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This yearās playoffs confirmed that the NBA is in good hands. The next generation of basketball legends took center stage during the shortened season and continued captivating the nation heading into the postseason. The playoffs arenāt over yet, but multiple young superstars are on the verge of finals appearances.
In todayās article, weāll rank the 50 best NBA players under the age of 25 as of June 25, 2021. Thereās no distinction between a 19-year-old and a 24-year-old less than a month away from his birthday. Members of the 2021 NBA Draft class werenāt included in the selection process.
Check out last yearās top 25 under 25 for more context on this article.
This is my list, which means it wonāt match every readerās opinion. If you dislike a specific selection, please remember that the tiered sections are more important than the number rankings.
Reach out to me on Twitter @Sam_Teets33 about any egregious omissions or with comments.
50. Rui Hachimura, F Washington Wizards
Previous rank: Unranked
Washington drafted Hachimura with the seventh overall pick in 2019. The Japanese forward is a steady starter for Washington, but heās not a major threat on either end of the court yet. Hachimura took steps toward developing his three-point shot this season.
Previous rank: Honorable Mention
Bagley is a strange case. The No. 2 pick from the 2018 draft only has 118 appearances in three seasons, and heās never averaged 26 minutes per game for a season. Bagley has all of the physical tools to become an All-Star, but heās always injured. Playing for the Kings hasnāt helped the 22-year-oldās development either.
Previous rank: College
Bey claimed a spot on the NBAās All-Rookie First Team after knocking down 38.0% of his threes for the Pistons. The Villanova product is part of an exciting rebuild that should feature Cade Cunningham heading into the 2021 season.
Previous rank: Honorable Mention
Isaac tore an ACL during the NBA bubble, but he should return to the court for the 2021 season. The 23-year-old flashed immense shot-blocking potential during his first three seasons and significantly raised his field goal percentage each year. Isaac is a springy forward that should earn a reputation as a two-way player in the coming years.
Previous rank: Unranked
Chicago traded Carter to Orlando in the Nikola Vucevic deal. Carter missed a significant number of games in his first three seasons, but the Duke product is a solid two-way player. He wonāt reach the next level without developing a three-point shot and grabbing a larger percentage of available rebounds.
Previous rank: Unranked
A fractured foot shortened Robinsonās 2020 season, but the former second-round pick is one of the leagueās best rim protectors. Robinson entered the NBA to low expectations, but he possesses the potential to record a double-double every night.
Previous rank: Unranked
Charlotte made Washington the 12th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. While Washington has performed better for the Hornets than fellow Wildcats alum Malik Monk, the Kentucky product is still a work in progress. Heās a viable 6-7 three-point shooter but didnāt show much statistical progression in his second season.
Previous rank: College
Quickley played a significant role in New Yorkās return to the postseason. He scored the third-most points on the Knicks and finished second on the team in points per 36 minutes with 21.2. Quickley already has a viable three-point shot, but the Kentucky product only made 40.1% of his two-point attempts.
Previous rank: 23
Herro piqued the interest of basketball fans across the nation with a strong performance in the bubble. Unfortunately, the All-Rookie Second Teamer hit a wall in 2020. His overall field goal percentage rose, but his three-point and free throw averages dropped off significantly. Herro remained a negative on defense and showed little progression in per 36 categories.
Sophomore slumps are common in the NBA, and Herro faced extra heat this season because Miami struggled so much. However, weāve seen plenty of young players bounce back in their third seasons. Hopefully, Herro turns things around in 2021.
Previous rank: Unranked
Garland is only 21 years old despite being nearly two years removed from being taken fifth overall in the 2019 NBA Draft. After a tough rookie season, Garland transformed himself from a statistical negative into an impact player. His field goal and three-point percentages skyrocketed and coincided with a significant bump in points and assists per 36 minutes.
Garland has the offensive firepower to rank inside the top 35 players on this list. However, the Vanderbilt product is still a defensive liability and hasnāt proven himself on anything close to a winning team yet. He is by far the most offensively developed player in this bottom tier.
40. Donte DiVincenzo, G Milwaukee Bucks
Previous rank: Unranked
Several players from the previous tier have higher ceilings than DiVincenzo, but the 24-year-old is already a crucial outside scorer for Milwaukee. Unfortunately, the Bucks donāt have DiVincenzo for their series against the Hawks. The 24-year-old suffered a tendon injury in his foot and is out for the playoffs.
Previous rank: Unranked
Not much separates DiVincenzo and Huerter statistically. Red Velvet gets a slight boost because heās only a few days removed from dropping 27 points on Philadelphia in a Game 7. Huerter is a career role player and doesnāt possess the same potential as Garland or Herro. However, itās hard to overlook the 22-year-oldās recent playoff contributions.
Previous rank: Unranked
Trent entered the NBA as an afterthought of a second-round pick before developing into a starting-caliber shooting guard with the Trail Blazers. Portland traded him to Toronto for Norman Powell this season. In 2020, Trent buried 38.5% of his 7.4 three-point attempts per game.
Previous rank: Unranked
Clarke is somewhat undersized for a power forward and doesnāt shoot the three ball with any consistency, but heās made a positive impact on the Grizzlies since day one. The Gonzaga product averaged 19.4 points per 36 minutes as a rookie.
Despite some statistical regression in 2020, Clarke still had a higher VORP and recorded more win shares than most players outside this listās top-30.
Previous rank: Unranked
Bridges entered the NBA in 2018 after a standout career at Michigan St. The success didnāt translate immediately. Bridges struggled mightily during his first two seasons before experiencing a meteoric rise in his shooting averages across the board.
Now a 40.0% three-point shooter, Bridges can continue helping the young Hornets develop into a contender.
Previous rank: Unranked
Are you surprised to see Williams this far up the list? You shouldnāt be. Iāve always appreciated star defensemen, and Williams fits that mold perfectly. The 6-8 center is versatile enough to guard several positions while still offering rim protection.
Williams averaged 15 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks per 36 minutes this season. If only he played more than 18.9 minutes per game.
Previous rank: Honorable Mention
What is the best way to maximize Markkanenās potential? Thatās a question the Bulls keep asking themselves even after four seasons with the 7-0 power forward. Markkanen belongs in the NBA, and he should crack most starting rotations with ease, which is why his up-and-down career in Chicago is surprising.
Markkanen arguably had his careerās best offensive campaign this year, despite posting a career-low usage percentage. He came off the bench routinely for the first time too. Those changes resulted in Markkanen setting career highs in field goal (48.0%) and three-point (40.2%) percentages.
Markkanen doesnāt offer much on defense despite his size, but the Finnish forward should serve as a high-level stretch four.
Previous rank: Unranked
White is another Chicago player with immense potential. The former seventh overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft flashed some signs of stardom during his first two seasons. White took strides as a facilitator this year and posted 17 games with 20 or more points. Ā However, those performances remain limited and spaced out on the NBA calendar.
Previous rank: College
Haliburton finished a distant third in this seasonās Rookie of the Year race, but thatās good enough to almost crack the top 30 players under 25. Haliburton nailed 40.9% of his three-point attempts this season while dishing out 5.3 assists per game. The Kings have three players on this list but canāt even creep above 31 wins.
31. Malik Beasley, G Minnesota Timberwolves
Previous rank: Unranked
Somehow Beasley is still only 24 years old. The former 19th overall pick flashed some promise with Minnesota during the 2019 season before impressing even more in his 37 appearances this year. Beasley made 39.9% of his threes while taking a whopping 8.7 of them per game. His defense is still a mess, but Beasley is close to the 20-points-per-game range.
Previous rank: Unranked
Thybulle is one of the ten best defensive players in the NBA. He was one of 12 players to receive votes for this seasonās Defensive Player of the Year award and claimed a spot on the All-Defensive Second Team. Thybulleās offensive game is in its infancy, but the Washington product is already a game-changer for Philadelphia.
Previous rank: Unranked
Hunter is an excellent two-play player that the Hawks lost recently because of a meniscus injury. In his 86 career NBA appearances so far, Hunter averaged 15 points per game on 43.0% shooting. Heās still coming along as a scorer, particularly from three, but the 23-year-old Virginia product is a versatile defender with a bright future.
Previous rank: Unranked
Brunson is one of the leagueās best backup point guards. The 24-year-old entered the NBA as the 33rd overall pick in 2018. He carved out 25 minutes per game for himself this year and set career highs by making 52.3% of his total shots and 40.5% of his threes. Brunson could immediately start for several teams.
Previous rank: Unranked
Anunoby quietly took another massive step forward in his development this season. The soon-to-be 24-year-old scored 15.9 points per game while making 39.8% of his 6.1 three-pointers per contest. Anunoby has a fairly complete skill set that also features high-level defense and improving efficiency from the free throw line.
Previous rank: College
Edwards was a scoring machine during his first NBA season and challenged LaMelo Ball for the Rookie of the Year award. Edwards averaged 19.3 points per game and 21.7 per 36 minutes. However, the 19-year-old was hardly efficient in his method. Edwards only made 41.7% of his total shots this year and 32.9% of his threes.
Edwards had several impressive outings during his debut campaign, including a pair of 42-point nights. I wish I could move him into the top 25, but heās not efficient enough or a good enough playmaker to crack that group.
Previous rank: Unranked
Despite scoring over 800 points, Barrett had a somewhat disappointing rookie season. He flipped the script in 2020, playing all 72 games for the Knicks. Barrett finished second on the team in points, assists, and rebounds, only trailing Julius Randle. Barrettās next steps include becoming more involved as a playmaker and increasingly active on defense.
Previous rank: Unranked
Bridges is the forgotten man on the leagueās best team. He never missed a start and led the Suns in minutes played this season. His 3.0 VORP was the second-highest score on the team, and he recorded 8.0 win shares, which ranked third. Bridges is a fantastic do-it-all defenseman that made 42.5% of his threes this season.
The NBA doesnāt celebrate players like Bridges enough. He might never develop the offensive skill set to be an All-Star, or even see enough touches to reach that point, but that doesnāt take away from him climbing up the leagueās rankings.
Previous rank: Unranked
Allen just completed his fourth season in the NBA but is only 23 years old. The former 22nd overall pick is a defensive ace and an excellent rim protector capable of grabbing 12 boards and scoring 15 points per 36 minutes. Unlike with Bridges, I donāt think thereās any path for Allen to become an All-Star. Thatās fine. Heās still an impactful two-way player.
Previous rank: Unranked
Speaking of impactful two-way players, Murray might become San Antonioās savior. An ACL tear ahead of the 2018 season slowed the Washington productās development, but heās finally back on track. Murray performed well over the past two years. Upgrading his outside game could push the 24-year-old into conversations surrounding the leagueās top point guards.
Previous rank: Honorable Mention
During Sextonās rookie season, veterans within the Cavaliers organization claimed the Alabama product didnāt know how to play. He just wrapped up a 24-point-per-game season while making 47.5% of his total shots. Sextonās defense remains nonexistent, but his offensive game is trending in the right direction.
The 22-year-old guard has a lot of promise, but concerns remain. Sexton had an incredibly high usage rate this season (29.7%), and Cleveland remained irrelevant despite his 32 games with at least 25 points. We havenāt seen the young guard play winning basketball yet alongside other stars. Heās stuck at 21 for now.
20. Jaren Jackson Jr., F Memphis Grizzlies
Previous rank: 17
JJJ missed most of this season with a torn meniscus, which contributed slightly to him falling a few spots. Other young players established themselves as top-20 players while Jackson rode the pine. The 21-year-old forward didnāt play well in his 11 appearances with Memphis, but we can throw those games out since he was rusty after a long recovery process.
During the 2019 season, Jackson averaged 22 points per 36 minutes while making 39.4% of his threes. Jackson must cut down on his number of fouls if he ever wants a chance at becoming an NBA All-Star. Since entering the NBA, heās averaged 5.2 fouls per 36 minutes.
Previous rank: 20
Ball is no longer the overhyped 20-year-old with a wacky shot that entered the NBA four years ago. The UCLA product is still only 23 years old and is gradually rising up the leagueās ranks. Ball was always a positive defensive force, but heās turned into a capable scorer since joining the Pelicans.
With a revamped jump shot, Ball knocked down 37.6% of his threes over the last two years, despite attempting 7.2 per game. Heās still a high-level passer too who combines well with high-flying jammers like Jaxson Hayes and Zion Williamson.
18.Ā John Collins, F Atlanta Hawks
Previous rank: 21
Basketball fans still wonder where Collins belongs in the NBA landscape. Heās a tweener mix of a center and power forward but made 40.0% of his threes over the past two years. Collins is also an explosive dunker and averaged 22.7 points per 36 minutes since the start of 2018.
Collins isnāt an All-Star yet, and he might never fully reach that level, but the 23-year-old is still one of the leagueās most productive young players.
Previous rank: 19
Losing Murray to a torn ACL shot Denverās chances of making a deep playoff run. The 24-year-old point guard reintroduced himself as a star in the NBA bubble, posting 50.5/45.3/89.7 shooting splits. The Canadian point guard didnāt match those historic averages in 2020, but he still set career highs in points per 36 minutes, three-point percentage, and field goal percentage.
Previous rank: 25
If healthy, MPJ wouldāve been in the mix for the top pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Instead, he plummeted to 14th overall because of health concerns. After a promising rookie campaign in 2019, Porter made 44.5% of his 6.3 three-point attempts per game while averaging 19 points per outing.
Porter could eventually fight his way into an All-Star game based on his offensive firepower alone. However, the athletic Missouri product could take his game to another level if he showed more enthusiasm for playing defense.
15. LaMelo Ball, G Charlotte Hornets
Previous rank: College
Despite joining a team featuring several established guards, Ball emerged as Charlotteās leader in 2020. Lonzoās younger brother gained professional experience playing overseas before going third overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. LaMeloās time abroad and unique playing style contributed to him surpassing his older brother on this list after only one year.
The younger Ball averaged 19.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per 36 minutes on his way to winning Rookie of the Year honors. Ideally, the 19-year-old continues growing as an outside scorer and uses his length to become a positive defensive presence.
Previous rank: 22
Ayton saw his scoring numbers take a hit this year as the Suns integrated Chris Paul into the offense. However, the 22-year-old took the change in stride and turned into a steadying force on both ends of the court. Ayton is averaging 17 points and 10.6 rebounds per game since the start of the Denver series.
The Arizona product is rebounding well after the NBA suspended him 25 games in 2019 for violating the leagueās anti-drug policy.
Previous rank: 13
Adebayo is an undersized center, but he makes up for that by possessing unique agility for a big man. The Kentucky product destroys pick-and-roll offenses because he doesnāt have to drop back like other heavy-footed bigs. Instead, Adebayo can blow up pick-and-rolls and stay attached to most wings and some quicker guards.
This year, the media rewarded Adebayo with his second consecutive All-Defensive Second Team selection. Now itās up to the 23-year-old to work on expanding his shooting range.
Previous rank: 14
Morant captivates fans in a way many superstars canāt match. He jumps off a springboard for incredible dunks and had a signature five-game run against Utah in this yearās playoffs. Morant averaged 30.2 points, 8.2 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game against the Jazz. However, the Murray State star is far from a finished product.
Morant has the build and hustle to become a productive defender, but heās still a long way off in that department. The 21-year-old also experienced shooting regression across the board this season. While he can shoot the three, Morant remains inconsistent from range.
Previous rank: 3
Simmons is less than a month away from his 25th birthday. I never imagined last year that heād fall this far and battle with Brandon Ingram and Morant for a spot in the top ten. Simmons experienced a complete offensive collapse in the playoffs, becoming an offensive liability for the 76ers.
Some readers might argue Morant belongs above Simmons because of the differences in their recent playoff runs. While thatās understandable, Simmons was the runner-up for the Defensive Player of the Year award. Heās still good for seven assists and seven rebounds per night and is only one season removed from earning All-NBA Third Team honors.
Previous rank: 11
The Pelicans have three players on this list and an honorable mention but somehow only went 31-41 in 2020. Ingram did his part, averaging 23.8 points per game for the second year in a row. The 23-year-old still hasnāt figured out how to use his length on defense, but no one can doubt his offensive mastery.
Previous rank: 15
Brown earned his first All-Star selection during his age 24 season. The third overall pick from the 2016 NBA Draft emerged as Bostonās second star, netting 39.7% of his 7.1 three-point attempts per game. He averaged a career-high 25.8 points per 36 minutes and tried to steady Bostonās defensive woes.
Losing Brown with a wrist injury sunk Bostonās hopes of a competitive series against Brooklyn.
Previous rank: 18
SGA is one of the most controversial young stars in the NBA. Some fans view him as a future perennial All-Star, while others claim heās a product of the environment in OKC. Itās getting harder to deny Gilgeous-Alexanderās talents. This year, he averaged 23.7 points per game and 25.3 points per 36 minutes in 35 appearances with the Thunder.
Gilgeous-Alexanderās improved three-point shooting was the most impressive part of his third-year jump. The Canadian guard went from making 34.7% of his attempts in 2019 to cashing in on 41.8% of his tries this season. Chris Paul and Dennis Schroder departing also opened opportunities for SGA as a playmaker.
Previous rank: 9
Fox keeps hammering on the door of the All-Star game, but heās not quite over the hump yet. The 23-year-old averaged 25.2 points per game this season while dishing out 7.2 assists per night. Fox is lightning quick, which makes him a nightmare for defenses in transition. His steal numbers are impressive, but thereās still plenty of room for improvement on defense.
Adding a more reliable three-point shot would elevate Fox into All-NBA discussions.
6. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
Previous rank: 4
Williamson isnāt everyoneās cup of tea. He rarely shoots from three and isnāt very effective when he does. The undersized power forward canāt protect the rim at a high level and lags behind in defensive development. However, Williamson has good enough handles to threaten defenses with drives and occasionally create opportunities for teammates.
For now, Williamsonās build is his best weapon. The 6-7 20-year-old weighs a whopping 284 lbs., which helped Williamson bully his way to 27 points per game and 29.3 points per 36 minutes this season. Heās averaging nearly 26 points per outing after only 85 games in the NBA.
Previous rank: 7
Booker averaged over 22 points per game in each of the past five years and over 26 points per 36 minutes in each of the past four campaigns. The Kentucky product isnāt a tremendous three-point shooter or facilitator, but heās capable of doing damage in both areas. Unfortunately, the 24-year-old still struggles with defensive assignments.
This is Bookerās first trip to the NBA playoffs, and he hasnāt disappointed. Despite poor shooting performances in Game 2 and Game 3 against the Clippers, Booker is still averaging 27.2 points, 5.3 assists, and 6.9 rebounds per game while connecting on 35.9% of his threes.
Booker drew some comparisons to his idol, Kobe Bryant, over the past few weeks. Heās quite a few rings and All-Defensive selections away from entering that arena. Letās keep the comparisons to ourselves until Booker wraps up the first playoff run of his career.
Previous rank: 8
Youngās style rubs many fans the wrong way. He hunts for fouls, slowing down the gameās pace, but itās an effective strategy. Young has averaged nine free throws per game over the past two years. He was an All-Star last season while averaging 29.6 points per game. The 22-year-old didnāt match that number in 2020, but his Hawks still prospered.
Atlanta finished fifth in the Eastern Conference and is currently battling with Milwaukee in the Conference Finals. Young averaged 30.5 points and 10.5 assists through the teamās first 13 playoff games. Heās dominating, despite his shooting splits declining from their already unspectacular regular season marks.
Previous rank: 6
The Jazz havenāt figured out how to get past the NBA Conference Semifinals, but thatās not Mitchellās fault. The Louisville product returned from an injury to average 32.3 points per night during Utahās final ten playoff games this season. He made 44.7% of his total shots and 43.5% of his three-pointers during that stretch, despite letting 11.5 deep shots fly per contest.
Mitchell doesnāt facilitate as much as Young, but the 24-year-old is significantly more active on defense. Heās also a better three-point shooter. Mitchell canned 38.6% of his threes this season while attempting 8.7 per game.
Mitchell faced criticism for his postseason performances during his first two NBA seasons. Since then, heās averaged 33.9 points per contest with 48.0/46.4/88.1 shooting splits.
Previous rank: 5
Tatum has averaged 24.9 points per game with 45.5/39.4/84.1 shooting splits since the start of his third season. Despite all of the talent thatās walked on the hardwood at Duke, the program hasnāt produced many All-NBA players with Hall of Fame aspirations. Early indications put Tatum in that group.
Tatum earned All-NBA Third Team honors last year, which marked his arrival in the league as a budding superstar. Unlike many players in this articleās top ten, Tatum works on both ends of the court. A few more defensive improvements could lead to All-Defensive selections and cement the 23-year-old as an elite two-way player.
Previous rank: 1
Hopefully, Doncic put to bed once and for all the idea that European players canāt light up the NBA. Doncic fell to third in the 2018 draft before getting picked by the Hawks, who dealt the Slovenian to Dallas for Young. Doncic narrowly missed the All-Star game as a rookie, but heās earned All-NBA First Team selections in each of the past two years.
Doncicās numbers look like they belong to a veteran in his prime, not a 22-year-old. Heās averaging 28.3 points, 8.7 assists, and 8.7 rebounds per game over the past two seasons. Those averages rise to 30 points, 9.2 assists, and 9.2 rebounds in per 36 measurements.
Doncicās greatest shortcomings so far are as a three-point shooter (he makes 33.1% for his career) and as a defender.
The Clippers eliminated Dallas from the playoffs twice in the past 11 months, but Doncic averaged 33.5 points, 9.5 assists, and 8.8 rebounds with 49.4/39.2/60.0 shooting splits in those matchups.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G New Orleans Pelicans
Desmond Bane, G Memphis Grizzlies
Darius Bazley, F Oklahoma City Thunder
Moses Brown, C Boston Celtics
Talen Horton-Tucker, G Los Angeles Lakers
Cameron Johnson, F Phoenix Suns
Furkan Korkmaz, G Philadelphia 76ers
Terrance Mann, G Los Angeles Clippers
Tyrese Maxey, G Philadelphia 76ers
Malik Monk, G Charlotte Hornets
Eric Paschall, F Golden State Warriors
Cam Reddish, F Atlanta Hawks
Jae’Sean Tate, F Houston Rockets
Lonnie Walker IV, G San Antonio Spurs
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