Preface
Loyalty is quite cheap in a business league like the NBA, and players are just commodities for team owners, and it is the primitive capitalist mentality of every team owner to sell for a price, and players are often at risk of being traded. But there are also some very top-notch and outstanding players, with their extraordinary strength and irreplaceable status, who have become the team's non-sale at a certain time. Unless the owner wants to be the team's sinner, if not, he would not dare to trade players who are not for sale, and there are five active NBA players who dare to say so.
First place: LeBron James
As a superstar in today's NBA, LeBron James, who has been playing for 21 seasons, is undoubtedly one of the most influential players in the league. His all-round ability and leadership qualities make him a cornerstone that any team will aspire to. Whether it's with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat, or now the Los Angeles Lakers, James has shown great dominance. His presence can not only bring victory to the team, but also attract the attention of a large number of fans and sponsors, and is responsible for the team's box office guarantee and peripheral sales.
As a result, any team owner who wants to trade James will have to take a huge risk, not only in the face of fan outrage, but also in the risk of ruining the team's chemistry and market value. After the baptism of the years, James's importance has become more and more precious, James fans are innumerable, everyone is holding the mentality of watching one less game to pay attention to James's game, after all, as the NBA all-time scoring champion and the only player to achieve the 411 project, James is creating a new record every time he appears, and the attributes of non-sale products are full.
Second place: Stephen Curry
The Golden State Warriors are undoubtedly the most successful team in the NBA in the past 10 years, and the reason is that they have Stephen Curry, in the original choice between Monta Ellis and Curry, they chose to correct Curry, who was plagued by an ankle injury, and Curry also proved the vision of the Warriors management with his outstanding performance, giving back to the team with 4 NBA championship trophies. Curry has won the love of countless fans with his accurate three-point shot and excellent ball handling skills.
As the star of the Golden State Warriors, Curry's presence has made the Warriors one of the most entertaining teams in the league and has also made the team owner a lot of money. Therefore, trading Curry is undoubtedly an extremely risky decision for the Warriors, which will not only weaken the team, but also may cause strong discontent among fans. Curry is also one of the most likely players in the NBA to achieve one man and one city at the moment, after all, Curry's style of play and his contribution to the team are destined for him not to be traded away unless Curry wants to leave.
Third place: Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid is not for sale because he is the NBA regular season MVP that the 76ers have personally cultivated in recent years, and he is a top-10 player in the NBA with outstanding individual ability. Although he started playing late, Embiid has great talent and extraordinary basketball skills.
As a center, Embiid has shown unmatched dominance on the offensive end, as well as his ability to dunk under the basket and shoot three-pointers from the outside. At the same time, he is also an impregnable barrier on the defensive end, building a solid defensive line for the team with excellent blocking and rebounding ability. Embiid has excellent leadership qualities and team spirit. He is not only the core player of the team, but also the leader and soul of the team.
On the pitch, he is able to lead by example and build a harmonious team atmosphere with his teammates. Under Embiid's leadership, the 76ers guaranteed the Eastern Conference semifinals. The only thing that can limit Embiid is his injury history, but the 76ers owner still believes in the process.
Fourth place: Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic is an all-around center that has emerged in the NBA in recent years, and his basketball IQ and excellent skills allow him to do anything on the court. As the star of the Denver Nuggets, Jokic led the Nuggets to win the first and only NBA championship in team history in 2023, and he has also won the NBA regular season MVP many times and has been selected to the NBA All-NBA team many times. His presence gives the Nuggets a strong advantage on the inside, and also brings stable scoring points to the team, and revitalizes the team's offense. The Nuggets built a team around Jokic with a multi-year championship window, and given Jokic's importance to the team and his status in the league, Nuggets owners must think twice about trading him so as not to disrupt the team's chemistry and competitiveness.
5th place: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the best active players in the NBA with his excellent physical attributes and all-round skills. He showed strong dominance with the Milwaukee Bucks, leading the team to win the NBA championship in 2021, and his personal strength is also a top-five existence in the NBA. Antetokounmpo's presence has made the Bucks one of the strongest teams in the league and made him a superstar in the hearts of fans. Trading Antetokounmpo is undoubtedly an extremely risky decision for the Bucks, which will not only weaken the team, but also cause backlash among fans. For a small market team like the Bucks, building a championship team around Antetokounmpo is the first choice, and the owner does not dare to trade him easily, so he has found Lillard, the 75th superstar in NBA history, as a helper.