Seeing young players joining the NBA and bossing it is one of the best things about basketball. They are not only a breath of fresh air, but these rookies will eventually take over from the established players like LeBron James, Kevon Durant and Steph Curry.
As much as we enjoy them, we also watch the NBA looking out for the young players who are already making it big.
Find out who makes it to our list of the best young NBA players.
1. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, 23 years
I don’t know if there is any list out there that doesn’t have Doncic. The Slovenian is regarded as the best young NBA player in 2022.
He made his professional debut in 2015 and was drafted into the NBA in 2018 as the third overall pick and was selected by the Atlanta Hawks.
He then joined the Dallas Mavericks. His stats are impressive. He’s played 264 games making an average of 26.4 points and 8.0 points.
Doncic has already made it into the All-Star team and All-NBA First Team thrice.
2. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks, 24 years
Trae is one of the best young NBA players under 25. He represents the Atlanta Hawks, a team he joined in 2018.
He was first drafted into the league in 2018 as a 5th overall pick and was selected by the Dallas Mavericks. He then joined the Hawks in 2018 and has established himself as one of the best point guard rookies.
Trae has twice made it into the NBA All-Star team. So far, he’s played 280 games with an average point score of 25.3.
3. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies, 23 years
Morant ranks third in our top 10 best young players in the NBA. His current club selected him during the draft picks in 2019.
He is a point guard and has so far scored an average of 21.2 points from 187 games. He was part of the All-Star team in 2022, was rookie player of the year in 2020 and the most improved in 2022.
4. Zion Williamson, Orleans Pelicans, 22 years
The power forward made his NBA debut in 2019 and is already among the best young NBA players. Despite only playing 85 games and missing out on the whole of the 2021/22 season, Williamson has managed to impress and his statistics tell it all.
On average, he scores 25.7 points per game with an assist rate of 3.2. His durability might be in question, but the Pelicans have pinned him down until 2027 after extending his contract by five years.
5. Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers, 22 years
The point guards career in the NBA began in 2019 and is among the young picks making waves in the NBA. In his three seasons in the league, he’s already played 181 games, averaging 17.4 points per game and making 6.3 assists per game.
Garland was part of the All-Star team in 2022. He signed a five-year contract that keeps him at the Cavaliers until 2027.
6. Anthony Edwards Minnesota, Timberwolves, 21 years
The 6 foot 4-inch shooting guard first played in the NBA in 2020 and is not only one of the finest dunkers in the game but also one of the best young NBA players.
Edwards personality and character off the court is also something that has won him fans with his flashy smile and witty interview answers.
What about his numbers? Well, on average, he scores 20.3 points per game and makes 3.4 assists which is why he made the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2021.
7. LaMello Ball, Charlotte Hornets, 21 years
The 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year made his debut in the league in 2018 with the Los Angeles Ballers. He also played for the Illawarra Hawks which means that Charlotte Hornets is the third club he is playing for.
He is praised for his ability to drive towards the net, smooth finishing and for his vision on the court. He is part of the 2022 NBA All-Star team.
8. Jordan Poole, Golden State Warriors, 23 years
Jordan began his NBA career in 2019 and at 23 years, he is already a champion. He played 76 games and scored an average of 18.5 points for GSW.
Before this, he spent two years with the Golden State Warriors affiliate team and it’s clearly paid off. Additionally, Jordan can play in two positions, as a point guard and a shooting guard.
9. Jaren Jackson Jr, Memphis Grizzlies, 23 years
The power forward is one of the best young NBA players. He made it into the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2022 as well as NBA block leader.
At the end 2022 season, Jaren played 78 games and made an average rebound of 5.8 per game which comes down to 5.1 when you look at his entire career of 204 games
10. Tyler Herro, Miami Heat, 22 years
Herro completed the 2022 season on a high having won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year. He scored an average of 20.7 in the 66 games he played.
The shooting guard started his NBA career in 2019 and has established himself as one of the best young NBA players.
Conclusion
Tyler Herro rounds up our list of the 10 best young NBA players.