The Top Five Most Marketable Players in the NBA Today
The NBA like any other professional sports league is a business. The NBA makes billions of dollars annually from a variety of revenue streams including ticket revenues, sponsorships, and television deals. Therefore, NBA executives are very strategic about what teams and players get featured in primetime television windows in order to maximize value for the league. Sometimes the most marketable players and teams aren’t even necessarily the best, but regardless they still bring people to a game and a TV screen for a variety of reasons. With NBA fans being drawn to games with electric players lighting up the court, let’s break down who are the top five most marketable players in the NBA right now.
1. Luka Dončić - Dallas Mavericks
Luka Dončić has simply been unbelievable since coming into the league. His offensive ability and statistical performances on a nightly basis make him a dominant force in the NBA. Luka certainly leaves a lot to be desired on the defensive end, but when he is in control and running the offense, he is certainly one of the best the game has ever seen. Since coming into the league, Luka has always been a stellar offensive weapon, averaging over 20 points a game as a rookie. Over the past six years, Luka has only improved his game and this season, he averaged 34 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds a game. His play certainly brings tons of attention to the league and sells tickets for the Mavericks, even if his play style doesn’t inherently contribute to the team winning championships.
2. Anthony Edwards - Minnesota Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards is someone the NBA is quickly leaning into to lead the next generation of athletes as one of the most exciting players in the league. On a nightly basis, Edwards will produce high-flying dunks and step-back threes that will light up social media for days. His energy and determination he puts into the game make him a wildly exciting player to watch. At just 22 years old, Edwards still has a lot of development ahead of him which can help him overcome some of his shortcomings. At times he can play a bit too fast, which can cause him to have unnecessary turnovers, but over time he should be able to settle down and become a tremendous player in the league. This season he averaged 26 points, five assists, and five rebounds which is great for a player of his age. If he continues on this track he could certainly be the NBA’s new favorite marketing piece because of his high energy and flashy plays that blow up social media and the internet.
3. Jalen Brunson - New York Knicks
Jalen Brunson is one of the newest stars in the daunting atmosphere of New York City and even so, he is still exceeding the city’s wildest expectations. When Brunson came to the Knicks, after leaving the Mavericks, he was expected to be a viable starter for the team and hopefully lead them into a brighter future. Brunson not only met those expectations but absolutely shattered them, as he has become an amazing NBA player without Luka Dončić stealing the spotlight. Brunson went from averaging 16 points a game in his best season with the Mavericks to 29 points a game this season. However, his best performances came during this past season’s playoffs as he lit up the NBA averaging 32 points, eight assists, and three rebounds a game. With Brunson now established with the New York faithful, he will certainly look to become a dominant force in the NBA as his popularity continues to rise.
4. Jayson Tatum - Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum is simply the face of the franchise on the best team in the NBA. The Celtics are an interesting team because typically the face of the franchise is also unequivocally the best player on the team. However, that might not be the case in Boston. During the Celtics’ title run this season, it was Jaylen Brown, and not Tatum, who won both the Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals MVP awards. Despite this, the Celtics faithful still wrap their arms around Tatum more than Brown. Tatum has been outstanding since entering the league and has found himself constantly competing in big games in the playoffs. At only 26 years old, Tatum has already played in 113 playoff games and averaged 24 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in those games. Due to Tatum always finding himself in the playoffs, he has been able to deliver some sensational playoff performances including a 51-point performance in a game seven against the 76ers last year. With Tatum and the rest of the Celtics looking to dominate the league for the next several years, look for the NBA to continue to give Tatum opportunities to grow his superstardom in order to drive attention to the league.
5. Steph Curry - Golden State Warriors
Steph Curry is the only older veteran on this list, and that isn’t by mistake. When Curry came into the NBA, he redefined how the game was played. His wild shooting ability from range is something that we may never see again. As this is a current list of marketable NBA players, the NBA continues to feast off the aging veterans who are carrying the league's interest until the young stars are ready to take on the weight of the league on their backs. Despite Curry being 36 years old, people still get excited to watch him pull up and drain a half-court shot while not even looking at it go in the net. His confidence and offensive ability still make him a remarkably marketable player in the NBA as he continues to inspire kids across the nation to shoot and play like him.
