As I watched the highlight reels from this NBA season, I couldn't help but notice how the game continues to evolve toward more space, more ball movement, and frankly, more exciting basketball. Having covered the league for over a decade, I've seen trends come and go, but this season's standout performers have truly redefined what it means to dominate in today's game. What's particularly fascinating is how their skills would translate to different formats - I recently learned about the Red Bull Half Court tournament coming to the Philippines, where the biggest 3-on-3 streetball competition will send local talents to represent the country at the World Final in the UAE this November. This got me thinking about which NBA stars would absolutely thrive in that kind of setting.
Let me start with my personal favorite to watch this season - Stephen Curry. Now I know some people might argue he's been dominant for years, but what he did this season was something special. At 35 years young, Curry put up 29.4 points per game while shooting 42.7% from three-point range on nearly 12 attempts per game. Those numbers don't even tell the full story of how he warps defenses. I've never seen a player who forces opponents to defend from the moment they cross half-court like Curry does. His off-ball movement is absolutely exhausting to track, and he's basically forced entire defensive schemes to evolve around containing him. What makes him particularly deadly in today's game is how he'd translate to 3-on-3 formats - imagine trying to defend Curry in open space with fewer defenders. The Red Bull Half Court tournament emphasizes individual creativity and spacing, exactly the environment where Curry would be completely unstoppable.
Then there's Luka Dončić, who put together what I consider the most impressive individual statistical season since Westbrook's MVP year. The Slovenian sensation averaged 32.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.0 assists while carrying a Mavericks team that frankly had no business being in playoff contention with their roster. What separates Luka from other elite scorers is his pace - he's never rushed, always under control, and possesses this incredible ability to get to his spots regardless of who's defending him. I've had the privilege of watching him live several times this season, and his basketball IQ is just on another level. He sees passing lanes that don't even exist until he creates them. In a 3-on-3 setting like the Red Bull tournament, his skills would be magnified - with more space to operate, his methodical dissection of defenses would be a thing of beauty. The way he uses hesitation and changes of speed reminds me of the streetball legends I grew up watching, except he's doing it against the best defenders in the world.
The third player who absolutely dominated in his own unique way was Giannis Antetokounmpo. While his numbers - 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists - are spectacular, what impressed me most was his continued evolution as a playmaker and defender. At 6'11" with a 7'3" wingspan, he's basically a cheat code physically, but what separates him is his relentless motor. I've never seen a superstar of his caliber play with that combination of force and determination every single possession. His game would be particularly fascinating in a 3-on-3 environment because he wouldn't have the same defensive help waiting in the paint. The Red Bull Half Court format would essentially create a playground where Giannis could attack one-on-one repeatedly, and good luck stopping that. What people don't appreciate enough is his improved passing - he averaged a career-high in assists this season, showing he's more than just a physical specimen.
Watching these three dominate in their distinct ways has been one of the pleasures of this NBA season. Curry's shooting revolution, Luka's methodical brilliance, and Giannis' physical dominance represent three different paths to excellence in today's game. As the basketball world turns its attention to events like the Red Bull Half Court tournament, where Filipino talents will battle for a spot in the UAE World Final this November, it's worth appreciating how the skills we see in the NBA translate to different formats. Personally, I'd give anything to see these three stars compete in a 3-on-3 setting - the spacing, the individual matchups, the pure basketball creativity would be absolutely mesmerizing. The game continues to evolve, but dominance remains constant - it just wears different faces each season.