5 youngsters who can become NBA legends

“Hard Work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”A wonderful quote by the reigning NBA MVP Kevin Durant highlighting just how having the talent and potential is not enough to be the best among the best. That inner potential would be of no use if not utilized in the form of hours in the gym.When we watch legends grace the game with their play, we are so awestruck by their talent that we often forget the hours of training their body has logged in through every off-season which has eventually made them a great player. However at the beginning of their career, you can bet your money on the fact that many people (past players, game analysts and so forth) had already predicted them to be a great of the game by the end of their career.Based on the current talent in the league which 5 young players could possibly become a legend of the game by the end of their career? Let’s find out:Note: The young players mentioned are under the age of 25.

#5 Bradley Beal

Averages of 17.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists for a sophomore from a team that already has multiple offensive options says a lot about what Beal is capable of just at the age of 21. John Wall’s the face of the franchise and the team’s primary point guard has got along well with Beal to create a young, dangerous and explosive back-court duo. Their games have complimented each others and that has often created havoc on the offensive end.

Being fearless is an important quality that is seen in most legends when they were young and Beal has displayed that quality more than once this season, his second in the league. During the 2013 All-Star Weekend Saturday night, Beal was facing off against veteran Marco Belinelli in the three point Shooting Championship and was set a target of 21 to beat. He did not beat it but was not beat either.

Knocking down clutch shots under the spotlight made the Championship go to a tie breaker which he eventually lost. Nevertheless sending the competition into a tie breaker against a seasoned campaigner is in itself an achievement.

Like many past legends in the beginning of their careers, Beal’s only huge weakness currently seems to be his perimeter shooting because recording 42% from the field as the team’s starting 2 guard is not acceptable.

#4 Damian Lillard

Numerous game winners during the regular season, a series-clinching record breaking three in Game 6 of the first round of the Playoffs against the Houston Rockets and becoming the first NBA player ever to take part in all five events that are conducted during the NBA All-Star Weekend-Rising Stars Challenge on Friday, Three point shooting championship, Dunk Contest on Saturday and the All-Star Game on Sunday.

Without knowing his history and being witness to these season achievements, there would be very few who would believe it was only Damian Lillard’s second season since joining the league. He might have faced disappointment in the form of a second round loss to eventual champions San Antonio Spurs in the Playoffs, but he still has a lot in store for him being just 24.

Nonetheless, he has something valuable that the rest of the players on the list lack or don’t have and that is the experience of playing college basketball for all its four years. Playing all years of college ball can certainly have its advantages in the form of maturity and polished fundamentals. Take the GOAT Micheal Jordan for example, he will always be one step ahead of his competition (Kobe Bryant and LeBron James) because of the years he spent playing in North Carolina.

#3 Kawhi Leonard

It took a second consecutive showing at the biggest stage of competitive basketball, the NBA Finals and receiving the NBA Finals MVP award, for all to finally start taking Kawhi Leonard more serioulsy. He was the third youngest player ever to be named the NBA Finals MVP after Magic Johnson and the only player since Chauncey Billups who did it a decade ago and sicth overall player to be named the Finals MVP in a season that they were not an All-Star.

Leonard is probably the best two way player among all the other on this list. After what he may consider a sub-par performance in the first two games of the NBA Finals, Leonard burst on to the scene in the next three games dominating the boards, knocking down shots efficiently and making LeBron work for every point he scored.

The reason his Finals performance was highlighted was because it was on the biggest stage of them all however for him it doesn’t really matter. Leonard plays the same way he does in any other regular season game. It’s safe to say the Spurs have found their face for the future in him after Future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan calls it quits.

#2 Anthony Davis

He is only 21 years old and has already won two gold medals representing USA Basketball, once at the Olympics in 2012 being the only non-NBA player on that roster and in the most recently concluded FIBA World Cup which the USA dominated. Anthony Davis is the next big thing in the league since Dwight Howard.

Just like Howard, he seems taller than he is listed (6 foot 10 inches), he has incredible vertical for his height, does a great job of blocking shots coming off from the weak side and most of all dunks a lot. Currently, the face of the newly named New Orleans Pelicans (earlier Hornets), Davis could certainly use some help from his teammates to make the Pelicans a competitive squad.

Named an All-Star as a replacement for an injured Kobe Bryant in the 2014 All-Star Game, Davis has a lot of potential and his current averages of 20.1 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks (led the league) for the most recent season give more reason to believe so. He has already achieved so much in the league and assuming he enjoys a career with the lifespan similar to what any big man does on averages, then the sky is the limit for this kid.

#1 Kyrie Irving

Barring Magic Johnson, nobody might have achieved as much as Kyrie Irving has in his first three seasons in the league. He hasn’t made it to the Playoffs even once having to shoulder the heavy burden of championship hopes that LeBron James left behind in Cleveland.

With every season without much difficulty, Irving has improved by leaps on bounds when it comes to his one on one offensive game. His defensive effort could still use some help and guidance but on the other end of the floor, he has been nothing short of spectacular. In his first season, he won the NBA Rookie of the Year and was the MVP of the NBA Rising Stars Challenge Game.

In his second season with the Cavaliers, he won the FootLocker Three Point Shooting Competition on All-Star Saturday Night and was named an All-Star for the first time in his career. In this past season, he was not only named an All-Star once again but also won the All-Star Game MVP award. Following the conclusion of the NBA season, Irving trained with the USA national basketball team and led the squad to their second consecutive FIBA World Cup gold medal. He was also named the FIBA World Cup MVP.

His resume is amazing for a 22 year old. To add on he has been fearless while playing and astonishingly efficient in clutch situations, winning games just by one basket for the Cavs more than once.