NBA: Which team will take the mantle from the Golden State Warriors?

Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks have only one starter returning from last year’s Eastern Conference Finals run under the age of 25. However, that one starter is 2018-2019 NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. At 24 years of age, Antetokounmpo is one of the five best players in the league.

He led the Bucks to the best record in the league last year and according to Antetokounmpo, he has only reached 60 percent of his potential. Antetokounmpo alone should keep the Bucks in championship contention for years to come. Keep in mind, however, that he becomes a free agent at the end of the 2020-21 season.

The Bucks should contend for the Eastern Conference Championship over the next two seasons, but with a loaded Western Conference, will they be able to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy before Antetokounmpo’s free agency and will they be able to retain him if they do not.

Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets have Nikola Jokic, who at 24 years of age, is already an all-star, and First Team All-NBA center. In addition, they have four other players in Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Malik Beasley, and Monte Morris, who were in the main rotation last year and are also 24 years of age or younger.

Jamal Murray is already an all-star caliber player at 22 years of age and his experience from a deep playoff run last year, playing two seven-game series against the Spurs and the Blazers, should only accelerate his burgeoning development.