This is why I've never been upset about trading Jerm. He "dominated" an awful Eastern conference. He never would have been an All-Star in the West.
He was 2nd or 3rd team all NBA 3 times, so he probably would have been an all-star, but would have been a reserve behind Duncan/KG/Dirk. As was metioned earlier, a Rasheed/Jermaine frontline, perhaps even Rasheed/Zach/Jermaine, would have been pretty darn formidable.
Can we label what star vs a superstar is? Dame is a star, multiple all star games, a 2nd and 3rd team all-NBA listing. A superstar is a guy who has won the MVP and/or headlined 1st team all-NBA multiple years imo.
A superstar is a top-6 franchise player. Dame is a lot closer to being a superstar than Draymond because he's a franchise player.
IMO there are only ever 3-5 guys deserving of the label "superstar" in any given season. However, once a superstar always a superstar, despite the production. Kobe and Duncan were both superstars throughout their careers, though neither has performed like one for many years. The only players this past season who were superstars AND played like were superstars were Curry and LBJ, and perhaps Durant and Westbrook.
I agree, I think Dame is on the cusp of superstardom. With the way the league is currently constructed, I think it's gonna be between him LeBron, and Westbrook for MVP.
George? I'm not sure, maybe. Boogie's numbers are superstar level, but his team doesn't win. Kawhi's team, efficiency, and defense are superstar level, but the raw counting stats seem to fall a bit short.
If Dame simply raises his efficiency by 3% (46% FGs, 40% 3pt), he should score about 27ppg to go along with 7 assists. If the team wins 56+ then he has a real chance at MVP.
Kawhi is just not a superstar, he is a fantastic defender and one of the easiest guys to root for in the NBA but that's his ultimate problem. Fans overrate him because he's so loveable. He's honestly like this generations Ron Artest but switch crazy with humble.
Superstar is completely subjective. Do you go off of stats? All-Star teams? All-NBA teams? Endorsements? Popularity? There isn't a metric to measure the jump from "star" to "superstar." You can define it however you want, but there's going to be someone who disagrees with you.
I'd also add that superstardom requires national media attention and endorsements - basically, you have to be a household name. Paul George is not a household name. Nor is Boogie or Leonard. Dame has a higher likelihood of becoming a superstar because of his marketability.
He just needs to position himself between 2010-11 Rose and 2014-15 Curry statistically and he will win the MVP.
