The NBA’s Evolving Landscape: A Focus on Current Talent
Each week during the 2024-25 NBA season, we delve deeper into the most compelling storylines to analyze whether the trends we see are based more in fact or fiction. Last time, we explored whether Nikola Jokić is enjoying the greatest statistical season ever. This week, we turn our attention to a critical discussion: Is the NBA lacking a future face?
The Elite Club of Six-Time All-Stars
On Friday, the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers will clash in what promises to be an electrifying matchup. Both teams are currently the best in the Eastern Conference, but the game also highlights Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell, two players who have achieved a rare feat: six-time All-Star selections by the age of 28. This milestone places them in an elite club of only 55 players in NBA history.
This matchup comes at a time when the broader NBA community is engaged in a different conversation—determining who will become the next face of the league. Players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves have been asked to weigh in on this topic. Gilgeous-Alexander noted, "It’s something that we as players normally don’t really have full control over. That’s for the world to decide, and whoever the world gravitates to will naturally become it." This sentiment is echoed by Edwards, who jokingly deflected the question to Victor Wembanyama, the highly anticipated new player.
The Distraction of Future Speculation
The conversation about the next face of the NBA is a common topic in media circles, from ESPN and TNT to former players’ podcasts. However, this focus on the future often diverts attention from the remarkable careers of players like Tatum and Mitchell, who are in their primes and carrying the mantle for the league right now.
Tatum and Mitchell are often overshadowed in MVP conversations, despite their teams’ success. Players like Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Dončić are more frequently mentioned in discussions about the game’s best active players. Yet, Tatum’s achievements, particularly his role in Boston’s title defense, warrant serious consideration. If we only focus on who will be the next LeBron James or whether Wembanyama can become the face of the NBA, we risk missing the forest for the trees.
Mitchell’s Monumental Achievement
Donovan Mitchell is on pace to lead the Cavaliers to a 68-win season, a feat that would place him alongside legends like Stephen Curry, Michael Jordan, and Wilt Chamberlain. The broader NBA intelligentsia, however, often diminishes this accomplishment. Mitchell’s statistical résumé is nothing short of impressive. He is one of only 10 guards to achieve 12,000 points, 2,000 rebounds, and 2,000 assists by the age of 28, a list that includes icons like Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, and Kobe Bryant.
Despite his exceptional achievements, Mitchell is not widely perceived as an all-time great. Yet, if he were to lead Cleveland to a championship, would the narrative shift? The same could be said for Tatum, whose accomplishments have similarly failed to gain the widespread recognition they deserve. Tatum has already amassed 13,000 points, 4,000 rebounds, and 2,000 assists at the young age of 26, a feat only matched by LeBron James. He also holds the record for the most playoff points at his age (2,711).
Tatum’s Legacy and Perceptions
Jayson Tatum is already a legend in his own right. His past four seasons, including this one, have been comparable to the best four seasons of Kobe Bryant’s career. From 2006 to 2010, Bryant averaged 28.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists, with top-three MVP finishes, two titles, and a trip to the NBA Finals. Tatum has averaged 27.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists over the same span, making the All-NBA first team each year and winning a championship.
Despite these achievements, Tatum feels underappreciated. He told The Washington Post, "If you took the name and the face away from all my accomplishments, people would talk about me differently." This sentiment is echoed by LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry, who have praised Tatum’s talent and potential from a young age.
The True Faces of Today’s NBA
The NBA is not lacking a future face; it has multiple faces right now. Players like Tatum, Mitchell, Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokić, Antetokounmpo, and Dončić are all part of an incredibly talent-rich generation. The focus on who will be the next face of the NBA distracts from the present, where these players are already making history.
When asked about the responsibility that comes with being the face of the league, James responded, "Why do you wanna be the face of a league when all the people that cover and talk about our game on a day-to-day basis s*** on everybody? It’s weird energy." Instead of speculating about who will be the next face, we should appreciate the incredible talent we have today. On Friday, when Tatum and Mitchell face off, let’s take the time to recognize and celebrate the legends in action.
Conclusion: Embracing the Current Greats
The NBA is not facing a crisis of identity; it is thriving with a diverse and talented roster of players who are already making their mark. Tatum and Mitchell are just two of many who are carrying the torch. Rather than fixating on future prospects, let’s celebrate the present and appreciate the legends in the making. The NBA has many faces of the future, and they are here now.
