With LeBron James and Stephen Curry nearing the twilight of their careers, the NBA spotlight is starting to shift. Who’s next in line to carry the league forward?
On Thursday’s episode of First Take, ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, Kendrick Perkins, and David Dennis Jr. joined Evan Cohen to tackle that very question. While LeBron remains the league’s biggest draw, commanding global attention, younger stars like Jayson Tatum and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are quickly rising.
“If the Golden State Warriors somehow win at all this year, I have no problem saying I’d rather have Steph Curry’s career than LeBron James’ career,” Evan Cohen said (4:36). “LeBron will go down as a better player, but in terms of the career I’d rather have Steph Curry.”
Tatum, already viewed as a top-five player and MVP candidate, is entering a pivotal postseason. With Jaylen Brown possibly not at full strength, this is Tatum’s chance to lead and silence any remaining doubt. A strong playoff run – maybe even a Finals MVP – could cement his place as the future face of the NBA.
“I think this is the postseason for him to not only go out there and get another championship, but to go get a Finals MVP, and to make sure he remind everybody that, when LeBron and Steph leave, y’all better mention my name for us being the next face of the NBA,” Kendrick Perkins said (0:20).
Beyond LeBron and Steph, there’s SGA, who has turned heads across the league
The Western Conference @Kia Player of the Month for March is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander! #KiaPOTM pic.twitter.com/QPe0VJQqd5
— NBA (@NBA) April 1, 2025
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s not just scoring in bunches, he’s doing it efficiently and playing defense at a high level. Alexander’s the engine behind the Thunder’s surprising success and looks poised to take Oklahoma City deep into the playoffs.
“There’s three teams that can win a championship this year, and only one of them truly coming from the Western Conference, and that’s Oklahoma City, because of the catalyst, the engine that SGA has been all year,” Courtney Cronin said (3:13). “One serious contender in the West right now, and that’s the Oklahoma City Thunder, because of SGA.”
With a league-best 66–14 record, the Thunder sit atop the West and are widely seen as a rising powerhouse beyond this season.
Meanwhile, if Kawhi Leonard leads the Clippers to a title, he’d join rare company, players who’ve won championships with three different teams, further complicating comparisons to LeBron.
These playoffs are more than just a race to the title. They’re a turning point. The NBA’s next chapter of stardom is unfolding, and rising stars are seizing the spotlight.
READ: Warriors’ Urgent Need for Wins Amidst Controversy
I am a writer passionate about telling the stories behind the game of basketball. From the culture and personalities shaping the sport to the moments that define it, I explore basketball beyond the box score.
