Looking at ESPN’s 25 Under 25 list (unpaywalled version here), it was interesting to see 14 of the names playing in Southern states (you may not consider DC to be in the South but, uh… let’s just say that doesn’t make a difference).
The Thunder are looking like the early stages of a dynasty, the Rockets and Magic have some of the best young cores in the league (with the Hornets and Spurs’ young talent showing promise), the Grizzlies and Pelicans still have enormous upsides despite recent injury woes, and the Mavericks have a proven superstar in 24(!)-year-old Luka Doncic. Granted, some of these names are bound to leave in free agency, but the recent success of small-market teams built around homegrown superstars like Jokic and Giannis tells us there’s nothing stopping any of these teams from eventually going all the way. In a few years the league could very well look like it did in the early 2010s, when Dallas, San Antonio, and Miami all won chips while Orlando, Houston, and the Grizzlies made deep playoff runs.
Is a southern takeover inevitable or are there simply too many variables? And could the allocation of future superstars in a region that traditionally doesn’t care as much for basketball potentially spell trouble for the sport, or will talents like LaMelo and Wemby be able to transcend their markets?
What a weird post - the current 5 best records in the NBA are north of the Mason Dixon line.
“Under 25” is a meaningless arbitrary age. For example, Tatum is better than the lot and only 26. Also, a talented 22 year old may be long gone before he hits his prime.