By Clay Burnett 
NBA fans today are blessed with a league that features living legends playing alongside the stars of tomorrow. They’re watching Hall of Fame career unfold before their eyes. There are several players currently dominating the league who will one day be first-ballot selections. Let’s go through the list of active NBA players who are bound for the Basketball Hall of Fame:
LeBron James
LeBron James is a player many consider to be the greatest ever. You could divide his career into multiple sections and those pieces could produce several Hall of Fame careers on their own. His first stint in Cleveland last seven years and produced two league MVPs and countless milestones. He added two more league MVPs, two NBA titles, and two Finals MVPs in just four years with Miami. James returned to Cleveland in 2015, made four All-NBA First-teams, and led the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history. With the Lakers, James became the game’s all-time leading scorer and continues to defy the odds while being an elite player at 40 years old.
Stephen Curry
The greatest shooter in NBA history, Stephen Curry has put together an all-time career. Curry has collected four NBA titles, two league MVPs, and is still feared by opposing defenses at 37 years old. Perhaps Curry’s best achievement came during the 2022 season when he led the Warriors to their fourth ring without an elite supporting cast. Curry has changed the sport since his emergence. Teams are hoisting up more and more three-pointers every year. And, that won’t change long after Curry finally calls it quits.
Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant is arguably the best pure scorer the game has ever seen. A near 7-foot phenom with the ability to score from every level on the floor. Durant is a four-time Scoring Champion, 15-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA selection, and was named league MVP in 2014. As a member of the Golden State Warriors, Durant helped lead the team to two NBA titles and was named Finals MVP in both years. He’s still efficiently scoring 26 PPG at 36 years old. It will be interesting to watch how the end of his career unfolds, and if he’ll be able to add another championship to his tally.
James Harden
An offensive force who put up scoring totals we hadn’t seen in three decades. Harden earned recognition early in his career, being named Sixth Man of the Year while with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2012. However, his career really took off after being traded to the Houston Rockets. As Houston’s primary option, Harden became the league’s premier offensive engine. He was named league MVP in 2018, but his next season was perhaps his most memorable. In 2019, Harden averaged 36.1 PPG — the 7th highest-average in league history and the most since Michael Jordan’s 37.1 in 1987. He was named an All-Star for the 11th time this year with the Los Angeles Clippers, and is still among the best playmakers in the league at 35 years old.
Chris Paul
Paul has consistently been among the league’s top point guard since entering in 2005. Fast-forward 20 years later, and Paul ranks 2nd in career assists and steals behind John Stockton. Paul played the majority of his prime in a league that valued scoring over passing from the point guard position. He was a bit of a throwback in that sense. He’s always looked to get his teammates involved, and his teams have thrived because of it. While he’s still chasing that elusive NBA title, Paul has improved every team he’s joined due to his vision and IQ. A 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA, and 9-time All-Defensive, Paul will be a first-ballot Hall of Fame selection.
Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook stamped his Hall of Fame case with his historic 2017 campaign, and has been adding to his resume ever since. That year, Westbrook became the first player in over 50 years to average a triple-double for a full season. Westbrook was named league MVP after posting 31.6 PPG, 10.7 RPG, and 10.4 APG while leading a depleted Thunder team to 47 wins. Since then, he’s become the NBA’s all-time leader in triple doubles with 203 — 22 more than Oscar Robertson. He’s added nine All-Star selections, nine All-NBA selections, two Scoring Titles, and is a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Since winning his first MVP in 2019, Giannis Antetokounmpo has been a pillar of consistency. The Milwaukee superstar has averaged at least 27 PPG, 11 RPG, and 5 APG for seven straight seasons. He’s been an All-NBA First-team selection each of those years, and has finished in the top-4 for MVP voting in each of those seasons, as well. Only three players have won a regular season MVP, Finals MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year award in their careers — Antetokounmpo, Michael Jordan, and Hakeem Olajuwon.
Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic is currently the best player in basketball, and would be a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame if he decided to retire tomorrow. Jokic is one of nine players with at least three regular season MVPs. The other eight are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, LeBron James, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Moses Malone. Jokic has put himself in elite company, and has shown no signs of slowing down at 30 years old.
Damian Lillard
With his recent Achilles tear, there’s a chance Damian Lillard’s career is approaching a close. And what a career it’s been. Lillard spent 11 years in Portland, consistently leading underpowered teams to the postseason in a rugged Western Conference. He was named an All-Star nine time and is a seven-time All-NBA selection. Lillard ranks fourth all-time in three-pointers, and a good amount of those makes were from near the half-court line. He’s one of 12 players in NBA history with at least 20,000 career points and 6,000 career assists. The other 11 are either in the Hall of Fame or are still currently playing.
Kawhi Leonard
Leonard’s career has been a bit wonky. Injuries have derailed much of his prime. It’s led to his overall counting stats looking worse than they should. Leonard ranks 174th in career points, below non All-Stars like Tobias Harris and CJ McCollum. However, Leonard’s peak as a two-way star is up there with the game’s very best. He helped lead two teams to NBA titles — Spurs and Raptors — and won two Finals MVP’s for his efforts. A two-time Defensive Player of the Year, six-time All-NBA selection, and member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, Leonard will surely make it to the Hall of Fame one day.
Luka Doncic
Doncic is on the path to having one of the great careers in NBA history. In his first six NBA seasons, Doncic was named an All-NBA First-team selection five times. That’s more than superstars like Stephen Curry, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett, Steve Nash, and Isiah Thomas, among others. In that time frame, Doncic averaged 30 PPG, 8.9 RPG, and 8.8 APG while leading the Mavericks to a Western Conference Finals appearance in ’22 and an NBA Finals berth in ’24. Now, the 26-year-old savant has a chance to add to his legacy as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. We’ll see what the rest of Doncic’s career has in store, but he’s already well on his way to a Hall of Fame induction.
Draymond Green
A four-time NBA Champion and the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year, Draymond Green was an integral part to the Warriors dynasty. He helped transform the league as the Warriors dissected opponents with Green playing a small-ball center role. His ability to defend every position and spray passes to Golden State’s three-point marksmen made it possible for the Warriors to have consistent success on both ends of the floor. Green, like other third options on teams that won multiple titles, will find his way to the Hall of Fame shortly following his retirement.
Klay Thompson
An elite three-point shooter, cagey defender, and four-time NBA Champion, Klay Thompson is well on his way to a Hall of Fame selection. Thompson was a member of the best team of the century — the 2010s Golden State Warriors. He was the No. 2 scorer on the 2016 team that won 73 regular season games. Then, he accepted a reduced role after the team added Kevin Durant and cruised to titles in ’17 and ’18. In 2022, the Warriors climbed back to the mountain top as Thompson earned his fourth ring. The five-time All-Star will be remembered for his timely shot-making and ability to heat up instantly. Thompson ranks fifth all-time in career made three-pointers, and still has a few more years to add to that total.
Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis may go down as one of the most under-appreciated stars of his era. An NBA Champion with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, Davis is among the most accomplished active players in the league today. He’s a 10-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection. Davis consistently upped his level of play in the postseason. Davis is one of two players in NBA history with career playoff averages of at least 25 PPG, 10 RPG, and 2 BPG — the other is Hakeem Olajuwon. He was selected to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team back in 2021, all but confirming his eventual Hall of Fame induction.
Al Horford
Al Horford may have stamped his Hall of Fame resume with an NBA title win in 2024. He was on the fence prior to that. Horford has enjoyed a solid career over 18 NBA seasons. He’s been named an All-Star five times, and was an All-NBA player for the Atlanta Hawks. Only LeBron James has more career playoff games among active players. Additionally, the Hall of Fame considers the totality of your basketball career. Horford was a two-time NCAA Champion on Florida. He won at every stop, and has collected enough accolades to deserve Hall of Fame consideration.
Jayson Tatum
Tatum’s career could not have gotten off to a better start. Drafted to a team that had just won 53 games, Tatum has yet to miss the postseason in eight NBA seasons. He ranks 15th in career playoff games despite being just 27 years old. Over the last few years, he’s cemented himself as an elite two-way forward. Tatum has earned his way to three-straight All-NBA First-team selections. All while putting up big numbers in points, rebounds, and assists. With one ring already on his finger, Tatum could add to his trophy case in the near future as the Celtics should be a top contender for years to come.
Rudy Gobert
Rudy Gobert’s Hall of Fame candidacy is quite simple. Gobert is one of three players to win four Defensive Player of the Year awards. The other two — Ben Wallace and Dikembe Mutombo — both got in. Gobert’s rather pedestrian offensive numbers won’t keep him out, as he doubled Wallace’s scoring output while nearly matching him in rebounds and blocks. And, not winning a championship won’t ultimately impact him as Mutombo was a first-ballot selection despite never winning a title. Along with the Defensive Player of the Year hardware, Gobert is a four-time All-NBA selection and three-time All-Star who has averaged a double-double for nine-straight seasons.
Kyle Lowry
Kyle Lowry has one of the more under-the-radar Hall of Fame candidacy of current NBA stars. However, he has a good chance of making it once he finally calls it quits. A six-time All-Star, Lowry played a major part of a Toronto Raptors team that was among the best in the Eastern Conference for nearly a decade. They finally won an NBA title in 2019, and Lowry averaged 17.7 PPG, 6.2 APG, and 4.8 RPG in the Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals. In the Game 6 clincher versus the Warriors, Lowry registered 26 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds and 3 steals to deliver Toronto their first-ever NBA Championship. Longevity and playing a key role for teams that consistently won games will likely lead to Lowry landing in the Hall of Fame.
DeMar DeRozan
DeRozan does’t have an NBA title on his resume like his good friend Kyle Lowry, but both former Raptors greats will likely be inducted to the Hall of Fame. DeRozan’s resume is based on his consistency as a scorer. In 16 NBA seasons, DeRozan has scored 25,292 career points — ranking 28th all-time. The 27 players ranked ahead of him are either in the Hall of Fame or are locks to make it once they’re eligible (LeBron James, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Stephen Curry). Only four retired players have scored over 20,000 career points and aren’t in the Hall of Fame (and, two of those players — LaMarcus Aldridge and Joe Johnson — are not yet eligible for induction). Every retired player that reached 21,000 career points is in the Hall of Fame.
Trae Young
This is a bit of a projection, but Trae Young is already off to a tremendous start to his career. Across all of NBA history, Young ranks 3rd in assists and 15th in points before turning 27 years old. Only 11 players have ever averaged at least 24 PPG and 9 APG over a full season. Three players have done it once, six players have done it twice, and Oscar Robertson did it nine times. Young has done it six times and has only been in the league for seven years. His name will be scattered across history books for his elite scoring and passing.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The pace Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is currently setting has to be recognized. A bit of a late-bloomer. Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t make his first All-Star team until two years ago. Since then, he’s had two top-5 finishes in MVP voting, and is the favorite to win the award in 2025. He’s blending high-volume scoring with elite efficiency at a rate that we haven’t seen from a guard since Michael Jordan. Gilgeous-Alexander notched his first career scoring title this past season, and did so while shooting 51.9-percent from the field, 37.5-percent from three, and 89.8-percent from the line. He’ll likely add more trophies in the coming years. Gilgeous-Alexander is the key cog on a Thunder team built to win now and in the future.
Angel Atienza-Romero