Beginning this month, the NBA season will feature an alluring carnival

Beginning this month, the NBA season will feature an alluring carnival of 7-footers dribbling past defenders, little guys dunking, and shooters swishing 3-pointers from what would be 4-point range. Even if you’ve already given up on the league or don’t reside in an NBA market, it’s worthwhile to keep up with the modern game. Victor Wembanyama’s introduction, Anthony Edwards’ upgrading, sport LeBron Lakers’ final stand, and the title defense of Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets, one of the most fascinating champions the sport has ever seen, should all be on display this season in particular.

Victor Wembanyama’s introduction, Anthony Edwards’ upgrading, the LeBron Lakers’ final stand, and the title defense of Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets, one of the most fascinating champions the sport has ever seen, should all be on display this season in particular.

University City-born Jayson Tatum, a member of the Celtics, graduated from Chaminade High School, won the Gatorade National Player of the Year award, played one season of college basketball, was selected third overall in the NBA Draft, and went on to earn All-Star status.

To the Suns University City-born Bradley Beal went to Chaminade, was voted the Gatorade National Player of the Year, played one year of college basketball, was selected third overall in the NBA Draft, and eventually made All-Star team. (How about this as well: Tatum’s mother’s high school volleyball coach was Beal’s mom.

Beal’s first campaign with a new squad is this one. The iconic member of the Wizards team, who is 160 points short of Elvin Hayes for the most points scored in Washington’s NBA history, asked for a trade this summer. He ultimately settled in Phoenix, where he will play with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.

Beal should have, in all honesty, tried to change clubs a few years ago, but he had a strong sense of loyalty and faith in the Wizards’ team. Beal, who turned 30 this summer, told ESPN’s Malika Andrews that it was bittersweet to leave a place where he had spent so much time, built a family, and established himself. Now, without being selected in a draft, it’s like being a rookie all over again. But it’s interesting. I feel as though I fit in.

But from the perspective of St. Louis, the sales pitch is straightforward: let’s imagine that two St. Louis residents will compete against one another in the NBA All-Star Game and, you know it, the NBA Finals.

Here’s hoping Tatum takes the Celtics all the way to the championship game, where he’ll face Beal in a battle tailor-made for St. Louis.