The NBA has always been a league of superstars — real superstars. The players good enough to go toe-to-toe with the best of the best and still come out on top.
Michael Jordan. Tim Duncan. LeBron James. Magic Johnson. Larry Bird. Bill Russell. Wilt Chamberlain. You all know the names, and the list most certainly doesn't end there.
In today's league there is no shortage of stars, and even a handful of truly elite players.
Yet as NBA observers, we must always have an eye toward the future in an attempt to identify the next big thing.
Of course, that journey is not linear. Steve Nash didn't become an MVP until he was 31, and we've seen others not hit the league as instant stars, but eventually get there. (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, anyone?)
So, are there players currently in the NBA who are productive but could have more in the tank than we might believe?
Needless to say, we don't know the answer, but here are three players we at least should keep under a watchful eye.
(For the sake of this exercise, Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel are not included, as both are already on star-like trajectories.)
Cedric Coward, Memphis Grizzlies
The rookie wing is older than most at 22, which usually isn't a strong indicator of a ton of future growth. However, Coward's game seems to have the potential to carry more.
The 6-foot-5 guard/wing is a solid scorer who has a strong, physical NBA body, and he knows how to use it. He understands the value of the 3-point line and has virtually flawless jumpshot mechanics.
On top of that, he's an outright ridiculous rebounder at his size, grabbing 6.2 per game in just 26.3 minutes. He moves the ball well (2.9 assists), doesn't turn it over frequently and even gets to the foul line a fair bit, considering his tendency to seek the 3-point line.
As he stands to gain a bigger role with the trade of Jaren Jackson Jr., could we see a quick rise out of Coward in Year 2? Probably, but the role of genuine franchise leader and potential league-wide superstar is probably not in the cards.
Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls
The 6-9 combo forward is in his second year and is showing signs of becoming something most teams are looking for: a plug-and-play guy. Buzelis takes 5.6 triples per game and almost 35% of his overall shot attempts are right at the rim.
He can routinely create his own looks, particularly inside the 3-point line but is also very capable of playing off lead guards.
There is a world where Buzelis, 21, becomes an All-Star, given his tools and two-way upside. But superstar status is a tall task — and perhaps unreasonable.
Like Coward, Buzelis is likely to become a critical part of a rebuilding franchise, and more of a complementary star down the line, who needs someone better next to him, if he wants to compete for championships.
Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers
When a guy averages 24.4 points, 7 rebounds, 6.6 assists and makes the All-Star game, presumably he's on his way to ultimate superstardom.
Except, Avdija still has a ways to go, and at 25, this does look like his major leap. He'll refine on what he does now and improve within the margins of his current game, but is there another step up from here?
As good as the 6-9 Israeli forward is — and he is very, very good — you have to wonder if he can be the best player and primary decision-maker on a team that could ever compete for a title.
If anything, Avdija seems to represent the absolute ceiling of Coward and Buzelis, which means he's ahead of the curve in that he's already there and is currently at the established star stage. To go from where he is now to something better seems almost unfathomable.