Ranking the Top 10 NBA Franchise Cornerstones

An MVP at just 24 years old, ‘The Greek Freak’ established himself as the most untradeable player in the NBA last season. He averaged roughly 28-12-6 on 60% eFG% while doubling down as an All-Defensive first-team selection. In Mike Budenholzer’s first season as the Bucks head coach, he spearheaded the league’s highest-scoring offense, all centered around Antetokounmpo’s dominance.

His numbers speak for themselves, but perhaps what’s most alluring about The Greek Freak is the intangibles of his loyalty, work ethic, and non-stop desire to win a Championship. Not to mention he hasn’t scratched the ceiling of his potential. If the three-pointers start to fall more consistently, (25% on 2.8 attempts), basketball’s Mount Rushmore might need to open up a spot.

Luka Doncic became a household name after the most dominant rookie season the NBA has seen since Lebron James, elevating the Mavs into a must-see League Pass team. He averaged 21-8-6, but the stat line doesn’t tell the whole story. His offensive repertoire is beyond his years, featuring stepback jumpers, dizzying hesitations, and mind-boggling passes that always deserve an instant replay.

A borderline All-Star at just 20 years old, Doncic’s unorthodox style of play wowed casual and hardcore NBA fans alike. He puts fans in the seats, an underrated component of his trade value. Long story short, the only player Dallas would even consider trading Doncic for, is the player above him in these rankings: the reigning MVP.

It’s a testament to Zion’s star power that he’s already third on this list without having even played a minute in the NBA. The most hyped draft prospect since Lebron, he transformed the Pelicans from a despondent franchise spurned by Anthony Davis to one with a dazzlingly bright future.

Besides the highlight dunks and swats, Williamson’s supporting cast fits around him perfectly. Lonzo Ball pushing the pace gives Zion a chance to showcase his ability to run the floor, and shooters like J.J. Reddick and Jrue Holiday provide space to operate in the paint. New Orleans has a franchise-record 30 nationally televised games this season: people want to see the Zion show.

Sorry Kobe fans, but James Harden just had the best offensive season from a guard since 87′ Michael Jordan. For almost a third of the season, he averaged 42-8-8, warping defenses with his trademark stepback jumper and inexplicable ability to get to the free-throw line whenever he pleased. When the Rockets roster dealt with injuries for a large chunk of the season, Harden was the one that kept them afloat.

Harden’s contract is gargantuan, but that’s true for most other established franchise cornerstones. It’s hard to imagine him getting any better than last season, but he’s barely 30 and still has 3-4 prime years left. He’s averaged 77 games per year over the past seven seasons; that type of consistency is hard to come by, and an underrated aspect to his dominance.

After finishing fourth in MVP voting, Jokic took it up another level in last year’s postseason. Over a 14-game playoff stretch, he threw up 25-13-8, gaming opposing centers with his passing wizardry and floor spacing ability. Don’t let his uninspiring physique fool you, he doesn’t need athleticism to give some of the NBA’s top centers a bucket with his arsenal of moves.

Something that elevates Jokic over contemporaries like Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns is his infectious style of play. They might post similar statistics, but the way Jokic involves teammates has a palpable effect on his team’s success. When everyone gets a touch on offense, it translates to heightened hustle on defense and better overall chemistry. He’s the textbook representation for what a franchise cornerstone big man should be in the modern NBA.

A paragon of consistency, Karl-Anthony Towns has missed only 5 games four years into his young NBA career. Hailed as the prototypical “big man of the future” KAT has a unique blend of size, athleticism, and three-point shooting that could propel him to an All-NBA first-team, perhaps even an MVP award.

A knock on Towns is that he doesn’t have the “dog” in him necessary to win meaningful games in July. The Jimmy Butler debacle gave him a reputation as slightly soft, making these next couple years crucial if he wants to shake that label. He dominated the second half of last season, however, averaging 27-13-4 over the last 40 games.

For the first time in his career, Anthony Davis has a bonafide All-Star running mate in Lebron James. Davis is a force on both ends of the floor, has six All-Star appearances, three All-NBA selections, and yet is only 26 years old. Can’t ask for much else from a franchise cornerstone.

The reason AD isn’t higher on this list is because of the way he flamed out in New Orleans. He only has one year left on his contract and despite the Klutch connection with Lebron and Rich Paul, there’s no telling what kind of decision an impressionable player like Davis might make in a year. Once he’s committed to a team long-term, he’ll reclaim his throne as a top-three franchise cornerstone.

At his peak, Joel Embiid might be the most dominant player on this list. He’ll bully even the best defensive centers with his strength, or work his way around them with a package of finesse moves. He’s the physical embodiment of “The Process” and has connected with the city of Philadelphia in a special way that numbers nor grades can evaluate.

Embiid’s health is the Sixers’ biggest hurdle towards becoming a championship team, as it has been over the last couple seasons. Embiid being a game-time decision for multiple playoff games is cause for concern. He’s visibly struggled to get up and down the court the past two postseasons, but judging by the emotion he showed after the 76ers heartbreaking loss to the Raptors, it looks like a switch might have been flipped inside his head. A fully healthy 2019-20 postseason could go a long way in reducing the risk surrounded by potentially acquiring him, thus elevating him up this list in the future.

With Kevin Durant gone and Klay Thompson out with an ACL tear, this season is going to be the Steph Curry show in the new Chase Center. His efficiency is among the best in the NBA, averaging 26 PPG on 48-42-91 splits.  Expect a statistical explosion from Curry in 2019-20, harkening back to his MVP years just a few seasons ago.

Like Embiid, Curry’s relationship with the Bay Area and Warriors franchise is a unique one. His work ethic and underdog mentality helped establish the first-rate culture Golden State has become known for. He might be 31 years old making $40 million annually, but Steph Curry has still got the juice to be a premier franchise cornerstone.

Yes, he’s turning 35 this December and yes, he’s making $38 million annually, but guess what. He’s still LeBron freaking James. A walking 27-7-7, his experience enables him to control the game on a level that no other All-Star can. The potential of a LBJ-AD pick-and-roll is through the roof, as a prime AD represents the best teammate LeBron has ever had.

LeBron missed 27 games last year, a career-high by a considerable margin. Now that he’s had the most time off in over a decade, he’ll likely coast through the regular season and be fully-rested for the playoffs. 2018-19 was obviously was a down year, but last time Lebron was counted out, he was down 3-1 in the 2016 Finals. We all know how that turned out.

An MVP at just 24 years old, Giannis Antetokounmpo established himself as the most untradeable player in the NBA last season. He averaged roughly 28-12-6 on 60% eFG% while doubling down as an All-Defensive first-team selection. In Mike Budenholzer’s first season as the Bucks head coach, he crafted the league’s highest-scoring offense, all centered around Antetokounmpo’s dominance.

His numbers speak for themselves, but perhaps what’s most alluring about The Greek Freak is his loyalty and work ethic. In an era where player movement has become commonplace, one can’t put a price on devotion to a franchise. Not to mention he hasn’t scratched the ceiling of his potential. If the three-pointers start to fall, (25% on 2.8 attempts), basketball’s Mount Rushmore might need to open up a spot.

Luka Doncic became a household name after the most dominant rookie season the NBA has seen since Lebron James, elevating the Mavs into a must-see League Pass team. He averaged 21-8-6, but the stat line doesn’t tell the whole story. His offensive repertoire is beyond his years, featuring stepback jumpers, dizzying hesitations, and mind-boggling passes that always deserve an instant replay.

A borderline All-Star at just 20 years old, Doncic’s unorthodox style of play wowed casual and hardcore NBA fans alike. He puts fans in the seats, an underrated component of his trade value. Long story short, the only player Dallas would even consider trading Doncic for, is the player above him in these rankings: the reigning MVP.

It’s a testament to Zion’s star power that he’s already third on this list without having even played a minute in the NBA. The most hyped draft prospect since Lebron, he transformed the Pelicans from a despondent franchise spurned by Anthony Davis to one with a dazzlingly bright future.

Besides the highlight dunks and swats, Williamson’s supporting cast fits around him perfectly. Lonzo Ball pushing the pace gives Zion a chance to showcase his ability to run the floor, and shooters like J.J. Reddick and Jrue Holiday provide space to operate in the paint. New Orleans has a franchise-record 30 nationally televised games this season: people want to see the Zion show.

Sorry Kobe fans, but James Harden just had the best offensive season from a guard since 87′ Michael Jordan. For almost a third of the season, he averaged 42-8-8, warping defenses with his trademark stepback jumper and inexplicable ability to get to the free-throw line whenever he pleased. When the Rockets roster dealt with injuries for a large chunk of the season, Harden was the one that kept them afloat.

Harden’s contract is gargantuan, but that’s true for most other established franchise cornerstones. It’s hard to imagine him getting any better than last season, but he’s barely 30 and still has 3-4 prime years left. He’s averaged 77 games per year over the past seven seasons; that type of consistency is hard to come by, and an underrated aspect to his dominance.

After finishing fourth in MVP voting, Jokic took it up another level in last year’s postseason. Over a 14-game playoff stretch, he threw up 25-13-8, gaming opposing centers with his passing wizardry and floor spacing ability. Don’t let his uninspiring physique fool you, he doesn’t need athleticism to give some of the NBA’s top centers a bucket with his arsenal of moves.

Something that elevates Jokic over contemporaries like Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns is his infectious style of play. They might post similar statistics, but the way Jokic involves teammates has a palpable effect on his team’s success. When everyone gets a touch on offense, it translates to heightened hustle on defense and better overall chemistry. He’s the textbook representation for what a franchise cornerstone big man should be in the modern NBA.

A paragon of consistency, Karl-Anthony Towns has missed only 5 games four years into his young NBA career. Hailed as the prototypical “big man of the future” KAT has a unique blend of size, athleticism, and three-point shooting that could propel him to an All-NBA first-team, perhaps even an MVP award.

A knock on Towns is that he doesn’t have the “dog” in him necessary to win meaningful games in July. The Jimmy Butler debacle gave him a reputation as slightly soft, making these next couple years crucial if he wants to shake that label. He dominated the second half of last season, however, averaging 27-13-4 over the last 40 games.

For the first time in his career, Anthony Davis has a bonafide All-Star running mate in Lebron James. Davis is a force on both ends of the floor, has six All-Star appearances, three All-NBA selections, and yet is only 26 years old. Can’t ask for much else from a franchise cornerstone.

The reason AD isn’t higher on this list is because of the way he flamed out in New Orleans. He only has one year left on his contract and despite the Klutch connection with Lebron and Rich Paul, there’s no telling what kind of decision an impressionable player like Davis might make in a year. Once he’s committed to a team long-term, he’ll reclaim his throne as a top-three franchise cornerstone.

At his peak, Joel Embiid might be the most dominant player on this list. He’ll bully even the best defensive centers with his strength, or work his way around them with a package of finesse moves. He’s the physical embodiment of “The Process” and has connected with the city of Philadelphia in a special way that numbers nor grades can evaluate.

Embiid’s health is the Sixers’ biggest hurdle towards becoming a championship team, as it has been over the last couple seasons. Embiid being a game-time decision for multiple playoff games is cause for concern. He’s visibly struggled to get up and down the court the past two postseasons, but judging by the emotion he showed after the 76ers heartbreaking loss to the Raptors, it looks like a switch might have been flipped inside his head. A fully healthy 2019-20 postseason could go a long way in reducing the risk surrounded by potentially acquiring him, thus elevating him up this list in the future.

With Kevin Durant gone and Klay Thompson out with an ACL tear, this season is going to be the Steph Curry show. His efficiency is among the best in the NBA, averaging 26 PPG on 48-42-91 splits.  Expect a statistical explosion from Curry in 2019-20, harkening back to his MVP years just a few seasons ago.

Like Embiid, Curry’s relationship with the Bay Area and Warriors franchise is a unique one. His work ethic and underdog mentality helped create the first-rate culture Golden State is known for. He might be 31 years old making $40 million annually, but Steph Curry has still got the juice.

Yes, he’s turning 35 this December and yes, he’s making $38 million annually, but guess what. He’s still LeBron freaking James. A walking 27-7-7, his experience enables him to control the game on a level that no other All-Star can. The potential of a LBJ-AD pick-and-roll is through the roof, as a prime AD represents the best teammate LeBron has ever had.

LeBron missed 27 games last year, a career-high by a considerable margin. Now that he’s had the most time off in over a decade, he’ll likely coast through the regular season and be fully-rested for the playoffs. 2018-19 was obviously was a down year, but last time Lebron was counted out, he was down 3-1 in the 2016 Finals. We all know how that turned out.