Predicting The Top 30 NBA Players In 2030

As we are all witnessing first-hand this summer, a lot can change season to season in the NBA world, which makes long-term predictions virtually impossible. That, however, doesn't stop us from trying, because the attempt is half the fun. Maintaining the long view is still ultimately very important when team building and strategizing, and by the turn of next decade, there will probably be a whole new crop of stars dominating, which brings us to today's video. Today, we're going to be looking ahead to the year 2030, and we will be predicting who the top 30 players in the NBA will be that year. That gives us a good four years of development, decline, and change to take into consideration, but it's a good thought experiment that could be fun to look back on when 2030 does come around. Before we start, though, it turns out a good amount of you watching right now aren't even subscribed to the channel, so if you enjoy the content, consider hitting the subscribe button as not only does it help out a ton, but I'd also very much appreciate it. Now with that being said, let's begin. We'll go in reverse order, so the guy I believe will be the 30th best player in the year 2030 is VJ Edgecombe of the Philadelphia 76ers. What a start to a career this young man is getting to experience, huh? Year one, he exceeds all expectations, securing the starting shooting guard spot on the team, and in year two, he's now going to be teaming up with the greatest player to ever step on a court, LeBron James. Edgecombe is already on a strong upward trajectory, but getting to learn from someone like LeBron for one or two years every day is going to be invaluable for his growth, and by the time 2030 rolls around, LeBron will be gone, and Edgecombe will be starting to break out himself into a bigger role on the team. Next up at number 29, we have Con Canipple of the Charlotte Hornets. Canipple is another player fresh off of an outstanding rookie season where he also exceeded all expectations. This year's rookie of the year race was supposed to be a runaway one-man show with Cooper Flagg being the stud of the class, but Con Canipple pushed Flagg neck and neck all season long for the award before ultimately getting edged out right at the end. Canipple is already one of the best shooters in the entire league, averaging about 19 points per game, shooting 43% from three on eight attempts a night, which is the type of scoring volume and efficiency very few can replicate. By 2030, I believe there's a very good chance that Con will be the best shooter in the whole league because Steph Curry may have retired by then, and he'll also likely be someone scoring over 20 points per game as a bigger focal point in the Hornets' offense. Next at number 28, we have Alperin Shengun of the Houston Rockets. Shengun is already an all-star caliber player with immense skill at the center position. In 2030, he will also still be right in the middle of his prime, so I do expect his individual production to see a boost by then, especially with Kevin Durant likely not being on the team anymore at that point. He's been called a baby Nikola Jokic for his skillset as both a skillful post-scorer and as a great passer for the center position, but last season was supposed to be when his big breakout happened, and it never really came. Also, Shengun's defensive issues as a center worry me a little bit, limiting how impactful he can truly be compared to others we're going to be discussing today. Next at number 27, we have Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Mobley is already a very good all-star caliber player, but we're now reaching the point in his career where his inability to develop more than what he already is tells me that this might just be what he's always going to be. That's still a great player, but his upside is a little limited. He's one of the best defensive talents in the NBA, with a defensive player of the year award on his resume, and by 2030 there's still hope he can become a more reliable spot-up three-point shooter, but otherwise he's probably going to hover between the 18 and 19 point per game range without consistent creation skills to be more of a go-to option. Next at number 26, we have Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder. J-Dub became a bit of an afterthought this year for most fans because it was pretty much a lost season for him due to injuries. When he was on the court, he also struggled to get back to performing at the same level that he was at prior to the injuries, so there are some health concerns to consider, but overall in four years he's going to be 29 years old, and I still think he has another level that he can reach. He'll be back healthy after taking this off season to fully recover, and when he's at his best, he is one of the best perimeter defenders in the whole league, who also has proven that he can be a strong secondary scoring threat, putting up over 20 points a night on an NBA championship contender. Next at number 25, we have Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Holmgren is going to be the defensive anchor of one of the best teams in the league for the foreseeable future, and he's someone who could also end up in many defensive player of the year races between now and 2030, but he's also coming off of what was the worst possible playoff showing, completely melting in the Thunder series against the Spurs, and it exposed the fact that his offensive ceiling is a bit capped. I do fully expect him to continue to develop and improve, and hopefully he'll add some muscle over the next few years to bulk up a bit. I just think there are more high upside guys that will pass him by then. Next at number 24, we have Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns. When people make predictions about the future like this, guys like Booker, who will be 33 years old in 2030, tend to get glossed over, but players in today's league are no longer being washed up by 33 years old like they used to be. Booker has been an all-star caliber guy for a long time now, and barring any injuries, I think his game will age pretty nicely as someone who relies much more on body control, tempo, and skill as a shot creator than he does on explosiveness and athleticism, so he'll still definitely be in the mix in four years. Next at number 23, we have Paulo Banqueiro of the Orlando Magic. Banqueiro is one of the toughest players that I had to predict moving forward because he has all the tools to be great, but he's coming off of a season that casts a lot of doubt over whether he'll ever actually be able to fully put them to use to the best of his abilities. Banqueiro's got a lot of bad habits he needs to work on with his shot selection, effort off the ball, and overall decision making because he's just not a very good perimeter shooter at all right now, yet he settles for a lot of shots from the outside that are low-quality contested looks, and he can throw off the rhythm of the Magic's offense at times. He can also be an incredible scorer if he prioritizes attacking the basket and making quicker decisions because he's shown he can, but he's going into a year that will decipher whether or not he can truly be a franchise player. Next at number 22, we have Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Again, similar to Devin Booker, Mitchell will also be 33 years old in 2030, so he may start to slightly decline by then, but there's no reason for me to believe that he won't still be a top 25 player at that point. He's one of the best pure scorers in the NBA at the shooting guard position right now, who just averaged 28 points per game, and in four years, I still think he will be dropping about 25 points a night. Next at number 21, we have Tyron Stokes, who is currently about to begin his college career at Kansas. Stokes isn't even in the NBA yet, but he's the number one prospect in the upcoming draft class of 2027, and I do expect him to be picked number one overall in that draft. Stokes has the combination of size, strength, power, and finesse that project to make him a force to be reckoned with as he progresses. In 2030, he'll likely be about to go through his third season in the league, which is right around the time guys like this start to solidify themselves as stars, so I think this will be the beginning of his true ascension. Next at number 20, we have Cameron Boozer of the Memphis Grizzlies. Boozer was the third pick in this year's draft, and while people can't seem to agree on how high his ceiling is, most can agree with the fact that Boozer has an incredibly high floor. He can give you a little bit of everything as a bruising paint scorer who also has a reliable three-point shot, he has terrific feel for the game, and he's a hound crashing the glass. He may not have the athleticism or burst to truly be elite, but his skill alone will take him to great heights. Next at number 19, we have Jalen Brown of the Philadelphia 76ers. Jalen Brown is entering an interesting point in his career. The team that he won a championship and finals MVP with just shipped him out to their rival, and now he has a big chip on his shoulder. Brown just showed he could handle a go-to scoring load, capably leading the Celtics back to the top of the standings even in the absence of Jason Tatum, and now in Philadelphia, he's playing on a pretty stacked squad where he'll no longer need to be the focal point of opposing defenses. He will be 33 years old in 2030, but again, for a pure shot maker like Brown, I still see him and Tyrese Maxey leading the Sixers to strong heights in a time where LeBron and Joe Ellenbead may be finished on the team. Next at number 18, we have Caleb Wilson of the Chicago Bulls. Wilson was the fourth pick in this year's draft, and while we haven't seen him on an NBA court yet, there is a lot to like about his upside. Wilson just dominated the summer league, showing off talent as a dynamic slasher with powerful finishing skills, and he even showed off a useful three-point shot that he rarely utilized in college. On top of that, Wilson was also one of the most intriguing and versatile defensive talents in the draft this year, so with real two-way star upside, 2030 will be right around when he's starting to hit his stride. Next at number 17, we have Jalen Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks are Johnson's team now, and after a season where he stuffed the stat sheet in a big way, he might just be getting started. With averages of about 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists per game at 24 years old, he'll be 28 in 2030, at the peak of his abilities as a walking triple-double threat. Add in the fact that he is a legit two-way force that plays pretty good defense, and he should absolutely be one of the best players in the game by then. Next at number 16, we have Scottie Barnes of the Output, and has taken over as the leader of the Raptors. He'll also be 28 years old in 2030, hitting the peak, and by then, he should have several more all-defense and all-star nominations on his resume. He's also a physical slasher with great finishing skills at the rim, he's a blur in transition, and he's another forward with really good passing talent doing it all across the board. Next at number 15, we have Tyrese Halliburton of the Indiana Pacers. Halliburton was another tough one to predict because we just don't know what he's going to look like after his Achilles tear. He took his time during the recovery process, not rushing back and making sure everything gets right before getting back out there, but he's also reportedly faced some setbacks in the process. This is a prediction for four years down the line though, so that gives him plenty of time to put this injury behind him, and if he can come anywhere close to his prior form as one of the league's best playmakers who proved he could capably lead a team to the NBA Finals, then he'll definitely be in the mix for lists like this. Next at number 14, we have Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers. Maxey is rare in that he's capable of thriving in a bunch of different roles in an offense. As he was rising through the ranks when he was younger, he was one of the most efficient off-ball scorers, playing next to James Harden and Joel Embiid, dominating as a three-point shooter, spotting up and off the catch. Then when James Harden left, Maxey took over more of an on-ball role as a primary creator, and is fresh off of a year where he averaged about 28 points per game. By 2030, LeBron James will no longer be a sixer, and Joel Embiid may be approaching retirement too, so Maxey will be back in a primary role at 29 years old, still putting up big numbers night after night. Next at number 13, we have Dylan Harper of the San Antonio Spurs. Harper spent his rookie year serving as the team's sixth man off the bench, coming in and igniting the but as we saw deep in the playoffs this year, Harper is simply too talented to keep out of their starting lineup for much longer. In the finals, there were countless stretches where Harper was the team's best player, and I legitimately think he has the upside to be one of the best guards in the whole league. In four years, De'Aaron Fox's contract will have finally just come off the books, but hopefully the team can find a way to move Fox before then to fully unleash Dylan Harper to the fullest. Next at number 12, we have Jalen Brunson of the Knicks. Brunson is currently riding the high of his life, cementing himself in basketball history as an NBA champion and finals MVP. He's a proven playoff riser who has overcome the odds that are stacked against undersized guards like him, because he is as skillful, tricky, crafty, coolcommon collected as it gets. He'll be 33 years old in four years, so again, he may start to be on the decline at that point, but as has been the case throughout today's list, I'm not overreacting to age as much as others may. Next at number 11, we have Jason Tatum of the Boston Celtics. The Celtics have doubled down on Tatum being their franchise cornerstone by getting rid of Jalen Brown, putting their full faith in him moving past that Achilles injury and returning to prime form. Tatum will be 32 years old in 2030, so he may be slightly on the downturn of his peak, but he'll still have a lot left in the tank. Tatum's game becomes more well-rounded with each passing year having improved a ton as a rebounder and as a facilitator to add to his elite scoring prowess, and barring health issues, will still be one of the best players in the NBA by then. Now to start off the top 10, we have AJ DeBanca of the Washington Wizards. DeBanca is a truly immense talent who I think, at his best, could potentially be vying for scoring titles in the NBA. He was just the number one pick in the draft this year for a reason, and four years from now, he could easily be averaging somewhere around 27 points per game. He is a walking bucket at six foot nine with an explosive first step, impeccable body control and footwork, and the tough shot making quality that you need to be a high-end scorer in this league. Next at number nine, we have Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons. Cunningham is already one of the best guards in the game today at 24 years old, and in four years he'll be 28, hopefully with a more talented supporting cast around him, because he is ready to start competing for things that are more serious. He just led to Detroit to being the one seed in the Eastern Conference this year, and with averages about 24 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds per game, with a long career ahead of him, there's good reason to believe he can still get better over these next few years, and by 2030 will still be in the top 10. Next at number eight, we have Darren Peterson of the Utah Jazz. Peterson may be the second pick from this year's draft, but he is who I personally am highest on from this draft class. As long as his cramping issues are a thing of the past, which he does emphasize that they are, then he has the talent to prove to be one of the best guard prospects we've seen in quite a while. Darren Peterson is a true three-level scorer to the fullest extent, and he's a rare breed where he thrives both on-ball and off-ball roles depending on what's needed from him. Off-ball, he has some of the best movement into space and rapid fire shooting off the catch, and on-ball, he has a tight handle with every shot in his arsenal. Next at number seven, we have Giannis Ondaatakumpo of the Miami Heat. This marks the point where we have reached the players I believe will be truly elite in 2030. Some may be quick to write off Giannis's longevity potential because of recent injury history and the fact that so much of his game is predicated on being a dominant athletic specimen. There is some validity to those concerns, of course, and in four years, Giannis will be 35 years old, so he will likely be winding down from his prime production, but he is still Giannis Ondaatakumpo at the end of the day. Having him at seven for me means that he will start to slightly fade, but he still contributes so much on both ends of the floor, even when he's not at 100% health. Next at number six, we have Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks. Flagg blew me away this season as a rookie. I was already very high on him as a prospect when he was drafted number one overall, but he showed he has way more scoring upside than I think most thought. He became the youngest player ever to drop 40 points in a game and the youngest player to ever drop 50 points in an NBA game. He took home the Rookie of the Year award, and in four years, he will be just 23 years old, playing like one of the best two-way players in the game, I truly believe it. Next at number five, we have Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets. Jokic is another player who has been one of the best players in the NBA for a long time now, and still isn't going anywhere four years from now. He'll be 35 years old, but his success stems completely from his historically great basketball IQ and skill. He'll probably still be averaging a triple double or close to it by then. His defensive impact is what's going to take the biggest hit, which hurts because he's already a subpar rim protector as is, but again, he is still going to be an elite producer even in four years. Next at number four, we have Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards has gotten better and better every single season of his career so far, and right now is already establishing himself as a superstar and as the best shooting guard in the game. So in four years, when he's 28 years old, he'll be peaking. Edwards has already led the Wolves to conference finals twice, and hopefully over the next few years, he'll be in a situation where he has the supporting cast to make a run at a championship for real. But as it stands, he is already a highly efficient 29 point per game score, who may still have a higher scoring height coming soon. Next at number three, we have Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers. Doncic is probably the best current NBA player that has yet to win an MVP award, and over the next four years, I predict he will finally be able to win one. He'll be 31 years old in four years, still in the midst of one's prime, and with his ability to get to his spots with ease without needing high-end speed or athleticism, his game I think is going to age like fine wine. Luka already has two scoring titles on his resume, having averaged about 34 points per game both those years. He does that while consistently ranking near the top of the league in assists too, and he's just the type of that still has many years of dominance left in him at this point in time. Next at number two, we have Shea Gildas Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Shea is the reigning back-to-back winner of the MVP award in the league. He is an NBA champion, he's a finals MVP, and he's not going anywhere in the next four years. He'll be 32 years old in 2030, and will still be getting buckets with absolute ease, leading what will still be one of the best teams in the NBA. The Thunder are set for success for a long time, and Shea Gildas Alexander leading the way is a big part of it. There's just one guy left that I think we all know has infinite potential and upside. That leads us to who I believe will be the best player in the NBA in the year 2030, Victor Wembenyama of the San Antonio Spurs. Wemby is a talent the likes of which we have never seen before. His combination of size, skill, shooting ability, and defensive work rate is unprecedented, and he's fresh off of his first of what could be many trips to the NBA finals. He was unable to take home the Larry O'Brien trophy this year, but in four years his game will be even more polished, he'll likely have a few more defensive player of the year awards on his resume, and he may even be an MVP winner by then. And with that being said, that's all I have for you today. Make sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and comment down below what you think about how things are going to stack up in 2030. Be sure to remember this video for the Thanks for watching, and I'll see you all next time.