2025-26 NBA Season Discussion

[jalengreen]

How do you guys think Jokic, SGA, Giannis, Luka, and Wemby stack up against the top five players from previous eras?

Whoever the #1 is isn't as good as a peak LeBron/Jordan which docks the group as a whole, but if you frame it as which era has had the best 5th best player, I think this group would be up there. Like it's totally possible that Luka plays at an MVP level and ends up being considered the 5th best player currently, in which case.. how many eras really had 5 players better than him? Don't think you'd be able to say that about the mid 2010s, I'd take him over Harden. Same with Barkley in the late 80s. 60s were pretty insane so maybe there. Again, though, completely up in the air how we'll end up viewing him and Wemby this season (others are probably safer bets but for a possible Jokic decline, but I doubt he'll fall to 5th..)

[falcolombardi]

How do you guys think Jokic, SGA, Giannis, Luka, and Wemby stack up against the top five players from previous eras?

It probably beats most of them and at worst is a bit below some specific years like 2017, 2009 or 1988

This is in spite of comparisions like this being actually old eras slanted because is comparing stars with full careers and legacies whose primes people tend to imagine together (think of how people talk about the 92 dream team as if everyone was on their peak not realizing magic was 1 year out of playing and bird pretty done)

[migya]

How do you guys think Jokic, SGA, Giannis, Luka, and Wemby stack up against the top five players from previous eras?

It probably beats most of them and at worst is a bit below some specific years like 2017, 2009 or 1988

This is in spite of comparisions like this being actually old eras slanted because is comparing stars with full careers and legacies whose primes people tend to imagine together (think of how people talk about the 92 dream team as if everyone was on their peak not realizing magic was 1 year out of playing and bird pretty done)

1990 is another season.

[eminence]

1) Probably beats most of them.

2) Not a sure thing at all those 5 wind up the top 5 on the season.

[Peregrine01]

I'll take the top 10 of today's league over any top 10 in any season before. The game continually evolves and gets better.

[dcstanley]

1) Probably beats most of them.

2) Not a sure thing at all those 5 wind up the top 5 on the season.

Who do you think could have a better season than these 5 on a per minute basis? Steph?

[bigboi]

We can put to rest that bulls__ of Derrick White being some elite player. I told you all this before, the only reason any of these players looked good is due to the Brown/Tatum combo which hid their flaws. Derrick White is back to who he was before the Celtics, inefficient Chuck. Now when Tatum comes back next year and Celtics are contending, we can drop the “Tatum has the best supporting cast bs”. I can’t even imagine what Tatum would do with Bron and Austin Reaves as his cast. Surely make it out the first round

[Doctor MJ]

1) Probably beats most of them.

2) Not a sure thing at all those 5 wind up the top 5 on the season.

Who do you think could have a better season than these 5 on a per minute basis? Steph?

Any of them could get hurt as any time, so it's not really about a 6th candidate being that strong, but that a lot can go wrong over the course of a season.

But generally, NBA's getting more talented over time, so the tops right now should be better than the tops of the past.

[eminence]

1) Probably beats most of them.

2) Not a sure thing at all those 5 wind up the top 5 on the season.

Who do you think could have a better season than these 5 on a per minute basis? Steph?

Any of them could get hurt as any time, so it's not really about a 6th candidate being that strong, but that a lot can go wrong over the course of a season.

But generally, NBA's getting more talented over time, so the tops right now should be better than the tops of the past.

Mostly that. Those 5 would be my most likely for the top 5, but it's very rare for a most likely top 5 to actually finish top 5.

Steph is certainly a possible guy, but other surprises are always possible. Ant/Cade/Sengun/Mobley, can't really be known if/when a young guy will make a leap.

[jalengreen]

1) Probably beats most of them.

2) Not a sure thing at all those 5 wind up the top 5 on the season.

Who do you think could have a better season than these 5 on a per minute basis? Steph?

Embiid in his 2024 form would be the best player in the world today IMO. Not going to happen and his body is probably cooked, but a comeback to being top 5 level is in the realm of possibility even if improbable.

[The-Power]

We can put to rest that bulls__ of Derrick White being some elite player. I told you all this before, the only reason any of these players looked good is due to the Brown/Tatum combo which hid their flaws. Derrick White is back to who he was before the Celtics, inefficient Chuck.

Reductive reasoning and hyperbole aside, I think the claim always was that White is an elite player in his role. I don't think anyone – and certainly not a meaningfully sized group – thought he would be elite as a first option or considered him a superstar. Even if he struggles this season (and it's way too early to just assume that), that would not take anything away from his great play and value in previous seasons for the Celtics.

[eminence]

Slightly less antagonistically, how bad do the Celtics have to be for folks to join me on Tatum-Really-Is-An-MVP-Caliber-Guy Island?

4/7 rotations guys there from the '24 squad that ran through the playoffs.

Down Tatum/Jrue/Horford, added Simons and some bench type bigs for whatever that's worth.

[Top10alltime]

Wembanyama is top 3 lock here this year, almost definitely. Was top 3 last year anyways, this might be his 2009 Lebron (where he fixed his flaws offensively and defensively).

Who of Jokic, SGA, and Giannis do you think Wemby was better than last season?[/quote]

You know who's worse. I'm that bro (if in the case, you are too clueless to find out, it's Giannis. I think even Luka, Tatum, Hali, and Brunson was better than Giannis last season). Because I'm the guy who isn't influenced by media standards.

He might surpass SGA this season too

[Special_Puppy]

Wembanyama is top 3 lock here this year, almost definitely. Was top 3 last year anyways, this might be his 2009 Lebron (where he fixed his flaws offensively and defensively).

Who of Jokic, SGA, and Giannis do you think Wemby was better than last season?

You know who's worse. I'm that bro (if in the case, you are too clueless to find out, it's Giannis. I think even Luka, Tatum, Hali, and Brunson was better than Giannis last season). Because I'm the guy who isn't influenced by media standards.

He might surpass SGA this season too[/quote]

Oh yeah you have a hate boner against Giannis

[Top10alltime]

Who of Jokic, SGA, and Giannis do you think Wemby was better than last season?

You know who's worse. I'm that bro (if in the case, you are too clueless to find out, it's Giannis. I think even Luka, Tatum, Hali, and Brunson was better than Giannis last season). Because I'm the guy who isn't influenced by media standards.

He might surpass SGA this season too

Oh yeah you have a hate boner against Giannis[/quote]

Nah, I'm the guy not influenced by casual narratives. One of the handful here, and I'm not even trying to be egostical.

[falcolombardi]

1) Probably beats most of them

2) Not a sure thing at all those 5 wind up the top 5 on the season.

Who do you think could have a better season than these 5 on a per minute basis? Steph?

If healthy probably none, but edwards, curry, brunson or a healthy tatum are right behind

[falcolombardi]

Slightly less antagonistically, how bad do the Celtics have to be for folks to join me on Tatum-Really-Is-An-MVP-Caliber-Guy Island?

4/7 rotations guys there from the '24 squad that ran through the playoffs.

Down Tatum/Jrue/Horford, added Simons and some bench type bigs for whatever that's worth.

Their big rotation is essentially all bench caliber (and not even good bench players) that is a huge downgrade too. Their best big would compete for a 4th big spot in okc and i mean that unironically

They lost -4- rotation players + tatum ( horford, kornet, porzingis, jrue)

[bigboi]

We can put to rest that bulls__ of Derrick White being some elite player. I told you all this before, the only reason any of these players looked good is due to the Brown/Tatum combo which hid their flaws. Derrick White is back to who he was before the Celtics, inefficient Chuck.

Reductive reasoning and hyperbole aside, I think the claim always was that White is an elite player in his role. I don't think anyone – and certainly not a meaningfully sized group – thought he would be elite as a first option or considered him a superstar. Even if he struggles this season (and it's way too early to just assume that), that would not take anything away from his great play and value in previous seasons for the Celtics.

Yes, it would. Because he wasn’t good prior to the Celtics and suddenly became lauded once he hit the Celtics. It absolutely puts to rest the “elite” supporting cast argument. Also there were plenty of posters on this board that seriously argued that White was more or equally valuable to the Celtics as Tatum or Brown. Do you want me to pull up posts? Stop lying

[falcolombardi]

We can put to rest that bulls__ of Derrick White being some elite player. I told you all this before, the only reason any of these players looked good is due to the Brown/Tatum combo which hid their flaws. Derrick White is back to who he was before the Celtics, inefficient Chuck.

Reductive reasoning and hyperbole aside, I think the claim always was that White is an elite player in his role. I don't think anyone – and certainly not a meaningfully sized group – thought he would be elite as a first option or considered him a superstar. Even if he struggles this season (and it's way too early to just assume that), that would not take anything away from his great play and value in previous seasons for the Celtics.

Yes, it would. Because he wasn’t good prior to the Celtics and suddenly became lauded once he hit the Celtics. It absolutely puts to rest the “elite” supporting cast argument. Also there were plenty of posters on this board that seriously argued that White was more or equally valuable to the Celtics as Tatum or Brown. Do you want me to pull up posts? Stop lying

Brunson was not seen as great before going to new york so he shouldnt be seen as elite now?

See how that sounds? (No i am not comparing white to brunson before anyone asks)

White was in a bad team outside of people radar, doesnt mean we cannot see his play and see he wass good and got even better developing in boston

[eminence]

Slightly less antagonistically, how bad do the Celtics have to be for folks to join me on Tatum-Really-Is-An-MVP-Caliber-Guy Island?

4/7 rotations guys there from the '24 squad that ran through the playoffs.

Down Tatum/Jrue/Horford, added Simons and some bench type bigs for whatever that's worth.

Their big rotation is essentially all bench caliber (and not even good bench players) that is a huge downgrade too. Their best big would compete for a 4th big spot in okc and i mean that unironically

They lost -4- rotation players + tatum ( horford, kornet, porzingis, jrue)

So how bad?

Generally agreed on their big rotation being junk, but I'd consider them competitive with Jaylin Williams for OKCs 3rd big role (unless you're counting Dort?).