In the NBA, it is fair to say that superstars are what ultimately win championships in the league. Though there are times when good team construction can surpass a team not having an All-NBA level player, it is fair to say that most championships are won through talent.

There is a lot of up-and-coming young talent in the league right now, and there are a few players that could end up being superstars in the future. The league’s talent is at an all-time high, and there are some very special players who are playing at a high level right now.

Of course, the question is about what defines a superstar in the league. For ease of definition, we will simply say that a superstar is a top-15 player in the NBA. In this article, we will explain why the 5 players selected have top-15 potential in the league, and why they could be the faces of the NBA in the future. The analysis will be a mix of using the eye test and data from BBall-Index.

5. Tyrese Haliburton

Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Box Score Stats: 20.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 10.4 APG, 49.0 FG%, 40.0 3PT%

Point guard Tyrese Haliburton made his first All-Star appearance during the 2022-23 season and for good reason. Haliburton has really blossomed for the Indiana Pacers after being given the keys to their offense. He is one of the few true pass-first players in the league and his playmaking is truly special.

Here are some metrics about Tyrese Haliburton’s playmaking that are extremely impressive: he creates 10.68 high-value assists per 75 possessions, which is in the 100th percentile in the league. High-value assists are defined as assists that lead to free throws, made 3PT shots, or made rim shots, and it is clear that Haliburton has a knack for putting his teammates in the right positions to score. He also has a staggering 27.18 potential assists per 100 passes, which ranks in the 98th percentile in the entire league.

One of the things that enables Tyrese Haliburton’s playmaking ability besides his own vision is his 3PT shooting ability. It is fair to say that Haliburton is a knockdown 3PT shooter, and he knows how to hit a variety of 3PT shots whether it is off the dribble or off the catch. What is impressive is that Tyrese Haliburton has a -1.32 3PT shot quality, which means that he is often forced into taking bad shots due to opposing defenses loading up on him. Despite some initial concerns about his jump-shooting form, it is clear that he has managed to thrive in the league despite his unorthodox form.

Of course, there are things that Tyrese Haliburton has to get better at. His midrange game definitely needs some work, and his defense leaves a lot to be desired. However, it is fair to say that Haliburton is a wizard on the offensive end, and it’ll be interesting to see what kind of player he can develop into.

4. Brandon Ingram

Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Box Score Stats: 24.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 5.8 APG, 48.4 FG%, 39.0 3PT%

There is no doubt that Brandon Ingram has been in the league for a while, but as of right now, he is only 25 years old and has put in the best all-around season of his career last season. He is one of the most versatile offensive wings in the league, capable of doing pretty much anything on the court.

The key development for Brandon Ingram this season has been his playmaking, and there is no doubt that he is one of the best passing forwards in the league. He creates 27.9 potential assists per 100 passes, but frequently, the New Orleans Pelicans’ lack of many credible 3PT threats means that a good look results in a missed shot.

Oftentimes, Brandon Ingram’s presence on the court alone creates an advantage for the New Orleans Pelicans offense. He was one of the most double-teamed players in the league last season, and obviously, getting double-teamed allows him to pass out and create a look for his teammate or make a pass that leads to an open look.

Oftentimes, the mark of a great player is how well they do in the biggest moments. It is fair to say that by multiple metrics, Brandon Ingram is a very clutch player. He was a top-6 player in clutch PPG and shot 57.1% from the field when it came to clutch moments.

Though he can be categorized as a relatively complete offensive player, Brandon Ingram is not without his weaknesses. He is a mediocre defender despite his physical tools, and one of the things Ingram needs to do to take the next step offensively is improve his 3PT shooting. Though he shot a solid 39.0% from the 3PT range, that was only on 3.6 attempts a game. If he increases his 3PT attempts by just a little bit next season, we could see another offensive leap from the young wing.

3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

Box Score Stats: 31.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 5.5 APG, 51.0 FG%, 34.5 3PT%

To some, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is already a superstar. He made the All-NBA first team this year, so perhaps he shouldn’t be included in a future superstars list. However, there are definitely plenty of detractors who use the young guard’s lack of team success against him, and call him a player that puts up numbers on a bad team. With that being said, he is clearly one of the brightest young talents in the league, and it is clear that he has a very high ceiling.

One of the most impressive things about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is that he gets a large amount of his points in the paint while being efficient at doing so. He leads the league in drives per game while shooting an efficient 51.8% on those attempts. 89% of his shots made at the rim are unassisted, and it is clear that Gilgeous-Alexander is a gifted finisher who uses s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 to finish at the basket consistently.

It is fair to say that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a two-way player as well, and perimeter defense is definitely an area of strength for him. BBall-Index has him with 1.64 steals per 75 possessions and 3.58 deflections per 75 possessions, which rank him in the 93rd and 91st percentile respectively. Though he has his flaws on that end, it is clear that Gilgeous-Alexander is highly active defensively.

The key for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is, of course, to continue improving his jump-shooting ability. It isn’t that he is unable to do so: rather, he prefers to rely on his primary weapon which is driving to the basket. However, having a good perimeter game can open things up for him, and allow him to dissect a defense in a multitude of ways. He doesn’t need to become a 3PT specialist by any means, as Gilgeous-Alexander has shown that he can thrive without a high volume of 3PT shots. But 2.5 3PT attempts a game is a little low for a guard in the modern era, and a slight increase wouldn’t hurt.

2. Anthony Edwards

Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Box Score Stats: 24.6 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 4.4 APG, 45.9 FG%, 36.9 3PT%

Many believe that Anthony Edwards’ rise to superstardom is only a matter of time. He is a dynamic scoring guard with top-tier athleticism, and some have even claimed that he reminds them of Michael Jordan. Though it is unlikely that Edwards will end up having Jordan’s career, it is quite likely that he will be a superstar in this league.

Even though he is only 6’4, Anthony Edwards’ slashing is absolutely insane. That is the most efficient way in which he can score. He shoots 63.9% in the restricted area, on a largely self-created shot diet: 85% of his shots at the rim are unassisted and his finishing talent is in the 99th percentile. Frequently, Anthony Edwards’ shots are contested at the rim, as his shot quality at the rim was a -1.5, which is in the 7th percentile.

Anthony Edwards has a fantastic perimeter game as well, and though his percentage overall is a little low, he has a lot of gravity outside of the 3PT line due to the difficulty of shots he is able to make. His 3PT shot creation is considered to be in the 98th percentile, and his 3PT shotmaking is in the 95th percentile. The only part of his 3PT shooting that Anthony Edwards can improve on is his shot selection: oftentimes he takes difficult shots, rather than passing to an open teammate or trying to get to the rim for an easier attempt.

The key area for Anthony Edwards to work on is his midrange ability. He only shot 36.8% from the midrange area, and the key to becoming a complete scorer is to be proficient from all three levels. It is quite possible that Anthony Edwards will become impossible to guard if his midrange improves, and we’ll see if he improves in that area in the future.

1. Zion Williamson

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Box Score Stats: 26.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 4.6 APG, 60.8 FG%, 36.8 3PT%

Zion Williamson has not yet made an All-NBA team, and that is shocking to think about given his supreme talent. His health is the key thing holding him back, but the talent on the court is absolutely undeniable. Williamson’s ability to finish at the rim is insane, and we’ll dive into it here.

As mentioned previously, Zion Williamson’s slashing is otherworldly. He shoots 69.1% in the restricted area, which is impressive given almost all of his baskets come right at the rim. His drives to the rim also draw a lot of defensive attention, and Williamson’s scoring gravity of 4.46 ranks in the 100th percentile in the league, meaning very few if any players command the same sort of attention. If defenses choose to guard him 1 on 1, then Zion Williamson punishes them as well: he gets 1.07 PPP on isolation plays, which is also in the 100th percentile in the league.

What is also impressive about Zion Williamson is that he doesn’t necessarily need many touches to be successful. He averaged 26.0 PPG on only 16.0 FGA a game, and at one point was one of the leaders in the league in the amount of points scored per touch. This sort of efficiency on the court is why many believe he is a generational talent.

One of the more underrated aspects of Zion Williamson’s game is his playmaking ability. Teams loading up on him frequently means there are open 3PT opportunities for his teammates, and a drive from Williamson usually results in a made basket or an open shot.

There is no doubt that the key thing Zion Williamson needs to improve on isn’t even anything to do with basketball s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s. It is about simply being able to stay on the basketball court. He only averages 28.5 games a season, and that number needs to be higher if the New Orleans Pelicans are to become contenders. Hopefully, we see Zion Williamson manage to stay healthy next season and take his place among the best superstars in the NBA