Perfect Mentors for NBA's Next Generation of Young Stars

It's become an annual rite of summer—NBA star wants to improve post game; NBA star trains with Hakeem Olajuwon, arguably the most skilled center in basketball history; NBA star comes back with smooth moves down low.

Kobe Bryant spent time in the gym with The Dream back in 2009. Dwight Howard did it two years ago, and LeBron James joined the club last summer.

Now, it may be Serge Ibaka's turn to pick Hakeem's brain to improve his own game. Interestingly enough, it was Hakeem who first reached out to the Congolese shot-blocker, albeit through Oklahoma City Thunder coach Scott Brooks (per Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman).

Ibaka is far from the only young star who could benefit from some Hall of Fame-caliber tutelage. Imagine how much better these franchise-caliber cornerstones under the age of 25 could be if they paired up with NBA veterans and retirees (soon to be) enshrined in Springfield.

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Kevin Durant: George Gervin

As far as players under the age of 25 are concerned, Kevin Durant stands out as the best of the bunch. The three-time All-Star and three-time defending scoring champion has often been compared to George Gervin and could stand to learn some tricks of the trade from one the greatest scorers who ever lived.

Like Gervin, Durant is a tall, lean and athletic swingman who can get buckets at will without obstructing the flow of the game. Both players were known for their silky-smooth styles, easy-going personalities and respective abilities to make piling up points look easy.

Granted, the current ceiling on the Durantula's career is much higher than Gervin's was. The OKC star owns an overall size advantage over his San Antonio Spurs counterpart and, at this point, seems unlikely to go his entire career without winning a ring, as the Iceman did.

What Durant lacks, though, is a consistent mid-range game. Sure, he can knock down perimeter jumpers and attack the basket at will, but the rest of his arsenal remains something of a work-in-progress. With a helping hand from Gervin—who was best known for his finger rolls, floaters and 'tweener jumpers—Durant could grow into an even more lethal scorer than he already is.

Which would likely leave the rest of the league shaking in its boots. 

Russell Westbrook: Dwyane Wade

Russell Westbrook, Durant's All-Star running mate, could use a word or two of advice from an active perennial All-Star, perhaps even one against whom he only recently competed.

I'm referring, of course, to Dwyane Wade.

Both players came into the league as super-athletic combo guards, though Wade had the opportunity to settle in at the 2 while Westbrook served most of his time at the point in OKC. And, whereas D-Wade has never been one to take (much less make) outside shots, Westy is much more comfortable with pulling up and launching from behind the three-point line.

Both players have a tendency to switch into "Attack Mode" whenever they feel it prudent to dominate the flow of a game, but it's where their games currently differ that makes Wade such a perfect sparring partner for Westbrook. That is, Westbrook far too often finds himself going so hard and fast all the time that he winds up spinning out of control.

Westbrook also tends to fall in love with his long-range shot at times, thereby neutralizing much of the aggression that makes him such a dangerous player.

Wade, though, has long been among the best in the game at playing under control. He's adept at changing speeds and shifting gears on the fly, rather than trying to leap over or blow by defenders on sheer physical prowess alone.

In other words, as the Beastie Boys might say, he's crafty—something that Westy isn't yet, but could be with the right person to show him how.

James Harden: Manu Ginobili

Speaking of which, players in today's NBA don't get much craftier than Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs.

And, with OKC GM Sam Presti having plied his trade under the auspices of Spurs boss RC Buford, it's no surprise that the Thunder have a guy of their own, in James Harden, whose entire profile is patterned so strikingly after Manu's. Both are left-handed swingmen who've been named the league's Sixth Man of the Year and can Euro-step with the best of them.

It's no wonder, then, that The Bearded One has compared himself to the Argentinian assassin when prompted.

So, what would Harden have to learn from Ginobili in the gym if they're already so close to being one in the same?

Well, how about how to show up to play in the NBA Finals? Ginobili's won three rings playing next to Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, often serving as a go-to scorer in crunch time for San Antonio.

Even more so when the Larry O'Brien Trophy is on the line.

Harden, on the other hand, was practically nonexistent in these last Finals against the Miami Heat, perhaps in part because of the way in which he indulged in the local nightlife.

In any case, Harden could use a lesson in clutch decorum from Manu, lest he leave the Thunder hanging on the biggest stage in basketball again. 

Kevin Love: Dennis Rodman

Kevin Love is about as complete an offensive player as there is in basketball, particularly at the power forward position. He's a load down low, has a feathery touch on his shot out to three-point range and is one of the best passing big men around.

He also happens to be arguably the most skilled rebounder in the NBA, with a keen understanding of how to use his size and strength to position himself for boards after which taller, more athletic forwards and centers might simply try to leap.

If Love were ever to shore up his defensive game, he might yet lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to the playoffs and receive the national recognition he deserves.

In that respect, few forwards in NBA history have ever been as adept at defending bigger, taller players at the position than Dennis Rodman. The eccentric Hall of Famer was named to eight All-Defensive teams and won seven rebounding titles, despite being all of 6'7" and 210 pounds.

Granted, Rodman was a freak athlete (among other things freakish), much more so than K-Love will ever be. But, more importantly, he knew full well how to harness his particular gifts to become one of the greatest defenders to ever play the game.

From Rodman, Love could learn to throw around his weight defensively to the same effect that he does offensively. Like Rodman, Love isn't much of a shot-blocker—neither has averaged more than one swat per game in a full season.

Therefore, if Love is going to prevent his man from scoring, he needs to do his work before the ball gets into his vicinity to make sure the person he's guarding can't establish position close to the basket.

This, as it happens, was one of Rodman's under-appreciated specialties, from which Love could stand to benefit.

So long as K-Love doesn't spend too much of his free time dressing in drag.

Blake Griffin: Karl Malone

Blake Griffin could stand to add some Kevin Love-like skill to his game, which at present is predicated almost entirely on brute strength and high-flying athleticism.

Then again, Griffin might as well put his human-highlight-reel ability into practice whenever possible, so long as he figures out how to harness his energy without severely injuring himself on the court.

It couldn't hurt to figure out how to stick an 18-foot jumper from time to time, either.

Which brings us to Karl Malone. He came into the NBA as a big, strong, athletic forward out of Louisiana Tech who fashioned a Hall of Fame career out of attacking the basket, hitting shots in the mid-range and playing pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop basketball with fellow all-timer John Stockton.

That could very well turn out to be the case for Griffin, who's taller, more athletic and a better ball-handler than The Mailman ever was.

Trouble is, Griffin has yet to prove that he can shoot the ball effectively on a regular basis. That ultimately limits him to being "merely" a Flying Death Machine on the fast break and a guy who's better at putting up posters than leading his team deep into the playoffs.

With a more accurate jumper and a degree of control to his game, Griffin could very well develop into the next Malone, if not something more.

Kyrie Irving: Isiah Thomas

Kyrie Irving is already well on his way to being one of the elite point guards in the NBA. The former No. 1 pick out of Duke did plenty to earn the league's Rookie of the Year honors last season, putting up 18.5 points, 5.4 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game while showing off some breathtaking creativity with the ball in his hands.

Albeit only for folks in Cleveland and NBA League Pass owners to see.

By all accounts, Irving has been even more impressive as a member of the USA Select Team that's been training with the American Olympians of late. He's gone so far as to outshine a squad replete with perennial All-Stars and challenge Kobe Bryant to a one-on-one battle for $50,000 in charitable donations.

And with handles like these, can you blame him?

Humiliating one of the top 10 players of all time in a harmless competition is one thing. Leading a wounded franchise back to relevance is another, yet that's precisely what the Cavs hope Kyrie can do for them in the post-LeBron era.

In that regard, Irving would do well to seek out the advice of Detroit Pistons Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas.

Irving is approximately the same size (6'2", 180 pounds) that Zeke was during his playing days, and, more importantly, is just the sort of scoring point guard with the skill set to be the best player on a top-flight team.

Depending on what Cleveland's front office does to improve the roster around Kyrie, of course.

Now, Irving isn't quite the athlete that Isiah was, though his ability to score the ball from just about anywhere on the floor and involve his teammates makes him an ideal candidate to follow in Thomas' footsteps.

The key for Kyrie is to become a tough, physical defender like Isiah was (as much as the current rules will allow) and develop a presence as a respected leader on the court and in the locker room for the Cavs. Thomas may have lost his magic touch once he went from the hardwood to the front office, though he should still have plenty to teach those who want to play like him, not for him.

Anthony Davis: Kevin Garnett

Anthony Davis may well be the favorite to take up Kyrie's mantle as the league's Rookie of the Year already, and has often been widely described as potentially a better rendition of Marcus Camby. 

That's high praise indeed, considering Camby's longevity and long-standing reputation as one of the best shot-blockers and paint-patrollers to come into the NBA in the last two decades.

But if Davis wants to maximize his mouthwatering potential and establish himself as a potential Hall of Famer, he'd be wise to seek out the advice of one Kevin Garnett. He can certainly identify with The Big Ticket's length, athleticism, shooting touch and ability to alter (if not block) just about every shot within arm's length.

If Davis wants to grow into a defensive dynamo, he could follow the example KG's set in being named the Defensive Player of the Year and cracking the league's All-Defensive honor roll on 12 occasions.

In the meantime, he could have KG teach him a thing or two about how to set up and hit that patented step-back jumper that's been so unstoppable for so long.

Davis has all the requisite physical tools to be the next KG. And with help from the man himself, The Mighty Brow just might be.