Which Young NBA Star Would You Start Your Franchise With?
With the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs now underway, one thing we know for sure is that the future of the league is very bright, thanks, in part, to a few players. This begs the question: Which young NBA star would you want to start your team with?
Now, of course, this is a hypothetical. There are rumors that Seattle may be awarded a new franchise and expansion team in the future, but obviously they don’t just get to pick any star player to be the centerpiece of the team. Nonetheless, with some of the performances we’ve seen from players like New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, the question posed here is a tough one.
Let’s examine a few different factors. We’ll start with the unanimous rookie of the year.
Victor Wembanyama – San Antonio Spurs
“In 71 games this season, Wembanyama averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.6 blocks and 1.2 steals per game,” ESPN explained. The last person to hit those numbers was NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, who did that in 1999. “Wemby” is seven-foot-four and was arguably the most intriguing draft prospect last year since LeBron James came out of high school. His size and global recognition are certainly unique, but what makes his game special is how diverse his skillset is. He’s incredibly athletic and smooth with the basketball. And the fans love him: his #1 jersey was in the top five of best sellers, which is another angle to consider when picking your team. Wemby is just twenty years old.
Anthony Edwards – Minnesota Timberwolves
By now, we’ve seen the thunderous slam dunks from Edwards. Those above-the-rim jams where it appears he is at eye-level with the rim. However, Edwards’ best play of the season was a defensive play when he blocked a last-second shot vs. the Indiana Pacers. Edwards’ game is filled with intensity. He thrives in big games and has no problem attacking his prey, even if that includes his favorite player growing up, Kevin Durant. Edwards is leading his Wolves team this postseason, having the defending champion Denver Nuggets on the ropes. Edwards is 22-years-old.
Jalen Brunson – New York Knicks
When you watch these playoff games at Madison Square Garden, a few things from the fans stand out. The first is simply the incredible volume of the crowd all game long. The second is when they chant “M.V.P.” when Brunson has the ball. The fearless leader of the Knicks has carried the team on his back all year. They were often counted out due to amassing so many injuries. However, Brunson has excelled as the underdog, hitting clutch shot after clutch shot. He has scored over 40 points in the last four playoff games in a row, after averaging just under 28 points per game during the regular season. He has become beloved in New York and is largely responsible for the team becoming a contender again. Brunson is the senior citizen of the group at 27-years-old.
Writer’s Young NBA Star Draft Pick
What I love about this question is that all three players have totally different styles of play. Each of them has the ability to sell out the arena each night for years to come. What has sold me, however, is Anthony Edwards being compared to Michael Jordan. So many athletes, in general, get measured up against MJ. Most times it’s an irrational comparison, but this one I can actually see. Edwards’ “prime” years are still ahead of him. He’s also the leader of a smaller market franchise that has not won much lately, nor have they ever made it to the finals. If Edwards continues this trajectory, that will certainly change, and those #5 Wolves jerseys will be just as hot as tickets to his games.