Dec. 19, 2025, 2:07 p.m. ET
Every year, the NBA adds a new crop of elite young talent, which makes our annual Top 25 under 25 exercise all the more exciting, as we always have fun new names to talk about.
This year, it won’t come to anyone’s surprise who we tabbed as the best player under 25, and you’d better get used to seeing him in that spot, as he’s got plenty of time before he ages out of this age bracket. But we did have some other tough decisions to make, especially in the Top 10, as the NBA simply has so much top-notch young talent, with these players improving at ridiculous paces.
Below, check out HoopsHype’s Top 25 players under the age of 25, as voted on by our entire panel of writers and editors.
25. Kon Knueppel (20)
2025-26 stats: 19.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.6 apg, 40.9 3P%
Although things have been gloomy with the Charlotte Hornets for some time now, one bright spot has been the play of first-year guard Kon Knueppel, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 draft.
Knueppel has been spectacular thus far this campaign, putting up an 19/5/3 stat line and doing so before even turning 21 years old, displaying a crafty off-the-dribble midrange scoring game to go with his bombastic three-point shooting. He’s even an effective slasher and a bouncy finisher around the basket, as well as a solid playmaker, giving him the makings of a real gem for Charlotte to build around.
Knueppel is in line to become just the 11th player in NBA history to put up an 18/5/3 of stat line before turning 21. Even more impressively, he’d be the only player ever to accomplish that feat while shooting over 40 percent from three.
24. Jabari Smith Jr. (22)
2025-26 stats: 15.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 44.7 FG%
Although it feels like Jabari Smith Jr. has been in the NBA for quite some time now, in reality, he’s still just 22, so there’s a good chance he’s not a finished product quite yet.
Smith Jr. has had his ups and downs in the NBA so far, mostly because of his somewhat inconsistent, at times inefficient results on offense. Still, over his last two seasons, he’s been hugely impactful, making the Houston Rockets 5.8 points per 100 possessions better during his time on the floor since 2024-25. That’s in large part thanks to his defense, as Smith Jr. possesses long arms, quick feet and good instincts and hustle on the less glamorous end of the floor. Houston boasts the NBA’s fifth-stingiest defense in the league this campaign for a reason, after all.
Smith Jr. can also stretch the floor from three, hit off-the-dribble midrange jumpers and finish explosively near the rim. If he were simply able to become a more accurate marksman from deep (Smith is a career 34.1 percent shooter from beyond the arc), he’d surely be able to make a run up this ranking over the coming couple of seasons.
23. Keyonte George (22)
2025-26 stats: 23.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 6.8 apg, 45 FG%
Third-year guard Keyonte George is a smooth scorer, one who is particularly adept at getting buckets from the midrange off of pull-ups, aptly using teammates’ screens to get to his spot and knock down jays.
He’s streaky from three, but when he gets it going from the outside, he can knock down deep bombs to make him an even tougher guard to defend. George is also able to get downhill and finish through contact, possessing the strength and bounce needed to be an effective paint-attacker.
George is quite crafty as a bucket-getter, possessing the scoring juice to hit fadeaways over good defending or get to the basket using deceptive handles, which makes up for his lack of a super-explosive first step.
With the way George has elevated his game over his three NBA campaigns, it’ll be interesting to find out just how much upside he has over the coming years. What is certain is that the Utah Jazz have done a great job of developing him and giving him the freedom to figure out how to succeed at this level.
22. Bennedict Mathurin (23)
2025-26 stats: 19.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.3 apg, 39.4 3P%
Indiana Pacers swingman Bennedict Mathurin is putting up career-high marks across the board thus far this season, although part of that has to do with his usage rate (24.3 percent) being his second-highest ever in the absence of star lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.
Still, Mathurin’s 20/5/2 stat line has been impressive nonetheless, as has the fact that he’s shattering his previous career-high mark in three-point accuracy, making the prospect of his newfound shooting, paired with a returning Haliburton next season, quite exciting.
Mathurin is another crafty player, one who can get to his spots in the midrange to knock down off-the-dribble jumpers, or spot-up from beyond the arc and knock down triples. His issues lie in his decision-making, as Mathurin is most often looking to get a bucket rather than keep the ball moving. Tasked with a different role this season, the native of Montreal has more turnovers than assists this campaign.
Even so, Mathurin is still just 23, and the growing pains he’s gone through between last playoffs and this regular season should be huge for his development as he returns to a more familiar role when Haliburton returns.
21. Alex Sarr (20)
2025-26 stats: 19.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.9 bpg, 35.7 3P%
Remember when we said that Charlotte’s Knueppel is line to become the 11th player to average an 19/5/3 stat line before turning 21? Well, Washington Wizards big man Alex Sarr is set to join him on that list as well, as long as he keeps up his current level of production.
Sarr has been one of the few bright spots for the Wizards this season, as the athletic big man has taken a clear step forward in his development. The French big is performing like someone who probably should have gone first overall in what was a weak 2024 draft, with Sarr giving off unicorn-like traits in just his second season.
An important modern archetype is that of a floor-spacing paint-protector, and Sarr appears to be just that, as he’s shooting nearly 35 percent from three this season while blocking two shots nightly for the Wizards.
Sarr is also light on his feet and has a solid handle, so he’s able to attack the rim against slower-footed foes, finish with strength through contact. Considering he’s got that much of a bag on offense already, his future looks rather exciting for Washington fans.
20. Shaedon Sharpe (22)
2025-26 stats: 21.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.4 spg, 45.7 FG%
Although the advanced metrics aren’t totally enamored with him, Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe does possess many exciting traits, particularly regarding his very quick first step, his strength as a finisher and his explosive leaping ability near the basket. Sharpe also has a tight, smooth ball-handle and a pacy crossover, making it difficult for opponents to stay in front of him.
The biggest issue holding Sharpe back from true stardom is his inconsistent outside shooting, which has cratered this season, with the athletic guard hitting a career-low sub-29 percent of his triples this campaign. Regardless, if Sharpe does get that figured out, he’s got All-Star-level upside behind all of his other high-level traits with the ball in his hands.
19. Stephon Castle (21)
2025-26 stats: 18.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 6.9 apg, 1.3 spg, 51.2 3P%
The Rookie of the Year in 2024-25, Stephon Castle has built upon his early success this season, averaging career-highs in nightly points, rebounds and assists thus far in 2025-26.
If Castle keeps up his current 18/5/6 stat line for the entire campaign, he’d become just the seventh player ever to put up that stat line before turning 22 years old, joining an illustrious list that includes Magic Johnson, Luka Doncic and LeBron James, among others.
Castle possesses fantastic size and length for a combo guard, standing at 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-9 wingspan, and he uses those traits, along with his strong athleticism, fantastically with his finishing around the rim, making him a load to stop once he gathers steam heading to the basket. Castle is shooting 75.4 percent from within three feet of the basket this season, a higher mark than his backcourt mate, De’Aaron Fox (68 percent), who’s known for his driving and finishing prowess.
A very good rebounder and playmaker to boot, especially for his age, Castle’s just missing a more reliable three-point shot from his repertoire, as the former UConn Husky is shooting a paltry 28.4 percent from three for his career. If he can become at least a respectable shooter from the arc, things could start getting scary for San Antonio Spurs opponents.
18. Dyson Daniels (22)
2025-26 stats: 11.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 5.7 apg, 2.0 spg, 49.1 FG%
Australian guard Dyson Daniels is coming off an impressive season that saw him take home Most Improved Player while finishing second in the Defensive Player of the Year vote, but with 1st Team All-Defense honors.
And although the raw statistics may indicate he’s taken a step back so far in 2025-26, according to swing rating, Daniels has actually been even more impactful, making the Atlanta Hawks 8.4 points per 100 possessions better thus far this campaign. That has coincided with Atlanta getting off to a better-than-expected start to the year, with the team sitting with a winning record, despite star guard Trae Young missing a lot of time to start the season.
Daniels is a special defender behind his quick feet and his tenacity on that end of the floor. He also uses his athleticism well to not just lock down opposing guards for 94 feet, but also rebound at a pretty impressive level for a backcourt player. His offensive game remains a work in progress – he’s solid as an off-ball slasher, though his shooting remains an issue – but considering he’s still just 22, there’s plenty of time for him to become at least a respectable outside shooter.
17. Josh Giddey (23)
2025-26 stats: 20.3 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 8.9 apg, 1.0 spg, 40.4 3P%
Our second Australian guard in a row, Josh Giddey, is a prime example of why one should not give up on a talented player who showed promise early on in his career, as the Melbourne native has bounced back wonderfully after some on-court hiccups over recent seasons to put up All-Star-level numbers thus far in 2025-26.
Giddey, if he’s able to keep up this torrid pace, is in line to become just the third player in league history to average a 20/9/8 stat line while being 23 years old or younger. He would join a certain NBA legend named Oscar Robertson on the list, by the way. Not bad company for Giddey, that.
And Giddey is doing that while having improved on his biggest weakness, his outside shooting, with the 6-foot-7 guard hitting a career-high 40.4 percent of his triples on the campaign.
Giddey is a special rebounder for his position and a flashy playmaker who almost always puts a bit of pizzazz and excitement to his dimes. With so much of the NBA being a bit robotic and safe in their playmaking these days, watching Giddey at times feels like a breath of fresh air, like we’re watching a point-guard style that we haven’t seen in quite some time.
The young guard has also been quite impactful on the campaign, as he boasts an impressive plus-6.5 swing rating on the season for Chicago, a huge mark considering how much the team has struggled as a whole on the season.
Giddey may still have his flaws – he turns it over a lot, and he’s not much of a defender – but the way he has improved over the past two seasons should not be overlooked.
16. Jalen Duren (22)
2025-26 stats: 18.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 1.0 bpg, 62.9 FG%
A young double-double machine, Detroit Pistons big man Jalen Duren has developed into one of the better starting centers in the Eastern Conference this season, and a key cog of what has been an elite Pistons squad on the campaign.
Duren is a fantastic finisher down low, thanks to his high-level athleticism and length. The center boasts a preposterous 7-foot-5 wingspan, allowing him to be a major lob threat every time he rolls to the rim. He’s so effective in that role that his rolls to the basket create a sort of gravity that leaves his teammates with better looks from beyond the arc.
With Duren on the floor this season, the Pistons have been an absurd 11.0 points per 100 possessions better than when he’s on the bench. What’s more, according to both VORP and BPM, the former Memphis standout has been roughly a Top 50 player in the league in 2025-26.
All in all, Duren’s development has been impressive to watch unfold over the past couple of seasons, as the 6-foot-10 big man has proved that even in today’s three-point-obsessed NBA, throwback lob-threat centers without a jumper to speak of can still find a whole lot of success.
15. LaMelo Ball (24)
2025-26 stats: 19.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 8.8 apg, 1.1 spg, 39.9 FG%
Former No. 3 overall pick LaMelo Ball certainly has worlds of talent, thanks to his size, vision as a playmaker and ability to hit shots from all over the floor, but there’s serious doubt as to how seriously he takes the game. A recent report said one anonymous executive was worried about just that:
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball has put up strong numbers since entering the NBA in 2020, but insiders continue to question his commitment to playing winning basketball. Speaking to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Bobby Marks, an anonymous Western Conference executive commented on Ball this week, saying, “Nobody has ever questioned the talent, but he’s just so unserious.”
He’s also got a very troubling, unlucky injury history, as Ball has played in more than 51 games in a regular season just once in his career. So, although he looked like he was on his way to a multi-time All-Star career early on (he had already achieved the honor in just his second career campaign), Ball seemed to have peaked early.
Even so, Ball remains one of the better guards in the East, at least based on the eye test, one capable of eye-catching highlights on a nightly basis, so he deserves his spot on this list. Plus, who knows? Maybe his injury luck will improve, allowing him to hit the next level as a player.
14. Amen Thompson (22)
2025-26 stats: 17.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 5.2 apg, 1.3 spg, 49.3 FG%
A player on an upward trajectory, on the other hand, is young Rockets swingman Amen Thompson. Thompson is already one of the most dynamic defenders – and overall athletes – in the NBA, possessing a ridiculous level of mobility for a player of his size, as well as some serious bounce, giving him fantastic finish ability near the rim.
In just his age-22 season, Thompson already achieved 1st Team All-Defense honors, while finishing fifth in the Defensive Player of the Year vote. And he looks well on his way to achieving similarly for his 2025-26 contributions thus far.
The one area holding Thompson back for now is his shooting, as Thompson has shot just 21.3 percent from three for his career. He’s at under 19 percent from the arc this campaign, too, so we haven’t seen much of a turnaround in that regard quite yet.
Regardless, Thompson makes up for that not just with his defensive impact, but with his finishing as a slasher, with his underrated playmaking and with his very impressive rebounding for a backcourt player.
13. Deni Avdija (24)
2025-26 stats: 25.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 6.3 apg, 47.6 FG%
Israeli forward Deni Avdija has exploded over the past two seasons, really peaking so far in 2025-26, and looking like a candidate to earn first-time All-Star honors this campaign. Just look at his numbers listed above. Only Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo can say they are averaging the same 25/7/6 stat line this season.
With Avdija performing at this level, it’s easy to see why Damian Lillard is excited about getting back out there with the roster the Portland Trail Blazers have put together now:
And already, Lillard says he is envisioning, picturing … almost sensing those moments coming. “Everything is happening in a weird way,” Lillard said. “What are the chances that I tear my Achilles and I get waived with two years left … and the first team I think of — and the first team that contacted me — is the Blazers? And me being back here … you know, I had to go away for this team to be assembled. And now it’s a team that I would have wanted to play on for years. So now I have a year to connect with this team while building my body up to get ready to go. “It’s all setting up for that type of moment (like 2019),” Lillard said.
Avdija has blossomed into a high-scoring do-it-all wing, one who plays with energy on both ends, attacks relentlessly in transition, who can rebound and create, and score from all three levels, the type of swingman with multi-time All-Star potential.
It’ll be interesting to see how Avdija is able to perform eventually when his usage rate eventually goes down (his near-28 percent usage rate is Top 25 in the NBA today), but either way, his ascension since getting to Portland has been nothing short of jaw-dropping. Lest we forget, at one point, the Washington Wizards thought it a good idea to trade Avdija away for a package centered around a now-retired Malcolm Brogdon and a future first-round pick.
Not the savviest move there by the Wizards.
12. Cooper Flagg (18)
2025-26 stats: 18.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.3 spg, 47.8 FG%
Reigning No. 1 overall draft pick Cooper Flagg experienced some ups and downs early in his NBA career, but of late, his play has been astounding, particularly for an 18-year-old. At the time of this writing, Flagg has put up 22.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.3 steals over his last 12 games on 50 percent shooting from the floor.
That’s with his outside shooting (which we certainly expect to eventually be respectable, at worst) abandoning him in that stretch, as Flagg has hit just five of his last looks from three. And that stretch also includes a 42-point explosion in a three-point overtime defeat against the Jazz on Dec. 15, a game that also saw Flagg secure seven rebounds, dole out six assists, nab one steal and block two shots, as well as hit clutch shots late:
That was the highest-scoring performance by an 18-year-old in NBA history, surpassing a LeBron James-held record. In fact, we have enough evidence by now to say that Flagg is arguably the second-best 18-year-old in NBA history, behind only James:
It’s still early, but we crunched the numbers to see how Flagg compares with the most remarkable 18-year-olds ever, and a few stats really stand out. With two games still to play before he turns 19, Flagg currently ranks second in points per game as an 18-year-old at 18.4, trailing only LeBron James’ 20.2. In assists, he ranks second at 3.5 dimes per game, trailing James (6.1) again. However, in assist-to-turnover ratio, Flagg ranks first at 1.64, ahead of James (1.55). Remember, like James, Flagg was thrown into the fire at the onset of the season and started at point guard for the short-handed Mavs. On the other side of the floor, Flagg ranks second behind James (1.6) in steals at 1.3 per game. Always touted as a two-way player who gets after it on the defensive end, this is another in a thousand reasons why Flagg was the surefire guy to go at No. 1.
Blessed with tough-shot-making ability, great athleticism and a high level of intensity on both ends of the floor, all in a 6-foot-9 package (with a 7-foot wingspan), Flagg has a truly scary ceiling.
11. Franz Wagner (24)
2025-26 stats: 22.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.2 spg, 49 FG%
As his three-point shooting has seen an uptick again this season, Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner’s advanced metrics have also gone up, with the 24-year-old putting up career-best marks in BPM (3.6, 29th overall in the NBA) and WS/48 (0.169, 28th overall). His 1.1 VORP, meanwhile, is 23rd overall.
There’s a common debate among Orlando – and NBA fans – as to who’s better, Wagner or a player coming up later on this list, but according to the advanced analytics, it’s a blowout in Wagner’s favor.
Clearly, we don’t believe advanced stats tell the whole story, but Wagner is extremely impactful thanks to his slippery slashing ability, his finishing prowess and his ability to score off the dribble. He’s also a versatile, effective defender thanks to his size and lateral agility, the best defensive wing on a Magic team that ranks sixth in the NBA in defensive stinginess this season.
And it’s that two-way impact that has us believing Wagner to be a borderline Top 10 under-25-year-old in the NBA today. He just needs to keep his previously streaky three-point shooting at the healthy rate he has it at ths season.
10. Jalen Johnson (23)
2025-26 stats: 23.6 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 8.2 apg, 1.6 spg, 52.1 FG%
Another breakout player over the past couple of seasons, Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson is a smooth scoring wing, one of the best rebounding forwards in the league today and an excellent playmaker for his position. The fact that Johnson is shooting a career-high 39 percent from three this season has helped elevate his game to a new level, with the former Duke Blue Devil ranking Top 25 in WS/48 and Top 10(!) in both BPM and VORP in 2025-26.
Johnson has no doubt overtaken Trae Young as Atlanta’s franchise cornerstone, as his high-scoring Swiss Army Knife style of play – on both ends – is both unique and hugely impactful, with Johnson boasting an All-NBA ceiling, at least if his scoring continues its recent upward trajectory.
Johnson has been on a tear of late, too, averaging 28.0 points, 12.6 rebounds and 10.9 assists, to go with 1.4 steals, over his last eight games, while shooting nearly 40 percent from three, as the talented young wing is soaring towards a first-time All-Star appearance in 2025-26, if not for an All-NBA spot outright.
9. Scottie Barnes (24)
2025-26 stats: 19.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 5.2 apg, 1.4 spg, 1.6 bpg, 50.8 FG%
Although it may appear at quick glance that former Florida State standout Scottie Barnes has stagnated over the past couple of seasons, that couldn’t be further from the truth, as 2025-26 has been the best season of the 24-year-old’s career thus far. Barnes is putting up career-high marks in BPM (4.5) and WS/48 (0.151), the former of which ranks 19th league-wide. Barnes is also on pace to set a career-best mark in VORP, as his current 1.5 mark is 12th in the NBA.
Barnes has been arguably the best player on a surprisingly good Toronto Raptors team this season, one that sits third in the East at 17-11, so clearly his style of play is conducive to winning.
That would be obvious to anyone who consistently watches the Raptors, however, as Barnes is very much a team-first player with great playmaking ability, as well as being a hugely impactful defender. (Barnes is the only player in the NBA right now with at least 40 blocks and 40 steals thus far in the campaign.)
Couple that with his career-high 38.6 percent shooting from three and elite slashing chops, and you will begin to understand why we have Barnes ranked where he is on this list.
8. Chet Holmgren (23)
2025-26 stats: 18.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.4 bpg, 40.4 3P%
One of the NBA’s premier unicorns, Chet Holmgren is a shot-blocking, floor-spacing big man with good ball-handling and driving ability, the type of modern frontcourt player whose two-way impact can lead to a lot of winning. All that Holmgren is missing besides a bit of strength down low is better vision, as he’s most often looking to score when he touches the ball, though a player with his level of skill should be a better playmaker than he is.
Still, Holmgren is a monster in his role, and a huge reason why the Oklahoma City Thunder are huge favorites to repeat as champions.
Oklahoma City’s 25-2 record and its league-topping 103.0 defensive rating is in part thanks to Holmgren’s defensive impact, as not only does he block shots at a high level, he also has quick enough feet to be an effective switch defender. (Quick tidbit: The Thunder’s defensive rating, if it holds up, would be the NBA’s best since the 2019-20 Bucks, who allowed 102.5 points per 100 possessions. Considering how good modern offenses are at scoring, that’s no small feat, and, again, Holmgren’s defensive versatility plays a huge part in that.)
As long as Holmgren stays healthy, we believe he’ll continue to dominate in his third-fiddle role in Oklahoma City, a modern-day Chris Bosh with higher point-preventing ability.
7. Evan Mobley (24)
2025-26 stats: 19.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.6 bpg, 49.6 FG%
Although his scoring average is up this season, the advanced analytics believe Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley has regressed a bit this year, as his BPM is way down from last season (4.6 to 2.5), as is his WS/48 (0.200 to 0.136). Even then, both marks comfortably place Mobley among the NBA’s Top 75 players this season.
Plus, Mobley remains an extremely impactful player for the Cavaliers, as he has made the team an astounding 10.8 points per 100 possessions better than the minutes in which he’s on the bench. As such, it’s impossible to blame the former USC Trojan for Cleveland’s team regression – one that has seen the team start out 15-13 this season after going 64-18 in 2024-25 – on the year.
At the same time, it’s difficult not to expect a little more out of Mobley. His skill level at his size, with his length, is truly unique. There’s no reason that in the modern, high-scoring, spaced-out NBA, Mobley shouldn’t be averaging at least 20 points per game when 47 other players in the NBA currently are.
Mobley’s a great player, but he’s got the potential to be even better, which is scary to think about, but also a bit frustrating.
6. Paolo Banchero (23)
2025-26 stats: 20.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 4.1 apg, 44.7 FG%
Like Mobley, former No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero is a bit of a divisive player. He’s great as is, but he’s got the ceiling to be so much more.
Banchero’s high level as a player is built upon his otherworldly blend of size and skill, as the former Duke star stands at 6-foot-10, 250 pounds, while possessing the ability to handle the ball, score at all three levels, create for teammates, rebound, and, most impressively, hit tough shots over even great defending.
The problem with Banchero is that despite his immense physical gifts, he relies on his tough shot-making prowess a little too much, leading to a few too many misses. He’s also a poor outside shooter, one who’s hitting just 31.7 percent of his career triples, with that number at a career-low 25 percent thus far this season. Banchero also turns it over a little too often and doesn’t set up enough wide-open makes for teammates to make up for it.
You add all those things together and you can see why the advanced analytics actually rate Banchero so poorly, with the 23-year-old sitting 67th in VORP this campaign, as well as 47th in BPM.
Regardless, we’re going with the eye test here, as well as his track record, as Banchero is one of the most visually impressive young players in the NBA today thanks to his size, explosiveness and his propensity to hit difficult shots.
5. Jalen Williams (24)
2025-26 stats: 17.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 5.8 apg, 1.6 spg, 46.5 FG%
Although Jalen Williams has barely played this season due to injury, he’s still done more than enough in his career to warrant his Top 5 spot in this ranking, as Williams has firmly cemented himself as one of the best young two-way wings in the league.
Williams has a crafty scoring ability from the midrange, capable of hitting turnarounds, fadeaways and pull-ups, as well as finishing among the trees down low. He’s also a capable outside shooter, which makes him an even bigger threat as a scorer – and a true conundrum to defend. The former Santa Clara standout can also rebound and create for teammates, though just as solid levels, making him a bit of a do everything star-level wing.
That’s a lot of praise as is without mentioning Williams’ defense, which earned him a spot in 2024-25’s All-Defensive 2nd Team. Williams is strong, has good length and quickness, and great instincts as a defender, allowing him to pick pockets and jump passing lanes.
Overall, Williams is the total package, and a fantastic, championship-level second option.
4. Alperen Sengun (23)
2025-26 stats: 23.7 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 7.2 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.0 bpg, 49.5 FG%
Often compared to a Diet Nikola Jokic, Turkish center Alperen Sengun is the prototypical modern star center, one of the ones who can score at a high level, rebound and create plays like he’s a point guard. The only area on offense that Sengun somewhat lacks in is as a three-point shooter, as the Rockets star is a career 28.2 percent marksman from beyond the arc.
But it’s facing up with the ball in his hands closer to the basket, where Sengun really shines, as he’s got an Al Jefferson-like face-up, post-up game, replete with midrange jumpers, short hooks and deceptive up-and-unders. (Whoever thinks the Jefferson comparison is insulting needs to watch some Hornets-era Jefferson highlights. Dude was unstoppable for spells.)
Sengun’s passing ability is also special for a big man, as he is capable of spoon-feeding teammates quality opportunities. The big man is set to join a list featuring eight all-time players, including Oscar Robertson, Russell Westbrook, Wilt Chamberlain and Larry Bird, of guys to average at least 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in a season, thanks to that rare passing prowess.
Sengun is even a solidly impactful defender, with quick hands that allow him to rack up steals, which makes up for his lacking paint-protection skills.
Still just 23, the sky is the limit for a player with Sengun’s offensive abilities, especially in today’s offense-focused league.
Can Sengun be the best player on a championship team? That remains to be seen, but with the roster Houston has managed to build around him, it might not be out of the question.
3. Cade Cunningham (24)
2025-26 stats: 27.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 9.2 apg, 1.4 spg, 45.3 FG%
With so many elite players under the age of 25 in the NBA today, it left us with some tough decisions to make. One of them was leaving former No. 1 draft pick Cade Cunningham all the way in third overall, despite the spectacular season he’s having.
Before saying anything about Cunningham, we have to commend the Detroit Pistons for being so patient in building around the former Oklahoma State Cowboy, even as the team struggled mightily for wins early on in the Cunningham era. Now, Detroit is a force, sitting first in the East at 21-6, and Cunningham is one of the best players in the NBA. The Pistons’ plus-6.0 net rating ranks fifth in the NBA.
Detroit’s patience has paid off in spades, as Cunningham has blossomed into an All-NBA-level player, a superstar guard with great size who scores and creates at elite rates while being a plus-rebounder. Cunningham can also rack up steals and even block shots here and there, often in clutch situations.
It remains to be seen how far a Cunningham-led team, one with actual expectations, can go in the postseason. Even taking two games from the Knicks in round one of the playoffs last year was pretty impressive, though.
Still, Cunningham has a chance to move up a spot on this list if he makes a deep enough run in this year’s playoffs.
With his level of tough, elite scoring and playmaking, we’re not putting that past Cunningham this year.
2. Anthony Edwards (24)
2025-26 stats: 28.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.2 spg, 41.6 3P%
Anthony Edwards’ 2025-26 season has felt kind of up and down, but that has more to do with his injury issues than anything else. If anything, it’s the Timberwolves as a team who have been inconsistent, and not Edwards, because when you look at it, he’s actually averaging a career-high in points while shooting a ridiculous 50 percent from the floor and 41.6 percent from three.
Can’t ask for much more than that.
Edwards ranks 19th in the NBA in VORP this season, an impressive mark when you consider VORP is a cumulative stat and not a per-game one, as well as 11th in BPM. Out of all the high-volume three-point shooters in the NBA (those averaging at least eight deep attempts nightly), Edwards’ 41.6 percent ranks second in the NBA in accuracy.
So, not only is he an explosive, athletic slasher with unreal hops around the rim, he’s also a very efficient outside shooter, making him a nightmare to defend. He’s also got that tough-shot-making prowess that makes a star – a star who can lead a team to a lot of wins, too, as Edwards has led the Timberwolves to back-to-back Western Conference Finals over the past two campaigns.
This will be Edwards’s last time in this ranking, considering he’s about to turn 25 before the start of next season, but that’s all right, because we think his game could hit an even higher level as he continues to grow as a player, even if we can no longer label him as young.
1. Victor Wembanyama (21)
2025-26 stats: 25.1 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.0 spg, 3.5 bpg, 50.6 FG%
The best player in the NBA under 25 is also, shockingly enough, one of the younger ones, as freakish big man Victor Wembanyama won’t turn 22 for another couple of weeks.
It’s tough not to go off waxing poetically on the French big man, as he’s got legitimate NBA all-time pantheon potential as long as he stays healthy, with Wembanyama living up to all the pre-draft hype so far and then some.
As a rookie, the Le Chesnay native became the first first-year player to earn 1st Team All-Defense honors, and the youngest to achieve the distinction. He also finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year vote. That was all while he put up over 21 points, 10 rebounds and a league-leading 3.6 blocks per contest, by the way.
Wembanyama’s second season was then unfortunately cut short due to a medical issue related to a blood clot, but thankfully for basketball fans everywhere, his return in 2025-26 for his junior campaign has been nothing short of astounding, as the 7-foot-4 freak athlete is putting up a near-25/12/4 stat line to go with 1.1 steals and 3.5 blocks per contest.
Wembanyama is one of just three players 22 or younger to put up a 25 and 12 stat line with three blocks per game, joining former league MVP Bob McAdoo on the list, and he’s doing it while launching over four triples nightly. His play has been extremely impactful, too, as the Spurs are 18-7 thus far this season, a crazy turnaround considering the Spurs went 22-60 both the year before Wembanyama arrived, and in his rookie season.
For his career, Wembanyama has made San Antonio 10.3 points per 100 possessions better during his time on the floor, and that number has actually peaked in 2025-26 at 10.1 points per 100 possessions.
Wembanyama can shoot, dribble, hit tough shots, block foes attempts at an all-time rate, and do all of that while standing at 7-foot-4 with a reporter 8-foot wingspan. Again, this is a guy who has hit Shammgod dribbles before converting layups against elite NBA defenders.
And the scariest part is that Wembanyama isn’t even a finished product, as he can still improve his propensity for turning the ball over, as well as his three-point shooting.
The fact we’ll still see Wembanyama topping this list for another three years before even turns 25 is just so ridiculous to consider.
It feels like we’re watching history every time Wembanyama touches the floor, and seeing what he does in the NBA playoffs for the first time this year (as long as San Antonio’s play doesn’t crater before then) is going to be fascinating.
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