NBA's Top 25 Players Under 25: Sportz Nation's List

Joel Piton
5 hours ago
16 min read

The future of basketball isn’t approaching—it’s already here.

Across the league, the next generation of stars is kicking down the door, taking over franchises and, in some cases, already battling the game’s best players for NBA supremacy. We’re talking freak athletes, walking triple-doubles, defensive monsters, fearless scorers and young franchise players who somehow still have years before they even enter their primes. With so much young talent flooding the league—who are the best of the best?

We’re ranking the Top 25 NBA Players Under 25—weighing current production, individual impact, accomplishments and just how terrifying their futures could become.

Twenty-five players. One ranking. And by the time we reach No. 1, we might just be looking at the NBA's next LeBron.

Let’s get into it.

Cason Wallace (G)
Oklahoma City Thunder

2025-26 Stats: 8.6 PPG · 3.1 RPG · 2.6 APG · 43.2% FG

Cason Wallace might not light up the scoreboard, but there are few young guards in basketball who impact winning as consistently as he does. Wallace has developed into one of the NBA’s premier perimeter defenders, capable of hounding ball handlers, jumping passing lanes and taking on assignments well above his size. Already an NBA champion, Wallace added an All-Defensive Second Team selection in 2026 to his resumé, establishing himself as a legitimate defensive difference-maker on one of the league’s best teams. His limited scoring production keeps him from climbing any higher on this list, but at just 22 years old, Caso has already mastered one of the hardest skills in basketball: finding ways to impact games without needing the ball.

Jabari Smith Jr. (F)
Houston Rockets

2025-26 Stats: 15.8 PPG · 6.9 RPG · 1.9 APG · 45.0% FG

Jabari Smith Jr. may not have developed into the centerpiece you'd like to get at the third overall pick, but he still carved out an important role on one of the deepest teams in basketball. At 6'11", Smith brings rare mobility and shooting touch to the power forward position, giving Houston a legitimate stretch-four who can space the floor, attack mismatches and hold his own defensively. The former Auburn Tiger is a capable scorer without needing the offense built around him, making him an ideal role-player for what Houston is aiming to do. He might not be the biggest star in Houston right now, but his combination of size, versatility and smooth perimeter shooting makes him one of the more valuable young forwards in the league.

Dylan Harper (G)
San Antonio Spurs

2025-26 Stats: 11.8 PPG · 3.4 RPG · 3.9 APG · 50.5% FG

Dylan Harper’s rookie numbers won’t immediately jump off the page, but his first NBA season offered plenty of reasons to believe San Antonio has another star on its hands. The second overall pick averaged just under 12 points per game, but did so while shooting better than 50% from the field, which is impressive efficiency for a 20-year-old guard. Harper truly announced himself in the postseason, helping the Spurs knock off the reigning champion Thunder and reach the NBA Finals, where he became just the third rookie in the play-by-play era to score double-digit points in a single Finals quarter. He may still have plenty of developing to do as a scorer and creator, but Harper has already proven something most rookies never get the opportunity to show: he can produce when the lights are brightest.

Ryan Rollins (G)
Milwaukee Bucks

2025-26 Stats: 17.3 PPG · 4.6 RPG · 5.6 APG · 47.2% FG

Few players in the league experienced a more unexpected breakout than Ryan Rollins. After forgettable stints with Golden State and Washington left his NBA future uncertain, the former second-round pick completely reinvented himself in Milwaukee. Rollins erupted for 17.3 points, 5.6 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game while knocking down over 40% of his three-point attempts, transforming from an end-of-the-bench guard into a legitimate offensive weapon. His leap was significant enough to earn Most Improved Player votes, including several first-place selections. At just 24 years old, Rollins has gone from fighting for an NBA role to proving he belongs among the league’s best young guards.

Alex Sarr (C)
Washington Wizards

2025-26 Stats: 16.3 PPG · 7.4 RPG · 2.7 APG · 48.2% FG

Playing in the same era as Victor Wembanyama makes it easy for another young French big man to fly under the radar, but Alex Sarr is quietly developing into one of the league’s most intriguing frontcourt pieces. The former No. 2 overall pick has been one of the few bright spots through Washington’s rebuilding attempts, combining insane shot-blocking instincts with impressive mobility for a seven-footer. Sarr can run the floor, defend away from the basket and stretch opposing defenses with his developing perimeter shot, giving him the modern skill set teams crave from a big man. And for the first time, Washington’s future is beginning to look legitimately exciting. With AJ Dybantsa, Tre Johnson, Kyshawn George and Sarr forming the foundation of an extremely young core, the Wizards may finally have the pieces necessary to build something meaningful in D.C.

Matas Buzelis (F)
Chicago Bulls

2025-26 Stats: 16.3 PPG · 5.8 RPG · 2.1 APG · 46.3% FG

At 6-foot-10, Matas Buzelis already possesses the kind of offensive versatility that makes his ceiling difficult to define. The comparisons to Hall of Famer Toni Kukoc make sense stylistically: Buzelis is a smooth, skilled forward who can stretch the floor, put the ball on the deck and attack from multiple areas of the court. His shooting touch is especially impressive for a player his size and his athleticism lets him glide above the rim and finish with force when lanes open up. Just as encouraging has been his continued growth on the defensive end, where his length and mobility give him the tools to become a true two-way weapon. Buzelis is still developing, but if the offensive game continues to expand, Chicago may have one of the league’s most uniquely gifted young forwards on its hands.

Jalen Green (G)
Phoenix Suns

2025-26 Stats: 17.8 PPG · 3.6 RPG · 2.8 APG · 42.2% FG

Three years ago, Jalen Green looked like a player who could eventually crack the top five of a list like this. Since then, a blockbuster trade and a frustrating stretch of injuries have dramatically slowed his momentum. Still, the talent that made Green the No. 2 overall pick hasn't totally disappeared. He remains one of the league’s most explosive athletes, capable of jumping out of the gym while pairing that athleticism with a crafty handle, difficult shot-making and a scoring package that can become electric when he finds a rhythm. The problem is that flashes can only carry you for so long. Green now enters one of the most important seasons of his young career, needing to stay healthy and remind the league why he was once viewed as a future superstar. At 24, there is still plenty of time for a comeback—but this season could determine just how high his ceiling remains.

V.J. Edgecombe (G)
Philadelphia 76ers

2025-26 Stats: 16.0 PPG · 5.6 RPG · 4.2 APG · 43.8% FG

After a phenomenal rookie season, V.J. Edgecombe looked like one of the clearest building blocks in Philadelphia’s future alongside Tyrese Maxey. Now, with the Sixers suddenly loaded with established stars LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, his role may look a little different—but that doesn't exactly diminish how promising he is. Edgecombe is an aggressive scorer who attacks with confidence, creates his own shot and possesses the kind of explosive athleticism that can completely change the energy of a game. He's already dangerous in transition, fearless getting downhill and capable of generating offense without any plays drawn up for him. The touches may be harder to come by on such a stacked roster, but Edgecombe remains one of the most exciting young guards in basketball and a player Philadelphia should be extremely careful not to bury.

Ausar Thompson (F)
Detroit Pistons

2025-26 Stats: 9.9 PPG · 5.7 RPG · 3.1 APG · 52.5% FG

Ausar Thompson doesn’t need to score 20 points a night to completely wreck an opponent’s game plan. The defense-first forward has quickly developed into one of the most disruptive players in basketball, leading the NBA with 2.0 steals per game while earning his first All-Defensive First Team selection in 2026. Thompson can suffocate guards on the perimeter, use his length to disrupt passing lanes and provide legitimate rim protection despite standing just 6'7". Offensively, he remains a work in progress, but his athleticism makes him dangerous around the rim and he continues to show encouraging development as a passer and secondary playmaker. If the scoring eventually catches up to everything else, Thompson’s ceiling becomes frightening. But even without it, he can already make life miserable for virtually anyone he’s assigned to defend.

Kon Knueppel (F)
Charlotte Hornets

2025-26 Stats: 18.5 PPG · 5.3 RPG · 3.4 APG · 47.5% FG

Kon Knueppel wasted no time establishing himself as one of the most dangerous shooters in basketball. The sharpshooting rookie made NBA history by leading the league in three-pointers while also shattering the rookie record from beyond the arc, immediately giving Charlotte one of the league’s most lethal perimeter weapons. Knueppel doesn’t need endless dribbles or isolation possessions to dominate offensively—his movement, quick release and ability to punish even the slightest defensive mistake can completely warp an opponent’s game plan. His scoring ability helped turn the Hornets into one of the NBA’s most dangerous shooting teams, and the scouting report has already become painfully simple: lose track of Knueppel, and you pay for it.

Dyson Daniels (G)
Atlanta Hawks

2025-26 Stats: 11.9 PPG · 6.8 RPG · 5.9 APG · 51.7% FG

Dyson Daniels became one of the NBA’s most terrifying perimeter defenders almost overnight. At 6'7", the guard-forward hybrid has the size, length and instincts to suffocate ball handlers, blow up passing lanes and completely disrupt an offense without needing to score a single point. His breakout 2024-25 season saw him lead the NBA with 229 steals and 3.0 steals per game, earn All-Defensive First Team honors and capture the Most Improved Player award—making him the first of back-to-back Hawks players to win MIP. Daniels followed that up with another elite defensive season in 2026, earning All-Defensive Second Team honors and proving his rise was anything but a fluke. Atlanta has plenty of offensive firepower, but Daniels provides something just as valuable: a defender capable of making the opposing team’s best perimeter player miserable for 48 minutes.

Shaedon Sharpe (G)
Portland Trail Blazers

2025-26 Stats: 20.8 PPG · 4.3 RPG · 2.6 APG · 45.2% FG

Shaedon Sharpe finally put everything together this season. Playing alongside Deni Avdija, the explosive young guard broke out for more than 20 points per game and emerged as one of Portland’s most dangerous offensive weapons. Sharpe is at his best attacking downhill, using his ridiculous vertical athleticism to finish above the rim, but his scoring game has grown well beyond highlight-reel dunks. He became more comfortable creating his own shot, attacking closeouts and using his athleticism to put constant pressure on defenses. Unfortunately, a devastating injury now leaves his immediate future in limbo and puts a pause on what had been a massive step forward. Still, based on what he showed before going down, Sharpe has more than earned his place among the league’s best young players.

Josh Giddey (G)
Chicago Bulls

2025-26 Stats: 17.0 PPG · 8.3 RPG · 9.1 APG · 44.8% FG

At 6'8", Josh Giddey is about as close to a walking triple-double as you’ll find in the NBA. The Australian playmaker enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game while establishing himself as a do-it-all engine for Chicago’s offense. Giddey sees the floor exceptionally well, rebounds like a forward and constantly pushes the pace, allowing him to impact nearly every possession without needing to dominate as a scorer. His outside shooting has also continued to improve, making him increasingly difficult for defenses to simply sag off. Giddey may not possess the explosive scoring ability of some players ranked ahead of him, but few young players can stuff every column of the box score quite like he can.

Brandon Miller (F)
Charlotte Hornets

2025-26 Stats: 20.2 PPG · 4.9 RPG · 3.3 APG · 43.5% FG

With LaMelo Ball officially out of Charlotte, the Hornets’ perimeter offense now belongs largely to Brandon Miller. The 6'7" guard-forward has already established himself as a legitimate 20-plus-point-per-game scorer, combining a textbook shooting stroke with smooth shot creation and underrated athleticism around the rim. Miller can catch fire in a hurry, whether he’s pulling up from deep, attacking closeouts or rising over smaller defenders in the midrange. His game has always looked fine-tuned, but the next step is proving he can consistently carry the weight of being a primary option. With more touches and responsibility coming his way, Miller has a real opportunity to make a massive leap and establish himself as the face of Charlotte’s next era.

Keyonte George (G)
Utah Jazz

2025-26 Stats: 23.6 PPG · 3.7 RPG · 6.1 APG · 45.6% FG

Keyonte George was a man on a mission this season. With Utah desperately searching for stability and Lauri Markkanen sidelined for stretches, the 6'4" guard stepped into a much larger role and made a seamless transition to becoming the Jazz’s primary point guard. George erupted for more than 23 points per game while posting the best efficiency numbers of his young career, proving he could handle a heavier offensive workload without sacrificing effectiveness. Crafty with the ball, comfortable creating his own shot and capable of scoring from all three levels, George has developed into one of the league’s most dangerous young scoring guards. Utah may still be searching for its long-term direction, but George has made one thing increasingly clear: he deserves to be a major part of it.

Stephon Castle (G)
San Antonio Spurs

2025-26 Stats: 16.7 PPG · 5.3 RPG · 7.4 APG · 47.1% FG

Stephon Castle might be the perfect young guard to grow up alongside Victor Wembanyama. It’s almost hard to believe he’s only 21 years old considering how fearlessly he already plays the game. At 6'6", Castle possesses the size and strength to overwhelm smaller point guards, attacking the paint with a relentless motor and showing absolutely no hesitation when it’s time to rise up and put somebody on a poster. He can create for himself, facilitate for others and use his physical tools to make an impact on both ends of the floor. Most importantly, Castle elevated his game when the stakes were highest, taking another step forward during San Antonio’s run to the NBA Finals. With Wembanyama commanding attention inside and Castle relentlessly attacking from the perimeter, the Spurs may have found a backcourt-frontcourt combination capable of terrorizing the league for years to come.

Amen Thompson (F)
Houston Rockets

2025-26 Stats: 18.3 PPG · 7.8 RPG · 5.3 APG · 53.4% FG

Amen Thompson just cashed in on a massive extension, and based on the leap he made this season, it feels completely justified. Often described as "the best athlete in the league" by NBA contemporaries, Thompson combines ridiculous speed, explosiveness and strength with a 6'7" frame that makes him a nightmare in the open floor. He elevated his production to roughly 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists per game while becoming a more efficient offensive player overall. The jumper still isn’t a major weapon, but right now, it doesn’t have to be. Thompson has found his bread and butter attacking the rim, overpowering smaller defenders, cutting without the ball and turning defense into instant offense. Add in his ability to guard multiple positions with real purpose, and Amen is already becoming one of the most uniquely impactful young players in basketball.

Cooper Flagg (F)
Dallas Mavericks

2025-26 Stats: 21.0 PPG · 6.7 RPG · 4.5 APG · 46.8% FG

Cooper Flagg entered the NBA with enormous expectations and somehow managed to exceed them. The 2026 Rookie of the Year averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists and immediately established himself as the centerpiece of Dallas’ future post-Luka. At just 19 years old, Flagg rewrote the record books, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to score 50 points after dropping 51 against Orlando and producing four separate 40-point performances as a rookie. What makes him special, however, goes far beyond scoring. Flagg is a true point-wing who can create for himself, facilitate for teammates, rebound, defend multiple positions and impact virtually every area of the game. There simply aren’t many weaknesses to attack. Dallas may have endured a turbulent stretch as a franchise, but with Cooper Flagg leading the next era, the Mavericks are in very good hands.

Paolo Banchero (F)
Orlando Magic

2025-26 Stats: 22.2 PPG · 8.4 RPG · 5.2 APG · 45.9% FG

Paolo Banchero has already made the kind of jump Orlando needed in order to be taken seriously. At 6'10", Banchero represents almost everything teams search for in a modern power forward: size, strength, shot creation, rebounding ability and the versatility to score from all three levels while holding his own defensively. He can bully smaller defenders inside, create from the perimeter and take over stretches of games when his jumper gets rolling. There have been moments where Banchero looks every bit like a future superstar, but injuries and the inability to vault Orlando past the first round keep him from the very top of this list. If you had asked a few years ago where Paolo would rank among players under 25 by age 23, top five probably would have felt like the expectation. He isn’t far off—but the next leap has to take him from great young player to undeniable franchise superstar.

Jalen Duren (C)
Detroit Pistons

2025-26 Stats: 19.5 PPG · 10.5 RPG · 2.0 APG · 65.0% FG

Jalen Duren has become proof that the traditional center is far from dead. The 6'10" 250-pound big man earned his first All-Star selection and an All-NBA Third Team nod after averaging around 20 points and 11 rebounds per game while helping Detroit explode for 60 wins. Duren doesn’t need to face up from 20 feet or launch five threes a night to dominate. His game is built around strength, aggression, enormous hops and an ability to absolutely punish defenses around the rim. He quickly became one of the league’s premier lob threats, and his improved ball handling and passing give him more versatility than the typical rim-running five. Already a double-double machine at just 22 years old, Duren has developed into the ideal interior partner for Cade Cunningham—and one of the biggest reasons the Pistons have transformed into an Eastern Conference powerhouse.

Chet Holmgren (C)
Oklahoma City Thunder

2025-26 Stats: 17.1 PPG · 8.9 RPG · 1.7 APG · 55.7% FG

There simply aren’t many seven-footers in basketball history who possess Chet Holmgren’s combination of skills. An elite rim protector with the mobility to defend away from the basket, Holmgren can anchor a defense on one possession before stepping beyond the arc and stretching the floor on the next. His rare two-way versatility has turned him into an apex predator at the five. After earning his first All-Star selection and All-NBA Third Team honors last season, Chet has already accumulated a resumé that includes an NBA championship while still being years away from his prime. He can block shots, run the floor, punish mismatches and knock down jumpers, fitting perfectly alongside Oklahoma City’s unique lineup. At this point, Holmgren has very little left to prove as one of basketball’s premier young stars. Now the question is how much higher can he climb.

Alperen Sengun (C)
Houston Rockets

2025-26 Stats: 20.4 PPG · 8.9 RPG · 6.2 APG · 51.9% FG

Nobody saw this coming on draft night. Selected 16th overall in 2021, Alperen Sengun has developed from an intriguing international prospect into one of basketball’s premier offensive big men. Nicknamed “Baby Jokic,” the two-time All-Star possesses many of the same qualities that make that comparison so fascinating: exceptional court vision, creativity from the post and an ability to orchestrate an offense from the center position. Sengun can bully defenders inside, knock down silky-smooth jumpers from the midrange and pile up triple-doubles with a fluidity rarely seen from a player his size. An All-NBA selection remains one of the few major accolades missing from his résumé, but at just 24 years old, Sengun has already dramatically exceeded anything Houston could have reasonably expected when his name was called on draft night.

Jalen Johnson (F)
Atlanta Hawks

2025-26 Stats: 22.5 PPG · 10.3 RPG · 7.9 APG · 48.9% FG

Jalen Johnson may be the biggest development success story on this entire list. After averaging barely four points per game across his first two seasons in Atlanta, the former first-round project has blossomed into a legitimate star. Johnson is now a triple-double threat every time he steps on the floor, combining elite athleticism and violent finishing ability with increasingly polished playmaking and an improved perimeter shot. Last season, he erupted for 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game, earning his first All-Star selection and a spot on the All-NBA Third Team. At 6'8" with the ability to grab a rebound, lead the break and finish above virtually anyone at the rim, Johnson has developed into one of the NBA’s premier point-forwards. Atlanta took a patient approach with him early, and that patience has paid off in spectacular fashion.

Cade Cunningham (G)
Detroit Pistons

2025-26 Stats: 23.9 PPG · 5.5 RPG · 9.9 APG · 46.1% FG

Cade Cunningham turns 25 in just a couple of weeks, making this one of his final appearances on a list like this—and he’s going out near the very top. The former No. 1 overall pick has become almost exactly what NBA scouts envisioned when the league began falling in love with oversized point guards. At 6'6", Cunningham controls games with elite dimes, patience and an ability to manipulate defenses at his own pace. His elite mid-range game remains one of his biggest weapons, but it was his career-high 10 assists per game that pushed his playmaking to another level last season and helped earn him All-NBA First Team honors. For all the uncertainty that surrounds even the most highly touted prospects, Cade has been about as successful a developmental story as Detroit could have hoped for: a franchise point guard, offensive engine and legitimate superstar entering his prime.

Victor Wembanyama (C)
San Antonio Spurs

2025-26 Stats: 25.0 PPG · 11.5 RPG · 3.1 APG · 51.2% FG

What exactly are you supposed to do with Wemby? Standing 7'4", the French phenom combines elite rim protection with high-volume perimeter scoring, fluid ball handling and mobility that simply shouldn't exist in a player his size. Wembanyama is capable of doing things we have quite literally never seen on an NBA court, and at just 22 years old, the “generational prospect” label already feels justified. Last season, he pushed the reigning champion Thunder out of the postseason and brought San Antonio within striking distance of an NBA championship. Individually, the resumé is becoming ridiculous: Defensive Player of the Year, two-time All-Star and All-NBA First Team honors before his 23rd birthday. There are plenty of phenomenal young players across the league, but Wembanyama exists in a category of his own. If this is what he looks like before entering his prime, the rest of the league should be terrified of what comes next.

The NBA’s future has never felt this close to the present. From the top down, the league is overflowing with young talent capable of shaping the next decade of basketball. And the scary part? Most of these players haven’t even entered their primes yet.

How would you formulate your list? Who’s ranked too high? Who got disrespected? And who do you think will eventually take the crown from Wemby?

The next generation of basketball has officially arrived.

The NBA regular season is creeping closer as the summer wraps up 🚨 Can't keep up with the drama? Be sure to stay tuned into Sportz Nation for your sports updates on all things basketball.

Thanks for reading!

-Joel Piton

(@jpiton7)