The year is 2028.
The Boston Celtics are looking to defend their championship and Luka Doncic is trying to add another MVP to his collection. LeBron James announced he will consider retiring after his 25th season in the NBA and buying a percentage of his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers. Sports betting from this list of online betting sites is at an all-time high.
Some familiar faces have retired, some young stars have risen to lead the NBA to a new era. The league has transformed over the last five years.
As a project, The Lead’s staffers were polled on which players we believe will be leading the association in five years. The following contributors participated in the poll: Joshua Balta, Dominic Chiappone, Logan Collien, Josh Douglas, Jesús Feliciano-Batista, Sabrina Hiller, Mason Ihrke, Justin Lewis, Ben McCormick, Adam Melton, Jake Morris, Richie Ostler, Zach Schmidt, Eric Tartaglia, Scott Vanos, Brandon Willman, and Grant Yolch.
There was no scientific formula for deciding the following players. The list was made as a fun exercise.
All-NBA First Team
Giannis Antetokounmpo – Milwaukee Bucks
When the Milwaukee Bucks drafted the largely unknown 18-year-old from Greece in 2013, who would have thought he’d have any future in the league — better yet, 15 years of dominance.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has done just that. The Bucks’ all-time leading scorer is a guaranteed first-ballot Hall of Famer, a champion and an international icon. Over a decade after entering the NBA, Giannis is still putting up monster numbers while giving his all on both ends of the court. — Ben McCormick
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Jayson Tatum – Boston Celtics
For the seventh year in a row, Jayson Tatum finds himself among the top-five greatest basketball players in the world.
At 30, JT had a season for the history books. The newly donned “King of the NBA” averaged 30.5 points per game while joining the 50/40/90 club, leading the Boston Celtics to the best record in the NBA. JT also cemented himself as one of the best Celtics to ever play, surpassing Larry Bird for the third-most points while repping a Boston jersey. — Eric Tartaglia
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Luka Dončić – Los Angeles Lakers
After a slow debut season wearing the iconic purple and gold, Dončić responded assertively by posting the best numbers of his career so far.
Scoring an efficient 30 points per game with 11 rebounds and close to 10 assists, Luka continued to evolve this season by leading his team to the first seed of the Western Conference. The favorite to win the MVP award, his second so far, Luka now looks to greater success: the Larry O’Brien trophy that is still missing from his impressive résumé. — Jesus Feliciano
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Nikola Jokić – Denver Nuggets
Jokić remains as the best center in the league and has been rightfully crowned to the All-NBA First Team, solidifying his status as one of the game’s greatest talents.
With unmatched court vision and playmaking prowess, he has continued to revolutionize the position, becoming the epitome of a modern-day big man. Night in and night out, he leaves opponents in awe, delivering triple-doubles with remarkable efficiency. Jokić’s unparalleled skills have elevated his team to new heights, making him a true leader on and off the court. This accolade showcases his dedication, hard work and basketball brilliance, leaving a permanent mark on league history. — Scott Vanos
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder
SGA has continued to lead the Thunder to championship contention ever since making an appearance on the 2022-23 All-NBA First Team.
His elusive and crafty game has only gotten better with time, as he’s making quicker reads to not only score the ball, but create for his teammates. Don’t be surprised if SGA sneaks out with the MVP this season, his numbers and success show he deserves it. — Jake Morris
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All-NBA Second Team
Anthony Edwards – Minnesota Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards just made his fifth-consecutive All NBA selection.
Edwards’ two-way capabilities were on full display with his league-leading 4.0 steals per game. He was also a walking bucket, getting his team an easy 28 points a game. When he is asked to look back on the 2027-28 season, he will laugh and say his favorite memory is getting his revenge on the Grizzlies in the playoffs, sending them packing in five games. — Sabrina Hiller
Victor Wembanyama – San Antonio Spurs
The floor/ceiling evaluation is a long-time favorite of draft gurus and casuals alike.
Most people play the game safe: the floor being a solid rotation piece and the ceiling being a guy who makes a few All-Star games. But what happens when you take perhaps the most physically endowed prospect ever with savant-level instincts and give him one of the greatest coaches of all time?
Now what happens when you give him Hall-of-Fame mentors such as Tim Duncan and Tony Parker? The truth is, Wemby’s floor is already higher than the majority of his peers’ CEILINGS. His generational talent, coaching and mentorship has already translated into perennial All-NBA status. — Logan Collien
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Devin Booker – Chicago Bulls
Booker continues to be the best shooting guard in the league, and carves himself a spot as one of the best guards in the last 30 years.
After leading the league in scoring for the Bulls — averaging a cool 32 points per game — Book continues to chase down the legacy of one of his idols: Kobe Bryant. However, Book is still hunting for an integral part of the Mamba puzzle: a championship. With Book at the helm and another All-NBA costar, the Bulls look poised for another long run. — Jesus Feliciano
Paolo Banchero – Orlando Magic
How does a first pick become one of the most underrated players in the NBA?
Banchero’s development from potential great player to definite best player in a championship team has been impressive. Not only has the forward’s stats gone up every year, but his leadership and basketball IQ continue to improve as well. Banchero continues to lead the Magic to new heights every year, and his partnership with Franz Wagner could result in a finals appearance any season now. — Jesus Feliciano
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Tyrese Haliburton – New York Knicks
Not many expected Haliburton’s vision to improve after his breakout season with the Pacers in 2023, but Hali has surpassed all expectations. Leading the league with 12 assists per game, Haliburton brings his amazing passing to the Knicks night after night, making his teammates better and leading them to surpass all expectations set on the team this season. — Jesus Feliciano
All-NBA Third Team
Scoot Henderson – Portland Trail Blazers
Since being drafted as a 19-year-old, Scoot Henderson has quickly developed into the top echelon of guards.
A high-volume playmaker, his scoring numbers are finally getting to the point where he is getting All-NBA recognition. At just 24, Scoot’s not even in his prime and is already averaging 25 points and eight rebounds a game while leading his Blazers to their best record in the post-Lillard era. — Brandon Willman
Ja Morant – Memphis Grizzlies
The growth of Ja Morant has been spectacular.
Five years after his incidents and suspension, Morant put his past behind him and reached his potential. The superstar guard saw his counting stats dip this season, but that was in response to his talented squad taking another leap and Jaren Jackson Jr. taking more scoring responsibilities. Morant was ultraefficient on offense, leading all players in PER. Expect the Grizzlies to make big changes this offseason if the squad disappoints yet again and they waste an amazing Ja season. — Jesus Feliciano
Evan Mobley – Cleveland Cavaliers
Two-time Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley continues to be arguably the best defensive player in the NBA.
Not only did the dominant big man lead the league in stocks, with over three of each per game, but he also set an impressive record for 5-by-5’s. Mobley’s three 5-by-5’s is not only an interesting record, but also demonstrates his versatility on both ends. While he still leaves some space for improvement on offense, his defensive impact can not be ignored in the Cavs’ success. — Jesus Feliciano
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Jaylen Brown – Miami Heat
Brown is at the peak of his basketball powers.
It’s hard not to value a versatile wing who can defend multiple positions and create offense for himself as well as others, especially after guys like LeBron, Durant, Kawhi and company have aged out of the top of the pack. After signing a five-year, $304 million supermax extension in the 2023 offseason and being traded to the Heat a few seasons later, Brown is in the middle of the All-NBA conversation. This should not change for the next half decade. — Dominic Chiappone
Donovan Mitchell – Chicago Bulls
Donovan Mitchell’s second season with the Chicago Bulls earned him a spot on the All-NBA team.
His exceptional scoring prowess, averaging an impressive 26.4 points per game, was the most in Bulls history by an individual not named Jordan or Booker. Mitchell’s on-court leadership inspired the Doc Rivers led Bulls to a remarkable regular season, with clutch performances in crucial moments cementing his status as a true superstar in the league. With career-best statistics, he consistently delivered stellar performances, elevating the Bulls to heights not recently seen. — Adam Melton
