Top 10 NBA Players Under 25
The future is now. Young stars like Giannis, Davis, and Towns have already proved to be superstars in the NBA. But In 5 years what can we expect from these players. Who are the best players under 25 years old. This list will not include 25 year olds like Kyrie Irving, Rudy Gobert, and Harrison Barnes.
Just Missed
Myles Turner
Age: 21
2017-2018 Stats: 21.0 Points, 14.0 Rebounds, 2.0 Assists
Reason for not Making Cut: Myles is very good and many people believe he will be a superstar. I am not one of those people. Myles is thriving right now only because the system is built around him. Indiana will soon realize that Myles can't be the first or second option on a championship team. At best Myles Turner will be an All-Star in his career.
D'Angelo Russell
Age: 21
2017-2018 Stats: 21.7 Points, 4.1 Rebounds, 5.0 Assists
Reason for not Making Cut: D'Angelo is a very good player that played in a bad system and never showed his true game. Although I said playing in a system built around you doesn't make you good D'Angelo is different. The Nets system is ball movement, the Pacers is dump it to Myles and he might kick it back out. If Russell can become a consistent scorer then he should make this list by the end of the year.
Lonzo Ball
Age: 20
2017-2018 Stats: 10.4 Points, 7.3 Rebounds, 7.0 Assists
Reason for not Making Cut: He's a rookie that still has to prove himself it's that simple.
Dennis Schroder
Age: 24
2017-2018 Stats: 22.2 Points, 2.8 Rebounds, 6.8 Assists
Reason for not Making Cut: Schroder is not a bad player. If Schroder could shoot then he would probably be a lot closer to making this list. Last season Schroder shot 34% from behind the 3 point line. Even though that isn't bad, it's not elite. If Schroder was an elite shooter he would definitely crack this list.
Jabari Parker
Age: 22
2017-2018 Stats: N/A
Reason for not Making Cut: A healthy Jabari probably makes this list but that is not the case. Parker has hurt both knees and seems to never be healthy. Parker is a very skilled big man that can kinda shoot. A trade has been rumored to send Parker to Phoenix. If this trade happens then expect Parker to crack the top 8.
Gary Harris
Age: 23
2017-2018 Stats: 14.4 Points, 2.6 Rebounds, 2.9 Assists
Reason for not Making Cut: Gary Harris was payed $84 million over the summer and he deserves every dime. Harris averaged a quiet 20 points a game last season and looks to improve that this season. Gary will never make this list only because he doesn't have that superstar factor. Harris won't be remembered as a superstar but everyone else on this list can/will.
10. Devin Booker
Age: 21
2017-2018 Stats: 22.1 Points, 6.0 Rebounds, 4.3 Assists
Booker's potential is just as high as almost everyone on this list. People have compared Booker to Kobe. One of the big differences between Booker and Kobe is that Kobe was a 12x All-NBA defensive player. Devin Booker is statistically one of the worst defenders in the NBA. Booker is already one of the best scorers in the league right now at 21 years old. He is the only active player in the NBA to score 70 points in a game. If Booker improves his defense to even an average level then he will most definitely be an All-Star. In my opinion Booker will be better than a few players above him on this list.
9. Andrew Wiggins
Age: 22
2017-2018 Stats: 19.7 Points, 4.9 Rebounds, 1.4 Assists
Wiggins was supposed to be an All-Star by now, according to the scouting reports of him when he was drafted. He was then selected Number 1 overall to the Cavs (Traded to Timberwolves before he played a game). Wiggins is an exceptional player and still definitely can be a future All-NBA player. He has started the season really well already hitting a buzzer. He somehow found a way to be worse at defense, but Wiggins' shooting percentage, 3 point percentage, and efficiency scoring has gone way up. That has been a knock on Wiggins for a long time, that he is a ball hog and misses a lot of shots. If Wiggins can learn to play the team game his future and the Timberwolves could be very deadly.
8. Nikola Jokic
Age: 22
2017-2018 Stats: 17.3 Points, 11.1 Rebounds, 4.4 Assists
I am not a Jokic believer. He's a good player but he's only barely better than Booker and Wiggins. His passing is fun to watch but he's not the best scorer and he's a sub-par defender. You cannot build a team around him if your trying to contend for a championship and to me that's what defines an elite player. People over exaggerated what Jokic did last season because of Per 36 and Adjusted Pace stats. Jokic is a good player and possible all-star but he's no All-NBA talent.
7. Bradley Beal
Age: 24
2017-2018 Stats: 19.5 Points, 4.5 Rebounds, 3.0 Assists
Bradley Beal in one word is, progression. His Points, Assists, and Rebound go up every year or his efficiency in those stats go up. Beal is a good scorer and above average rebounder. The chemistry between him and Wall seemed to return last season and this year they look to do damage in the East. Wizards should beat a Hayward-less Celtics and a young Bucks team the be able to compete with the Cavaliers in the conference. Beal has showed so far this season that he can score 25 a night no matter who's guarding him. Beal doesn't seem to have All-NBA talent but could be an elite All-Star.
6. Ben Simmons
Age: 21
2017-2018 Stats: 18.4 Points, 9.1 Rebounds, 7.7 Assists
Ben Simmons is the clear favorite to win Rookie of the Year and is playing like a possible All-Star in the East. Ben doesn't play like a rookie: he has cool head, doesn't turn the ball over much, and is always looking for the open man. Simmons dominates any fast break either scoring with ease or attracting two defenders and kicking it out to a shooter. Simmons hasn't developed a 3-point shot but his passing and driving to the hoop make up for that. With the ball in Simmons' hand you have a better chance to score than anyone above him and that's why he is better. Simmons' ability to get a triple-double every night is similar to Westbrook besides that Simmons is 8 inches taller. Simmons will be an MVP in his career.
5. Joel Embiid
Age: 23
2017-2018 Stats: 20.8 Points, 10.0 Rebounds, 3.0 Assists
Injuries. That's the only thing you need to say about Joel and why he's not higher. Joel can shoot, defend, and rebound. Embiid was looking like a lock for Rookie of the Year last year until he got injured. Playing 31 games in a possible 246 game time span is not good at all. When Joel is playing he is as dominant and skilled as anyone else on the court. Embiid is a once in a decade talent that could get ruined by injuries. "The Process" is looking to finally win this season and Joel will be a major factor in that. If Joel's minute restriction goes up and he plays as good as last season, there's no reason the 76ers aren't in the playoffs.
4. Kristaps Porzingis
Age: 22
2017-2018 Stats: 29.3 Points, 8.3 Rebounds, 0.8 Assists
Remember when Knicks' fans booed the selection of Porzingis on draft night. Or when Stephen A. ranted about how Porzingis would at best be a starter. Those same people (including Stephen A.) are now counting on Porzingis to lead there team back into contention. Porzingis is an actual unicorn. He has an inside, mid range, outside game, he can rebound, and he can handle the ball. Like many players on this list Porzingis lacks interior defense. That is a skill Porzingis may be able to develop one day. Porzingis is one of the few players on this list that can be the best player on a championship team.
3. Karl Anthony-Towns
Age: 21
2017-2018 Stats: 24.1 Points, 11.9 Rebounds, 1.0 Assists
In the annual General Manager poll Karl Anthony-Towns ranked first in what player would you take if you were starting a franchise. I wouldn't have picked Towns in that category but there must be a mutual agreement of his talent for him to beat out Davis, Curry, James, and Antetokounmpo in the poll. Something that most coaches and general managers can agree on is that Towns can not guard good post players such as Cousins, Embiid, Whiteside, and. Millsap. Towns is strong but just not strong enough for the modern NBA. Any player that can dribble, shoot, and play post offense will be considered an elite player. By that classification Towns is already considered an elite player, but if Towns can fix his defensive holes then he WILL be a future MVP.
2. Anthony Davis
Age: 24
2017-2018 Stats: 27.7 Points, 12.5 Rebounds, 2.0 Assists
In Davis's first five years he has collected some accolades including: 2 time All-NBA 1st team, 4 time All-Star, All-Star game starter , All-Star game MVP, and 2 time All NBA defense 2nd team. Davis will most likely add to that list this year at the age of only 24. Davis is the first player on this list that is already a complete superstar. There's a chance that someday people could consider Davis the best player in the world. Davis can stretch the floor, dribble, pass, rebound, defend, and switch to center when needed. New Orleans will strand Davis by himself for the upcoming seasons when Cousins decides they aren't good enough. The only player that can stop Davis from being the best player in the NBA is...
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Age: 22
2017-2018 Stats: 33.7 Points, 10.3 Rebounds, 5.1 Assists
The Greek Freak! A 6"11 guard, that sounds funny until you watch Giannis. If Giannis learns how to shoot threes then he will be unguardable. That is not an exaggeration, Giannis could develop into a more athletic, dynamic Kevin Durant. Just the thought of that should scare every single team in the league. Kevin Durant said that Giannis could be the greatest to ever play. That might not be crazy. Giannis could win MVP this season at 23 years old. That would be before the first MVPs of Jordan, James, Abdul-Jabbar, and Kobe. Giannis is already a top player in the NBA at 22 what will he be able to do at 30?
