The NBA is in a bit of a transitional period. Aging stars such as LeBron James still have a ton left in the tank, but they are few and far between.
Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant just retired and Dallas Mavericks big man Dirk Nowitzki is nearing the end of his career.
While the likes of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis have proven themselves worthy of being called superstars, there are other youngsters out there prepared to take that next step.
From Curry’s do-it-all teammate in Golden State to an underrated center in Orlando and a freakish “guard” in Milwaukee, here are seven NBA players dangerously close to being tagged as superstars.
1. Draymond Green, forward, Golden State Warriors
Green entered the NBA as a relative unknown in the second round of the 2012 draft. All he has done since is help turn around a previously dormant organization while showing himself to be an All-Star caliber player.
Green’s ascension to the top of the Association is quite rare. He was the 35th pick in the draft, two selections below Bernard James and one pick ahead of Orlando Johnson. You don’t see someone selected in that area become a star too often.
After playing sparingly as a rookie in 2012-13 and backing up David Lee the following season, Green got his chance when Lee went down with a preseason injury in 2014-15. Green responded by averaging 11.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
He followed that up with a great performance in the playoffs, helping the Warriors to the title with a triple-double in the championship-clinching win over Cleveland.
It was, however, this past regular season that Green upped his game to elite levels. He averaged 14.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game.
Statistics might be great, but they don’t tell the complete story here. Green, the runner-up to Kawhi Leonard for Defensive Player of the Year each of the past two seasons, guards all five positions on the court.
He plays small-ball center on offense and consistently runs the point.
It’s this type of versatility that has some concluding Green is the most valuable player on a team that boasts the NBA’s MVP.
At this point, and after he’s been called a system player, it’s readily apparent that Green IS the system in Golden State. That makes him a superstar.
2. Damian Lillard, guard, Portland Trail Blazers
Dame was left off the All-Star team in favor of Kobe Bryant. We will understand just how ridiculous this was years down the road. Why not just give Bryant a roster exemption in his final All-Star game? Yes, this one scribe is a bit perturbed over that whole situation.
As it is, Lillard led his Blazers to the playoffs in a season where it seemed like the team was in a complete rebuild after losing three starters from a season ago, including All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge.
After starting the season with a 15-24 record, Lillard and Co. finished by winning 29 of their final 43 games to earn the fifth seed in the Western Conference.
The correlation here was real. As the former first-round pick took over, his team followed in line.
Overall, the Oakland native averaged 25.1 points and 6.8 assists while shooting 38 percent from three-point range. He finished as the Association’s sixth-leading scorer.
Lillard’s coming-out party, so to speak, was a five-game stretch in February that saw him average 35.8 points while shooting a ridiculous 44 percent from three-point range.
If you’re the face of a the franchise for a team that earns a top-five seed in the ultra-difficult Western Conference, you surely are dangerously close to becoming a superstar. NBA All-Star vote notwithstanding.
3. Karl-Anthony Towns, center, Minnesota Timberwolves
Let’s be clear here. If KAT was playing in New York or Los Angeles, he would already be as superstar. Unfortunately, Minnesota doesn’t offer that type of appeal off the court.
But what the 2015 No. 1 overall pick did as a rookie was nothing short of extraordinary.
Towns became just the 26th rookie in NBA history to average 18 points and 10 boards in a season.
Of that group, he boasted the third-highest field goal percentage, behind Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan. Now, that’s some mighty fine company.
What made Towns’ rookie season so amazing is the consistency he displayed on a vastly improved T’Wolves squad.
The Kentucky product put up a whopping 50 double-doubles, including seven outings with 20-plus points and 14-plus rebounds. Oh, and Towns shot 34 percent from three-point percentage to go with his 56 percent mark from inside the arc.
Did we mention that Towns isn’t even legally allowed to drink in states where the age limit is 21? In fact, the NBA Rookie of the Year won’t even be 21 years old when his sophomore season kicks off.
4. Gordon Hayward, forward, Utah Jazz
It’s been a gradual ascension to the ranks of the Association’s best for Hayward. Known for his tremendous play while at Butler, Hayward has improved in each of the six seasons he’s been in the NBA.
This past year, the former top-10 pick put up a career high 19.7 points while shooting 35 percent from three-point range en route to leading the Jazz to a near-playoff appearance.
With the likes of Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert, Rodney Hood, Alec Burks and Trey Burke all improving in Utah, Hayward has proven that he can be the star for a playoff-contending team.
Once the squad gets 2014 top-five pick Dante Exum back from an injury that forced him from the entire 2015-16 campaign, Utah is going to be a team others will have to take seriously moving forward.
If Hayward continues his gradual improvement from earlier in his career, that will definitely lead to a playoff appearance for Utah next season.
5. Andrew Wiggins, forward, Minnesota Timberwolves
Acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers for Kevin Love back in the summer of 2014, Wiggins is coming off a tremendous campaign for Minnesota.
Teaming up with Towns, this former No. 1 pick averaged 20.7 points while shooting 46 percent from the field in 2015-16.
In order for Wiggins to hit superstar status, his all-around game is going to have to improve. He was lackluster on the defensive end of the court, averaged less than four rebounds per game and shot just 30 percent from distance this past regular season.
All of these numbers need to improve if Wiggins is going to be considered anything more than a one-dimensional player. At just 21 years old, the expectation has to be that Wiggins hasn’t even come close to reaching his full potential. That has to be exciting for fans in Minnesota.
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo, guard, Milwaukee Bucks
Slated to start at point guard next season, the “Greek Freak” is exactly what his nickname says he is. Normally, someone that stands 6-foot-11 would be pounding it inside. Not this 21-year-old freak of nature.
With an overall skill-set that rivals any other youngster in the Association, the future is definitely bright for Antetokounmpo.
Playing as many as four different positions on the offensive end of the court, Antetokounmpo’s abilities were on full display for an otherwise disappointing Bucks squad in 2015-16. He averaged 16.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 51 percent from the field.
The former 15th overall pick of the Bucks also put up five triple-doubles and 22 double-doubles during the season.
In reality, it’s Antetokounmpo’s ability to make a difference all over the court that has him in this conversation. Considering his improvement throughout what has already been a stellar three-year career, the “Greek Freak’s” upside appears to be unlimited.
7. Nikola Vucevic, center, Orlando Magic
There are very few true centers with the low-post skills his dude possesses remaining in the NBA. He can power his way in the low-block, has a solid post-up move and boasts strong mid-range capabilities.
As the skilled center dies down around the Association, players of Vucevic’s ilk are going to become more valuable.
That’s only magnified by what this Switzerland native has done over the past two seasons.
The 25-year-old big man averaged nearly 20 points per game while shooting 52 percent in 2014-15.
He followed that up by averaging 19 points and shooting 51 percent this past season.
If Vucevic is able to improve off these past two seasons, he will become a top-three or top-four center in the NBA. Offensively, he’s already one of the most skilled big’s in the game.