The NBA is a league of movement, and we never know what a superstar's next move will be. As the league transitions over the next couple of years out of the LeBron James & Steph Curry era, it will be interesting to see how the league's current young stars try to shape their careers.
With that in mind, I figured I would take a shot and try to predict what the landscape of the NBA will look like in 2028 when the Summer Olympics take place in Los Angeles, California in four years.
NOTE: These Are Not My Top 10 Under 25 Years Old Players!!! Just the first 10 I thought of for this list.
Victor Wembanyama- San Antonio Spurs (Age In 2028 Olympics: 24)
In 2028, the Wemby takeover should be in full effect. I assume by the time the ball tips in LA for the 2028 Olympic Games, Wembanyama will firmly be the best player in the world and on his second contract with San Antonio. In four years, he had the Spurs should be beginning to contend for the NBA championship under his watch.
Anthony Edwards- Miami Heat (Age In 2028 Olympics: 27)
Almost every Olympic games involves the formation of the NBA's next All-Star team-up between players on different teams and I am predicting the same thing here. I think by 2028, Anthony Edwards will look back on his experience in the 2024 Olympics with Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, and big man Bam Adebayo, who will only be 31 years old himself in 2028.
Miami works its magic yet again and lands Edwards who will be the next great guard in Heat history.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander- Oklahoma City Thunder (Age In 2028: 30)
I believe Gilgeous-Alexander will remain in OKC for a long time, perhaps the remainder of his career. By 2028, I think he will have an MVP and a championship on his resume while the Thunder should remain a consistent contender as the core around him is so young with players such as Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams being under 28 years old.
Luka Doncic- Dallas Mavericks (Age In 2028: 29)
Luka Doncic can sign a 5-year, 364 million-dollar contract extension with the Dallas Mavericks next summer. Yes, you read those numbers correctly, 364 million dollars.
I always have my eyes on a potential team-up with Jokic and Doncic if both the Mavericks and Nuggets struggle to improve the rosters around their superstars with both team's limited resources. However, with that record-shattering money on the table, Doncic will still be a Maverick in 2028.
Zion Williamson- Brooklyn Nets (Age In 2028: 28)
I am very confident Williamson will not be a Pelican in four years. The man who had his eyes set on the Big Apple when he was the obvious #1 pick in 2019, finally lands in New York, not with the Knicks, but rather the Nets.
Given Williamson's injury history and struggles to remain on the court, he seems like the perfect Net as every time they acquire a superstar, it seems that the player's run in Brooklyn ends with a ton of "What If's"?. As much as it hurts to say, based on what we have seen so far, Zion Williamson's career could be summed with those two words if his injury woes continue.
LaMelo Ball- Los Angeles Clippers (Age In 2028: 26)
By 2028, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden should be long gone and the Clippers may have the nicest arena in the league, but it will be tough to fill the seats when if the team sucks and is boring.
Ball has always seemed destined to play under the bright lights of Hollywood and Steve Ballmer finds a way to bring LaMelo back to Los Angeles to be the next face of the Clippers.
Trae Young- Las Vegas NBA Team (Age In 2028: 29)
Young is the type of player who just fits in Las Vegas with his dazzling playmaking with the confidence to shoot from anywhere on the court. I expect Vegas to have a team within the next four years, and Young will be the face of that franchise.
Ja Morant- Memphis Grizzlies (Age In 2028: 29)
Despite everything Morant has gone through off the court (much by his own doing), the Grizzlies have supported him every step of the way. I believe the last year will benefit Ja in the long run. He will reward the franchise that never left his side by staying with the Grizz for a long time.
Cade Cunningham- San Antonio Spurs (Age In 2028: 26)
The Detroit Pistons are a joke.
I think sometime over the next four years, Cade Cunningham will request a trade as the frustration of losing starts to get to him.
If this is the case, the Spurs offer the farm to find a running mate for Wemby which would form one of the NBA's most dynamic duos as they will look to bring a title back to San Antonio.
Scottie Barnes- Los Angeles Lakers (Age In 2028: 27)
I have no idea how they will pull it off, but somehow, we know the Lakers will find a way to land someone in the post-LeBron era.
The Raptors are currently one of the teams who seem directionless. They are not bad enough to be at the bottom of the league, and they are not good enough to compete.
Eventually, the Raptors decide to rebuild, which allows the Lakers, out of desperation to give Toronto an offer they cannot refuse to bring Barnes to Los Angeles.
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