Back in the day, most players spent two, three, or even four years in college before taking their talents to the NBA. Needless to say, that meant they had less time to dominate in basketball’s ultimate stage.
But, like most sports, things have changed a lot throughout the course of the past couple of decades, with younger players taking the hardwood for assault on a yearly basis, as they’re only forced to spend one year in college - or playing overseas - before being eligible to enter the NBA Draft.
And, while some players may struggle to find their rhythm and adapt to the perks and demands of being an NBA player, others dominate right out of the gate. That’s why today, we’re going to talk about the top 25 young stars of the NBA, as of the 2019-20 season:
25. Mitchell Robinson
Age: 22
Team: New York Knicks
Career Stats: 8.5 Points, 6.7 Rebounds, 2.2 Blocks
Mitchell Robinson is one of the few diamonds in the rough you find in the second round of the Draft. He slipped because of his lack of exposure and age, but it didn’t take him long to prove his worth with the Knicks.
Robinson has the prototype of the Defensive Player of the Year kind of big man. He’s long, strong, athletic, and has terrific instincts as a rim protector. If he manages to stay out of foul trouble, he’s going to be a monster in the paint for many years to come.
24. Kyle Kuzma
Age: 24
Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Career Stats: 16.0 Points, 5.5 Rebounds, 1.9 Assists
Kyle Kuzma is the lone survivor of the Los Angeles Lakers’ rebuild. The organization thought he was special and decided to keep him at all costs in the Anthony Davis trade. Sadly, he’s not having the breakout season everybody expected.
Still, Kuzma has the skill set to become a three-and-D combo forward. He can knock down shots, put the ball on the floor, and vastly improved as a wing defender during the summer. Perhaps he just needs more time to adjust to sharing touches and coming off the bench.
23. Domantas Sabonis
Age: 23
Team: Indiana Pacers
Career Stats: 12.1 Points, 8.0 Rebounds, 2.6 Assists
Domantas Sabonis made it to the league as a backup big man but worked his heart off to earn the respect he was due. He even outplayed Myles Turner from time to time and earned his first All-Star nod this season.
Sabonis lacks the range of modern power forwards and isn’t exactly a shot blocker. However, he’s as efficient as they come in the low post, a solid rebounder, and a terrific finisher with both hands. If he works on his craft and adds some upper-body strength, he’ll have a long and successful career in the NBA.
22. Myles Turner
Age: 24
Team: Indiana Pacers
Career Stats: 12.7 Points, 6.7 Rebounds, 1.2 Assists, 2.1 Blocks
Myles Turner has the skills to become one of the best two-way players in the league. He led the NBA in blocks once and is a nightmare for opposing players below the rim. Also, he can guard smaller, quicker players in the perimeter with his length and great reads.
Turner can also knock down shots from deep with ease and is an overall great player, but his drive and feel for the game have been questioned at times. It seems like he tends to disappear for stretches of the season, so consistency is definitely an issue here.
21. De’Aaron Fox
Age: 22
Team: Sacramento Kings
Career Stats: 15.9 Points, 3.5 Rebounds, 6.1 Assists, 1.3 Steals
De’Aaron Fox’s career got off to a slow start, but once he took off, he never took his feet off the gas. He’s one of the most promising players in the league and could turn the Kings’ franchise around if given enough help and time.
Fox’s arguably the fastest player in the league. He’s a one-man fast-break with outstanding playmaking ability and a feel for knocking down clutch shots. His shooting stroke could use some improvement, though.
20. Jamal Murray
Age: 23
Team: Denver Nuggets
Career Stats: 15.6 Points, 3.6 Rebounds, 3.7 Assists
Jamal Murray doesn’t get enough credit for his game, but he’s a flat-out baller. His sharpshooting abilities help spread the floor for the Denver Nuggets, as well as his underrated playmaking and backcourt defense.
Murray could have better numbers elsewhere, but the Nuggets’ offense doesn’t favor any scorer, as everybody gets their fair share of touches. Once he gets hot, there’s just no cooling him off.
19. Bam Adebayo
Age: 22
Team: Miami Heat
Career Stats: 10.5 Points, 7.7 Rebounds, 2.9 Assists
Bam Adebayo is what you may call a late bloomer. He wasn’t a highly-coveted prospect, nor a candidate for Rookie of the Year, but his stock and value have risen dramatically over the last season and a half because of his notorious improvement.
Adebayo outplayed Hassan Whiteside for the Heat’s starting center job. He’s never going to be outhustled in the glass, has developed a solid instinct for blocking shots, and won’t hesitate to body opposing big men below the rim.
18. Lonzo Ball
Age: 22
Team: New Orleans Pelicans
Career Stats: 10.9 Points, 6.2 Rebounds, 6.6 Assists, 1.5 Steals
When Lonzo Ball made it to the league everybody deemed him the savior of the Lakers. The comparisons with Jason Kidd hyped him as one of the most promising point guards in the world, and he’s failed to live up to expectations so far.
However, the talent and upside are still there and it’s pretty clear that he just needed a change of environment to thrive. He’s one of the best backcourt defenders in the league and arguably one of the top-3 craftiest passers as well. If he keeps improving his shooting stroke, he’ll be an All-Star in no time.
17. Jaylen Brown
Age: 23
Team: Boston Celtics
Career Stats: 12.9 Points, 4.4 Rebounds, 1.4 Assists
Jaylen Brown is the kind of player every coach would love to have on his team. He’s put a lot of work on his craft to improve on a yearly basis and has never shied away from the big moment. He’ll embrace the challenge of taking the big shot and locking down the rival’s best scorer without hesitation.
Brown has the archetype of a solid two-way player in this league. He’s worked on his aggressiveness as a driver and improved his subpar shooting as well. Sadly for him, he’s not getting enough attention because he’s surrounded by stars.
16. Deandre Ayton
Age: 21
Team: Phoenix Suns
Career Stats: 17.1 Points, 10.8 Rebounds, 1.8 Assists, 1.2 Blocks
Deandre Ayton had one of the most underrated and overlooked rookie seasons in NBA history, just because he had the bad luck to coexist with Luka Doncic and Trae Young. But don’t let the lack of attention fool you, he’s a stud.
Ayton’s strength and athleticism make him a menace in the paint and the pick-and-roll. There aren’t many guys that could match up with him below the rim or try and stop him. However, he must put a lot of work on his defense if he wants to get the praise he deserves.
15. Donovan Mitchell
Age: 23
Team: Utah Jazz
Career Stats: 22.7 Points, 4.1 Rebounds, 4.0 Assists, 1.3 Steals
Donovan Mitchell came pretty much out of nowhere. He fell all the way to the 13th spot in the NBA Draft but immediately took over as the Utah Jazz’ leader going forward, becoming the shooter and scorer they craved for so long.
Mitchell’s shot selection isn’t exactly the best in the league but he’ll never back down or shy away from a challenge. He’s earned a lot of respect around the NBA because of his leadership and determination to lead his team to a victory every night out there.
14. Ja Morant
Age: 20
Team: Memphis Grizzlies
Career Stats: 17.5 Points, 3.5 Rebounds, 6.9 Assists
Ja Morant was ready for the NBA as soon as he took the stage on the Draft and he went from being overshadowed by Zion Williamson to becoming one of the most respected young players in the league. You know he’s got a chip on his shoulder.
Morant is incredibly athletic, fast, and strong for his age. He’s also an intelligent player with a high basketball IQ that knows how to make his teammates better. If he adds more muscle and starts knocking down threes at a high clip, he’ll be a perennial All-Star, for sure.
13. Kristaps Porzingis
Age: 24
Team: Dallas Mavericks
Career Stats: 18.1 Points, 7.6 Rebounds, 1.4 Assists, 2.0 Blocks
Kristaps Porzingis missed a lot of time with injuries throughout his career but he’s still ranked this high. That says a lot about just how good he is and the potential he has as one of the league’s unicorns.
Porzingis can knock down shots from deep as easily as any shooting guard and his defense is far ahead of what people thought earlier on his career. If he embraces his role and learns to coexist with Doncic, the Mavericks will have something pretty special on their hands for many years to come.
12. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Age: 21
Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Career Stats: 14.5 Points, 4.2 Rebounds, 3.3 Assists, 1.1 Steals
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was often overlooked. He didn’t have the flashiest moves, the smoothest shot, or the most impressive highlight reel, but it was pretty clear that he was ready to match up vs. NBA competition thanks to his outstanding defensive skills.
And once the Thunder put the ball on his hands he proved all of his doubters wrong. He broke out as a scorer and helped Chris Paul lead his team to a playoff spot despite their major roster overhaul. The sky seems to be the limit for him.
11. Devin Booker
Age: 23
Team: Phoenix Suns
Career Stats: 22.3 Points, 3.6 Rebounds, 4.7 Assists
Devin Booker is just too talented to be playing for a franchise like the Phoenix Suns. They’ve failed to surround him with the kind of talent he needs to thrive, but he’s still worked his heart off to become one of the best, most proficient scorers in the league.
Booker has all the tools to be the league’s Scoring Champion in no time. However, his skills as a playmaker shouldn’t be underestimated as well. He needs to work on his defense, but has a Klay Thompson-ish shooting stroke that every championship contender would kill for.
10. Brandon Ingram
Age: 22
Team: New Orleans Pelicans
Career Stats: 16.2 Points, 5.1 Rebounds, 3.2 Assists
Brandon Ingram entered the league with high expectations. People viewed him as Kevin Durant 2.0 if you will, but he mightily struggled earlier on his career. Luckily for him, he was given a second chance to prove his worth and he’s making the most of it.
Ingram took things personally this season. He blossomed as a prolific scorer and rebounder but the most impressive part of his game this season was his defense. If the Pelicans keep on trusting him as one of the cornerstones of his project, he’ll continue to have All-Star caliber campaigns.
9. Zion Williamson
Age: 19
Team: New Orleans Pelicans
Career Stats: 23.6 Points, 6.8 Rebounds, 2.2 Assists
Zion Williamson is the most hyped prospect since LeBron James. He was in the spotlight since high school for the way he completely demolished other kids with his NBA-ready body, athleticism, and unprecedented hops.
Zion can do it all on both ends of the court. He missed half of the season and dominated right away like if he was already a veteran, and you know nobody on earth wants to draw a charge from him. He must lose some weight in order to avoid major injuries and work on his stroke from deep, but he’s a once-in-a-lifetime kind of talent, for sure.
8. Karl-Anthony Towns
Age: 24
Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Career Stats: 22.7 Points, 11.8 Rebounds, 2.8 Assists, 1.5 Blocks
Karl-Anthony Towns has had MVP-caliber seasons since he made it to the league, at least when it comes to putting up numbers and filling up the stat sheet. Nevertheless, he hasn’t found much success with his team and has raised several doubts about his character.
Towns has elite footwork and a great overall offensive game. He’s also developed a nice instinct as a shot-blocker, but that doesn’t mean he’s a good defender. As a matter of fact, he’s often getting bodied and pushed around the paint, but if he turns the intensity up a notch, he’ll be unstoppable.
7. Trae Young
Age: 21
Team: Atlanta Hawks
Career Stats: 23.6 Points, 3.9 Rebounds, 8.6 Assists, 1.0 Steals
If we talk about unstoppable scorers, Trae Young has to be at the top of that conversation. He’s already an offensive juggernaut that has proven that the comparisons with Stephen Curry weren’t that far-fetched at all. Hell, he could even pass Curry as the greatest shooter ever.
Young’s a terrible defender but makes up for it with unlimited range and the ability to make plays where nobody else could. He’s a willing passer that loves getting his teammates involved, and once he starts shooting more efficiently, he’ll lead the league in scoring.
6. D’Angelo Russell
Age: 24
Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Career Stats: 17.5 Points, 3.7 Rebounds, 5.3 Assists, 1.1 Steals
It took him a while but D’Angelo Russell finally became the player everybody expected him to be. Off-court issues aside, D’Lo eased his way into the game and is now one of the most versatile young scorers in the world.
Russell can play both guard spots and proven to be effective off the ball or a playmaker. His defense is far behind his offense but, paired with a solid backcourt defender, he could lead any championship team.
5. Ben Simmons
Age: 23
Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Career Stats: 16.4 Points, 8.3 Rebounds, 8.0 Assists, 1.7 Steals
Ben Simmons doesn’t have any kind of range as a shooter, yet he averages over 16 points per game as a point guard. That’s just how dominant he is in the paint and how good he could be if he developed as much as an average jump shot.
Simmons has the archetype of the ultimate point forward. He’s as strong and big as to be able to guard all five spots on the court and has some Magic Johnson-ish playmaking ability as well. He even made a case for himself for Defensive Player of the Year this season.
4. Jayson Tatum
Age: 22
Team: Boston Celtics
Career Stats: 17.2 Points, 5.9 Rebounds, 2.2 Assists, 1.1 Steals
It’s crazy to think Jayson Tatum is only 22 years old. He shouldn’t be that good that fast, but that’s not a coincidence. He’s been working for this since he was a young kid, playing vs. NBA athletes and making sure to apprehend every single ounce of knowledge.
Pair that relentless work ethic with god-given talent and you’ll find a guy that could be an MVP candidate on any other team. However, he’s mature enough to embrace his role with the Celtics and do whatever it takes to help them win. He’s already one of the best two-way players in the league.
3. Nikola Jokic
Age: 25
Team: Denver Nuggets
Career Stats: 16.9 Points, 9.7 Rebounds, 5.4 Assists, 1.1 Steals
Nikola Jokic came out of the blue. He slipped all the way to the second round and judging for his body, he was going to be torched in the NBA and out of the league in no time. It’s pretty fair to say that it wasn’t the case whatsoever.
Jokic has the playmaking skills of a point guard trapped in the body of a big man. He can knock down shots from deep and it looks like he has eyes on the back of his head to always know where his teammates are supposed to be. He’ll get you an open look and make passes nobody else on the floor ever wondered.
2. Luka Doncic
Age: 21
Team: Dallas Mavericks
Career Stats: 24.4 Points, 8.5 Rebounds, 7.1 Assists, 1.1 Steals
We all knew Luka Doncic was going to be good but we never saw this coming. I mean, he could be in the MVP conversation and you couldn’t argue with it, given the way he turned the Dallas Mavericks around following the post-Dirk Nowitzki era.
Doncic is a positionless player that can play both guard spots and some small forward as well. Also, he’s an arguably perfect player, offensive wise. There’s still a lot of room for improvement in the defensive end, though.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Age: 25
Team: Milwaukee Bucks
Career Stats: 20.0 Points, 8.9 Rebounds, 4.3 Assists, 1.2 Steals, 1.3 Blocks
And obviously, Giannis Antetokounmpo has to sit at the top of our list right now. Crazy as it may seem, he’s only 25 years old, meaning he’s yet to reach his prime and that’s a scary thought for the rest of the NBA, given the fact that he’s already the league’s reigning MVP.
Giannis has improved his numbers year after year since entering the league. He can play and defend all 5 spots on the court thanks to his skills and length, and has the competitive spirit and drive to always keep grinding despite already being a superstar. If he starts knocking down three-pointers, he’ll be the best player in the world by a long stretch.
