The NBA is an ever-changing league, and there’s no doubt that in five years’ time, new stars will emerge as the best players in the league.
In the modern era, the rise of European superstars has been one of the biggest changes in the NBA. After all, the likes of Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic have dominated the league in recent years.
However, the majority of players in the NBA are of American origin. For instance, Anthony Edwards and Cooper Flagg have a shot at becoming the undisputed best NBA players in the league.
Photo by David Berding/Getty ImagesAnthony Edwards voted the best American player in five years during an anonymous poll
Ahead of the 2025-26 season, Flagg gained massive popularity as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The Dallas Mavericks star is expected to have a terrific rookie year. He has the potential to be the best American player in the future. But anonymous NBA executives believe that won’t happen in 2030.
Why? Well, the same executives believe that title will belong to Minnesota Timberwolves‘ Edwards.
“Having just turned 24 and coming off winning a gold medal last summer with Team USA and back-to-back trips to the Western Conference finals with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Edwards is the logical choice to lead this vote,” ESPN’s Tim Bontemps wrote.
“I don’t see anyone else catching him by then. And it’s unfair to Cooper to put that on him before playing in one NBA game. So, it’s Ant until proven otherwise,” an NBA scout told Bontemps.
Edwards bagged 11 out of a possible 20 votes in the poll. The closest second was none other than Flagg with five votes to his name.
Stephen Curry voted the current best American NBA player
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While Edwards is backed to become the best American NBA star in the next five years, according to ESPN’s poll, the title currently belongs to Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry.
“Before Tatum’s injury, this question wouldn’t have been on the survey at all, given the Boston Celtics superstar wing was coming off First-Team All-NBA honors for a fourth consecutive season and won the NBA title a year ago.
“But with Tatum out of the mix, the honor instead was given to Curry, despite him being 37 years old and entering his 17th NBA season,” Bontemps added.
The NBA expert revealed an Eastern Conference scout confessed, “He’s still the guy who scares me most.”
Curry received 11 votes while Edwards came second with eight votes. This is an indication that Ant isn’t far away from surpassing Curry as the best American NBA player.