Throughout NBA history, we often see a few players dominate the league for a decade. These superstars are considered the face of the league. They are hailed as the most impactful players and the best talent in the world at the time. When it comes to the all-time power rankings, we analyze who dominated their era, which is an important piece in determining all-time greatness.
As we enter a new decade of basketball, a new brand of stars is making their way out of the woodwork. The 2010s featured some great moments, but nobody can stop Father Time. The careers for some of our favorite players are wearing down, while for others they are starting to bud.
While some of these players have retired in recent years, it’s easy to find some similarities. For these 2010s legends, these players are ready to take the torch and make their big-time legacy.
Dwyane Wade To Donovan Mitchell
This has nothing to do with the fact that Wade is involved with the Utah Jazz. Donovan Mitchell has been making his case as the next D-Wade for a few years now. After leading the Jazz to the No. 1 seed in the loaded Western Conference, it’s time to start taking “Spider” Mitchell seriously.
Mitchell is athletic enough to play at the point guard position, but can also play at the 2-guard spot. Wade was the better defender, but Mitchell could be a better three-point shooter. What draws the comparisons to Wade is his ability to finish at the rim. Mitchell has the explosiveness like Wade but also has the passing abilities to set up his teammates too.
The stats are also in comparison with each other. In Wade’s age 24 season, he averaged 27.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 1.9 steals. Mitchell averaged 26.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.0 steals. While Wade’s number beat out Mitchell for now, it’s not a landslide.
Russell Westbrook To Ja Morant
Not that we are trying to replace Westbrook, especially after he averaged a triple-double for the fourth time in his career, but Morant’s first two seasons are on par with what Westbrook did when he played in OKC.
Currently, Morant has averaged more points than Westbrook in his first two seasons. His rebounds are about 1.0 off, while his assists are less than 0.5 off of Westbrook. Not to mention, their player efficiency ratings are nearly identical. The only difference is that Morant doesn’t have Kevin Durant like Westbrook did his first two seasons.
Dillon Brooks is a solid player, but he is no KD. The Grizzlies are on the rise, especially if Morant continues to grow. Who knows? Maybe, we won’t have to wait over 60 years for the next player to average a triple-double in a season.
Kobe Bryant To Devin Booker
Booker’s rise to national stardom has taken off in the Western Conference Finals with Chris Paul not playing the first two games. With his offensive skill set, many believe that Booker has all the tools to become the next Kobe Bryant.
The two guards are mainly known for their ability to score the ball. However, like Bryant, Booker is not a selfish player. Booker is averaging 4.6 assists per game in his career. In the last two seasons, Booker was averaging 6.8 and 6.5 assists, but that number dropped when Paul joined the team. Bryant averaged 4.9 assists from his third to the sixth season, but the Lakers eventually brought in a point guard in Derek Fisher.
The ascension will continue if the Suns can make the NBA Finals. Bryant won five championships in his career. Booker is just 24 years old and with a 2-0 lead in the Conference Finals, there could be more comparisons to the Black Mamba in the future.
LeBron James To Luka Doncic
With what Doncic has done in his first three seasons in the league, many believe that Doncic is an identical player to the great Larry Bird. With that said, this is a passing of the torch from our current players and that torch should be passed from LeBron James.
The only other players to finish with better wins above replacement player rating than Doncic at age 20 or younger are LeBron (twice), Anthony Davis, Shaq, and Karl-Anthony Towns. Take into consideration that the three other players outside of LeBron are power forwards and centers, while LeBron is a small forward like Doncic.
When LeBron was younger, he wasn’t a prolific playmaker or efficient shooter inside the arc. When LeBron entered the league in 2003, the traditional use of a center was installed, while three-point shooting was not on the same level as today. Doncic owns a career average of 25.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 7.7 assists. He can do it all, just like LeBron.
Stephen Curry To Trae Young
Young once joked that he was going to pass Steph Curry as the best shooter of all time in one year. With the way that Young is playing in the playoffs, he could eventually pass Curry as the best shooter we have ever seen. That is no disrespect to Curry, but that is just how high Young’s ceiling is looking these days.
When Young averaged 29.3 points and 9.3 assists last year, we thought we would see 30 points per game in Year 3. While his points dropped, his playmaking skills stayed the same as he averaged 9.4 assists. Curry only averaged over seven assists two times in his career, but Curry owns a better three-point shooting percentage than Young. Curry has shot under 40% from outside the arc only one time, the year he played just five games.
If Young can develop a better outside shot, he could go on a shooting tear. While Curry is a maestro from outside, Young is a magician inside the lane with fancy floaters and tough driving shots. At 22 years old, we haven’t seen the best from Young and that should terrify the rest of the league.
