In this day and age of professional sports, the common athlete easily outnumbers the superstar player. But in the NBA, that awesome level of talent is on display on a nightly basis, with what seems like each game including one player that is labeled as a superstar in their own right.
The likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, the late Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan, as well as others, have dominated their respective timelines in the NBA, leaving lasting legacies on the sport as we know it and changing the game forever.
Actively, there are countless NBA superstars that are worthy of being put into that category at some point, cementing their legacies and making sure future generations know about them.
While any number of current players will be voted into the Hall of Fame, these six current players have played their way into earning a spot in the sacred hall, next to the legends that went before them. Before that, at the very least, an NBA jersey retirement is waiting for them.
Rivaling what MJ did for his generation and what Kobe did for his, Lebron James’s impact on the state of basketball has been felt ever since he stepped into the league from St. Vincent-St. Mary’s high school as a teenager back in 2003. The first overall selection in that draft that also included the likes of Carmelo Anthony (3rd overall pick), Chris Bosh (4th), Dwayne Wade (5th), and Kyle Korver (51st), James was the cream of the crop and continues to show why each and every game.
From his abilities to run the team at any given point from any position, the King has been running the NBA ever since he was drafted, and while he is in 17th year in the league, he has shown no signs of slowing down.
The undisputed leader of this generation, James is a sure-fire first-ballot entry that should be a unanimous selection.
Carmelo Anthony
Previously mentioned in the same breath as James, Carmelo Anthony has been on a similar, yet very different path than what James has followed in his NBA career. While enjoying the spoils and riches of being an NBA superstar, Melo’s career has turned him into more of a role player now in the late stages of his career and he seems to be fitting right in.
Having made a name for himself with both the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks, the former Syracuse star has been a great score-first small forward the league has not always seen, and his legacy, while not on the same level as James’, will be a very healthy one. Outshined by James due to coming out in the same draft, Melo’s HOF credentials are very strong and he should not have a problem getting in first or second ballot.
The greatest shooter our generation has come to know, Steph Curry is the epitome of what beating the odds can do for someone. From coming out of a small school (Davidson) into the league, Curry’s meteoric rise to the front lines of NBA hierarchy was not one that was assumed by many, especially early on in his injury-plagued career.
Overcoming his bothersome ankle ailments, Curry has become the lethal sniping assassin from deep for Golden State, putting up barrage after barrage of shots from way behind the arc and splashing them home what feels like every time. His outside prowess translates to inside as well, as his ability to knife through the defense and get to the rack is a very underrated aspect of his game.
While his defensive skills leave a lot to be wishing for, Curry will get into the HOF alone on the merits of his shooting abilities, some that could be said helped usher in the current era of shootout basketball. Living and dying by the three-pointer is not always a healthy outlook for a team, but when Curry is on that team, you will live by it more often than you die by it.
The lonesome European player included on this list, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s ascension into being the best player from overseas in the NBA was a very interesting one and one that included his growth being stunted early on in his career (cough, cough Jason Kidd).
Held down by his unfortunate coaching situations, the Greek Freak was taken by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the 2013 draft as a relative unknown, lanky, tall player that is very rough on the edges. But the Bucks, as has Giannis, have stuck to what they believed in and in return, have cultivated a championship threat that is well on its way to being the type of multi-ring team that this league has been lacking for a few seasons.
Giannis took the international throne over from Dirk Nowitzki and ran with it, shedding any naysayers along the way and helping bring the Bucks back to NBA relevancy. With all eyes on his potential NBA free agency in the summer of 2021, Giannis has cemented himself as the king of international basketball for the next 10+ years, and they should already be starting to find an appropriate spot in the hall for his plaque.
Russell Westbrook
The first of two former Oklahoma City Thunder teammates on this list, Russell Westbrook has been a very peculiar case in the NBA during his career. His shooting numbers are very uncharacteristic of a HOF-worthy entrant (especially from deep), his teammate ‘grade’ has been quite poor, and his overall body of work in the NBA can create more questions than answers.
Yet he has a very strong case – due to his triple-doubles and his ability to light up the court on a given night.
He holds the record for the most triple-doubles in one season (42) and has averaged a triple-double for three consecutive seasons, both incredible feats. Westbrook has changed this league for the better, and even though his shooting and teammate skills could use some work, his performance skills will get him into the HOF.
Similar to Lebron, KD has become a generational superstar, even at the same time as the other stars have flourished too. Currently in Brooklyn rehabbing his torn ACL, his determination to win has seen him play for the Thunder (also the Supersonics), GSW, and now the Nets.
For KD, his time in the NBA has shown that every player, regardless of the situation, can and will do what is best for them, regardless of the ramifications. Many people, including myself, did not truly enjoy seeing KD sign with GSW when they already had Curry and Klay, yet I understood the nature behind the decision.
KD’s ability to take over games, to be a volume scorer, and become that takeover guy on both ends of the court is what makes his case so strong, pushing him to be a first-ballot entrant.
Chris Paul
A commonly forgotten-about superstar, Chris Paul’s legacy as a superb floor general and assist master never got enough respect.
The fourth overall pick in 2005 quickly became one of the more well-liked players in the league as a member of the New Orleans Hornets, and has made stops with the Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, and now the Thunder.
Paul’s career highlights put him right on the banana boat with Lebron, Wade, Bosh, and Melo, and the five of them should easily tube their way into the hall of fame once all of their playing careers are over.
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