The future of the NBA is in the hands of young people, and today ESPN experts ranked 25 under-25 players:
1. Doncic Age 23.1 Ranked no. 1 last year Averaged 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game in 2021-22
Doncic has topped the list for three consecutive years, despite the divergent views this year. Entering his fourth season in the NBA, Doncic is one step closer to maturity, leading the Lone Rangers to their first 50+ regular season wins since the 2014-15 season and using less than their career averages. Doncic's breakthrough is in the playoffs, which have fallen in the first round of the past year, losing to the Clippers.
2. Jason Tatum Age 24.1 Ranked 5th last year 26.9 points, 8 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game in 2021-22
This season Tatum has grown from an All-Star to a player who can compete for MVP in the All-Team. Since the All-Star Game, Tatum has averaged 30+ points per game, shooting more than 50 percent from the field and shooting more than 40 percent from three-point range, with the exception of Durant and Devon Booker.
3. Ja Morant Age 22.7 Ranked 15th last year Averaged 27.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game in 2021-22
Morant, the fastest-improving of the young stars, has become the NBA's new representative, being the only six players this season to average 27 points and six assists per game. His three-point shooting percentage improved from 25.4 percent to 34.4 percent, while scoring from the inside scared the opposing defense. Morant led the Grizzlies to the league's second-best record, and his next step was to improve durability and defense.
4. Trae Young Age 23.6 Ranked 16th last year 2021-22 averaged 28.4 points, 9.7 assists and 38.2% three-point shooting.
Trae Young was not optimistic because of his stature, but last season the young Hawks reached the Eastern Conference Finals under the leadership of Trae Young. Although the Hawks have seen their defensive level drop this year, ranking 26th in defensive level, it's clear that Young's offensive talent outweighs his defensive flaws. If Young makes the NBA's All-NBA lineup this season, it will add $35 million to his rookie contract extension.
5. Lamello Ball Age 20.6 Ranked 3rd last year 2021-22 averaged 20.1 points, 7.6 assists and 38.9% three-point shooting
Ball dropped two spots in the rankings, in large part because of morant and Young's emergence as the league's top point guards. Bauer is still moving in the direction of the potential superstars we predict, and he's making progress on every major statistic. Ball is already one of the NBA's best passers, and he's also become the youngest player in league history to achieve 200 three-pointers in a single season. Ball, 20, brought the Hornets into the playoff playoffs, and like Morant, improving defense and finishing ability in the offseason was Ball's focus in the offseason.
6. Cade Cunningham Age 20.5 He averaged 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game in 2021-22
As the rookie favourite of the season, Cunningham needs to reduce careless turnovers, stabilize his three-point shooting percentage (31.4 percent) and continue to improve his ability as a Finisher.
7. Zion Williamson Age 21.7 Last year ranked 2nd for the 2021-22 season reimbursement
Williamson is more challenging than other young players, especially this season, and it's easy to forget how strong Williamson was in a healthy 2020-21 season, with Williamson having missed two of his first three seasons.
8. Bam Adebayo Age 24.7 Ranked 9th last year 19.1 points, 10.1 rebounds and 55.7% shooting per game in 2021-22
As the NBA's most versatile player, Adebayo led the Heat to eighth in defensive efficiency in the past five seasons, and with four months to go before his 25th birthday, Adebayo became the fifth-most player in Heat history to score 30+10+5.
9. Darius Garland Age 21.7 Last year's missing list 21.7 points, 8.6 assists and 38.3 three-point shooting per game in 2021-22
Garland made his first All-Star team this season and led the Cavaliers into the playoff playoffs, averaging 25.2 points and 10.8 assists per game since March 1, being one of two players who averaged 25+10 per game during this period, the other being Trae Young. Garland has also been in first place in assists since March 1.
10. Shay Giljes Alexander Age 23.8 Averages 24.5 points, 5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game in 2021-22
Although Kyrgyzstan-Alexander's three-point shooting dropped from 42 percent in the 2020-21 season to 30 percent this season, he scored a career-high 24.5 points without sacrificing his own organization of offense. Alexander has increased his utilization to a career-high 31 percent, but his usage will decline as Oklahoma City's rebuild begins with more help next season.
11. Anthony Edwards 12. Brandon Ingram 13.Scotty Barnes 14.Terres-Halliburton 15.Evan Mobley 16.Miles-Bridges 17.Desmond-Bain 18.Jarrett Allen 19.DeAndre Ayton 20.Taylor Hilo 21.Jaylen Green 22.Daron Fox 23.John Collins 24.Teres-Maxi 25.Jalan Jackson Jr