In the fast-paced world of the NBA, where athleticism, skill, and strategic prowess are paramount, a new generation of exceptional talent has emerged. The NBA has witnessed the rise of young stars who have electrified courts across the nation, captivating fans with their awe-inspiring performances and demonstrating immense potential at a remarkably young age. In this article, we embark on an exhilarating journey to rank the top 25 NBA players under the age of 25, utilizing a tiered approach to assess their impact, development, and future prospects.
The NBA has long been synonymous with elite athletes, remarkable talent, and captivating rivalries. However, the influx of young players who have defied age barriers and exceeded expectations has injected fresh vibrancy into the league. These rising stars have become a source of excitement, providing fans with a glimpse into the future of basketball.
To rank the top 25 NBA players under age 25, distributing all the players into tiers allows the separation of the cream of the crop from the promising up-and-comers. By organizing the players into tiers, we can better evaluate their current abilities, the potential for growth, and their impact on the game.
Without further ado, here are the top-25 players in the NBA under the age of 25 years old, separated into six tiers while also including the prospective stars coming into the NBA in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Tier 6
– Franz Wagner, RJ Barrett, Jalen Green, Anfernee Simons, Bennedict Mathurin, Jordan Poole, Scoot Henderson
Franz Wagner headlines Tier 6 as a sweet-shooting 6’9” forward. A player of his build won’t be expected to be an impactful player in past eras, but Wagner is a more than solid talent in the modern NBA. He posted 18.6 PPG on 36.1% from three this past season, and as he continues to improve his long-range shooting, he will form a solid duo with Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero.
RJ Barrett often gets overlooked because he is playing alongside All-Star-caliber players in Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson for the New York Knicks. Regardless, the 6’6” former No. 3 overall pick is a solid two-way talent who is continuing to improve his offensive game and long-range shooting. At 23 years old, the future is bright for Barrett.
Jalen Green is an explosive talent because he can fly through the air and also create his own shot. Green averaged 22.1 PPG this past season with the Houston Rockets, and even if he has yet to impact the win-loss column with his team, the potential for stardom is there to see for everyone. At only 21 years old, Green has proven to be a solid go-to option, and hopefully, Ime Udoka can start bringing the best out of the youngster on both ends of the court.
Damian Lillard’s current sidekick Anfernee Simons is more than just a streaky shooter from deep. He is actually a very capable offensive player who is solid from all areas of the court, nailing 44.7% from the field, 37.7% from three, and 89.4% from the free-throw line. The combo guard can get hot in an instant and that makes him one of the best young guards in the league. At 24 years old, Simons is entering his prime and there will start being expectations on the youngster as of next year.
Bennedict Mathurin was a surprising player coming out of the 2022-23 NBA Draft because he averaged 16.7 PPG despite coming off the bench for the majority of the year. He made the All-Rookie Team and at 21 years old, he will without a doubt be the long-term cornerstone with Tyrese Haliburton for the Indiana Pacers. The 6’6” shooting guard has plenty of potential and that means he won’t be in Tier 6 for long.
Despite the fact that Jordan Poole was traded by the Golden State Warriors, the shooting guard has a chance to revamp his career as the best player on the Washington Wizards next year. Poole was likely traded due to his attitude and lack of championship focus, but it is hard to force a 24-year-old player to be someone he isn’t. As the new member of the Wizards, Poole can build upon his 2022-23 season when he posted 20.4 PPG and start proving he can be an All-Star.
Scoot Henderson will be a rookie entering the 2023-24 season, but he will be a top-25 player under the age of 25 years old almost immediately. He has drawn comparisons to Russell Westbrook in terms of athleticism, except that he can shoot the ball better. His pull-up game is already solid, and after getting picked No. 3 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, there will be heavy expectations on the player who is supposed to help Damian Lillard make the playoffs in Portland next season.
Tier 5
– Paolo Banchero, Tyrese Maxey, Evan Mobley, Deandre Ayton, Scottie Barnes, Cade Cunningham
Paolo Banchero won Rookie of the Year and is already an elite player in terms of shot creation and using his body to create space. The 20-year-old has the body of a man at least eight years older and that is helping him take the reins of an Orlando Magic team that is looking to rebuild around young stars with a ton of potential.
Tyrese Maxey is the third offensive option for the Philadelphia 76ers behind Joel Embiid and James Harden, yet is able to score the ball at a very high level. At 22 years old, the former No. 21 overall pick has posted over 17 PPG over each of the last two seasons and has the complete offensive game in terms of nailing outside shots and attacking the basket.
Evan Mobley seems to be a future Defensive Player of the Year in the making because his basketball IQ is truly impressive for a 22-year-old who is behind Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland in the team’s pecking order. The center can switch on defense and also protect the rim at an All-Star level, and if his offense can catch up, he will be an All-Star very soon.
Deandre Ayton is constantly in trade rumors and that is not the best situation for a 24-year-old player looking to make strides into All-Star form. However, the Phoenix Suns might continue with him as the starting center next season. It seems Ayton did not get along well with former head coach Monty Williams, and they could have been holding him back. Ayton’s career numbers look solid (16.7 PPG, 10.4 RPG), but there is more expectation on him since he was taken No. 1 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Former Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes has an exceptional all-around game and is capable of scoring, rebounding, and playmaking at a high level at only 21 years old. The 6’9” forward does a lot well on the court, which is why he will be made untouchable by the Toronto Raptors franchise despite the fact that All-Stars such as Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet are beside him.
Cade Cunningham will likely prosper into a star in the 2023-24 season because the 21-year-old posted solid numbers across the board in 2023. The combo guard averaged 19.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 6.0 APG over only 12 games as a season-ending injury halted his profession. However, expect Cade to show why he was taken No. 1 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Tier 4
– Jaren Jackson Jr, Darius Garland, Tyrese Haliburton, LaMelo Ball, Tyler Herro
Jaren Jackson Jr won Defensive Player of the Year this past season, averaging 18.6 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 3.0 BPG. The big man is a hellacious defensive player around the rim and he will only get better as he learns how to play angles and the opposing players’ habits and go-to moves. At only 23 years old, the big man already has an All-Star appearance to his name and he could be achieving greatness soon alongside young stars Ja Morant and Desmond Bane.
One of the most talented point guards in the league, Darius Garland, is only 23 years old and is averaging 18.5 PPG and 6.7 APG on 38.7% shooting from three over his career. Armed with lightning-quick handles and a steady jumper, Garland will aim to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to the second round of the playoffs because he has the right support around him in Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
Tyrese Haliburton averaged a double-double this season, posting 20.7 PPG and 10.4 APG for an Indiana Pacers team that did not make the playoffs. The fact that the talented playmaker is able to average this many assists without another All-Star beside him shows his true talent and he will only get better. Halliburton is 23 years old yet plays like a point guard 10 years older, a testament to his high basketball IQ and ability to read the floor at such a young age.
LaMelo Ball is clearly a legitimate baller, averaging 23.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 8.4 APG as a 21-year-old stud. Ball wants to prove he is good enough to be a Tier 3 player and if he can start winning enough games, he will start earning respect as a top-5 point guard in the NBA. In terms of those under 25 years old, Ball is already a top-5 point guard in the league, which is a great sign for Charlotte Hornets fans who want to start witnessing a title-contending team.
Tyler Herro is a professional scorer, averaging 17.7 PPG on over 38% shooting from three for his career at 23 years old. The Miami Heat realize they have a budding All-Star on the team, but if a superstar such as Damian Lillard becomes available, Herro could be on the move in short order. Regardless, Herro is one of the most talented shooting guards in the world and has another decade to build his resume as an elite offensive player.
Tier 3
– Victor Wembanyama, Zion Williamson, Trae Young, Anthony Edwards
Victor Wembanyama has superstar potential, but out of respect for the players ahead of him, he has to be selected into Tier 3 for now. As the 2023-24 season progresses in a few months, the Frenchman can actually climb the rankings and compete for the Tier 1 spot if all the expectations of him come to fruition. Wembanyama can score, rebound, and defend at a high level and the fact that he is in San Antonio with the great Gregg Popovich will only do the player wonders as he grows into superstardom.
Zion Williamson would be in Tier 2 if he can convince that he can stay healthy and motivated to dominate the game as he should. The big man is supremely gifted in terms of athleticism, size, and an incredibly soft touch around the rim, but he can’t capitalize due to his injuries. Zion played 24 games in his rookie season, followed by 61 games in his second season. After missing the entire third season, Zion returned to play 29 games in 2023. That is a very scary injury history and the fact that the forward is dealing with off-court issues, which could derail his focus even more, is not a good look.
Trae Young is an offensive star because he can post a double-double every season without missing a beat. Since becoming an All-Star in his second season, Young has been a one-man offensive show in Atlanta. The Hawks could be looking to build a proper team in the near future after moving John Collins and his contract, so maybe Young can continue proving that he is one of the best players in the world, regardless of the fact that he is only 24 years old.
The future is bright for the Minnesota Timberwolves because Anthony Edwards is a bonafide All-Star who is improving by the year. The shooting guard is only 21 years old, yet is averaging 21.8 PPG for his career. Armed with supreme athleticism and scoring instincts, Edwards should take another step forward next season as the go-to player on the team. Whether the Timberwolves keep Karl-Anthony Towns or not, Edwards will have a larger role in the offense next season and should be making his second All-Star Team in 2024.
Tier 2
– Ja Morant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
If Ja Morant can get his off-court issues in check, the superstar point guard is, without a doubt, a Tier 2 player. He is unstoppable when he attacks the rim, has improved his all-around game, including playmaking and shooting, and has two All-Star Team appearances at only 23 years old. Adding in a Rookie of the Year and the Most Improved Player of the Year award, Morant is accumulating accolades at such a young age and will only get better. Posting 26.2 PPG and 8.1 APG this past season, Morant has a chance to compete to become the face of the NBA if he controls his behavior.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has burst onto the scene as a superstar, posting 31.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 5.5 APG this season with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The guard always had the potential to become an All-Star, but nobody expected this coming from the 24-year-old. Gilgeous-Alexander is a franchise cornerstone alongside Chet Holmgren and Josh Giddey and should be kept because he has another decade of prime left. Along with exceptional rebounding, playmaking, and defensive potential, Gilgeous-Alexander cannot be defended in one-on-one situations, and the fact that he shot over 34% from three means he can’t be left open all the time, either. There is more to come from the new superstar of the Thunder.
Tier 1
– Luka Doncic
Undoubtedly, Luka Doncic has emerged as the imminent face of the NBA. At just 24 years old, he has already solidified his position as one of the game’s top-10 players. The Slovenian phenom consistently showcases MVP-level performances each season, leading the charge to guide the Dallas Mavericks to the playoffs year after year, even if this season turned out to be a disaster due to poor team chemistry.
Luka’s presence on the court is a constant triple-double threat, displaying exceptional offensive prowess whether he’s putting points on the board or orchestrating plays for his teammates. Standing at 6’7″, this remarkable talent assumes the role of a point guard this season, yet his versatility allows him to excel in any position, making him the finest player worldwide under the age of 25. Amongst the league’s elite stars, Luka possesses the greatest potential to ascend as the face of the NBA in the years to come.
