The 10 Best NBA Players Under 25 Years Old

The young talent of the NBA is going through an exceptional moment. From promising players with extraordinary potential, such as Cooper Flagg, 19 years old, to players who have reached their peak a bit later, like Jalen Johnson, 24, the competition boasts a new generation set to mark its evolution in the coming years.

With the 2026-27 season about to begin, it's time to rank the best players under 25 years old. The goal is to assess their current performance and influence on the court, not to project how far they can go in their careers or anticipate how they will finish the upcoming season. The ranking is based solely on what they have demonstrated so far in the NBA, without considering their future potential.

For this reason, no members of the prominent 2026 Draft class appear. Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, and Darryn Peterson could make this list next year, along with other players from a rookie generation that also promises a lot. However, they will first need to prove their level in the competition.

The age requirement is strict: all included players are 24 years old or younger. Therefore, names like Cade Cunningham and Anthony Edwards are excluded after surpassing that limit during the past season.

Honorable Mentions

Before entering the top 10, there are six players who deserve special mention: Ajay Mitchell from the Oklahoma City Thunder; Donovan Clingan from the Portland Trail Blazers; Jalen Green from the Phoenix Suns; Ausar Thompson from the Detroit Pistons; Josh Giddey from the Chicago Bulls, and Dylan Harper from the San Antonio Spurs.

10. Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs, 21 years old)

Stephon Castle has established himself as a highly solid perimeter defender while continuing to develop his offensive game. In his second season, he averaged 16.7 points and 7.4 assists per game. This latter figure is particularly noteworthy because he shared directing responsibilities with De'Aaron Fox, who was the primary ball handler in the starting lineup.

His weaknesses remain evident, especially in terms of turnovers and inconsistency in three-point shooting. However, his court vision, extraordinary athleticism, and ability to disrupt opponents on defense allow him to contribute on both ends of the floor. For all these reasons, he can already be considered one of the best two-way guards in the NBA.

9. Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets, 21 years old)

By shooting percentage, Kon Knueppel was the best three-point shooter in the NBA last season. The Charlotte Hornets player led the league in three-pointers made as a rookie, with 273, posting a historically outstanding perimeter shooting campaign for a first-year player.

The outside shot is not everything in today's basketball, but it has become a fundamental resource. In that specific area, few players offer the performance that Knueppel does. Moreover, the rest of his offensive repertoire continues to evolve.

Defense remains an aspect that needs improvement, but the former Duke player is already a true specialist from long distance, capable of accumulating many points when he gets hot.

8. Amen Thompson (Houston Rockets, 23 years old)

Amen Thompson is possibly one of the best athletes in the NBA. His physical ability is combined with extraordinary defensive skills and instincts. His main area for improvement remains the offensive side, where he still has room to adapt to the demands of modern basketball.

Nevertheless, he found a way to produce in Houston last season, even while playing on one of the teams with the least offensive space in the league. Thompson averaged 18.3 points per game and surpassed 50% shooting accuracy.

His capability to take on the responsibility of defending the opposing team's main playmaker within Ime Udoka's aggressive system allows him to neutralize players of very different profiles. His speed and versatility make many opponents seem slow beside him. He is one of the most complete and spectacular defenders in the league.

7. Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic, 23 years old)

Paolo Banchero's scoring ability remains one of his great virtues, despite the frustrating seasons he has experienced in Orlando. Few defenders dare to stand in his way to the basket, and when they do, the Magic player often imposes himself due to his power, spins, and ability to finish with dunks.

His last campaign, however, proved difficult to assess. The first overall pick in the Draft regressed as a shooter, although he managed to improve his overall efficiency, while the team finished well below expectations.

The situation changed in the playoffs when Banchero helped Orlando push the Detroit Pistons, who had finished as the top seeds, to the limit. Although his performance may be frustrating at times, his elite scoring instinct and footwork beyond the three-point line remain strong assets.

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6. Alperen Şengün (Houston Rockets, 24 years old)

Alperen Şengün is one of the most unique offensive talents in the NBA. The center stands out near the rim thanks to his combination of agility and scoring instinct against opponents of different characteristics.

In addition to his finishing ability, he has excellent game reading skills to distribute assists and a remarkable ability to grab rebounds. The combination of these qualities allows him to provide a very complete offensive repertoire to Houston and maintain his influence in different game situations.

This versatility was also reflected in his individual statistics, which mostly improved despite Kevin Durant joining the team during the last offseason and the offensive prominence of the forward.

Additionally, Şengün has made considerable progress on defense. He is now more capable of defending on his own when he needs to switch assignments on the perimeter and competing in the paint against taller players.

5. Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons, 22 years)

Jalen Duren's recent memories on the court were not particularly positive. The center appeared hesitant and slow during the playoffs, where he could not help his team as needed. However, that performance does not diminish the great regular season he had, allowing him to be included in one of the All-NBA lineups and justifying the $200 million contract he has just signed.

Duren possesses extraordinary jumping ability for his position and dominated pick-and-roll actions alongside superstar Cade Cunningham. He was also an important part of Detroit's elite defense. His physical power allowed him to make it difficult for opponents to penetrate the paint and control rebounds that fell near the rim.

Now he must prove he can sustain that great season and avoid another drop in the postseason. If he succeeds, the Pistons will have in him a guarantee of double-doubles and a player capable of controlling the paint within one of the best defenses in the NBA.

4. Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder, 24 years)

Despite a somewhat unsatisfactory outcome, Chet Holmgren's fourth season in the NBA was overall a success. The Thunder player had the best offensive campaign of his career, acting as an open center capable of combining a reliable outside shot with great ability to score in the paint. His efficiency allowed him to come close to 60% shooting from the field.

However, it was on defense where Holmgren truly established himself. The former Gonzaga player averaged 1.9 blocks per game and made it to the NBA's All-Defensive First Team.

With Victor Wembanyama out of the competition, Holmgren would be considered one of the top candidates to become the next dominant center on both ends of the court. He would also have legitimate arguments to aspire for the Defensive Player of the Year award each season.

Nevertheless, competing with extraordinary talent like Wembanyama, whose nickname is "Alien," makes second place a position not to be underestimated. Holmgren is a player capable of dominating both sides of the court when he finds his best version.

3. Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks, 19 years old)

Cooper Flagg lived up to expectations during his rookie season in Dallas and even exceeded them. Considered a generational talent, he averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game despite being the only real offensive threat on one of the weakest rosters in the NBA.

Only three other players had reached those numbers during their first season in the league: Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird, and Luka Dončić. Furthermore, in the past season, only nine other players achieved those statistical records.

His offensive production is already at an All-Star level, and his contribution is not limited to the attack. However, the factor that distinguishes him the most is the growth margin he still has ahead of him.

Flagg has the ability to spotlight a 50-point night without it being a surprise. None of the two players at the top of this ranking can claim the same, according to the analysis that supports the ranking.

2. Jalen Johnson (Atlanta Hawks, 24 years old)

Jalen Johnson's breakout in Atlanta last season went relatively unnoticed, despite earning him his first All-Star selections and one of the All-NBA lineups.

The forward averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game. He was one of only two players who simultaneously reached the figures of 22 points, ten rebounds, and seven assists, alongside Nikola Jokić, a three-time MVP winner. Extraordinary numbers for a perimeter player.

Johnson does not yet have Jokić's ability to elevate an entire team's level by himself, but he has become an offensive piece capable of structuring the play of a franchise with aspirations to compete in the playoffs.

His defense can still improve, although he fits perfectly into the modern forward profile. He is a threat from all three levels of scoring, facilitates baskets for his teammates, and grabs rebounds throughout the time he spends on the court.

His performance is enough to consider him an offensive first option on a team aspiring to compete in the postseason and to place him among the best young players in the NBA, even if it took him a little longer to reach this level.

1. Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs, 22 years old)

Victor Wembanyama ranks first in the standings. The star of the San Antonio Spurs established himself last season as one of the three best players in the NBA, at least, with averages of 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game, along with 3.1 blocks.

His performance earned him his first MVP votes and placed him in a position to win what will likely be the first of many Defensive Player of the Year awards.

Wembanyama also led San Antonio to a season of 62 wins, a strong playoff run, and a Finals loss that was particularly painful.

No other NBA player has such a significant impact on both ends of the court every night, let alone someone his age. The Frenchman continues his progression toward global stardom and, according to the criteria of this ranking, will only cease to hold the top spot when he turns 25.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los 10 mejores jugadores de la NBA menores de 25 años