Tier 4 – Budding young stars with superstar potential
In Tier No. 4, we’re going to come across proven talented young stars who have budding superstar potential. This is not to say that every player in this tier is going to develop into a superstar but that it wouldn’t be all that surprising if they did. Admittedly, this is high praise for every player at this point in the power rankings. Each one of the players in tier 4 has proven, at the very least, that they are difference-makers in the Association.
20. Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
With the way that the media has propped him up during his FIBA World Cup run with USA Basketball, checking in at No. 20 may be a bit low for Austin Reaves. But that’s a testament to how deep the shooting guard position is at the moment in the NBA. He’s coming off an impressive breakout season with the Los Angeles Lakers in which he got better with every passing week. He successfully carried that into the summer.
The big question is whether Reaves has another developmental step to take this upcoming season. If he does, it wouldn’t be surprising if he continued to make a move up this list.