Over the years, the NBA has gone through power shifts. Each decade, new players reach the mountain top of pinnacle NBA excellence. When you think of the 80s its always Magic, Bird, Kareem, Moses, and Dr. J. The 90s is Jordan, Hakeem , Barkley, Malone, and Stockton, so on and so forth. The question is, by the year 2030, which players will be at the top of the mountain? Assuming current NBA greats retire before 2030 (LeBron, Steph, and KD), the NBA will look very different at the top; and for that, I think it deserves a deep dive. I will give you who I think the Top 10 players in the NBA will be in the year 2030. So let’s look 5 years into the future and see who is the face of the league….

Honorable Mention

I don’t want to get too long-winded when discussing players who I will believe will be on the outside of the Top 10 in the year 2030, so let’s breeze past this….

Alperen Sengun – In 2030 Sengun will be 28 years old and will likely be part of a potent duo with another one of my Honorable Mentions. By this time, Sengun will be one of the best playmakers in the league, and one of 10 best playmakers at his position all time. But his ability to stretch the floor will keep him out of the Top 10.

Amen Thompson – Thompson will be the best on-ball defender in the NBA at this time, and at the ripe age of 27, will just be entering his prime. Amen will be a top 10 player at some point (provided his jumper improves) but he will have to wait until he is 29/30 for that to happen as there are too many elite players at his position ahead of him.

Cooper Flagg – Cooper will only be 24 at this time, but by then he will be the face of the Mavericks, and one of the best two-way stars in the league. He will be just outside of the Top 10, but his hunger and desire to improve will catapult him into Top 10 discussion by 2032.

Tyrese Haliburton – Tyrese was my most difficult omission from my Top 10 of 2030 list. His game is going to age beautifully as he progresses and ages. He will be 30 years old in 2030 (even though he is a Leap Year baby and will really only be 7 years old), and his game is predicated on his playmaking ability and basketball IQ. Having said that, I don’t think he will ever average more than 23 points and 10 assists because that’s is not what he is asked to do. He’ll be an All-NBA player each years he’s healthy going into 2030, but he won’t be Top 10.

10. Evan Mobley

One of my favorite players to watch in the NBA is Evan Mobley, and can you blame me? He’s a silky smooth 6’11 PF/C with guard skills coming off of a DPOY Award. By 2030, he will be in the middle of his prime at 29 years old with a more polished offensive arsenal at his disposal. Even more important, assuming he’s still in Cleveland, he will be their best player (I assume Mitchell will start to regress starting in 2028, small guards age quickly in the NBA, see Damian Lillard). In 2030, Mobley and Wemby will be facing off almost every year in DPOY voting, and I expect Evan to average 26 points 11 rebounds and 2 blocks while shooting 34% from 3. Mobley will develop into a modern day Kevin Garnett, as was his comp when he was drafted.

9. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Oh Giannis, what an absolute machine you are. Giannis tracks to be one of those players who will be dominant for as long as he can remain healthy; and since he takes care of his body like a temple, he will be effective even at 35 years old. He has averaged 30 points per game for the last 6 years, and I can only assume his average in 2030 will still be in the high 20’s. Quite frankly, he’s so physically imposing that there aren’t many people that can stop him. I want to rate him higher, and I would not be shocked if he is still a Top 5 player in 2030, but I am so high on some of the younger players that Giannis slates comfortably here at #9.

8. Jayson Tatum

Ok, initially this may seem low to many of you, and I completely agree with you. In 2030, Tatum will be 32 and still in his basketball playing prime! However, the biggest question about Tatum’s future is currently housed in his present; that being his Achilles tear. We have seen players be extremely effective after tearing their Achilles (Kevin Durant), but we have also seen players become a shell of themselves after an Achilles tear (The Black Mamba). Even if Tatum isn’t himself post-injury, he is still such a dynamic scorer that I feel comfortable leaving him in my Top 10 with the possibility that he is a Top 5 player in 2030.

7. Anthony Edwards

I want so badly for Ant to be in the Top 5 by 2030, I just fear his game isn’t well rounded enough to get him there. He will be 29 years old in 2030, and in the middle of his prime. I expect him to be the most dynamic scorer in the league and look forward to the multitude of posterizations he will bring in 2030. My biggest fear with Ant is that he won’t develop more of his playmaking ability, and thus hurt his chances at MVP votes as well as First Team All-NBA selections. He’s one of my favorite guys to watch in the league, but I think he will be just outside of the Top 5 in 2030.

6. Cade Cunningham

If you aren’t watching the Detroit Pistons and Cade Cunningham, what are you doing with your life? Cade is truly one of the smartest and most well-rounded players in the NBA currently, and I cannot wait to see where that skill level and mindset take him in 5 years. I project that Cade will be an MVP winner, multiple time First Team All-NBA selection, and even possible Champion. In 2030, he will be in the beginning of his basketball prime, so by 2033, I expect him to be one of the 3 best players in the NBA. BOOK IT NOW!!!

5. Nikola Jokic

Of course Jokic is still Top 5 within 5 years… that’s such a no-brainer. However, what isn’t a no-brainer is whether or not The Joker will abandon the NBA for his love of horses. If Jokic chooses to be in the NBA in 2030, he will be as effective as he is now, just a touch slower. He will still be the best playmaker in the league, and still command an offense better than anyone; the only question is whether he wants to or not!

4. Paolo Banchero

Perhaps the player I root for more than any other player who does not play on my team, Paolo Banchero is going to be SCARY in 5 years time. He will only be 27 by then, and for someone whose offensive game is already so polished, I cannot wait to see what else he adds to his bag. He is a combination of Carmelo Anthony but in Kenyon Martin’s body. Paolo is 6’10, but looks bigger than that in real-life. I project that Paolo will be a multiple time MVP and even a Finals MVP; I just think he’s so unique. If he can improve his on-ball defense, he will be virtually unstoppable.

3. Victor Wembanyama

I think the gut reaction for most people would be to put Wemby at #1. I cannot do that yet simply because of health reasons. Wemby has it all, defensive instincts, a dazzling offensive game, an F-You mentality, and physical gifts that must have been constructed in a lab, but I cannot give him the top spot on my ranking because of the unknowns. We have never seen a player of his size and skillset EVER. If healthy, he projects to be one of the very best players the league has ever seen before. If he can’t stay on the court, he could potentially be the greatest “What-If” in NBA history. I hope for the sake of the league, he remains healthy because watching him play basketball is truly mesmerizing.

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

You know what is so scary about SGA, he plays and carries himself like someone who is already in their prime, but he technically is just entering his prime now. By 2030, SGA will be 32 years old and will definitely be on the short list of players who are considered the greatest scorers in NBA history. By 2030, I expect SGA to have added another MVP and possibly another Championship. His game is silky smooth offensively, and defensively, he will still be on of the 5 best on-ball defenders in the game. Could you imagine trading this guy for Paul George??

1. Luka Doncic

I know, I know, my bias is showing; but can you blame me? I think majority of you have forgotten how ELITE Luka is, and I think even more of you forgot that he’s only 26, 2 years from reach his NBA prime. In 2030, Luka will be 31 and be even more effective then than he is now. By the time it’s all said and done, Luka will be a multi-time MVP and multi-time NBA Champion. As long as Luka can remain in good shape, his game is going to age so well simply because it is not predicated on athleticism. It is predicated on his intellect. There are only a handful of NBA player in the history of the game that see the floor the way Luka does, and that inherent skillset will propel him to the #1 spot in 2030.