Ranking the Candidates for NBA's 'Next LeBron' Tag

LeBron James is the NBA's best player.

This much is not a debate.

He's leading the league in Player Efficiency Rating for the sixth straight time this season. He also ranks fifth overall in scoring at 26.4 points per game through Tuesday.

As far as his team is concerned, James leads the Miami Heat in points, rebounds and assists. 

He could win his fourth MVP award this year along with his second NBA championship.

Just like we did with every other "best player" in the NBA before him, though, we will soon start searching for the "next LeBron."

This season is James' 10th in the league. While he might be getting better lately, he's not getting any younger. 

With that in mind, I've ranked five players we could be referring to as the "next LeBron" in the years to come.

These five candidates range from high school prospects to players who are already in the NBA. It's important to note that by "next LeBron," I'm referring only to on-court performance and production.

These are five candidates that would earn the "next LeBron" tag by strictly dominating the NBA game.

5. Shabazz Muhammad

UCLA's Shabazz Muhammad is currently listed as the No. 1 overall player on DraftExpress.com's top 100 prospects list.

The slashing wing from Las Vegas, Nev. has turned up his game over the last month of the season in particular to earn that ranking. 

Beginning on Dec. 15, Muhammad has averaged 23.2 points in his last six games. This past Saturday, he also registered his second double-double of the season with 23 points and 10 rebounds in a matchup with Stanford.

Muhammad has played 12 games in total this season as a freshman for the Bruins and is averaging 19.3 points and 5.2 rebounds on the year through Tuesday.

At 6'6", 225 pounds, the 19-year-old Muhammad does not necessarily possess the size and speed that LeBron James did at his age. But, like James, he is a prolific scorer who can beat defenders in multiple ways and will only improve from here.

If he made himself eligible, Muhammad could be the first overall pick in the NBA draft this summer.

Assuming he did enter the league next season, Muhammad would begin his rookie campaign as LeBron James would be entering into his 11th NBA season.

Not too long after that, people could be referring to Shabazz as the "next LeBron."

4. Andrew Wiggins

Huntington Prep's Andrew Wiggins is widely regarded as the top high school prospect in the country this season.

The son of former six-year NBA pro Mitchell Wiggins, Andrew has all the makings of an NBA superstar.

At 17 years old, Wiggins is similar to LeBron James in terms of size and frame. He's currently 6'7" with a 6'11" wingspan and will only continue to fill out his body from here.

Additionally, Wiggins is also freakishly explosive with the ball in his hands on the basketball court. 

He can beat any of his peers to the basket off the dribble while also possessing a solid-enough jump shot. A better jumper, for what it's worth, than James had when he was 17.

Wiggins still has a long way to go at this point, to be fair. He'll be forced to make a stop in college for at least one season, whereas LeBron didn't have to make that detour back in 2003.

But if he plays like most expect he will next year, Wiggins could be the first player selected in the 2014 NBA draft.

The sky is the only limit on where he goes from there.

3. Jabari Parker

Jabari Parker will be taking his talents to Durham, N.C. next season to play for the Duke Blue Devils.

While there, he'll have the opportunity to learn under Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski.

That insight will pay huge dividends for Parker, who's currently listed as the fourth-best prospect in the class of 2014 already.

Coach K and LeBron James developed a strong relationship while working together with USA Basketball. Besides understanding what it takes to dominate the college game, Krzyzewski also understands what it takes for James specifically to dominate on the NBA level.

To some degree, he can pass that knowledge on to Parker.

From there, the Simeon High School product from Chicago, Ill. will take care of the rest.

Sports Illustrated recently dubbed Parker "the best high school prospect since LeBron James" for good reason.

He's a 6'8" wing player that can do everything on the high school level. Depending on what he's able to do at Duke, he's another candidate to go first overall in 2014 and do LeBron-ish things from there.

2. Anthony Davis

Let's not forget about the 19-year-old Anthony Davis so quickly.

Injuries have slowed his rookie campaign down some, and Davis won't be named NBA Rookie of the Year.

His averages of 13.7 points and 8.3 rebounds are not the type of numbers that LeBron James posted in his rookie year, either. 

If we allow Davis time this season to not only get healthy but also fully acclimate to the NBA game, he still can be the next great player in this league.

In only 21 games, Davis has registered five double-doubles. He's also gone off for 20 or more points four times through Tuesday. 

He will need to prove he can stay healthy along with developing his game away from the basket.

Assuming he does that, though, Davis has as good a chance as any young player of ascending to LeBron James-caliber heights before it's all over.

1. Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant is the most obvious choice for NBA's next best player.

He's the second-best player in the league right now behind only LeBron James.

I don't meant to disrespect KD either by including him on a list of high school, college and first-year NBA players.

While others project to be in the "next LeBron James" conversation down the road, Durant is there right now based on his dominant performances every night.

The only issue for him is that James is only four years Durant's senior.

Durant's window is much smaller as far as being tagged the "next LeBron" than it is for guys like Muhammad, Wiggins, Parker and even Davis.

His play, however, is certainly worthy of that and any other praise.

Through Tuesday, Durant is averaging more points than James at 28.2 per game. He's also collecting 7.8 rebounds per night while handing out 4.3 assists.