The NBA is teeming with youthful talent, and even the youngest players can have an instant impact on a championship team. Some of the best players in the NBA are still a few years away from even being at their peak, whereas other players have already reached their apex.
There are a number of players that stand out as obvious choices to become the league’s next prominent figures. Trying to rank the under-25 players in the league would be an effort fraught with anguish, headaches, and an unlimited supply of regret
The NBA has seen a genuine change of the guard in recent seasons, with a plethora of promising young players emerging as franchise-changing stars. As of right now, these three NBA players are the best of the best among those who are under the age of 25.
3. Ja Morant
Ja Morant is one of the most exciting players in the NBA right now because of his combination of talent, incredible athleticism, explosiveness, and high effort level every game.
Everything you get from him is a unique adventure, from his defiant defiance of gravity to his sudden floaters to theatrical passes to the sheer and total feeling of unpredictability once he leaves his feet. But what makes his flair so attractive is that it is also functional. Without Morant, the Grizzlies would not be able to consistently exceed expectations and win championships.
2. Jayson Tatum
In the Eastern Conference Finals in his debut 2017 season, Tatum and the Celtics fell to LeBron James and the Cavaliers by a score of 4-1. Two more trips to the Eastern Conference Finals have followed, both times with Tatum at the helm for the Celtics.
With career highs in points (26.9), rebounds (8.0), and assists (4.4) per game, Tatum was selected to play in his third consecutive All-Star game. After a sluggish start, he helped the Celtics go on a 28-7 tear in the second half of the season. The result was the Celtics finishing second in the Eastern Conference, two games behind the first-place Miami Heat.
1. Luka Doncic
There just aren’t enough superlatives to sum up Luka Doncic‘s offensive effect. His ability to make shots at every level, see the big picture, be physically strong, switch speeds, and remain unfazed under pressure is legendary.
Even though his club has one of the weakest supporting casts in recent memory, the 23-year-old phenom has seized over this postseason and led them to the Western Conference Finals. The four-year veteran has already been named to the NBA’s All-Star team three times and to the league’s All-NBA team twice.