Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and LeBron James are old news. (they're not, they're somehow awesome, still just go with me). It's time for the new blood to take over this league and this Sunday is a fantastic showcase of the future.
Grizzlies @ Celtics on ABC at 2 pm ET on Sunday. The No. 1 seed in the East hosts the No. 2 seed in the West powered by two All-Pro caliber stars that aren't yet old enough to rent a car.
Rookie of the Year? Check. Most Improved Player? Check. All-Star starter?... We don't want to talk about it.
Ja Morant has become the talisman of Memphis in a short 2.5 seasons and is the king of highlight reel dunks. The Grizz have been a feisty undercard player for Morant's first two seasons but now, along with Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner Jaren Jackson Jr. and professional cyberbully Dillion Brooks, they are ready to make a deep trip in the postseason.
All hail the king of Boston. The 24-year old is somehow in his sixth year in the league and has never been better. Already he's a four-time All Star who made the All-NBA First Team for the first time last year on his way to an NBA Finals appearance.
Now, he's an MVP candidate, leading the Celtics to the best record in the NBA as they fight to get back to the mountain top and finish the mission they failed at last season: win it all.
Along with fellow All-Star Jaylen Brown, the Celtics are built to contend now and in the future, much like their opponents on Sunday.
As the Kyrie Irving trade has shown us, there are no promises in today's NBA. You gotta strike while the iron is hot. The two franchises should be ecstatic about the future they could have but also wary that the time to pounce may be now. We'll see if either team is active at the trade deadline.
Regardless of the future, this Sunday will be a display of some of the players the NBA will be built around for the next decade. Time to grab your popcorn.