Edwards-Morant and Wemby-Holmgren, the rivalries of the NBA to happen to LeBron-Curry

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The NBA needs a new rivalry like air. The last great confrontation that still raises sighs is LeBron James facing Stephen Curry. From Cleveland to San Francisco on an endless trip: They met in four finals, with three wins for Steph and one for the king.

But the numbers do not end there: they played 54 times in total, James expires Curry 13-12 in regular series, but Steph wins LeBron 17-12 in postseason and play-in matches.

The tracking of parties with each other and achievements is due to the relevance of rivalry. As once happened with Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. As then happened with Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Heirs of a narrative that is needed. That forces us to believe. Enemies inside the court, friends outside.

Adam Silver must dream of something like that. Because he knows that he drives the morbidity, and with the morbidity, the television ratings. The discussion wherever. In houses, in national chain programs, on social networks. Among friends. With the family. With strangers.

You still discuss who is better, if Michael Jordan or LeBron James. That judgment, with infinite allegations, motorizes passion. It makes fans, belong. To a player, a team, at an era.

NBA 3.0 is devoid of rivalries. We all know that Nikola Jokic is the best player in the world. Perhaps Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo have things to say, but in this poker of stars, all international, none has a nemesis that is opposed. Marquesina is individual or team, as with Boston Celtics. There was never a more fair champion than last year and not such a boring one. By superior of end to end and because their stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, they are fantastic players but if we talk about charisma, they took that matter to March. It is not personal, it is what it is. Think of other Celtic stars: Larry Bird, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. They will know what I’m talking about.

Fans feel it. And the NBA regrets it.

Edwards vs. Morant and Wemby vs. Holmgren, the rivalries of the future

In that line, two rivalry lines arise that the league should explore. The first, the one of Victor Wembanyama, the Alien of San Antonio Spurs, and Chet Holmgren, the inmate of Oklahoma City Thunder. They played little with each other, but when they did it was interesting. Of course, neither stands out any of the two for being a song to emotionality. They faced themselves in the U19 World Cup final in 2021, with triumph for Holmgren (United States) over Wemby (France). But of course, Chet fractured the pelvis in November and there is no estimated return date, so this cross for now is a hypothesis rather than a reality.

The other rivalry line is much clearer and more energetic. Ja Morant, Base of Memphis Grizzlies, in front of Anthony Edwards, Escort by Minnesota Timberwolves. The two most spectacular players of the NBA face to face. They belong to the time of social media: they generate reels one after another with fantastic plays, take off the hoop, and impossible annotations. And they look like. They are provocative, reckless and verbalr. The NBA could take note of this and make them compete in a duel of overturned in an All-Star Game. Any similarity with Michael Jordan vs. Dominique Wilkins would be mere coincidence.

The four players appointed, candidates to form future rivalries, have a common factor: they belong to small markets of the NBA. At least for now. They are neither New York nor Los Angeles but San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Memphis and Minnesota. Point against? The lights of the most raised franchises are missing, in favor? They have the blank sheet to write big history in their teams.

Of the four, only Wembanyama belongs to a franchise with championship history. Even dynasty. Morant, Edwards and Holmgren not only never lifted a Larry O’Brien trophy but in the offices of their teams nobody knows how much the cup weighs.

This causes us the following reflection: The NBA has to understand that its potential rivalries are aspirational. None of them have absolutely competed for anything relevant. It is a process. As Sam Presti did with the Draft picks in the Thunder, Silver has to put steps on the imaginary staircase to build a product with heroes and villains that still does not exist. It has to be, but it also has to seem. The script is important and as such it is necessary to convey it: sell those games well, and that the players understand that these crosses cannot be between smiles. If fans detect sparks, they will anticipate that there may be fire.

As Prometheus, it can be the beginning of everything.

The NBA is going through a moment of questions. Of questions to the search for answers. If an NBA Cup, something unthinkable long ago, to the chance to immerse yourself in Europe. To sign the collective work agreement to fight the Load Management. Of the triple revolution not to rule out new rules. The League enters challenge mode because markets do not sleep. Artificial intelligence does not run: gallop to the rhythm of the avant -garde, always inspired by revolutions, changes and systematic progress.

LeBron James is 40 years old. Stephen Curry 37. The world that disappears needs a new one that replaces it. The United States also needs a new Captain America to represent it.

The NBA thrones game, for the first time in history, is vacant and without firm candidates in view.

What does not come out naturally, you have to work it.

It is no longer desire or hope: Welcome, then, to the era of necessity.