Nick Crain | 12/23/22

  The NBA is constantly changing, and as we evaluate the league year-over-year, the change is clear. When looking longer term, it’s pretty incredible how different things have become.   So, what might the data tell us about what to expect over the next ten years?        

   

New Faces Headline the League

  Over the past decade or more, we’ve seen guys like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry thrive as the faces of the league. Over the next ten years, it’s only natural that new superstars take the reigns as those athletes retire and move on.  There’s a ton of players that could step up in that void, which we’re already seeing happen to an extent. Expect Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Nikola Jokic and Zion Williamson to be at the front of the line. From there, future prospects like Victor Wembanyama will be in their prime ten years from now.                    

Straight to NBA from HS

A new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is currently in the works. While this will absolutely dictate how the league trends moving forward on all fronts, something to keep an eye on is the requirements to enter the NBA Draft. Many years ago, players like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant made the jump to the NBA straight out of high school. The expectation is that this becomes an option again in the near future. This means more risk for teams, who could have to make decisions on 17 and 18 year olds with less high level tape, but it also means a larger draft pool. This will be something that changes the outlook of the league for decades.    

 

     

Size Over Everything

  Let’s be clear, the 3-point shot isn’t going anywhere. We’ve seen the perimeter game become as important as ever over the last ten years. However, over the past several seasons, size has also emerged as an important factor in winning games.  Just take a look at the MVP winners in recent history. Starting in 2008, every winner for a decade was a guard or wing. Now, the past four winners have been bigs. In the coming years, this could continue as power forwards and centers become important again.                      

Player Mobility and Empowerment Continue to Rise

With every passing season, we see more movement around the league. Whether it’s players demanding trades or earning huge contracts in free agency, player empowerment is becoming more prevalent.  Players naturally end up in big markets on both coasts, as player mobility benefits these teams. It will be interesting to watch how small market teams combat this over the next decade.          

     

Sports Betting

  As more states across the United States legalize sports betting, fans become even closer to the game. It’s all about the fan experience, which will be something the NBA leans into over the next decade. Once it’s legal in every state, it’s safe to assume there will be in-game betting and live action that fans can wager on. More than ever, the ProFitX Sports Probability Platform (SPP) will be a tool that every NBA fan will need at their fingertips. Whether it’s pre-match bets, live wagers or player props, we’ve got you covered.