NBA: 5 of the best player rivalries the future has to offer
5. De’Aaron Fox vs. Ja Morant
In just two NBA seasons, De’Aaron Fox has already been pegged as the face of the point guard position moving forward.
Having averaged 17.3 points, 7.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game as a sophomore, he showed off leadership qualities far beyond his years in leading the Sacramento Kings to a 12-win improvement.
His physical traits have him among the fastest in the league with end-to-end speed and athleticism that already make him a threat in transition. Fox increased his outside shooting to 37.1 percent last year.
Should that trend continue, he’ll find himself even more of a tough cover in the half-court setting as well.
Fox looks like the second coming of John Wall, but just as the five-time All-Star falls a bit behind Russell Westbrook in the athleticism category, so to may the former fifth overall pick find himself lagging behind an incoming rookie with athletic gifts of his own.
I’m excited to watch De’Aaron Fox and Ja Morant face off in the NBA finals in 5 years
— Carmichael Dave (@CarmichaelDave) March 10, 2019
The reigning No. 2 overall pick, Ja Morant is an explosive athlete with quality playmaking chops who has drawn comparisons to Sacramento’s floor general.
During his sophomore season at Murray State, he came the first player in NCAA history to average at least 20 points and 10 assists, putting up 24.5 points and 10.0 assists per game.
Only 6’3”, he has a 44-inch vertical with quickness to match. His speed might not compare to that of Fox’s, but it’s not difficult to imagine a world where Ja isn’t causing problems for defenses as he bustles down the court with a full head of steam.
As the current crop of superstar floor generals head towards the end of their careers, the NBA will find itself with a few openings at the top of the point guard hierarchy.
This specifically goes for out west, where both Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard can’t rain down 3-pointers forever — Steph is 31 and Dame is 29.
When that time comes, Fox and Morant will be entering their respective primes on up-and-coming teams with potential hopefully turned into production.
If their teams aren’t facing off in the postseason, the two will still find themselves battling for supremacy at the league’s premier position.