Top 25 Under 25

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Craig
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Top 25 Under 25

Post by Craig »

What follows is a completely subjective list of the top 25 players in the league right now who are under the age of 25. Enjoy.

1. SF Andrew Wiggins (SAC) 38.8ppg, 6.1rpg, 4.7apg, 2.5spg, 0.8bpg, 2.4topg
Wiggins has exploded since heading over to Sacramento in the controversial trade that shipped out LeBron James and Derrick Rose and takes the top spot on this list. He has raised his scoring average by 9ppg in each of the last two seasons, and finished the season tied for the DASL season scoring record, after having broken the single game record with 82 points earlier this season. This kid does it all, dishing out almost 5apg, while racking up 2.5 steals per game, all while showing impressive efficiency in regard to shooting and taking care of the ball. He is doing all this at the age of 23, and shows no signs of slowing down after two straight Finals appearances, and hoping for a 3rd this year.

2. SF Brandon Ingram (GS) 25.1ppg, 6.7rpg, 3.2apg, 1.6spg, 0.2bpg, 2.3topg
Brandon Ingram burst onto the scene last season as the runaway Rookie of the Year, and has not missed a beat this year even with superstar Kevin Durant joining him in the Warriors backcourt. With a less than top-tier supporting cast, this duo managed to lead Golden State a top 3 seed in the West, which is a huge testament to those guys. Ingram gets the slight nod at number 2 over the next young phenom on this list due to his stellar efficiency in shooting and ability to care of the ball. Ingram is just 20 years old, and could very easily take over the top spot on this list as soon as next year.

3. SF Giannis Antetokounmpo (ORL) 27.3ppg, 7.8rpg, 4.8apg, 1.7spg, 0.8bpg, 3.2topg
The Greek Freak has been sharing the spotlight in Indiana with Andrew Wiggins and then LeBron James for the last few seasons. Now, with his own team in Orlando, along with significant summer work to improve his game, Giannis has cemented himself as one of the top players in the league, regardless of age. He is another young stud leading his team to a significantly improved W/L record, with the Magic finishing as the #5 seed in the East. His all-around game is fantastic, as one of the best rebounding wings in the league, with underrated 3-point shooting and playmaking skills as well. He is locked up under contract long term and looks to be leading the Magic for years to come.

4. SG Evan Fournier (VAN) 21.2ppg, 3.2rpg, 3.6apg, 1.6spg, 0.6bpg, 1.9topg
Fournier has perhaps flown a bit under the radar throughout his career, following a slower path of more steady improvement, but has now established himself as a major force in the league. He is an extremely well-rounded scorer, and is managing to put up these numbers on a team that also has Kawhi Leonard, Carmelo Anthony, and Corey Joseph already getting buckets as well. He also plays stellar defense on the perimeter, even providing a decent amount of shot blocking from the 2-guard spot. If there is one weakness, it is that he does not seem overly interested in battling for rebounds. Fortunately, he happens to play for the best rebounding team in the league, making him a perfect fit. What sets Fournier apart from other scorers is the fact that he commits UNDER 2topg, which is unheard of for top flight scorers not named Lou Williams. Right now he’s providing an embarrassment of riches to one of the best teams in the league, and it will be interesting to see how the rest of his career goes from here.

5. SF Ben Simmons (MIN) 24.9ppg, 7.6rpg, 5.1apg, 1.3spg, 0.8bpg, 2.9topg
Simmons is another do-it-all Small Forward who has taken a big leap into stardom this season. He rebounds at a high rate, plays plus defense, makes plays for others, and has significantly improved both his scoring rate AND efficiency, which is a great sign. The next step for him is to hopefully improve his AST:TO ratio, which would put him in the conversation with the 3-4 names on this list. He’s going to need some help around him (particularly on defense) in order to launch the Wolves into the top tier of the Western Conference, but at age 21, time is definitely on his side.

6. PG D’Angelo Russell (DEN) 27.6ppg, 3.1rpg, 8.7apg, 2.0spg, 0.3bpg, 3.1topg
The first point guard on this list, D’Angelo has worked himself into the upper echelon of guards in the league with his improved play this year. He is scoring at a career high, while maintaining his playmaking for others and improving his defense and care for the ball. The duo of he and big man Joel Embiid (next on this list) have led the Nuggets into the thick of the playoff race after a few seasons of rebuilding at the bottom of the standings. He is up for a big payday at the end of the season, and will be looking to prove his worth after his big extension.

7.C Joel Embiid (DEN) 18.1ppg, 13.6rpg, 2.2apg, 1.4spg, 2.7bpg, 2.2topg
Jo Jo has shown marked improvement this year, most notably holding a significant lead over the rest of the league in rebounding. His 18ppg are nice, but he does so on rather mediocre efficiency. His true value lies in his defense and rebounding, anchoring the Nuggets. He dominates the boards, and also does a fantastic job of protecting the rim. He has also recently received some help on the interior in the form of newly acquired Roy Hibbert, which helped the Nuggets sneak into the playoffs. Embiid is in only his second season, and has already shown significant progress, so he could very easily skyrocket up this list in the next few years.

8. C Nerlens Noel (VAN) 7.1ppg, 12.4rpg, 1.6apg, 1.1spg, 3.0bpg, 2.3topg
Noel has been one of the league’s best defensive anchors since the minute he stepped onto the court. Since moving to a full-time starter role, he has consistently been among the league leaders in rebounding and shot blocking, earning his keep on some very good teams. His shot blocking tapered a bit this season, but he is still crashing the boards and playing excellent defense. He doesn’t offer much on the offensive side of the ball, but the upside is that he plays within himself, and does not take many shots, leaving that to the multitude of top level scorers on the Grizzlies roster.

9. PG Zach LaVine (WAS) 19.0ppg, 4.4rpg, 8.3apg, 2.1spg, 0.2bpg, 2.9topg
At just 23 years old, LaVine is already a 5th year veteran. He has shown steady improvement in his time, and has now converted his raw tools into a much more polished skillset at the PG position. Most notably, he has improved his shooting percentages and, more importantly, done a much better job of taking care of the ball. His 2.86 AST:TO ratio is a far cry from the 1.63 ratio he posted just 2 seasons ago. He plays very good defense, shoots well from 3, and has established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the DASL.

10. SF Dario Saric 22.0ppg, 8.0rpg, 3.3apg, 1.7spg, 0.9bpg, 2.9topg
After 3 straight Finals appearances as a role player for the Nets, Dario Saric decided he was ready to take the next step and be the face of his own team, opting to sign this past offseason with the rebuilding Atlanta Hawks. The young big man has not disappointed, as he has grown into one of the better all-around SF’s in the league. It remains to be seen whether or not he can put up the same type of numbers once he gets some more capable teammates, but his shooting percentages and solid floor game indicate that he should be a valued contributor for years to come.

11. C Thon Maker (PHI) 17.3ppg, 11.1rpg, 1.8apg, 1.1spg, 3.0bpg, 1.8topg
Maker is another one of the better big man defenders in the league. Like the aforementioned Noel, he is always among the league leaders in rebounding and shot blocking, and has this year done a great job of taking care of the ball. The one drawback to his game is the fact that he really has a hard time shooting straight. He scores almost 18ppg but on a very low .409FG%, which just means he is taking a lot of shots away from Kent Bazemore and Lonzo Ball. Granted, there aren’t many scoring options on the roster besides those 2, and at just 21, Thon has a ton of time to grow and start to polish the immense amount of raw talent he possesses.

12. C Jahlil Okafor (MIN) 18.5ppg, 10.8rpg, 1.5apg, 0.9spg, 2.0bpg, 2.1topg
Okafor is one of the few scoring big men in the league who are reasonably efficient in doing so. He actually shot a career low 45% from the field this year, with a career FG% of .465, which is pretty good for a post scorer. He is by no means a star, but a nice cog in the Timberwolves’ young core. He does a very solid job on the boards, and protects the rim reasonably well as well. Since coming over in a trade from the Mavericks he has provided some balance to the roster as it was sorely lacking in competent big men. Jahlil may or may not see any All Star Games but is just 22 and already clocking 18/10 a night for his career, so the future is bright.

13. C Clint Capela (ORL) 7.8ppg, 9.6rpg, 2.2apg, 0.8spg, 3.0bpg, 1.9topg
Yet another long, lanky shot blocker, Capela has established himself over the last few seasons as another top tier defensive anchor in the middle. His stellar rebounding numbers have taken a hit this season with the addition of Jusuf Nurkic, but he still pulls in around double figures and is one of the most feared shot blockers in the league. He also does a decent job of staying within himself, not forcing too many shots or passes when his offensive game is rather unpolished. He has formed a fearsome duo down low with the next player on this list to aid in the resurgence of the Magic.

14. C Jusuf Nurkic (ORL) 13.5ppg, 11.3rpg, 2.2apg, 1.0spg, 1.5bpg, 2.6topg
The big, bruising Nurkic seems to have found himself a home in Orlando after spending the first part of his career in Miami showing flashes, but never really putting it all together. Jusuf uses his size and strength to gobble up rebounds and force his way to the basket to the tune of 13ppg on much improved shooting over past seasons. He could stand to be a better rim protector, and can be a bit of a butterfingers with the ball, but has helped solidify the Magic’s young core, who will be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.

15. PG Marcus Smart (MIA) 18.9ppg, 5.3rpg, 7.9apg, 1.7spg, 0.1bpg, 2.8topg
Smart is a big, strong PG who has slowly gotten better each year. He is a solid defender, a plus rebounder for his position, gets to the basket for points at a good rate, and is above average in his AST:TO numbers. He leaves quite a bit to be desired in his shooting ability, which keeps him from becoming a more dangerous threat with the ball, but he manages to stay productive with a solid all-around game. It remains to be seen whether he can help lead the rebuilding Heat back to prominence, but he figures to be the main piece of their new look, so he’ll have every opportunity to show out in that regard.

16. C Andre Drummond (PHO) 3.9ppg, 8.6rpg, 1.1apg, 0.8spg, 2.7bpg, 1.5topg
With the recent addition of Greg Oden, Drummond has been relegated to a bench role for the high-octane Suns. He has proven himself to be easily one of the top 5 shot blockers in the league, and uses his strength to clear the glass at a high rate as well. Additionally, while he does not make many shots, he does his best to refrain from taking too many of those shots, so that his less than straight shooting does not hurt his team. Drummond is only 24, but is finishing his 7th season in the DASL, and has proven to be a highly capable big man for any high-level team.

17. SF Jayson Tatum (NY) 18.8ppg, 6.5rpg, 3.8apg, 1.5spg, 0.2bpg, 3.9topg
The recently crowned Rookie of the Year has shown signs of becoming a very good 2-way wing in this league. He is a plus defender, very good rebounder and passer, and can put the ball in the basket from anywhere on the court. He was, however, in the top (bottom) 5 in the league in turnovers, which is the one major weakness he will have to overcome. This was just his first season, though, so Tatum has lots of time to improve in this area, which would (along with expected progression) quickly move him up this list.

18. PG Dante Exum (UTA) 12.3ppg, 4.1rpg, 9.7apg, 2.2spg, 0.2bpg
The 22-year-old Australian PG has had the luxury of being able to feed superstar big man DeMarcus Cousins for his entire career, and he has done a solid job of honing his playmaking skills as a result. Exum also shows out as a strong defender at the PG spot. He suffered through injuries this year and missed over half the season as a result, and the Jazz struggled to stay on track with him out, as he is a very important part of what is a pretty thin backcourt in Utah. With youth on his side, he still may have another jump in development to make and take a leap into higher spots on this list.

19. C Karl-Anthony Towns (HOU) 17.5ppg, 12.1rpg, 3.7apg, 0.6spg, 2.0bpg, 2.9topg
The former #1 pick is another big man who suffers from high-volume, inefficient scoring ability that drives his production down on the court. Towns is, however, an excellent rebounder, decent rim protector, and above average passer for a big man. He also does a solid job getting to the line, where he shoots a very strong 80%. In order to move up a list like this, he will need to start being able to put the ball in the basket at a higher percentage and limit the number of turnovers he commits. He has all the potential in the world, though, and will likely find a place among the league’s top big men soon.

20. PF Kristaps Porzingis (MIL) 19.2ppg, 11.1rpg, 3.3apg, 1.4spg, 1.4bpg, 2.9topg
Porzingis is a tantalizing prospect with tons of raw ability, but has yet to really put it all together. He is already a top-notch rebounder and good positional defender, but takes a lot of shots that do not go in at a high rate, and is also a little loose with the ball and not a high-level rim protector at the PF position. This writer believes he would shoot up this list significantly with a position change, but he has still shown enough talent as the Bucks’ top offensive option to lead them to the playoffs for the first time in a while after some very shrewd veteran acquisitions by the GM.

21. C Willie Cauley-Stein (CHI) 5.5ppg, 9.8rpg, 1.1apg, 0.8spg, 2.8bpg
Willie is another of the one-way bigs who does very well on the defensive end, but struggles offensively. The upside is he only takes about 5 shots per game, so he's not really taking the ball out of your scorers' hands. He's a solid rebounder and good rim protector, which are the most important parts of a C's skill set. He has been steadily improving his whole career, and should be a very solid option as a 2nd/3rd big for years to come.

22. PG Lonzo Ball (PHI) 16.6ppg, 4.1rpg, 9.0apg, 1.7spg, 0.2bpg, 3.5topg
Ball has been a steady contributor at the PG position in his 2 seasons in Philadelphia. He has shown a good aptitude for all aspects of the game on both sides of the court. With the addition of veteran wings Andre Iguodala and Kent Bazemore, Ball has steered the 76ers back into the playoffs after a few years in the lottery. He still has some room to grow in offensive efficiency, as his turnover totals and shooting percentages could use improvement, but at just 20 years old, the sky is the limit for this young floor general.

23. SG Archie Goodwin (IND) 14.7ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.4apg, 1.7spg, 0.2bpg, 1.6topg
Goodwin has shown himself to be a nice offensive option from the SG spot over the last 2 seasons. He has scored at a solid shooting percentage and kept turnovers low enough to not be hurting his team. He is also a plus defender who does a solid job getting in the passing lanes. He does not make 3’s, and isn’t particularly interested in rebounding or passing, but plays in a lineup with very good rebounders and passers to make up for it. It will be interesting to see what kind of production he can maintain when he is not sharing the ball with LeBron James and Chris Bosh in the future.

24. C Myles Turner (WAS)14.3ppg, 11.1rpg, 1.5apg, 1.2spg, 2.5bpg, 2.4topg
Turner is a promising young big who shows good rebounding and shot blocking ability. He struggles a little bit with man-on-man defense, and shoots a lower percentage than desired, but at 22 years old has a bright future. Having just signed a maximum salary extension, the pressure will be on very shortly to start turning some of that promise into high-level production.

25. PF Marquese Chriss (BOS) 15.9ppg, 10.3rpg, 1.6apg, 0.9spg, 1.7bpg, 2.0topg
Chriss has shown that he has a ton of raw talent that is itching to get out. He has yet to have things slow down enough to really prove to be a high-level starter, but has still managed to average a double-double in the last 2 seasons at ages 19 and 20. The Celtics had a bit of a disappointing season, and the development of Chriss will be a key factor in whether or not it can be turned around for next season.
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Re: Top 25 Under 25

Post by Oregon Ownage »

This is awesome!

I would have had Lonzo higher up as I think he can be amazing in a year or two.

I would have Tatum higher as well.

Not as high on Noel and LaVine
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Re: Top 25 Under 25

Post by Craig »

Oregon Ownage wrote:This is awesome!

I would have had Lonzo higher up as I think he can be amazing in a year or two.

I would have Tatum higher as well.

Not as high on Noel and LaVine
It's about what they are right now.

I agree about Ball, this would look significantly different if it were about projecting their futures.
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Re: Top 25 Under 25

Post by Oregon Ownage »

Craig wrote:
Oregon Ownage wrote:This is awesome!

I would have had Lonzo higher up as I think he can be amazing in a year or two.

I would have Tatum higher as well.

Not as high on Noel and LaVine
It's about what they are right now.

I agree about Ball, this would look significantly different if it were about projecting their futures.
Cant read thats why :lol:
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Re: Top 25 Under 25

Post by UOducksTK1 »

Great article! I'll read it in more detail later. But Saric is a punk.

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Re: Top 25 Under 25

Post by Craig »

Sooo +5? Lol ;)
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Re: Top 25 Under 25

Post by Oregon Ownage »

I forgot but yes 8-)

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Re: Top 25 Under 25

Post by Craig »

Andrew Wiggins
-Strength
-Handling
-Defensive rebounding
-Offensive rebounding
-Shot blocking
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Re: Top 25 Under 25

Post by Oregon Ownage »

Craig wrote:Andrew Wiggins
-Strength
-Handling
-Defensive rebounding
-Offensive rebounding
-Shot blocking
Done
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