The Future of the NBA Part II

17 Jul 2009

Experts have debated whether or not the NBA is entering another golden age with NBA leaders like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade and Dwight Howard all under the age of 30. Looking ahead to the next ten years, the question is which players, executives and coaches will have the biggest impact on the league besides the already established stars? Here is a look at those who will help change the landscape of the NBA, 6 through 3.

6. Ricky Rubio
There is no denying that the NBA has become a global game and some of the best young NBA prospects reflect that. Andrea Bargnani, Danilo Gallinari, Rudy Fernandez and Marc Gasol are all young international players primed to make an impact on the NBA’s future. No international player is going to make a bigger impact than the 5th pick in the 2009 draft, Ricky Rubio.

Rubio, also known as “La Pistola” (homage to Pistol Pete), has the tools and the looks to be a NBA superstar. He has been playing professional basketball since he was 14-years-old. He collected various accolades while playing professional basketball in Spain, most notably the Mr. Europa European Player of the Year Award in the 2008 (an award once received by Arvydas Sabonis, Toni Kukoc, Peja Stojakovic, Pau Gasol and Dirk Nowinski). However, these European accomplishments don’t guarantee a stellar NBA career. Many of the “best international players” have flopped in the NBA (literally and figuratively) including Lithuanian PG Sarunas Jasikevicius.

While others before him have failed, Rubio has one thing going for him that other international players did not. He is only 18-years-old and has already proven he can compete with the best.  He played on the Spanish national team during the 2008 Olympics and held his own against the NBA’s best point guards. Rubio stepped onto the world’s stage and he did not disappoint. He demonstrated his vision and ability to pass the ball accurately, which will make him one of the best pure point guards in the NBA. His early accomplishments have garnered praise from current NBA players including Chris Paul, arguably the best point guard in the league.

“It’s crazy what he’s already done. I am 23 and I think in the things I’ve done, but he is only 17, it’s crazy! He has already been in the Olympics. I’ve played 3 years in college and 3 years in the NBA before going to the Olympics. He will come to the NBA to steal my job.” (10/19/2008 Solo Basket)

Rubio will become the face of international players in the NBA whether he succeeds or fails. He has already been featured in a Gillette commercial featuring Derek Jeter, Tiger Woods and Roger Federer, and once he comes to the United States should have more endorsements than he knows what to do with. The question is not if he will come to the NBA, but when. Once he gets around the buyout issue, Rubio should make an instant impact on the NBA off the court if not on it.

5. Anthony Randolph

Anthony Randolph is the hardest person to place on this list. He has the potential to redefine the game of basketball but also has the potential to be a none factor in the NBA’s future.

He’s somewhere between 6’10 and 6’11, with a long wingspan and wiry frame. In other words he’s an athletic freak. He processes a unique skill set for someone of his size, which might propel him to the top of this list one day. He has an explosive first step and ball handling ability to beat big men off the dribble. He is left-handed but looks comfortable going to his left or his right, and his handling and passing ability allow him to bring the ball up court when need be. Randolph has a silky smooth mid-range jumper and over time he should be able to develop a consistent three-point shot. In the post he relies on finesse (mainly a turnaround jumper), but if he is able to put on size he’ll develop some more refined post moves. Defensively he has the length and the speed to guard the perimeter and the size and explosive jumping ability to be an elite shot blocker.

Anthony Randolph has probably more raw potential than anyone in the NBA but potential does always produce. The question becomes will Randolph be able to put it all together? During this year’s summer league he has looked dominant and tied a record by scoring 42 points. (Anthony Morrow broke the record today with 47 points.) Before you anoint him a hall of famer, keep in mind that the record was previously held by Marcus Banks and Von Wafer. More promising is his showing toward the end of last season. Randolph averaged 11.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 2.4 blocks in 28.6 minutes, when the Warriors were short-manned due to injury at the end of the season. If he receives consistent minutes (which is always a question mark with Don Nelson) he could become a true threat.

Warrior Fans believe he will be the next Magic while many feel he’ll be yet another Lamar Odom. Let’s just say he’ll probably fall somewhere in-between.

4. Derrick Rose and Rajon Rondo

Magic Johnson vs. Isiah Thomas. John Stockton vs. Gary Payton. Steve Nash vs. Tony Parker. Chris Paul vs. Deron Williams. Nothing makes basketball better than a great point guard match. Chris Paul and Deron Williams aren’t on this list since they have already established themselves as stars in the league, but two other point guards are on the rise.

The match-up of the 2009 playoffs wasn’t Kobe and LeBron (thanks to Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic) but rather Rajon Rondo vs. Derrick Rose. The two young point guards stole the show from the Boston Three Party and carried the series on their back.

In case you don’t remember the series. Rajon Rondo averaged a triple double in the series, averaging 20.8 points, 11.5 assists (including a Celtic record-tying 19 assists in Game 6) and 10.1 rebounds per game and showed that the Big Three should be called the Big Four.

Derrick Rose wasn’t going to be outshined by Rondo. Rose opened the series by tying Lew Alcinder’s 39 year old record playoff rookie scoring record by scoring 36 points in the Bulls upset win (he also had 11 assists and 4 rebounds). After disappearing for two games (he was a rookie after all) Rose was spectacular again in Game 4 and flirted with a triple double scoring 23 points, dishing out 9 assists and pulling down 11 rebounds.  In Game 6 Derrick Rose scored 28 points, had 7 assists and 8 rebounds, but most importantly he made the game-saving block on Rajon Rondo’s go-ahead basket.

More impressive than the stats both these point guards put up in this series? The fact that we will get to see this great match again and again over the next ten years in the Eastern Conference and when was the last time the East had a great point guard rivalry?

3. Brandon Jennings and Jeremy Tyler

David Stern ended the prep-to-pro basketball dream in 2007, but Brandon Jennings created a new dream when he decided against attending Arizona and decided to play professionally in Italy.

Brandon Jennings’ (aka Young Money) career in Europe was less than great. He averaged 7.6 points, 1.6 assists and shot a woeful 38% from the field. Regardless of his poor stats, Jennings still received a $2 million contract from Under Armor and was able to hone his skills against professional basketball players rather than student athletes. Critics from the media were quick to point to Jennings’ stats and doubt his draft status but in the end his decision to go to Europe, though surrounded by controversy, didn’t have a negative effect on his draft status as he was a top ten draft pick. Brandon Jennings was the first prep to Europe player but Jeremy Tyler has taken the prep to Europe move to a new level.

Jeremy Tyler is a 6’9 rising senior who had committed to Louisville in 2010. However Jeremy Tyler decided to forgo his senior year in high school to play professional basketball in Europe. Tyler didn’t leave school because of academic reasons but rather because he truly believes that playing in Europe will make him a better basketball player. At 6’9 he doesn’t face much competition in his regular high school games. While in Europe he’ll get professional coaching and will face off against men his own size. His two years in Europe will allow him to mature and learn how to play professional basketball. In 2011 he will enter the NBA draft having already proven whether he is capable of playing professional basketball.

The successes and failures of Brandon Jennings and Jeremy Tyler will set the tone for future high school prospects. Much like when Kevin Garnett (1995) and Kobe Bryant (1996) left high school for the pros, Jennings and Tyler could become the pioneers of a new movement. All eyes will be on both players throughout their career. Whether they become All-Stars or fade to obscurity, their decision to play in Europe will be considered the reason why. In ten years going Prep-to-Europe might be as common as going Prep-to-Pro was in the past. Jennings and Tyler will be the prototypes for this jump.

SOURCES:  ESPN, NBA DRAFT, REALGM, SOLO BASKET