Not too long ago, we reimagined the NBA in terms of what it would look like if eight of the best possible duos were formed with superstar players and went up against each other in tournament fashion. Today, I will present the 1-on-1 NBA tournament based on NBA players from this season and hope one day to see it included in All-Star Weekend.

In this clash of 16 star players from around the NBA, we have drawn eight random matchups to kick off the first round which will be followed by four quarterfinal matchups, two semifinal matchups, and lastly, the championship to crown our 1-on1 champion. Games will be played to 21 and a winner will be determined based on their overall skills in a 1-on-1 environment based on what they have displayed with their most recent play.

Using our randomized system, we have divided the tournament into two sides of a bracket. On one side will be these matchups:

LeBron James vs. Anthony Edwards

Devin Booker vs. Luka Doncic

Jayson Tatum vs. Kawhi Leonard

Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Stephen Curry

The four matchups set to take place on the other side of the bracket will be:

Damian Lillard vs. Donovan Mitchell

Jimmy Butler vs. Kevin Durant

Joel Embiid vs. Kyrie Irving

Nikola Jokic vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Each matchup has a riveting storyline in this highly-anticipated event to crown the first-ever champion of the Fadeaway World Supreme 1-on-1 NBA Tournament 2023-24.

First RoundLeBron James vs. Anthony Edwards

Credit: Fadeaway World

There is no time to blink in this 1-on-1 tournament as we kick things off with a matchup between LeBron James and Anthony Edwards. Currently, James is playing better than any 39-year-old has in the history of the sport, while Edwards looks like he is getting ready to have the torch passed his way with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In a game of 1-on-1 between these two, LeBron James is going to have to rely on his physicality and stamina. Attacking on every single possession is going to take a toll on even the greatest of athletes as is playing 1-on-1 defense compared to a team environment. That is where this matchup favors Edwards as the grind towards 21 continues.

At this point in their careers, I believe James is still going to be able to get going because of his strength and ability to gain momentum downhill to the rim. However, I also believe that Edwards’ speed and pressure will be too much for the aged LeBron defensively to the point where he falls short of being able to finish Edwards off. In a massive upset in round one, Edwards eliminates LeBron James, using his shot creation and youth to his advantage.

Result: LeBron James vs. Anthony Edwards 17-21

Devin Booker vs. Luka Doncic

Credit: Fadeaway World

In our second matchup, there is no love lost between these two Western Conference foes. Devin Booker and Luka Doncic have been spirited rivals on the court over the last few seasons which has included face-to-face confrontations as well as an enormous amount of trash talk. Now, they get to settle their differences, for now, in this 1-on-1 format.

Devin Booker and Luka Doncic both present different advantages offensively. Bokker is a talented three-level scorer with an especially deadly touch from the mid-range. Doncic’s suspect defense from the perimeter may allow Booker to get to his spots far too often and pick Doncic apart. Despite this advantage, Luka has an advantage that I believe will take him to victory.

Apart from the fact that Doncic comes armed with a good-to-grat stepback outside shot and an array of ways he can get to the rim, but his size and strength will be his biggest assets. While Booker will attack with finesse, Doncic can use his frame to punish Booker in the post as we have seen him do to smaller guards in the past. To me, this leads Doncic past Booker by a thin margin with Booker tiring out in the end.

Result: Devin Booker vs. Luka Doncic 19-21

Jayson Tatum vs. Kawhi Leonard

Credit: Fadeaway World

This matchup of elite small forwards in our third match features the former two-time champion and Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard going up against one of the new faces of the league in Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics. A 1-on-1 matchup between these two would be perfect for the fans of the pure nature of basketball with maximum effort on both sides of the ball.

Kawhi Leonard will need every bit of his peak defensive performance if he wishes to remain in a battle against an extremely offensively talented scorer like Tatum. With Tatum’s ability to create and knock down just about any shot from any range, he is going to make Leonard’s job much more difficult.

However, Tatum will not be able to back Leonard down at will. Leonard is going to get stops and is going to find his rhythm offensively, whether that be from the mid-range or getting around Tatum and getting to the rim. In the end, however, I believe that Tatum’s athleticism and skill take over and put together one more stretch of scoring than Leonard can, showing once again that 1-on-1 will favor the more talented offensive player in most cases.

Result: Jayson Tatum vs. Kawhi Leonard 21-17

Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Stephen Curry

Credit: Fadeaway World

It almost feels wrong that we got such a star-studded matchup in the first round between former MVPs and Finals MVPs Giannis Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry. As popular and favored one player may seem to be in this matchup, this clash of two completely different playstyles is going to present some unexpected results.

I understand that Stephen Curry is going to get his shots off at some point and likely go on a stretch scoring for five or six straight. However, once Giannis Antokounmpo gets one stop, I think the game is over for Curry. There is simply no way I see Curry getting a defensive stop on Giannis if he is determined to score from the post or behind a head of steam from the perimeter.

This also goes without mentioning Giannis’ defense. Most of Curry’s shots can be attributed to his movement without the ball and with Giannis’ massive size advantage, no one shot is going to come easy for Curry. As I mentioned, I think Curry does get some scoring done but cannot stop the inevitable offensive onslaught from Giannis that awaits.

Result: Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Stephen Curry 21-13

Damian Lillard vs. Donovan Mitchell

Credit: Fadeaway World

As we get this tournament moving to the other side of the bracket now, we are met with a matchup of two premier Eastern Conference guards. Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks is set to go up against Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers, bringing together a serious clash of playstyles.

Damian Lillard is still getting acclimated to life away from Portland and it seems the pressure from it has contributed to him being one of the worst three-point shooters in the 2023-24 season so far. Without his shot falling, Lillard can fall behind and quickly to a scorer like Mitchell.

Mitchell has an incredibly quick first step off the dribble with the ability to stop on a dime and pull up or keep momentum going for a finish at the rim. This does not bode well for a defender like Lillard’s, whose inability to defend elite guard play has been highlighted this season already. Given their current status, strengths, and weaknesses, Mitchell edges out Lillard in an offensive battle without many defensive highlights.

Result: Damian Lillard vs. Donovan Mitchell 16-21

Jimmy Butler vs. Kevin Durant

Credit: Fadeaway World

For NBA fans both young and old, the matchup between Jimmy Butler and Kevin Durant may be the premier match to see in the entire first round. On one side, we have Jimmy Butler whose heart, passion, and energy on the court have made him one of the best and most likable players in the game. Kevin Durant, on the other hand, is a player who has received more criticism than most in his career despite being one of the game’s most talented scorers ever.

Butler’s key to victory will be his on-ball defensive pressure against the much taller Durant. Butler will also have to work twice as hard considering how well Durant handles the ball and gets to his spots at his size, knocking them down more efficiently than anyone else. Butler will also have his work cut out for his offensively with Durant’s underrated defense looming large on jumpers or even drives to the rim.

This is why I think a 1-on-1 matchup between these two favors Durant. I think the combination of size and offensive skill is going to be way too much for Butler to overcome. In a team setting is a different story but 1-on-1 for a player like Durant who seeks out isolation matchups constantly, it’s going to be a long night for Jimmy Butler.

Result: Jimmy Butler vs. Kevin Durant 14-21

Joel Embiid vs. Kyrie Irving

Credit: Fadeaway World

This is another matchup that looking at one side of things may seem a bit lopsided but comes with unexpected results once again. When looking at 7’0’’ Joel Embiid, who also happens to be one of the heaviest players in the NBA, you have to believe that he has a considerable advantage over Kyrie Irving, but not so fast.

If Kyrie Irving gets the ball even once against Joel Embiid, he could easily run the table without Embiid ever seeing the ball again. As one of the greatest ball-handlers in NBA history, Irving may end up looking like a blur on the court, as he often does on a nightly basis. Irving’s combination of speed, control, and finishing touch on floaters and layups is second to none in the NBA, giving him a much bigger advantage than size in a 1-on1.

Embiid is of course going to force Irving to take a chance defensively that leads to easy baskets for him but Irving’s quick hands and savvy instincts are going to pay off sooner or later, leading to a dominant stretch in the end by Kyrie. In surprising and upsetting fashion, I believe that David slays Goliath, and Kyrie advances in the tournament.

Result: Joel Embiid vs. Kyrie Irving 19-21

Nikola Jokic vs. Shai Gilgeous Alexander

Credit: Fadeaway World

In our final matchup of the first round, another clash between two completely different players has upset written all over it. Favored in this matchup will of course be the reigning Finals MVP and two-time MVP Nikola Jokic. He will be favored over up-and-coming star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who is not going to be some easy pushover.

Jokic starts with the ball and shows off his dominant combination of skill and precision in getting Gilgeous-Alexander closer to the rim. Along with this, there is a noticeable limitation on what Jokic can do in a 1-on-1 environment compared to 5-on-5. Gilgeous-Alexander exposes this limitation by applying pressure to Jokic from the perimeter and forcing him into mistakes or shots he normally wouldn’t take.

From there, Gilgeous-Alexander’s speed and vast creativity with the ball take over. Shai goes on long stretches of scoring highlighted by dazzling body control and soft touch from all three levels. Jokic attempts to use his size continuously but settles for bad shots to relinquish his first-round matchup.

Result: Nikola Jokic vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 18-21

QuarterfinalsAnthony Edwards vs. Luka Doncic

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The first of four Quarterfinals matchups features two of the best players in the NBA right now under the age of 25 years old. After his win over LeBron James, Anthony Edwards presents many challenges for Luka Doncic. For one, Doncic is not going to be able to move Edwards like he is Booker with Edwards being the stronger and heavier guard.

Doncic does have three inches on Edwards which will bode well for him in generating shots and offense when he does have the ball. Where Doncic is really going to struggle is defending Edwards’ attack on the rim. In a game in which both are expected to trade blows on the offensive end, I expect Edwards to pull it out thanks to his deeper scoring skill set.

Result: Anthony Edwards vs. Luka Doncic 21-18

Jayson Tatum vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Credit: Fadeaway World

During their first matchups, each player from our second quarterfinal game has a different path to get here. Jayson Tatum had a tough back-and-forth game with Kawhi Leonard while Giannis Antetokounmpo made it look easy against Stephen Curry. Once again in this one, Antetokounmpo heads into action with the advantage but Jayson Tatum is an entirely different beast in a 1-on-1 situation.

On the defensive end, the size difference makes Tatum a far different matchup from Curry. Tatum has a little bit more room to be creative with his shots and attack on the basket while Curry attacked Giannis primarily from the outside. With Giannis’ versatile abilities on defense, Tatum has to be on his A-plus game offensively.

Giannis is going to have another relatively easy road to victory here thanks to his power, athleticism, and defensive play. Antetokounmpo will be able to wear down Tatum as the matchup goes on, especially if he decides to work from the post on most of his possessions. Tatum is too talented to have it be a blowout but in the end, being elite on both sides of the ball is going to shine through above everything else.

Result: Jayson Tatum vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo 16-21

Donovan Mitchell vs. Kevin Durant

Donovan Mitchell heads into his quarterfinal game against Kevin Durant as a massive underdog. With no longer being able to use his size as an advantage just as he did over Damian Lillard, Mitchell finds himself with the toughest task of the tournament, having to slow down one of the greatest offensive weapons in NBA history.

Mitchell will be an issue for Durant as well. There is no doubt he will be able to get separation with the ball in his hands thanks to his elite first step and ability to shoot from mid-long distance. The issue will lie in Mitchell’s defense of Durant, a task that not many are up to. While Mitchell is not as bad of a defender as he has been hailed to be in the past, he is no match for Kevin Durant in a 1-on-1 setting.

Result: Donovan Mitchell vs. Kevin Durant 14-21

Kyrie Irving vs. Shai Gilgeous Alexander

Credit: Fadeaway World

In one of the most exciting matchups of the Quarterfinals, it is a battle of the veteran against the rising star as Kyrie Irving takes on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Even in his later years, Kyrie Irving is still as efficient as ever and one of the better isolation players in the NBA, shredding defenses at a mind-bending rate.

Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has become an elite guard in the NBA as a scorer, playmaker, and defender in 2023-24. In this matchup, each player’s ability to create their own shots, get past the defense, and finish at the rim efficiently is going to have the upper hand. The real difference will be the player who can consistently knock their shots from the outside down to gain a slight advantage.

In any back-and-forth game, it will be difficult to determine a winner especially one between two players like this that are as creative and efficient as they are. That is why, with Gilgeous-Alexander struggling in the early parts of the 2023-24 season with his perimeter shooting, you have to think Kyrie Irving will be the one who squeaks out this tight matchup thanks to his more consistent ability from the mid-range and three-point land.

Result: Kyrie Irving vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 21-19

SemifinalsAnthony Edwards vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Credit: Fadeaway World

In his first two matchups, Anthony Edwards was able to use his size, speed, strength, and overall offensive skill set to get by both LeBron James and Luka Doncic. In this first semifinal matchup against Giannis ANtetokounmpo, Edwards has unfortunately met his match. Giannis is the first player that can match or exceed Edwards in terms of everything he does on the court.

As great as Edwards is on offense, Giannis is among the best perimeter and interior defenders in the league. In addition, the size and athleticism are advantages for Antetokounmpo as well. On defense, Edwards will look to keep Giannis on the perimeter and force him into shots he would rather not settle for.

Unfortunately for Edwards, there is little he can do to combat the difference in size and strength. While Edwards is no slouch, Giannis is too freakishly athletic and crafty in the paint for Edwards to make up for the size difference.

Result: Anthony Edwards vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo 17-21

Kevin Durant vs. Kyrie Irving

Credit: Fadeaway World

Former teammates turn into bitter rivals in our second semifinal matchup between Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. These two 1-on-1 kings are undoubtedly the two most offensively skilled players left in the tournament and this duel is sure to produce fireworks from start to finish.

Kyrie Irving is going to have his hands full dealing with Durant’s length on defense and the amount of ground he can cover. Irving will want to present an equal mix of shots from every spot on the floor as well as finishes at the basket. Due to the size and speed of Durant, even more so than Joel Embiid, the difficulty and urgency behind the shots increase.

On the other hand, Durant can go about things like it was business as usual. Of course, if Irving wants to press Durant on defense, he can present some issues but more likely than not is going to get burned for a fairly easy attempt from the mid-range. With too much of a simple formula for Durant to be successful in a matchup against the smaller yet superiorly skilled Irving, the advantage lies with the SLime Reaper in this one.

Result: Kevin Durant vs. Kyrie Irving 21-17

FinalsGiannis Antetokounmpo vs. Kevin Durant

Credit: Fadeaway World

What started with 16 of the best players in the NBA today has now dwindled to two in the inaugural Finals for Fadeaway World’s Supreme 1-on1 NBA Tournament. In this last matchup, we have Giannis ANtetokounmpo with his victories over Stephen Curry, Jayson Tatum, and Anthony Edwards. Opposing him for a chance at the crown is none other than Kevin Durant after wins over Jimmy Butler, Donovan Mitchell, and Kyrie Irving.

What has been Kevin Durant’s advantage for this entire tournament has been wiped away in this final matchup. Having been able to get to his spots with ease and shoot over his opponents in the previous three matchups, Durant now finds himself matchup up with the versatile and athletic Giannis. Given Antetokounmpo’s track record on defense, it is safe to gather that he will slow Durant down significantly.

That isn’t the only thing that is going to lead Giannis to victory. While Durant’s height against his other opponents made things more difficult in their pursuit of shots at the rim, it will not have nearly the same effect on the taller and stronger Antetokounmpo. While Durant will fight admirably thanks to his offensive repertoire, Giannis is going to prove to be too much for Durant to handle.

Result: Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Kevin Durant 21-18