He doesn’t defend terribly well, but DeMar DeRozan has developed into a legitimate lead playmaker in addition to his natural gift for scoring. The Bulls may or may not blow it up, but one can’t blame DeRozan for the team’s woes.
A bruising scorer and heady playmaker who really earns his money on the defensive end, Jrue Holiday is one of the most perpetually underrated stars in the NBA. He just doesn’t get the credit he deserves relative to the impact he has on arguably the league’s top contender.
Evan Mobley has vaulted into the All-Star conversation on the power of his incredible defense and burgeoning offensive skill set. Capable of either protecting the rim or hovering around the 3-point line defensively, the 7-foot Mobley affords Cleveland rare flexibility in the frontcourt. On offense, he’s learning how to harness his fluid strides, soft touch, and plus instincts to evade defenders in the paint and elevate teammates.
A jumbo playmaker who has refined his shot-making ability from everywhere on the floor, Brandon Ingram is poised for an extremely fruitful run as Zion’s co-star in New Orleans. If the Pelicans hope to contend, it will be in part due to their ability to unleash Ingram’s offensive dynamism.
Not many point guards have LaMelo Ball’s size, vision, confidence, style — he’s truly one of one. Every now and then he can get a bit out of control, but that’s also part of the beauty of his game. It’s dynamic, at times chaotic, and often brilliant. He’s an elite on-the-fly thinker who can make every pass in the book. If he can get more efficient finishing at the rim, superstardom is in the cards.