NBA 25 under 25: Top young stars, ranked by future potential

Which young NBA stars have the brightest future?

With Luka Doncic aging out of contention for this list, a new name is at the top for the first time in five seasons. Will it be Victor Wembanyama after he debuted in third as a rookie on last year’s compilation? What about ascendant stars Anthony Edwards and Paolo Banchero? And where do oft-injured but supremely talented stars LaMelo Ball and Zion Williamson land?

ESPN NBA Insiders Tim Bontemps, Bobby Marks, Kevin Pelton and Jeremy Woo set out to answer those questions, ranking the top 25 players under the age of 25 based on potential.

Here’s a look at where all of those players check in right now and what could be next for the league’s most exciting young stars:

25. Bilal Coulibaly, SG, Washington Wizards
Age: 20 years, 129 days
2024-25 stats: 12.6 PPG | 5.4 RPG | 2.8 APG

Coulibaly was the other draft prospect alongside Victor Wembanyama two years ago in France, but Coulibaly’s combination of length and explosiveness made him the No. 7 pick in the 2023 draft by Washington. After playing last season at 19 (and looking every bit his age), Coulibaly has made real strides on offense, including improving his field goal percentage from 43.5% to 48.2%. If he continues to develop in the same manner, he could easily make leaps up this list in future campaigns. — Bontemps

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24. Tari Eason, PF, Houston Rockets
Age: 23 years, 206 days
2024-25 stats: 11.4 PPG | 6.3 RPG | 2.1 SPG

Quietly, Eason has been as valuable as any reserve this season, earning his first appearance on this list in his third NBA campaign. Alongside Amen Thompson, Eason has wreaked havoc with his active defense. Eason’s 3.2 steals and 1.7 blocks per 36 minutes have produced the NBA’s best defensive rating in Basketball-Reference.com’s box plus-minus metric. And after a leg injury limited him to 22 games last season, Eason has made strides as a finisher. His 57.5% accuracy inside the arc is easily a career high. — Pelton

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23. Dyson Daniels, PG, Atlanta Hawks
Age: 21 years, 260 days
2024-25 stats: 13.5 PPG | 3.1 APG | 3.0 SPG

After coming to Atlanta as part of the Dejounte Murray trade this offseason, Daniels has turned himself into one of the NBA’s elite perimeter defenders, averaging 3.0 steals per game. He has repeatedly had huge moments late in games at the defensive end, including stripping Sacramento Kings star De’Aaron Fox in the final seconds of a Nov. 19 win at Sacramento, and is a clear difference-maker at that end. The thing that will determine Daniels’ ceiling is his offense; Daniels is shooting 29.5% from 3, and his shot remains a real question. But even if it never comes around, his defense is enough to make him a real force in Atlanta. — Bontemps

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22. Amen Thompson, SF, Houston Rockets
Age: 21 years, 307 days
2024-25 stats: 11.9 PPG | 7.0 RPG | 1.3 SPG

Though Thompson has started just one game this season, he already has become a regular part of Houston’s closing lineups by virtue of his defensive versatility. One of fewer than 10 players leaguewide averaging at least two steals per 100 plays and blocking 3% of opponent 2-point attempts, Thompson can guard any position at 6-foot-7. Offensively, Thompson is most dangerous in transition as his shooting develops. He has made just six 3-pointers this season but has shown progress at the free three line, making 73% after 68% as a rookie. — Pelton

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21. Tyler Herro, PG, Miami Heat
Age: 24 years, 317 days
2024-25 stats: 24.0 PPG | 5.2 RPG | 4.9 APG

Health has been the main reason Herro continues to hover in the bottom five of this ranking. He played a career-low 42 games last season, and he has never appeared in more than 67 games since he entered the NBA as a first-round pick in 2019. His durability is a reason he was challenged by Heat president Pat Riley after last season. “He’s been fragile a little bit,” Riley said. “What did he play, 40 games? He might have to go to another level nutritionally. He’s got to make some adjustments, definitely.” Now healthy, Herro is averaging a career-high 24.0 points this season and, for the first time, more than five rebounds. — Marks

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20. Jalen Green, SG, Houston Rockets
Age: 22 years, 297 days
2024-25 stats: 19.4 PPG | 4.8 RPG | 2.7 APG

Green continues to mix impressive moments (scoring 41 points during a win last week at Philadelphia) with frustrating lows and is currently shooting a career-worst 39% from the field through 20 games. He can be highly impressive to watch on a good night, but his shot selection can be problematic; sometimes, the game looks exceptionally easy for him, but oftentimes, he makes it more difficult for himself. Harnessing his talent to become a more efficient scorer and a balanced shot creator will be the key to Green reaching stardom. But in the middle of his fourth season, his tendencies are still holding him back. — Woo

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19. Dereck Lively II, C, Dallas Mavericks
Age: 20 years, 294 days
2024-25 stats: 8.8 PPG | 7.1 RPG | 74.7 FG%

Lively emerged as one of the NBA’s most promising young bigs over the course of his rookie season, which culminated in Dallas’ run to the NBA Finals. His numbers thus far are in line with those of last season, playing in a platoon with Daniel Gafford. But Lively figures to earn a larger timeshare over the next couple of campaigns, something that will be key to his chances of moving up this list. Lively has the defensive instincts and mobility to be a top rim protector in time. — Woo

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18. Jalen Suggs, SG, Orlando Magic
Age: 23 years, 182 days
2024-25 stats: 15.4 PPG | 3.9 APG | 1.3 SPG

Fresh off a five-year, $150 million extensioncareer-high 31 points in Wednesday’s home win over the Chicago Bulls. — Marks

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17. Jalen Johnson, SF, Atlanta Hawks
Age: 22 years, 350 days
2024-25 stats: 20.1 PPG | 9.9 RPG | 5.5 APG

Coming off a breakthrough 2023-24 campaign, his first as a starter, Johnson has taken another step as Atlanta’s No. 2 option on offense after the departure of Dejounte Murray. Johnson is averaging career highs in points (20.1), rebounds (9.9) and assists (5.5), putting him just shy of three players leaguewide — Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Domantas Sabonis — who are topping 20 PPG, 10 RPG and 5 APG. Johnson isn’t on their level, but he has flashed All-Star potential with continued improvement as a shotmaker. — Pelton

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16. Zion Williamson, PF, New Orleans Pelicans
Age: 24 years, 149 days
2024-25 stats: 22.7 PPG | 8.0 RPG | 5.3 APG

Having ranked in the top 10 here since being drafted No. 1 in 2019, Williamson tumbled in his final appearance before turning 25. The primary issue is his health. After playing a career-high 70 games last season, Williamson suffered a hamstring strain in the play-in tournament. Another hamstring injury now has him on the sidelines after seeing just six games of action this campaign. Despite staying healthy last season, Williamson posted his lowest scoring mark of his NBA career, averaging 26.1 points per 36 minutes. The concern is whether injuries are taking a toll on the athleticism that makes Williamson a special player. — Pelton

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15. Brandon Miller, SF, Charlotte Hornets
Age: 22 years, 10 days
2024-25 stats: 20.6 PPG | 5.3 RPG | 3.7 APG

Miller, who turned 22 on Nov. 22, could have won NBA Rookie of the Year with his play last season — but had to compete with Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren so instead finished a distant third. Still, the prototypically wing has followed up last season’s performance by again shooting 36% from 3-point range on even higher volume, taking almost 10 treys per game. To move up this list, Miller will need to evolve in the mold of the player he has styled his game after — Philadelphia’s Paul George — and become a better playmaker (3.8 assists to 2.8 turnovers) and defender. — Bontemps

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14. Darius Garland, PG, Cleveland Cavaliers
Age: 24 years, 311 days
2024-25 stats: 20.7 PPG | 6.8 APG | 49.5 FG%

Garland has followed up a season marred by injuries, including a fractured jaw, by helping Cleveland get off to the NBA’s best start (18-3) while shooting career highs from the field (48.8%) and from 3-point range (43.9%). One of the oldest players on this list — he will turn 25 on Jan. 26 — Garland’s biggest test is taking his game to the next level in the postseason, after disappointing in each of his playoff performances over the past two campaigns. — Bontemps

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13. Cade Cunningham, PG, Detroit Pistons
Age: 23 years, 68 days
2024-25 stats: 23.5 PPG | 7.2 RPG | 9.0 APG

Based on the first two months of the season, an argument could be made that Cunningham belongs in the top 10 again, where he ranked No. 6 in 2023. Cunningham has benefited from an improved roster and stability at head coach under J.B. Bickerstaff. In early November, Cunningham had three consecutive triple-doubles, joining Grant Hill as the only player in Pistons history to accomplish the feat. In the Nov. 8 home win against the Hawks, Cunningham became the second NBA player in five seasons to have the game-winning field goal and block. One area of improvement for Cunningham is taking better care of the basketball. He currently ranks first in turnovers at 4.6 per game and has had nine games with at least five turnovers. — Marks

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12. LaMelo Ball, PG, Charlotte Hornets
Age: 23 years, 102 days
2024-25 stats: 31.1 PPG | 6.9 APG | 35.6 3P%

After playing just 58 games over the past two seasons, Ball had stayed healthy before suffering a calf strain that will keep him out two weeks. It’s still difficult to tell how well Ball’s volume scoring will translate into team success. He has been more scorer than playmaker this season, putting up a career-high 31.1 PPG but averaging the fewest assists (6.9) since he became a full-time starter. As teammate Brandon Miller develops, Ball might strike more of the playmaking balance we saw in 2021-22, when he was selected as an All-Star at age 20 and the Hornets won their most games (43) since 2015-16. — Pelton

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11. Scottie Barnes, SF, Toronto Raptors
Age: 23 years, 123 days
2024-25 stats: 20.4 PPG | 8.6 RPG | 6.8 APG

Last season was a breakout campaign for Barnes, as the 6-foot-8 forward joined Giannis Antetokounmpo as the only players to average at least 19 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal and 1 block per game. Barnes was rewarded with an All-Star berth and a max contract. He has had a slow start this season due to injury, but he has established himself as the bedrock of Toronto’s rebuild, with his 3-point shot determining his future ceiling on this list. — Bontemps

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10. Alperen Sengun, C, Houston Rockets
Age: 22 years, 130 days
2024-25 stats: 18.7 PPG | 10.7 RPG | 1.3 BPG

A breakout 2023-24 campaign established Sengun as an offensive hub from the center position along the lines of Nikola Jokic and Domantas Sabonis. Sengun hasn’t scored as efficiently to start this season, but he is playing the best defense of his career amid Houston’s strong start. He is averaging a career-high 1.3 blocks and ranks in the NBA’s top 10 with 10.7 RPG as the Rockets rank second in the NBA in defensive rating. — Pelton

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9. Jalen Williams, SF, Oklahoma City Thunder
Age: 23 years, 232 days
2024-25 stats: 21.5 PPG | 6.3 RPG | 2.2 SPG

Williams’ incredible efficiency (53% from the field through 164 career games) has been something of a revelation since Oklahoma City drafted him with the 12th pick in 2022. While often cast as more of a sidekick to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams has become a star in his own right, offering production across the board, playing with and without the ball, and emerging as a defensive playmaker (up to 2.2 steals and a block per game this season). He has shown versatility on both ends of the floor, often guarding larger players as the injury-plagued Thunder have leaned on smaller lineups. A well-deserved first All-Star appearance might be on the horizon. — Woo

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8. Evan Mobley, PF, Cleveland Cavaliers
Age: 23 years, 167 days
2024-25 stats: 18.2 PPG | 9.3 RPG | 1.5 BPG

Mobley continues to be an All-NBA defender, but his offense moves him up four spots from our last rankings. Mobley tipped his hand early in the season. “I’m just staying mentally in attack mode,” he said. “Always looking at the rim, always going to the basket, moving forward, looking to score and then looking for outlets after.” Mobley is off to career highs in usage rate and attempts (12.7 per game, an increase of 1.6 from last season.) Mobley is a plus-14.9 points per 100 possessions when on the floor and Cleveland has averaged 124.7 points. — Marks

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7. Tyrese Maxey, PG, Philadelphia 76ers
Age: 24 years, 28 days
2024-25 stats: 25.9 PPG | 4.5 APG | 33.3 3P%

Maxey exploded into stardom last season, earning an All-Star appearance and the NBA Most Improved Player Award while averaging 25.9 points and 6.2 assists. It has been a struggle for Maxey this season — like it has been for every Philadelphia player. But after missing time with a hamstring injury, he has begun to round back into form, going for 28 points in a win at Detroit, 39 in a home loss to the Rockets and 26 in a victory against the visiting Nets. Maxey won’t be eligible for this list next season, but for now, he and the 76ers are simply hoping to get their heads back above water after their disastrous 4-14 start. — Bontemps

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6. Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Indiana Pacers
Age: 24 years, 277 days
2024-25 stats: 17.5 PPG | 8.7 APG | 40.9 FG%

Over the first 2½ months of last season, Haliburton was an MVP contender, leading the Pacers to the title game of the inaugural NBA Cup and fueling a supercharged Indiana offense. Since suffering a hamstring injury on Jan. 9, however, Haliburton’s production has dipped, and he has opened this season shooting by far the worst percentages of his five-year pro career, hovering around 40% overall and 34% from 3. If that begins to normalize, he will once again be back in All-NBA consideration. — Bontemps

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5. Chet Holmgren, PF, Oklahoma City Thunder
Age: 22 years, 215 days
2024-25 stats: 16.4 PPG | 8.7 RPG | 2.3 BPG

Holmgren has appeared in just nine games this season after fracturing his pelvis in a hard fall on Nov. 10, but he established himself as one of the league’s more versatile big men in his rookie campaign as the defensive backbone for a young Thunder team arriving ahead of schedule. Although injuries have been an issue, the quality of play Holmgren provides when available is hard to argue, with a rare combination of rim protection, mobility and inside-out efficiency. Presuming full health, Holmgren is well on his way to becoming one of the league’s best bigs. — Woo

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4. Franz Wagner, PF, Orlando Magic
Age: 23 years, 97 days
2024-25 stats: 23.6 PPG | 5.5 RPG | 5.8 APG

Two months after shooting 1-for-15 in a Game 7 playoff loss to the Cavaliers, Wagner was rewarded with a five-year, $224 million max extension— Marks

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3. Paolo Banchero, PF, Orlando Magic
Age: 22 years, 20 days
2024-25 stats: 29.0 PPG | 8.8 RPG | 5.6 APG

We have not seen Banchero on the court since Oct. 30, but he shouldn’t be discarded as one of the league’s top young players. Before suffering a torn right oblique, Banchero was averaging a career-high 29 points and 49.5% from the field. Included in one of those five games was a 50-point performance in which Banchero scored 37 in the first half. It’s only a small sample, but one area of improvement for Banchero this season has been getting to the free throw line; he has increased his free throw attempts per game from 7.0 last season to 11.8. — Marks

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2. Anthony Edwards, PG, Minnesota Timberwolves
Age: 23 years, 119 days
2024-25 stats: 27.7 PPG | 5.4 RPG | 42.8 3P%

In terms of current production, Edwards is the top player under 25 now that Doncic has aged out. Edwards was chosen for the All-NBA second team and led the Timberwolves to the Western Conference finals last season, going toe-to-toe with Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Kevin Durant. Although the shape of Edwards’ production has shifted with more 3s (a career-high 4.7 per game) and fewer free throws (4.8, down 25%) so far this season, the overall quality is better than ever. Edwards is scoring efficiently on high volume and also can be a lockdown perimeter defender. — Pelton

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1. Victor Wembanyama, C, San Antonio Spurs
Age: 20 years, 333 days
2024-25 stats: 24.0 PPG | 10.2 RPG | 3.6 BPG

Wembanyama is delivering on the lofty hype that accompanied his entry to the NBA, with his 50-point performance on Nov. 13 underscoring what he’s capable of at his best. He has become the NBA’s premier interior defender, on his way to leading the league in blocks per game (3.6) for a second consecutive season. And while he experiments with shot selection, Wembanyama’s extreme efficiency on 2-point attempts (61%) helps buffer his streaky 3-point shooting (33.8% on nearly nine attempts per game), a key area for long-term improvement. It also would serve him to get to the foul line more often (3.3 free throws per game). Considering this production is the baseline for a generational player who has yet to turn 21, it’s easy to understand why he was anointed as an all-time prospect. — Woo

Others receiving votes:

Jaden Ivey, PG, Detroit Pistons
Age: 22 years, 293 days
2024-25 stats: 18.4 PPG | 4.3 RPG | 4.3 APG

At this time a year ago, Ivey was being benched in favor of Killian Hayes in Detroit. Now, Ivey is hitting game winners for the Pistons and posting career-best numbers in just about every category. His decision-making still needs to improve, as he has a 1.4 assist-to-turnover ratio. But the 6-foot- 4 guard has the kind of skill set teams love to have in their backcourt. If the 3-point shooting holds up (37.2% on almost five attempts per game), he could easily be on this list a year from now. — Bontemps

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Bennedict Mathurin, SG, Indiana Pacers
Age: 22 years, 167 days
2024-25 stats: 18.5 PPG | 6.7 RPG | 42.7 3P%

Mathurin is off to the best start of his career, including improved shooting on 3s (42.7% from 37.4% last season) and a career-high 38 points against the visiting Knicks on Nov. 10. While still not much of a playmaker for teammates, he has solidified himself as a core player for the Pacers and has looked like one of the league’s most improved players. A full season of this type of efficient production should vault him onto this list in a year. — Woo

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