INDIANAPOLIS — During the 2024 All-Star weekend, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry was asked about possible new faces in the league. The NBA is at a crossroads right now with its elite talent.
Familiar names like Curry, LeBron James and Kevin Durant have dominated for over a decade, but they’re all entering the twilight stages of their dominance. A changing of the guard could soon happen.
When asked who could take the mantle, Curry listed off Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The 25-year-old beat out Curry for an All-Star starting spot.
“There’s a lot of guys to pick from in this group of 24 that are here. You see Luka (Doncic), (Anthony Edwards), Shai, guys that are really coming into their prime, and they’re highly decorated already as All-Stars and (All-)NBA guys,” Curry said. “But have a perspective, I guess, of what that means within the on-court/off-court opportunities with the doors that basketball opens in that respect.
“You’ve got a lot of talent to choose from in that respect. I think the more you understand the authenticity around it, and like me and Bron and KD, like the guys you named, have done it and tried to do that in our way, where it might look different for different guys.
“But the league is in pretty good hands when it comes to young talent that I think gets it and understands the magnitude of the platform we all have and will respect it as they come into their own.”
It’s easy to understand why Curry would choose Gilgeous-Alexander as one of his candidates — he’s been an MVP candidate on one of the best contenders in the league in the Thunder (37-17), whose entire starting lineup is 25 years or younger.
In 53 games, Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 31.1 points on 54.6% shooting, 6.5 assists and 5.5 rebounds. It’s an impressive jump from last season, where he broke out as one of the best players in the league and finished No. 5 in MVP voting.
