"GOATs" of the current era

[kipgen]

In recent years we've seen stars of different eras really come into their own and begin to separate themselves, price/collectability wise from the rest of the pack. Think MJ and then Lebron/Steph after him.

If you were to make a prediction from the group of players in their prime (for example Jokic/Giannis/SGA, basically the crop of current MVP winners/contenders), who would you lean towards appreciating the most over time and why?

Personally it's hard for me to see past Jokic right now. Three MVPs, two more 2nd place finishes, may well be in line to win his fourth this year, already led his team to a championship... just crazy dominant.

[Bosoxfan5990]

You mention price/collecting, so I'm assuming you mean "hobby GOAT."

Jokic is dominant on the court, but I don't foresee him being the "hobby GOAT" of this era. If that were the case, I would think he would've already cemented himself there.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by kipgen

In recent years we've seen stars of different eras really come into their own and begin to separate themselves, price/collectability wise from the rest of the pack. Think MJ and then Lebron/Steph after him.

If you were to make a prediction from the group of players in their prime (for example Jokic/Giannis/SGA, basically the crop of current MVP winners/contenders), who would you lean towards appreciating the most over time and why?

Personally it's hard for me to see past Jokic right now. Three MVPs, two more 2nd place finishes, may well be in line to win his fourth this year, already led his team to a championship... just crazy dominant.

Jokic will end up with career accomplishments similar to Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

Unfortunately, he will be regarded in the hobby like KAJ as well.

If Luka wins a ring or two, he will be right up there as a GOAT of the hobby. Not sure he will do it though.

[cms11]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

You mention price/collecting, so I'm assuming you mean "hobby GOAT."

Jokic is dominant on the court, but I don't foresee him being the "hobby GOAT" of this era. If that were the case, I would think he would've already cemented himself there.

Jokic is truly the GOAT of the 2020's, but doesn't excite collectors.

[yiguiri2002]

Jokic will never be a hobby "GOAT", that it's clear.

But I can his prices being higher than many other players simply because he doesn't have as much stuff in his rookie year and he'll probably hang out with his horses and not sign a damn thing after retirement.

[kingofsnake]

If funny to me when people say GOATs plural. Or holy grails.

[Exquisite074]

First five years, 381 games in the NBA: 16.96 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 5.5 APG... sweet stats, but nothing to say all time great - that's like Dwight Howard with more assists and less Rebounds... So yeah, The Joker is fun to watch, has been dominant in recent years, but needs about 5 more rings and MVPs to be in GOAT conversation. And even then, he will need his next 10 years to average the past 5 so that his career averages will be 24.2 PPG, 11.6 RPG, and 8.1 APG - and it's highly unlikely that he will average that... so he likely ends up nowhere even close to KAJ - a true goat!

In a weak league the folks you mention will be remembered as the best of this timeframe, with SGA probably ending with the better career if he continues what he's doing for another decade... which should mean more hobby love, but all these guys are in the "Panini era" - with a handful of great cards that will be coveted but hard to pry out of PC, and a bunch of cheap cards that will be easy to get a decade after they retire...

[kipgen]

Originally Posted by Exquisite074

First five years, 381 games in the NBA: 16.96 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 5.5 APG... sweet stats, but nothing to say all time great - that's like Dwight Howard with more assists and less Rebounds... So yeah, The Joker is fun to watch, has been dominant in recent years, but needs about 5 more rings and MVPs to be in GOAT conversation. And even then, he will need his next 10 years to average the past 5 so that his career averages will be 24.2 PPG, 11.6 RPG, and 8.1 APG - and it's highly unlikely that he will average that... so he likely ends up nowhere even close to KAJ - a true goat!

In a weak league the folks you mention will be remembered as the best of this timeframe, with SGA probably ending with the better career if he continues what he's doing for another decade... which should mean more hobby love, but all these guys are in the "Panini era" - with a handful of great cards that will be coveted but hard to pry out of PC, and a bunch of cheap cards that will be easy to get a decade after they retire...

The thing I wonder about SGA is will this narrative of him being a free throw merchant follow him his entire career? We saw the same thing happen to Harden and Harden is by no means a hobby darling even though he's had a very successful career (albeit ringless)

[yiguiri2002]

LOL Joker doesn't need 5 rings to be a GOAT. His biggest problem is longevity, I don't think he'll get that many All-NBA/All-Star berths compared to other greats.

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by kipgen

The thing I wonder about SGA is will this narrative of him being a free throw merchant follow him his entire career? We saw the same thing happen to Harden and Harden is by no means a hobby darling even though he's had a very successful career (albeit ringless)

The difference is that harden never won anything

[kipgen]

Originally Posted by jcardstore

The difference is that harden never won anything

That's true, but even now that the thunder are champions the narrative around SGA still hasn't dissipated

He doesn't get anywhere near the respect you'd expect him to

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by kipgen

The thing I wonder about SGA is will this narrative of him being a free throw merchant follow him his entire career? We saw the same thing happen to Harden and Harden is by no means a hobby darling even though he's had a very successful career (albeit ringless)

Originally Posted by jcardstore

The difference is that harden never won anything

Originally Posted by kipgen

That's true, but even now that the thunder are champions the narrative around SGA still hasn't dissipated

He doesn't get anywhere near the respect you'd expect him to

It's probably because he's a free throw merchant.

[Stackfan]

I'm hoping this generation doesn't cancel each other out .. but not arguing with JOkic, Giannis, and SGA as top 3 at this point.

After that, Look at Kawhi.... he took two teams to championships, and two finals MVPs... each his stuff is dirt cheap in many ways; since his run wasn't that long.

Tatum is young, and led the Celtics to a championship. His and the Celtics window is closing fast, and his values have came back down.

After that is Luka, great player, one finals appearance, but no championships, and maybe never gets one.


Basically there's no Lebron or Curry this generation... but you do have some Durant/wade/Dirk/Duncan caliber guys.


Then in the next 5 years, imagine between Wemby, Cade, and Ant eventually take the league over. Depends who can stay healthy, and surrounded by good team mates.

[ThatGuyPal]

Appreciate? Maybe Donovan Mitchell since he’s prob dirt cheap right now but eventually they’ll see he was a guy

[towerymt]

There aren't any. That's why they are so hard to name.

Originally Posted by Stackfan

Basically there's no Lebron or Curry this generation...

Exactly

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by Stackfan

I'm hoping this generation doesn't cancel each other out .. but not arguing with JOkic, Giannis, and SGA as top 3 at this point.

After that, Look at Kawhi.... he took two teams to championships, and two finals MVPs... each his stuff is dirt cheap in many ways; since his run wasn't that long.

Tatum is young, and led the Celtics to a championship. His and the Celtics window is closing fast, and his values have came back down.

After that is Luka, great player, one finals appearance, but no championships, and maybe never gets one.


Basically there's no Lebron or Curry this generation... but you do have some Durant/wade/Dirk/Duncan caliber guys.


Then in the next 5 years, imagine between Wemby, Cade, and Ant eventually take the league over. Depends who can stay healthy, and surrounded by good team mates.

- Kawhi was too injured to have a real run at an MVP
- Tatum has never played at an MVP level
- Neither LeBron nor Curry had a championship at Luka's age

It's just too early to tell, I think the ones with the best chance of becoming a hobby GOAT are SGA and Luka. But it's still too early.

[Torro]

Originally Posted by ThatGuyPal

Appreciate? Maybe Donovan Mitchell since he’s prob dirt cheap right now but eventually they’ll see he was a guy

Not sure why the hobby does not appreciate him, he has also very fun to watch flashy style. I guess he needs to win something for hobby to start noticing.

Giannis has the most collectors out of these 3, but Luka and Wemby likely the most exciting players and will be the hobby GOATs from 2020s (Shai has a chance also but not as of today)