Every year, the NBA is loaded with storylines that are the topic of debate throughout the long season.
According to former NBA player Kendrick Perkins, one of the hottest topics to wax poetic about is the players that have something to prove in 2024-25.
In a recent post by NBA on ESPN, Perkins listed five players with something to prove this season.
Do you agree with @KendrickPerkins‘ list? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/m957vCIiji
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) September 27, 2024
They include Minnesota’s Karl Anthony Towns, the Knicks’ Julius Randle, Ja Morant of Memphis, Damian Lillard of Milwaukee, and rounding out the top spot, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid.
Without a doubt, a case can be made for all five.
Towns and the Timberwolves shocked the NBA world when they upset the defending champion Denver Nuggets in the conference semifinals.
Then, just when most of the national media crowned KAT and Minnesota as the new champs, the Dallas Mavericks swooped in and beat them in five games in the conference finals.
Randle and the Knicks played good ball last year and eliminated Embiid’s (still seeking his first title) 76ers in the first round of the postseason.
One round later, New York couldn’t keep up with the Indiana Pacers and lost in seven games.
Morant is arguably the player on Perkins’ list with the most to prove.
He has spectacular talent and was selected as an All-Star in 2022 and 2023.
However, he served a lengthy suspension followed by a season-ending injury in early 2024 just months after his suspension was lifted.
Lillard came over to the Bucks from Portland before last season to help get the organization back to the Finals.
That never materialized as Milwaukee was defeated in six games by Indiana in the first round of the playoffs.
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Paul Pierce Says Knicks Will Never Win A Championship In His Lifetime