Tier 3 is the town with the “All-Stars Live Here” sign next to the highway exit. They might not all have technically been
named to an All-Star team, but they all have at least approached All-Star level of play in the regular season while also
being at least somewhat durable against the different environment and demands of the NBA playoffs.
Part of that distinction is that, other than a few elite interior defenders, each of them has shown the ability to be a driver
of high-level offense. The line between “top role player” and “star” is a hard one to draw, but the ability to create
advantages consistently on top of being able to finish off opportunities created by others is key.
In addition to the range of skills prevalent in this group, it is also
something of a way station either for young players on the way up or veteran stars on the way down.
bit in between aging vets and ascending youngsters in that both have been in the league longer (entering their eighth
seasons) and are older (27 by opening night this fall) than you might think, but each has emerged relatively recently
once given the opportunity to shine, Markkanen in Utah and Anunoby fully emerging as a two-way force following
his midseason arrival to the Knicks. Though they do it in somewhat different manners, both present the kind of
positional versatility and easy-to-fit offensive skill sets that prove so valuable for second-to-third options on top teams.
Meanwhile, two second-year players in Paolo Banchero (last year’s Rookie of the
Year) and Jalen Williams (my hipster pick for 2023 ROY) showed great growth,
each a big part of their respective teams’ return to the playoffs. While each discovered areas for possible future
improvement in that postseason, both possess the combo of bully-ball strength and on-ball skill that tends to translate.
