Image source, Getty Images
- Author, Sam Harris
- Role, BBC Sport journalist
LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant all have one thing in common this summer – they will not be in the second round of the NBA play-offs.
It is the first time that has happened since the 2009-10 season.
With three of the greatest players of all time out of contention, a new generation of stars are preparing to step up to the top of the game.
So, who should we be keeping an eye on as we get deeper into the play-offs?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s front office could not have envisaged the meteoric rise of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander when they traded for him in 2019.
Joining after a season for the LA Clippers where he averaged just under 11 points, he has finished this term as a nominee for the regular season MVP award.
Gilgeous-Alexander has been the focal point of Oklahoma’s rise to the top of the Western Conference, bettering last season’s campaign where they did not make the play-offs.
The 25-year-old is right up there in terms of offensive output, hitting 30.4 points per game – the second highest in the league.
But at the other end, he is just as strong on defence with an average of two steals per match.
His skills in isolation, on transition, and in the pick and roll have stood out.
The young Thunder squad, known for not only their on-court brilliance but also their impressive post-game barking, have made waves in the league this year and pulled off a clean sweep of the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round.
Anthony Edwards
A key component of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ clean sweep of Durant’s Phoenix Suns – Edwards scored a ruthless 124 points across four games to send them packing.
If you have watched the Last Dance documentary on Netflix you will know just how many times Michael Jordan “took it personally”. And ‘Ant Man’ lives by the same mantra.
His athleticism has not gone unnoticed by the greats either.
The mutual respect shown between Durant and Edwards following their play-off match-up was evident after game four.
Curry has also been impressed.
“I’d take Anthony Edwards’ athleticism all day long if I could pick one thing from any NBA player,” he told BBC Sport.
“That coupled with my shooting – it’d be very dangerous.”
Pair Edwards with a Timberwolves side that also features Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert and you have got a pretty solid championship-contending recipe.
Jayson Tatum
The best player on the best regular season team.
Boston’s box-office baller has not surprised anyone this season – in the best way possible.
The expectations on Tatum are so high that it is not a shock when he puts in huge performances.
He scored 105 points in five games against the Miami Heat, with a triple-double in game one.
His unselfish play and physical toughness helped pull the Celtics through a tough series against a Heat side known for their dogged and gritty performances.
Tatum has a stellar scoring ability as a forward with multiple skills.
His explosiveness, mixed with quick footwork to create separation with defenders, has troubled the Eastern Conference all year.
Playing for a side whose championship credentials have been so widely questioned over the past two years, Tatum is on the way to laying those doubts to rest.
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