ESPN put out their annual NBA offseason survey, which had NBA scouts predict who the best player will be in 2030.
That’s a tough question to answer five years prior, with how quickly things change in the NBA.
However, it does make for a fun conversation. When looking at the best players in the NBA currently, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic share those honors.
However, Jokic will be 35 years old in five years and will be well out of his prime. Meanwhile, Gilgeous-Alexander will be 32 years old and will be exiting his prime.
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty ImagesVictor Wembanyama receives the most votes for the best player in 2030
The best player in five years will be a current young star.
Victor Wembanyama is just 21 years old and he is already regarded as one of the top players in the game.
In five years’ time, Wembanyama will be 26 years old, so he won’t even fully be in his prime yet, making him a pretty safe bet when looking ahead here.
In ESPN’s NBA offseason survey, Wembanyama was the runaway winner of the ‘best player in 2030’ category, receiving 16 votes, with Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jayson Tatum each receiving one.
“For consecutive years, Wembanyama was the runaway winner in this category, with the only real question being how long that streak continues.
“While Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic also picked up votes, the most interesting one was for Tatum, who obviously will miss this entire season after tearing his right Achilles in May
“There’s no one that has that shot profile,” a Western Conference assistant said of Tatum.
“He’s what everyone wishes they have: A 6-foot-10 guy who shoots 3s, gets to the rim and gets fouled.”
Victor Wembanyama could be in MVP conversations with the San Antonio Spurs this season
Wembanyama has been cleared to return from a blood clot issue that sidelined him in February.
Wembanyama has been training with legend Hakeem Olajuwon during the offseason, which suggests he could be heading for a huge season.
Unlike seasons past, the San Antonio Spurs are expected to be competitive this season.
The Spurs could make some noise this season with a healthy Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox, along with a young supporting cast headlined by the exciting Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.
Wembanyama averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 3.8 blocks before his 2024-25 season was cut short. He would have won the Defensive Player of the Year award had he played in the minimum 65 games.
If the Spurs take a leap in the West this season it will be thanks in large part to Wembanyama taking his game to another level, which could put him in those MVP and best player in the world conversations prematurely.