley is a budding star with utterly unique two-way potential, representing the bright future of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Sometimes you know a player is special and has what it takes to be an NBA superstar the moment you see them take the court as a rookie. Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley is one
Jarrett Allen has become one of the most dominating interior defenders in the entire NBA. And he’s done it all with a characteristic smile on his face. All due respect to Jarrett Allen, but he doesn’t exactly conjure a sense of intimidation. The afro adds some soft, non-threatening curves to an otherwise angular frame. He’s
Anthony Edwards didn’t make the 25-under-25 last season, a huge mistake on our part. Here’s what we missed and why we won’t miss again. It felt only appropriate that I write the profile for Anthony Edwards this year, considering I found myself in the uncomfortable position of having to defend our collective decision to leave
Jayson Tatum will be playing on perhaps the most talented Celtics team of his career. But his own responsibilities have never been larger. Jayson Tatum is a hard worker. The footwork, strength, and knowledge required to do what he does on offense prove the blood, sweat, and tears have all been paid on time. And
LaMelo Ball has the talent to transform the Charlotte Hornets and take them to new heights. Can he keep making the subtle improvements it will take? Assuming LeBron James stays healthy most of this season, he’ll pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. It’s a select club, those few who at some
The Suns are in turmoil and Deandre Ayton has been a part of it. Can his new deal and new focus help quell the storm and get them back to championship contention? Deandre Ayton plays for the Phoenix Suns. The Phoenix Suns have been owned by Robert Sarver for 17 years. That is a problem
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a budding star hiding in plain sight. Is this the year the rest of the NBA finally takes notice? Arguably no young player experiences a starker contrast in their standing among mainstream and diehard audiences than one Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. To more casual observers, Gilgeous-Alexander is seen as just another young player consuming
Collin Sexton looks like a star and scores like a star. Now he’ll have to prove to the Utah Jazz that he can lead a team like a star. Imagine a childhood friend grows up to become the star player on your high school team. He’s named a McDonald’s All-American, then gets a scholarship to
Tyrese Haliburton gives the Indiana Pacers something solid they can build, a foundation that could last for years to come. I’ve been watching the Indiana Pacers long enough to see a savior or two. I remember the excitement about Al Harrington and Jonathan Bender as potential bridges to the post-Reggie Miller era, only for Jermaine