Top 5 NBA Players 25 and Under
If I were to start an NBA team today, here are the top five players under the age of 25 whom I would elect to build around.
5. Nikola Jokic: The 22-year-old Serbian is perhaps the biggest steal in recent draft history. Being selected in the middle of the second round, not much was expected of the 7-footer. Averaging 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists he has become a franchise cornerstone playing for the Denver Nuggets. His ability to find open teammates from the post makes him nearly unguardable particularly when surrounded by lethal shooters.
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4. Kyrie Irving: His handles are nasty and his ability to creatively finish at the rim over an array of defenders is breath-taking. It feels as though Kyrie has been around forever, but he is just 24 years old. His shot last year again the Warriors to secure Cleveland a title will live forever, but he still has his entire career ahead of him. Already a 4-time NBA All-Star, Kyrie Irving is as tough a guard to cover as any in the NBA.
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3. Karl-Anthony Towns: Towns skill-set is other-worldly. At 7-feet, he has the touch of a shooting guard. He is shooting 82% from the charity stripe so opponents cannot just mercilessly foul him as they do other elite big-men. Averaging 24 points and 12 rebounds in his second season, Karl-Anthony Towns has statistically had as great of a start to his career as Shaq had. It is safe to say that Towns will be a top-5 player in this league for the better part of the next decade. He's that good.
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2. Kawhi Leonard: Leonard's improvement since he came into the NBA has been inspiring. Known as merely a defender in college, Kawhi has completely transformed his game. He is now a knockdown shooter as he connects on nearly 90% of his free throws and 40% of his three point attempts. This is not to mention that he is two-time defending Defensive Player of the Year. He may in fact be the best two-way player in the game today. His still has room to grow, which is scary, but Kawhi Leonard is already firmly in the discussion for NBA MVP.
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1. Anthony Davis: The Brow is a transcendent talent. He is currently averaging 28 points to go with 12 rebounds while also protecting the paint at a ferocious rate, blocking 2.5 shots per game. His is just beginning to find his perimeter game, so when he gets a full-grasp on that he will be utterly unguardable. In a league where wiry, mobile, athletic big men are valued more than ever, Davis reigns supreme.
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