All-Stars say NBA future in good hands once LeBron is gone

NBA All-Stars aren’t sure who shall be the brand new face of the league once LeBron James is gone, but they’re confident the NBA’s future is in good hands.

Several top stars spoke Saturday on the eve of the 73rd NBA All-Star Game at Indianapolis, where 20-time All-Star selection James, the NBA all-time scoring leader, represents the Los Angeles Lakers at age 39.

James, a four-time NBA Most Priceless Player and four-time NBA champion, has been the highest star in an older generation of talent that features Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Phoenix’s Kevin Durant.

“It can be an incredible league regardless,” said Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “He has done amazing things for this league and for the sport of basketball. You don’t wish to take him without any consideration, obviously. But when he’s gone, it would still be great.”

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Younger stars are already having an impact on the league with two-time NBA Most Priceless Players Nikola Jokic of Denver and Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee winning titles and a bunch of others chasing crowns, including Dallas guard Luka Doncic, Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Phoenix’s Devin Booker, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid and Gilgeous-Alexander amongst them.

“There’s loads of guys to choose from on this group of 24 which might be here,” Curry said. “You see Luka, Ant, Shai, guys which might be really coming into their prime… but have a perspective of what meaning throughout the on-court/off-court opportunities.

“The league is in pretty good hands on the subject of young talent that I feel gets it and understands the magnitude of the platform all of us have and can respect it as they arrive into their very own.”

Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton expects players who lead their teams to success will spearhead the following generation.

“We got loads of different guys that it could possibly be,” he said. “The league is in great hands. It’s probably the most talent that has even been on this league.

“To be the face of the league, winning has to come back with that. Whatever young guy takes that charge and is winning moving forward, that’s probably who it would be.”

Durant says it’s not a lot about one face for the long run of the NBA because it is a group of talent who encourage the following generation on and off the court.

“I’m going to miss loads of guys,” Durant said. “But you see Shai, Ant, Book, Luka, (Philadelphia’s) Tyrese Maxey, Tyrese Haliburton. There are such a lot of guys inspiring the following generation of hoopers after them to grow to be basketball players you could’t just pinpoint it to at least one or two guys.

“It’s about pushing the sport forward, setting a distinct standard how we play. These guys are doing it straight away.”

Wemby insanely dominant

Amongst those Durant looks forward to watching in the long run NBA is 2023 NBA Draft top pick Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 (2.24m) French rookie for San Antonio.

“Man, that dude can achieve anything he wants on this game. He’s only getting more comfortable as time goes on,” Durant said. “It’s just insane how dominant he’s going to be as he gets more comfortable.”

Boston’s Jayson Tatum hopes to be within the talk for the following face of the NBA.

“When LeBron retires, the face of the league, that’s tough, but we win a championship, I’ve got something to say about it, I do know that,” Tatum said.

“The league is in a fantastic place straight away, the quantity of high-character guys, of talent throughout the NBA.”

Antetokounmpo isn’t writing off a 40-something star turn for Lebron, either.

“I feel LeBron goes to play seven to 10 more years. There’s no sign of him slowing down. It’s 12 months 21, and he’s playing incredible,” the Greek star said of James.

In the case of Wembanyama, the Greek big man offered this recommendation: “Be 100 times higher than Giannis. He doesn’t have to be Giannis. He’s going to be Victor.”