Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has established himself as the NBA's MVP by cementing his status as its purest hooper where there's a paradoxical economy and boundlessness to his game. Read more »
Jack Tien-Dana - Basketball Analysis
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander And Aura As The Currency Of Modern NBA Stardom
Lakers' Exceptionalism Vs. Mavericks' More Toward A More Conventional Goodness
Whereas the Lakers' inevitable jackpot is proof of how the league works, the Mavs are foolishly clinging to a fantasy about how it should be. Read more »
LeBron James' Old Man Reinvention
The Lakers are caught between pragmatism and hope, torn between optimizing their new, Luka Doncic-led future and maximizing their current, LeBron James-led present. Read more »
The Realest: Washington Wizards
If this season is to have any importance beyond the mere passage of time for the Wizards, it’ll be because of Alex Sarr. Read more »
The Realest: R.J. Barrett And The Toronto Raptors
A lifetime of training and high expectations has given R.J. Barrett all the tools to be a very good player, but has also blinded him as to how they should be deployed. Read more »
The Realest: Cam Thomas And The Brooklyn Nets
To start this season, Cam Thomas is living his best life, as if his parents are out of town and ice cream is for dinner. Read more »
The Realest: Cade Cunningham And The Detroit Pistons
The Pistons are an ontological chicken-or-the-egg thought experiment into whether the player makes the team or the team makes the player. With Cade Cunningham in tow, Detroit has their most exciting young player in a generation, even if he's not the one-man cure-all that they hoped for. Read more »
The Realest: LaMelo Ball And The Charlotte Hornets
Eventually, there's hope that Ball can become some sort of evolutionary Steve Nash, an all-world bandleader who can coax melody from a roaring wall of sound, but Charlotte has currently boxed him in as a soloist. Read more »
The Realest: Trae Young And The Atlanta Hawks
To be at his best, Trae Young doesn't require a co-star, so much as a security detail. His offensive gifts are so expansive that it inherently narrows his teammates' responsibilities. Read more »
The Realest: Victor Wembanyama And The San Antonio Spurs
His story is equal parts determinism and self-determination: Victor Wembanyama will be the best player of his generation not only because he's the most physically freakish athlete in NBA history, but because he Wants It More. Read more »
The Realest: Amen Thompson And The Houston Rockets
To grow into a star, Amen Thompson needs the opportunity to fail. If the Rockets want to win games, it makes sense for Thompson to do less. If they want to win championships, they need to let him be so much more. Read more »
The Realest: James Harden And The LA Clippers
To his immense credit, James Harden has been able to come to terms with the fact that he's no longer the prime version of himself. For the Clippers to maintain their spot in the West's creamy middle, Harden will have to reanimate the old him. Read more »
The Realest: DeMar DeRozan And The Sacramento Kings
By signing DeMar DeRozan this summer, the Kings are continuing to bet that day-to-day competence is next to excellence. Ultimately, success is best measured in beams, not banners. Read more »
The Realest: Tyrese Haliburton And The Indiana Pacers
For Indiana to capitalize on their roster's collective goodness, Tyrese Haliburton will have to embrace his individual greatness. Read more »
The Realest: Brandon Ingram And The New Orleans Pelicans
In his current state, Brandon Ingram exists within the uncanny valley of near-stardom, his almost-greatness becoming a form of badness. Read more »
The Realest: Paolo Banchero And The Orlando Magic
Coming off their best season in a decade, the Magic are a uniquely massive team because Paolo Banchero's nimble, dextrous play means they don't have to sacrifice size for skill. But by asking Banchero to be their main creator, the Magic are doing him a disservice. Read more »
The Realest: Evan Mobley And The Cleveland Cavaliers
The presence of Jarrett Allen forces Evan Mobley to transform from a uniquely gifted center into a limited, underskilled forward. At this point, Mobley can't just be a blob of limitless potential. Read more »
The Realest: Jimmy Butler And The Miami Heat
Miami's hopes are inexplicably tied to Jimmy Butler. But at this point, believing that Butler can summon his Playoff Jimmy alter ego is an expression of faith. Read more »
The Realest: Ja Morant And The Memphis Grizzlies
When Ja Morant returns to the court, he'll do so with the best and most versatile roster of his career. For the first time, Memphis has the right assemblage of size and skill to adjust to any postseason wrinkle. Read more »
The Realest: D'Angelo Russell And The Los Angeles Lakers
D'Angelo Russell has assumed the long thankless role of being the second-best teammate for LeBron James as the all-time great either carries you or is failed by you. Read more »
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