May 28, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) dribbles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first half during game six of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images
May 28, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) dribbles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first half during game six of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images
The NBA has an absurd amount of young talent right now, from Victor Wembanyama already fighting for MVPs to Cooper Flagg looking like a future superstar before his 21st birthday, and the 2026 Draft added another loaded group with AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer.
For this ranking, the age rule is simple: a player has to be under 25 when the 2026-27 regular season starts on October 20. That means players like LaMelo Ball, Cade Cunningham, and Franz Wagner don’t qualify, even though they’re still 24 right now, because all three will turn 25 before Opening Night.
This also isn’t only a ranking of last season’s stats. Production matters a lot, but so do defense, playoff contribution, upside, and what I expect each player to be in 2026-27, which is why a few rookies who haven’t played an NBA game yet can still make the list.
25. Cason Wallace
2025-26 Stats: 8.6 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 43.2% FG, 35.1% 3P
The perfect example of why points can’t decide this ranking: Cason Wallace. He averaged only 8.6 points last season, but he also finished with 1.9 steals per game and earned All-Defensive Second Team honors, doing it for an Oklahoma City team where he rarely needs the ball because Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren handle most of the offense.
I don’t see a huge scoring jump coming unless his role changes, and that is why Wallace starts the list instead of sitting closer to the top 15, but I already trust him in important games more than plenty of young players with bigger scoring averages. He pressures the ball, creates turnovers, and can defend either guard spot, so he doesn’t need 18 points every night to have a major impact. If the jumper and creation take another step, he can move way higher pretty quickly.
24. Reed Sheppard
2025-26 Stats: 13.5 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 43.0% FG, 39.4% 3P
Reed Sheppard finally got a much bigger role in Year 2 and showed why the Rockets used the No. 3 pick on him, averaging 13.5 points and 3.4 assists while playing all 82 games. His shooting and quick decision-making give him a pretty easy offensive fit, because he can work with the ball or simply space the floor when Houston runs things through Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, or Amen Thompson.
There is also more defensive activity here than his size suggests; Sheppard led the NBA at 5.0 deflections per game last season, so he isn’t just standing around waiting for threes. I still need to see him become more consistent against bigger guards and create more offense on his own before moving him higher, but a 22-year-old shooter with this much feel is an easy player to bet on.
23. Ausar Thompson
2025-26 Stats: 9.9 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 52.5% FG, 25.0% 3P
If this ranking was only about defense, Ausar Thompson would be somewhere near the very top. He averaged 2.0 steals, made the All-Defensive First Team, and became one of the main reasons the Pistons could put so much pressure on opposing wings and guards, while his athleticism also makes him dangerous in transition and around the basket.
The problem is still shooting, and it is becoming a major issue, I think. Thompson made only 25.0% from three and 57.1% from the free-throw line, so playoff defenses can still float him and make Detroit’s half-court offense harder. If he ever gets the jumper even close to average, he could fly into the top 15 because the defense, rebounding, and physical tools are already there, but until that happens, there is a clear ceiling on his offensive input.
22. Peyton Watson
2025-26 Stats: 14.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 49.1% FG, 41.1% 3P
The breakout season Peyton Watson delivered was truly unexpected, as such a low-volume offensive player last year, jumping from 8.1 points to 14.6 while shooting 41.1% from three and starting 40 of his 54 games. That shooting jump changed everything because Watson already had the size, athleticism, and defensive versatility to guard multiple positions; he just needed the offense to flourish at a level that I just never saw coming on a contender like the Nuggets.
Now the question is whether 41.1% from three is something he can repeat, because if it is, Watson becomes an immensely valued two-way wing instead of only a defender with upside. His restricted free agency still adds some uncertainty entering the season, with Denver offering five years and $70.0 million while several teams have shown interest, but wherever he plays, I think he has another level left.
21. Cameron Boozer
2025-26 College Stats: 22.5 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 55.6% FG, 39.2% 3P
Yes, Cameron Boozer hasn’t played an NBA regular-season game yet, but I still feel pretty confident putting him here. The Grizzlies selected him third overall after he completely dominated at Duke, averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists while shooting 55.6% from the field and 39% from three, and he was the consensus National Player of the Year.
What I like about Boozer is that he doesn’t need some crazy future projection to become a good player; he already rebounds, passes, finishes through contact, and can shoot, so his game should translate pretty quickly. I wouldn’t put him above proven 20-point NBA scorers yet because that would be too much before his debut, but I expect him to produce immediately for Memphis. If the three-point shooting holds and he can defend NBA forwards, #21 could look very low by January.
20. Shaedon Sharpe
2025-26 Stats: 20.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 45.2% FG, 33.7% 3P
Shaedon Sharpe averaging 20.8 points and still ranking only 20th shows how strong this list is. He remains one of the most explosive young scorers in basketball; he can get to the rim, play above the defense, and create shots that most players simply can’t, and last season was his first time crossing the 20-point mark for a full year.
But I still want more than scoring. Sharpe had only 2.6 assists, shot 33.7% from three, and played just 50 games, so there are still questions about efficiency, creation for teammates, and availability. The talent is easily top-15 level, maybe even higher, but entering Year 5, I want to see him turn those flashes into a more complete season. With Ja Morant now taking a lot of touches in Portland, Sharpe also has to prove he can stay effective without controlling the ball all night.
19. Dyson Daniels
2025-26 Stats: 11.9 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 5.9 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 51.7% FG, 18.8% 3P
Dyson Daniels might be the strangest player in this entire ranking. He averaged 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and a league-leading 2.0 steals, made the All-Defensive Second Team, and remains one of the best perimeter defenders in basketball, so in terms of doing everything except shooting, there isn’t much missing.
Then you see the 18.8% from three, and that is impossible to ignore. Teams can leave him open, crowd the paint, and make life harder for Jalen Johnson and Atlanta’s other scorers, which becomes a much bigger problem in the playoffs. I still have Daniels in the list because elite defense plus nearly six assists is a rare combination at 23 years old, but the jumper decides where his career goes next. Even getting to 32-33% from three would change his value a lot.
18. Alex Sarr
2025-26 Stats: 16.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.8 SPG, 2.0 BPG, 48.2% FG, 33.3% 3P
Alex Sarr made a pretty big Year 2 jump, raising his scoring to 16.3 points while averaging 7.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks, and the efficiency finally started moving in the right direction too. He shot 48.2% from the field after struggling badly with efficiency as a rookie, which is exactly the type of progress the Wizards needed to see.
The defensive ceiling is what really keeps me interested, because 7-footers who can protect the rim, move outside the paint, and still have some offensive skill aren’t easy to find. The one concern entering 2026-27 is his right foot; Sarr underwent surgery for a fracture in June, although Washington expects him to be ready for the start of the season. If he stays healthy and pushes the three-point shot above last season’s 33.3%, he has a real chance to become one of the better young two-way big men in the league.
17. Josh Giddey
2025-26 Stats: 17.0 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 9.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 44.8% FG, 36.4% 3P
Josh Giddey basically spent last season flirting with a triple-double every night, averaging 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 9.1 assists, and the most important number might actually be 36.4% from three. Shooting has always been the thing stopping Giddey from becoming a better offensive player, so putting together the best three-point season of his career was a pretty big deal.
I still have questions about how his game translates to high-level playoff basketball, because he needs the ball and isn’t a great defender, but there aren’t many 6-foot-7 guards who rebound like a forward and create nine assists every night. He also played only 54 games last season, so availability matters here. If Giddey stays healthy and keeps shooting around league average, I think he should be higher on this list in a couple of months.
16. VJ Edgecombe
2025-26 Stats: 16.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 43.8% FG, 35.4% 3P
VJ Edgecombe’s rookie year was about as solid as the 76ers could have hoped for. He averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists across 75 games, made the All-Rookie First Team, and showed enough shooting at 35.4% from three that defenses couldn’t simply ignore him.
I also love how physical his game already is. Edgecombe doesn’t look like a rookie when he attacks the rim or defends the ball, and he finished with 1.4 steals per game while taking on a huge role for a playoff team. He even won Rising Stars MVP during All-Star weekend. I actually wanted him much higher than this, but Philadelphia’s roster is suddenly loaded with Maxey, Brown, LeBron, and Embiid, so his touches could actually go down before they go up. Long-term, though, I think he is clearly one of the best two-way guards on this list.
15. Darryn Peterson
2025-26 College Stats: 20.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 43.8% FG, 38.2% 3P
Darryn Peterson is the first player here that I am ranking mostly on what I think he becomes, because the Jazz just used the No. 2 pick on a 6-foot-5 guard who already looks like an NBA-seasoned scorer. Peterson averaged 20.2 points at Kansas and hit 38.2% from three, with the pull-up jumper, handle, and pace to score from basically every level.
The 1.6 assists per game is why I don’t want to go crazy and put him top 10 before he even debuts. He can pass, but last season he was much more of a scorer than a point guard, and Utah already has Keyonte George handling a lot of creation. Still, that could actually help Peterson early because he won’t need to run every possession from Day 1. The shot-making is advanced enough that I expect him to score immediately, and if the playmaking develops faster than expected, this ranking could look conservative.
14. Dylan Harper
2025-26 Stats: 11.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 3.9 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 50.5% FG, 34.3% 3P
Dylan Harper’s rookie stats don’t scream top-15 young player, but I think the role explains a lot. He averaged 11.8 points and 3.9 assists while shooting an excellent 50.5% from the field, and made the All-Rookie First Team despite playing in a loaded Spurs backcourt with De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle.
The regular-season numbers don’t really show how good Harper became once the playoffs started, as he jumped to 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists across 23 postseason games while shooting 51.5% from the field. Then he got even better in the NBA Finals, averaging 18.0 points against the Knicks, including 21 points in Game 4 and 25 in the elimination Game 5. San Antonio was also 5.4 points better than New York with Harper on the floor during the Finals, which is pretty crazy for a 20-year-old rookie playing on that stage.
13. Kon Knueppel
2025-26 Stats: 18.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 47.5% FG, 42.5% 3P
Kon Knueppel was way better than I expected this quickly, because shooting 42.5% from three on NBA volume as a 20-year-old rookie is already ridiculous. He averaged 18.5 points, played 81 games, and made the All-Rookie First Team, so the Hornets basically found one of the best offensive building blocks in the 2025 Draft.
The LaMelo Ball trade should only make his role bigger now, and that is where things get interesting. Knueppel doesn’t have to become some ball-dominant superstar; his shooting already turns defenses without the ball, but I want to see whether he can create more for himself and push those 3.4 assists higher with extra touches. Charlotte is now building much more clearly around Knueppel and Brandon Miller, and I think a 20-point season is very realistic.
12. Brandon Miller
2025-26 Stats: 20.2 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 43.5% FG, 38.3% 3P
Brandon Miller finally had the healthy season Charlotte needed from him, playing 65 games and averaging 20.2 points while hitting 3.1 threes per game at 38.3%. The efficiency still isn’t amazing at 43.5% from the field, but a 6-foot-7 wing who can score 20 and shoot this well from deep is already a great sign.
Now I want to see Miller become more than a secondary scorer. The Hornets don’t have LaMelo controlling everything anymore, which means Miller should get more chances to create, attack mismatches, and show whether he can become a real first option for a potential contender one day. Knueppel might eventually pass him, but entering this season I still trust Miller’s three years of NBA experience a little more, which is why he stays one spot ahead.
11. Stephon Castle
2025-26 Stats: 16.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 47.1% FG, 33.2% 3P
Stephon Castle made a huge jump in Year 2, going from Rookie of the Year to one of the best young playmakers in basketball. His 7.4 assists ranked sixth in the NBA; he improved to 47.1% from the field, and San Antonio trusted him with a bunch of responsibility all the way through a Finals run.
The obvious issue is still the jumper, because 33.2% from three isn’t good enough for a guard playing next to De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, and Victor Wembanyama, and defenses are still comfortable giving him space. But Castle already defends multiple stars, gets downhill, and creates for teammates at a level I wasn’t sure he would reach this quickly. If the three gets to even 36%, I think we could be talking about an All-Star very soon.
10. AJ Dybantsa
2025-26 College Stats: 25.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 51.0% FG, 33.1% 3P
Putting AJ Dybantsa in the top 10 before his first NBA game is aggressive, I know, but I don’t really care, the talent is that good. He led the entire NCAA at 25.5 points per game for BYU, became a consensus First Team All-American, and then went No. 1 overall to Washington, finally giving the Wizards a franchise player next to their young core.
The three-point shot is the main thing I want to watch after only 33.1% in college, but almost everything else already looks NBA-ready; he is 6-foot-9, strong, explosive, and can create his own shot from different areas of the floor. I don’t expect him to walk in and instantly be better than proven All-Stars, which is why he stops at #10, but by the end of the season I wouldn’t be shocked if Dybantsa is already much higher than this.
9. Amen Thompson
2025-26 Stats: 18.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 53.4% FG, 21.6% 3P
Amen Thompson is one of the hardest players on this list to rank, because he already does almost everything at an elite physical level. He averaged 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists while shooting 53.4% from the field, then raised his production to 19.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.7 assists in the playoffs.
And then there is the three-point percentage, 21.6%, which is brutal. Defenses can basically ignore him outside and build their entire scheme around keeping him away from the rim, especially when the Rockets also have Alperen Sengun inside. Still, Thompson is so fast, strong, and good defensively that he produces anyway, which tells you how high the ceiling is. If he ever develops a respectable jumper, even 32-33%, I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes a top-five player on this list.
8. Jalen Duren
2025-26 Stats: 19.5 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 65.0% FG, 0.0% 3P
Jalen Duren’s regular season was ridiculous; he averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on 65.0% from the field, became an All-Star at 22, and finished on the All-NBA Third Team. After the All-Star break, he was even better offensively at 22.6 points per game, which shows how much his role grew as the season went along.
The playoffs are why I can’t put him higher yet. Duren dropped to only 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting 51.4% from the field across 14 postseason games, a massive decline from his regular-season production. He also isn’t a shooter and isn’t an elite shot-blocker, so he needs to dominate the paint to justify this ranking. Still, a 22-year-old All-NBA center averaging basically 20 and 10 deserves to be this high.
7. Keyonte George
2025-26 Stats: 23.6 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 45.6% FG, 37.1% 3P
Keyonte George went from an inefficient young guard to a legitimate 23-point scorer in one season, and that is why I have him this high. He averaged 23.6 points and 6.1 assists while shooting 45.6% from the field, 37.1% from three and 89.2% from the line, huge improvements after sitting below 40% from the field in each of his first two seasons.
Yes, the Jazz were bad, and putting up huge numbers on a losing team isn’t the same thing as doing it in a playoff series, so that is the next step. But George’s combination of pull-up shooting, three-point volume, and playmaking is hard to ignore, and he is still only 22. If he can keep the efficiency around this level while Utah starts winning more games, the All-Star conversation won’t sound crazy at all.
6. Chet Holmgren
2025-26 Stats: 17.1 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.6 SPG, 1.9 BPG, 55.7% FG, 36.2% 3P
Chet Holmgren doesn’t have the scoring numbers of some players below him, but this isn’t a scoring ranking. He averaged 17.1 points and 8.9 rebounds on 55.7% from the field, made the All-NBA Third Team, and was one of the leading vote-getters for the All-Defensive First Team after averaging 1.9 blocks for a Thunder defense that finished at the top of the league.
That two-way value is why I take Chet over someone like Duren right now. He protects the rim at an elite level, can switch outside, shoots 36.2% from three, and doesn’t need the ball to help an offense with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. Oklahoma City also allowed opponents to shoot just 41.1% on shots Holmgren contested, best among players who defended at least 400 attempts. If his scoring eventually reaches 20-plus without losing that defense, we are talking about a true superstar big man.
5. Alperen Sengun
2025-26 Stats: 20.4 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 51.9% FG, 30.5% 3P
Alperen Sengun is already one of the best passing big men in basketball, and 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists really don’t show how much of Houston’s offense runs through him. He can score in the post, handle the ball, find cutters, and basically act like a point center, which is incredibly valuable when Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. are moving around him.
The shooting is still the obvious weakness; 30.5% from three and 69.1% from the line aren’t great, and he struggled more in the playoffs, shooting only 46.5% from the field and 12.5% from three. That is what keeps him outside the top five for me. But Sengun is only 24, already creates offense at an All-Star level, and keeps improving defensively, so there isn’t much separating him from the group right above him.
4. Jalen Johnson
2025-26 Stats: 22.5 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 7.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 48.9% FG, 35.2% 3P
Jalen Johnson basically became Atlanta’s entire offense last season, averaging 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists, making his first All-Star team and earning All-NBA Third Team honors for the Hawks. Only a few forwards in the league can rebound like a big man and then immediately bring the ball up and run the offense, and Johnson finished fifth in the NBA in assists while still posting a double-double.
The playoffs showed the next step he still has to make: Johnson dropped to 19.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists while shooting 43.5% from the field and 29.0% from three as the Knicks eliminated Atlanta in six games. That wasn’t a great first run as the main guy, but he is still only 24, and after putting up basically 22/10/8 across 72 games, I can’t move him any lower than fourth.
3. Paolo Banchero
2025-26 Stats: 22.2 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 5.2 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 45.9% FG, 30.5% 3P
Paolo Banchero didn’t have his biggest regular-season scoring year, but I still trust him more than almost every young player in the NBA when the game becomes slower, and somebody has to put up a shot. He averaged 22.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists, and at 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds, he can attack guards, wings, or centers depending on the matchup.
The playoffs are a big reason I keep Paolo over Johnson, Chet, and others, because he raised his production to 26.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists across seven games, including 38 points in Game 7 against Detroit. The efficiency still needs work, especially the 30.5% from three during the regular season, but Paolo has already shown he can be a first option when defenses completely focus on him, and entering his age-23 season, I still think another level is coming.
2. Cooper Flagg
2025-26 Stats: 21.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 46.8% FG, 29.5% 3P
Putting Cooper Flagg second after only one NBA season sounds aggressive until looking at what he actually did. He averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists at 19 years old, won Rookie of the Year, and became the youngest player in NBA history to score 50 points after dropping 51 against Orlando.
Even crazier, Flagg joined Michael Jordan as the only rookies since steals became official to lead their teams in total points, rebounds, assists, and steals, and he had four 40-point games, the most by a rookie since Allen Iverson. The 29.5% from three is clearly the weakness, but that almost makes the upside scarier, because he was already a 21-point scorer without a reliable NBA three. If that shot improves in Year 2, I think Flagg can enter the All-NBA conversation immediately.
1. Victor Wembanyama
2025-26 Stats: 25.0 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, 3.1 BPG, 51.2% FG, 34.9% 3P
There really isn’t a debate for No. 1 anymore. Victor Wembanyama averaged 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and an NBA-leading 3.1 blocks, made the All-NBA First Team, and became the youngest Defensive Player of the Year in league history, while San Antonio finished 62-20 and reached the NBA Finals.
And Wemby didn’t disappear once the playoffs started; he averaged 23.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks across 22 postseason games, helping the Spurs get within two wins of a championship. At 22 years old, he is already an elite scorer, one of the best rebounders, and probably the most dominant defensive player ever, and there are still obvious areas where he can improve. Maybe one day some generational talent makes this a debate, but entering 2026-27, Wembanyama is clearly the best player under 25.