Next Generation: Predicting the 5 future faces of the NBA 

3. Luka Doncic, Guard, Dallas Mavericks

The league's leading scorer (34.1) and the engine behind the Maverick's dynamic offense is "Luka Legend." Doncic is having, statistically, arguably the greatest year of his career. Since coming into the NBA in 2018 as a teenage prodigy out of Slovenia, Doncic has been nothing short of dominant, making four consecutive All-NBA First Team Selections. And he's only just turned 25!

Doncic has the game and numbers but it takes more than that to become the face of the NBA. Can he win? While his numbers are more gaudy than those of a Tatum, Doncic lacks comparable experience when it comes to team success, having just made the Conference Finals once in 2022, losing to the eventual champion Golden State Warriors in five games that season.

Doncic needs to prove he can help lead his team to deep playoff success and continue improving defensively as a player to help his team win and reach that next level. He's one of the greatest playoff performers we've ever seen who's never afraid of the moment and shines the brightest in the biggest games, a la Larry Bird. The guy even dropped a ridiculous career-high 73-point masterclass on the Hawks in January.

Doncic was at one point the clear cut answer to become the next face of the league a few years ago, but not having won an MVP or a championship has halted that. Let's see if he can change the narrative as he is truly a one-of-a kind talent. "All Hail Luka Legend!"