Andrew Sharp is a staff writer for Sports Illustrated. He covers basketball, and has worked for several outlets since 2009. He lives in Washington D.C.
Michael Jordan. Kobe Bryant. LeBron James. The players who set Team USA apart in the past have always been wings, but there appears to be a dearth of options in the younger generation. The Crossover looks down the list and considers potential stars.
Size and athleticism made Giannis Antetokounmpo a star, but it's his mentality that will take him to the next level and make him the best player in the NBA. The young star is the key to the future of the Bucks and the NBA at large.
Draymond Green has always been wired a little differently. A player who has outperformed expectations his entire career, the Warriors legend now gets one more opportunity to prove a lot of people wrong.
Can Jamal Murray take the leap and become one of the NBA’s elite guards? If he can, he’ll take the Nuggets with him and bring Denver to new heights in the postseason.
The Sixers are talented enough to win the title this season. But while many focus on Ben Simmons's upside or Al Horford's arrival, it's Joel Embiid who ultimately decides Philadelphia's ceiling.