Top 5 NBA Players under 25 Years Old
In the NBA, age is nothing more than a number.
Just ask LeBron James, the league standard, who appears as energetic as ever as he concludes Year 18 before his 37th birthday.
We all know that LeBron James is an exception, and that, although not unbeatable, Father Time wins far more games than he ever comes close to losing.
That’s why it’s important to recognize the game’s aging superstars while also focusing on the next generation, those up-and-coming superstars who are ready to take over the league in the near future.
With the 2020–21 season only days away from finishing, it’s time to spotlight the next generation of superstars, all of whom are 25 or younger.
Honorable Mentions:
Ja Morant (G, Grizzlies):
Few NBA point guards have transitioned to the pro level as fast as Ja Morant has in his second season. Following a spectacular rookie season, Morant appears to be at ease on the court, avoiding the dreaded sophomore slump and leading the Memphis Grizzlies to the NBA playoffs in 2021. The Grizzlies appear to be a team that will return to the postseason picture year after year, despite their lack of success. The squad has a hungry, gritty attitude that has existed for a long time within the organization, and Morant’s presence revived that character. Morant represents what Memphis basketball is all about, and his teammates have embraced the team’s ethos. Memphis isn’t a powerhouse in the West yet, but it’s a dangerous opponent for any team to face on any given night. Morant is one of the most battle-tested players in this class, which could benefit his growth and development as one of the best point guards the league has to offer in the future.
Jaylen Brown (F, Celtics):
Jaylen Brown is arguably the most battle-tested name in this class. Brown’s fifth year saw him reach a new level of development, as he continued to round out his game and move into superstar status. Brown has established himself as a worthy running partner for Jayson Tatum in the Boston Celtics’ pursuit for an NBA title. The two have more potential this season than possibly any other they’ve had together, with the team undergoing a retool to stay competitive. Brown’s mental dominance in games says eloquently about how he has been able to return each season with a new talent added to his repertoire. A born leader, Brown demonstrates how basketball is a mental game more than anything else. He is not shy in the big moments, he remains calm and collected in the most heated moments of competition and is a moral compass for his locker room. If Brown is due for another step forward next season, which cannot be counted out, then 2021–22 Jaylen Brown is gonna be a scary sight for the rest of the NBA.
Trae Young (G, Hawks):
Trae Young has persuaded me to believe in him. Ice Trae now has an outstanding playoff resume despite being considered a villain by the rest of the NBA and having little to no chance of making a lengthy postseason run. Nobody expected Trae to go on such a tear, knocking out the New York Knicks in a flash, perhaps destroying The Process for the Philadelphia 76ers, and going toe-to-toe with Giannis Antetokounmpo, the previous two-time NBA MVP. It’s not too late to hop on Trae Young’s bandwagon in this league. He’s started to distance himself from Stephen Curry comparisons and is establishing himself as a stand-alone product. The counting stats in assists per game indicate Young potentially being a greater playmaker and facilitator than Curry is right now. Young’s supporting cast has also proven to rise to the occasion in the limelight. His NBA potential is enormous, and if he continues to develop, he may eventually be considered the best point guard in the league.
#5 — Donovan Mitchell (G, Jazz)
All season long, the 2021 Utah Jazz were firing on all cylinders. Despite missing the playoffs, Jazz fans have more cause to be hopeful about the future than they have in recent memory, thanks in large part to Donovan Mitchell’s meteoric rise to prominence. Mitchell has developed into the Dwyane Wade template that scouts predicted when he was drafted out of Louisville. Mitchell has been a standout since his rookie season, and he’s only gotten better since then.
Despite being passed over for All-NBA selection, the two-time All-Star had his best season to date, averaging over 26 points per night. Whether Mitchell deserved to be recognized is a different debate, but he did assist in the Jazz’s second-place finish in the Western Conference’s top-heavy division. If Mitchell and the Jazz can build on their regular-season success and find that next gear in the postseason that has evaded them for so long, Mitchell will quickly ascend the NBA’s superstar hierarchy.
#4 — Zion Williamson (F, Pelicans)
Zion Williamson is unlike any other player in the NBA. Williamson exemplifies the word “unique” in every sense of the word, whether we’re talking about his physical look, athletic ability, or playing on the court. He’s one of the league’s most marketable players while playing for one of the league’s least marketable teams, and he shines in the NBA social media limelight with each highlight that hits the timeline.
Zion Williamson is the NBA’s future face. His game, aura, and demeanor are all well-suited to the big stage, or, to put it another way, any place but the New Orleans Pelicans. For the next 10 to 15 seasons, Zion Williamson will be the focus of NBA media attention, with many highlights and accolades to come his way.
It’s highly likely that Zion will rise through the NBA Top 5 Under 25 ranks and eventually reach number one, but the other two candidates have simply done more for their respective teams for a longer period of time and at a much higher volume than Zion, who will be entering his third season in 2021–22. There’s still time, but Zion, along with the league’s top two players, is poised to lead the league into the next generation of NBA excellence.
#3 — Devin Booker (G, Suns)
Devin Booker’s ascension to superstardom has been validated in this year’s NBA Playoffs. When most people thought the 2021 Phoenix Suns would be a regular-season success story, Booker and the Suns silenced the critics by winning four games in a row and advancing to the NBA Finals. Year after year, despite All-Star snub after All-Star snub, Booker’s current run should dispel any doubts about his ability to be a superstar in this league.
A true shooting guard in every sense of the term, Booker’s ability to put the ball in the basket is unrivaled, with just a few players on par with him, including Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and James Harden. Every time he touches the ball, he poses a three-level scoring danger, as his stunning 70-point game four years ago at the age of 20 demonstrated. Booker’s skill will only improve, and if he continues on this upward trajectory, we will be seeing one of the greatest basketball players of our time. He could already be on the right path today.
#2 — Jayson Tatum
It was tempting to promote Jayson Tatum to number one, but I couldn’t ignore the effort done by the current top placeholder. Tatum, on the other hand, has solidified himself as a franchise cornerstone in 2021. Despite being left out from all three NBA All-Star teams in 2021, his outstanding performance for an injury-plagued Boston Celtics team should not be overlooked.
Tatum was one of the few Celtics players that showed up every night, and as a result, he had to shoulder a significant portion of the scoring load, which he did admirably. Tatum is arguably the most battle-tested young player on this list, having already been put through the wringer of four deep postseason runs.
Despite losing 4–1 to the powerhouse Brooklyn Nets, this year was a win for the Celtics. For the last two games of the first round series, the Celtics were missing Jaylen Brown, Robert Williams III, and Kemba Walker, so Tatum stepped in. Fans should be thrilled for what the former Duke star can accomplish next season after his spectacular 50-point performance against the triplet of Durant, Harden, and Irving.
The 2021–22 Celtics are expected to be substantially different. We spoke about Jaylen Brown’s progress before, but if Tatum can build on his playoff performance and follow it up with an even better 2022, the Boston Celtics may be back in contention in no time.
#1 — Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic is one of the NBA’s most difficult to guard players. Doncic may not be the quickest, strongest, or most athletic player on the court, but he possesses one of the highest basketball IQs in the game. He wastes no movements on the floor, dribbling, passing, jabbing, stepping back, and everything in between with purpose. That is what has propelled him to the top of the league at the age of 22.
Luka’s game, like Zion’s, may be better suited for a larger platform. If Doncic continues to play at this level, he may be able to convert the Dallas Mavericks into a free agent destination while also improving the play of his teammates, but the franchise isn’t there yet. Not only does Doncic belong among the NBA’s Top 5 Under 25, but he’s also a strong contender for one of the league’s best players heading into the 2021–22 season.
