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Bam Adebayo, C, Miami Heat
A three-time All-Star and five-time All-Defensive team member at age 27, Adebayo has begun to build a strong résumé.
After five straight years of finishing in the top five of Defensive Player of the Year voting, finally breaking through with a win (or two) would go a long way towards making his case.
Jaylen Brown, G/F, Boston Celtics
A year ago, Brown looked like a real long shot to eventually make the Hall of Fame.
After adding his third All-Star appearance, winning an NBA championship and being named Finals MVP, though, he now belongs in the conversation.
Jalen Brunson, PG, New York Knicks
Brunson is one of the best players in the NBA right now, but a slow start to his career has put a damper on his Hall of Fame chances.
The 28-year-old just made his first All-Star game last season and didn’t even become a full-time starter until he came to the New York Knicks. He’ll need a brilliant five-to-seven year stretch now to be considered.
DeMar DeRozan, G/F, Sacramento Kings
DeRozan ranks No. 6 in career points among all current players, with the five ahead of him (LeBron James, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Stephen Curry) all locks to make the Hall.
A six-time All-Star, DeRozan already has scored more points than players such as Dwyane Wade, Larry Bird, Elgin Baylor, Clyde Drexler and others.
Karl-Anthony Towns, F/C, New York Knicks
A four-time All-Star and Rookie of the Year winner, Towns needs to continue to put up big numbers in New York with the Knicks in a new role.
His combination of rebounding and three-point shooting (39.8 percent lifetime mark) has rarely been seen in NBA history.
