There are far more than 25 great players younger than 25 years old in the NBA these days. Here are the players who are just on the outside ready to burst in.
There are plenty of old heads who will say the NBA is not as good as it used to be in the 1990s and 1980s. The quality is too low or the wrong parts of the game are emphasized or expansion has stretched the talent too thin. There are probably some stylistic preferences, but it is hard to watch the NBA today and not believe it is as good as it has ever been.
The potential for the league to continue its tremendous international and domestic expansion is ever-present. And it is shown most in the incredibly young players playing in the NBA today.
There is a plethora of talented young players. All guys who seem to be just scratching the surface. These are guys who have just entered the league and seem set to reshape it. These are guys who have played a few years in the league already and have promised with their prodigious talent. And these are guys who have gotten their first big contract ready to take their first steps to sustained stardom.
It still feels like the league is on the precipice of a renaissance of sorts. There are so many quality young players who appear set to make an impact in the very near future.
This week on the Step Back we have been highlighting the top 25 players under 25-years-old. But there are so many more players that young in the NBA ready to break out. They too undoubtedly deserve some shine and our attention. And as players age out and they begin to realize their potential, these players too will make an impact.
This is the future of the NBA. And it is an extremely bright one.
Here are the players who just missed our list of the top 25 players under 25-years-old.
35. Josh Jackson, Phoenix Suns
There is a growing trend in the NBA that favors versatility. Players who can play multiple positions and defend all over the floor have seen their values skyrocket. They may be a bit rough around the edges or have some skills that need more development, but their length and athleticism have become more valuable.
A decade ago, these players would have been called tweeners. Their lack of a defined NBA skill would be decried as a hindrance as coaches tried to figure out which box to put them in. Super athletes like Stromile Swift, Darius Miles and Tyrus Thomas found themselves bouncing between the perimeter and the post — too small to guard bigger players but not skilled enough to play the perimeter.
That notion has gone out the window. These days, players do not need to have a jump shot or much in the way of basketball skill if they fit a physical profile and are willing to play defense. The skills can develop over time, especially since players enter the league at 19 nowadays.
Josh Jackson would very much be one of those super athletic tweeners a decade ago. But he now holds a ton of promise because of his athleticism and defensive acumen.
Never mind he shot 56.6 percent from the foul line and has a funky jumper that NBA scouts are worried will not translate to the league. Jackson came on strong toward the end of the season for the Kansas Jayhawks and put some of his shooting woes to rest. He finished the year averaging 16.3 points per game with a 55.2 percent effective field goal percentage.
The fourth overall selection to the Phoenix Suns now joins a team full of similarly long and athletic wings that should be a terror defensively in the future, all with Devin Booker potentially going supernova.
Jackson himself showed incredible smarts with how he attacked the basket and worked off the ball. He was surprisingly effective as a scorer and an effective rebounder. He has everything that could translate well to the NBA — long arms, a willingness to defend and a growing 3-point shot.
Jackson, in other words, is a perfect prospect for the modern NBA. Someone who shows the potential to help continue this wave of new wings that can do just about anything anyone can imagine.
34. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics hoarded their picks. They collected assets, made shrewd moves and bided their time. They were hoping to get their star or to build their next dynasty through the draft. Red Auerbach would be proud of the work Danny Ainge did to accumulate his assets and getting the Celtics back on top. They won while they were doing all this too.
This summer was the summer Ainge finally struck, trading the No. 1 overall pick to the Sixers for a future first rounder and moving back to No. 3.
That should be no pressure to their newest rookie, Jayson Tatum.
The Duke Blue Devils forward taken third in the 2017 NBA Draft had an impressive scoring run in college. Tatum drew comparisons to several isolation-based forwards like Carmelo Anthony. That is maybe something not as valued in the NBA these days, but it can still be an incredibly good skill to have.
Tatum showed just what that scoring ability can do during his Summer League run. He averaged 17.7 points per game in Las Vegas and 18.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game in Salt Lake City. If he can continue to develop his 3-point shot, he could become a very dangerous player.
He showed all the signs of doing that. And he will grow up on a team in contention. The Celtics are going to have real things to compete and play for. If he can shine on that big stage from the outset, Tatum will certainly shine among these players.
But unlike many of the young players just entering the league at the top of this star-studded Draft, the Celtics will not completely turn Tatum loose. With Kyrie Irving, Al Horford and even Jaylen Brown on the roster, Jayson Tatum will have to find a way to fit his role. That may make him a super sixth man in his early career.
At some point, Tatum’s prodigious talent will emerge. It may take a bit longer than others, but he will find his way. He is too good of a pure scorer not to develop.
33. Jabari Parker, Milwaukee Bucks
Jabari Parker was supposed to change the world. Coming out of Simeon High School in Chicago and Duke in college, he was the consensus best player in the country. Even after he went second in the 2014 NBA Draft, Parker was still the guy everyone watched and waited for. Pairing him with Giannis Antetokounmpo only increased the anticipation.
Parker did not disappoint off the bat, at least. He averaged 12.3 points per game and seemed like he was beginning to figure the NBA out. Then he tore his ACL. His sophomore year was a bit of a wash as he got himself back up to speed and full health.
Then came last season, what was looking like a breakout year for him. He was scoring from all over the floor and seemed like he was realizing his prodigious talent. He was in a great system to highlight his skills and get the most from him. Parker was seemingly on the cusp of stardom.
He averaged 20.1 points per game and shot a 53.0 percent effective field goal percentage. He added 6.2 rebounds per game. Then he tore his ACL again. Now, entering his contract year, Parker has torn his ACL twice but shown all that promise. Parker’s career is coming to a crossroads.
Already, Parker is reportedly looking for a max contract extension from the Bucks. No one would blame them for taking a wait-and-see approach with him. Or balking at the heavy price tag.
Parker is not expected back until some point in the middle of the season, maybe not until January. And it may take another year for Parker to get to full health where he can play like he did before his latest injury.
That is a lot of uncertainty. And so Parker’s career that seemed so promising — and still is — has lost some shine.
32. Dario Saric, Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers were willing to be patient when they acquired Dario Saric and he spent two years in Europe before coming to the NBA. The wait was well worth it.
“The Dude” added to the list of versatile ball handlers on the 76ers’ roster, averaging 12.8 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game in his rookie year. It is that nickname that seemed to define what Saric could become for the 76ers and how much he accomplished in his rookie season.
Saric has an incredibly smooth way of playing, able to score on drives and hit spot-up 3-pointers. And there is still plenty of room for this young player to grow. He has incredible poise for a player of his experience, thanks to those years playing professionally in Europe.
Even at 23 years old, Saric has plenty of room to grow. He showed potential to continue improving his offensive game. He has always been a crafty player and plenty capable of playing against more mature players in the league.
That is what everyone expects in that growth from year one to year two. Just a bit more maturity and poise. Knowing what he is up against in the NBA, Saric should have a better sense of how to attack. And that is when his creativity and flair will kick in more. Saric is only growing in confidence. And with the 76ers now at full force, he could be ready for a big year to help The Process reach its next step.
31. Norman Powell, Toronto Raptors
Every postseason, there is bound to be one rookie who seems to play above his station and makes a name for himself on the big stage. That player gets a lot of buzz and brings with him a lot of hope. Often that is when veteran players are pushed aside to open more room for these young, rising stars.
Norman Powell was solid his rookie year. But he stepped up his game in the playoffs with the Toronto Raptors. Powell’s sophomore year was a bit more of a mixed bag — he averaged 8.4 points per game and never quite challenged Terrence Ross or DeMarre Carroll in the rotation.
Then in the playoffs, Powell averaged 11.7 points per game, hitting on 44.1 percent from 3. That proved the decision to let Terrence Ross go and bring in Serge Ibaka was worth it. Not only that, the Raptors showed even more faith in him by letting P.J. Tucker walk in free agency and trading away DeMarre Carroll.
By all accounts, Powell will be the Raptors’ starting small forward. Powell is not going to become a star. But not everyone has that star potential. Some players are just solid and fill a role. Powell can hit an open 3-pointer and play solid defense, about all anyone can ask from a role player. If he can grow his shot-creation game he could even be something more than that.
Asking him to step up and start this year, that is the big challenge for the young forward as his career moves on. The Raptors are putting a lot of trust in him knowing they are a bit capped out. Powell will have to deliver for the Raptors to take their next step.
30. Julius Randle, Los Angeles Lakers
Julius Randle’s career got off to a false start when he broke his leg in his first career game for the Los Angeles Lakers. Last year, Randle’s official third year but just his second playing, showed exactly what Randle could do.
He averaged 13.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game and he showed a versatility that some did not think he could reach.
Randle is not a stretch-4. He profiles more as a traditional power forward. That is a skill set that does not seem as valuable in the modern NBA. Yet Randle seemed to find a way to make it work. He became more versatile, mobile and athletic while still maintaining the brute strength and athleticism that made him a high pick in 2014.
And this summer Randle has been showing of a much more ripped physique, seemingly shedding pounds to take even more advantage of his athleticism. It is not quite clear what kind of player Randle will return as.
But considering all he could do last year in his first year fully healthy in the league, it seems likely that will only add to his game and enable him to be a big contributor to this young Lakers team.
Randle simply has not had enough time on the court to see what he can really do. That might change this year as he continues to prove there are different kinds of power forwards in this league.
29. Brandon Ingram, Los Angeles Lakers
Everyone in Las Vegas for NBA Summer League was focused on Lonzo Ball and his debut when the Los Angeles Lakers began play. What they ended up getting was perhaps a preview of what was going to come from the team’s probable future star.
Brandon Ingram was the real star of that game, scoring 26 points before a cramp in his leg shut him down for the rest of the week. Before that injury in overtime, Ingram was clearly the best player on the court. Lakers President of Basketball Operation Magic Johnson did not even have to make the signal to sit him down and shut him down for the rest of the trip to Vegas, everyone had seen enough.
In those brief minutes in a relatively meaningless Summer League game, Ingram showed all the athleticism and drive that he had sometimes been slow to show in his rookie year. The frail rookie had been replaced with a poised veteran.
Everyone is expecting Ingram to greatly improve on his 9.4 points per game and 40.2 percent shooting. The focus will remain on Lonzo Ball and his development this summer — his father will almost make sure of that — but Brandon Ingram will be the real budding star for the Lakers this coming season. He seems poised for a big sophomore leap, as most second-year players are.
But it feels different for Ingram. At least, based off one Summer League game. The attention in Los Angeles should not just be on the Balls. Ingram is going to grab the spotlight too.
28. Dennis Schroder, Atlanta Hawks
The natural evolution for young players is for them to take over veteran roles as time goes by. Their ascending talent eventually surpasses the descending talent of older players. Not all of them will accomplish that, of course. Some players are not destined for stardom. But many will get their chance, especially if they show promise early.
This is the category Atlanta Hawks point guard Dennis Schroder fits into.
After years of playing backup to Jeff Teague on playoff teams, he took the helm of the team full-time last year. He averaged 17.9 points per game and dished out 6.3 assists per game. Most importantly, the Hawks made the playoffs again.
This year will be different, though. Hhis All-Star companion in Paul Millsap is gone. The former All Star in Dwight Howard is also gone. In fact, the Hawks do not look anything remotely like they did last year. Expectations are lower and many predict the Hawks will be one of the worst teams in the league.
This is a recipe for a young player like Schroder to show what he can do. If Atlanta is going to prove everyone wrong, Schroder is going to have to take a star turn and there are plenty of people who think he can.
He has done as much at Eurobasket this fall where he led Germany to the quarterfinals, using his tremendous speed and playmaking to get into the paint and cause havoc.
That is what the Hawks want to see when he steps on the court this season. It will be important for his development too. He will either become the star the Hawks can build around or a solid starter.
27. Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic
Aaron Gordon’s career has been one of uncertainty and false starts. The Orlando Magic wanted the versatility Gordon could bring, but could never figure out the right way to use him. And then Gordon never seemed to be healthy enough to give the Magic information on whether all their ideas would work.
Gordon’s career has been that kind of a false start.
His rookie year, he was the blank slate, just thrown out there to be athletic and mix things up. But he broke his leg early in the season and missed 50-plus games. There was nothing else for the Magic to do.
He started showing some defined skills and put them to good use in a stellar Summer League run. It looked like Gordon was going to take the sophomore leap so many second-year players take. Then he broke his jaw — horse-playing with his brother of all things, he was 19 — and could not get on the court the rest of the summer and even into training camp.
Last year, the Magic’s congested front court pushed him to small forward. On top of all that, he sprained his ankle just before camp started and did not return until a few weeks in. So he was playing out of position and missed training camp to learn his new coach’s system.
Not only that, he was playing for his fourth coach in three years. There has been no stability for Gordon. After the Magic traded Serge Ibaka, Gordon went back to power forward.
At least then, he found some stability. Gordon averaged 16.4 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game, with a surprisingly efficient 53.8 percent effective field goal percentage. If this is the Aaron Gordon the Magic can expect, then they may yet have something.
Now it seems certain the Magic will play Gordon at power forward, finally giving him a home and some role certainty — not to mention the same coach for consecutive years. That stability might finally be a place for Gordon to grow.
He is still only 21 years old after all. He has shown steady improvement in every year. The Magic are just waiting for him to break out.
26. Clint Capela, Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets have pushed their chips in. They have made their trade for Chris Paul to pair with James Harden and have asserted themselves as the biggest challenge to the Golden State Warriors. That makes their young players more of a premium, because of their cost control and value in future trades, and requires them to step up to the plate.
That is what the Rockets have asked of center Clint Capela for several years since letting Dwight Howard walk in free agency. And, as part of this title-contending team, that is what they will ask of him again.
The 6-foot-10 center seemed to step into the starting role well last year, averaging 12.6 points per game and 8.1 rebounds per game. He posted 10.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in the playoffs for the Rockets.
The team will have more offensive weapons this year. It is not that Capela needs the ball. But the team will need him to do more. Now is his time in the spotlight. Capela seems like he is the perfect center for the Rockets and their analytically driven general manager, Daryl Morey.
He sets strong screens, rolls hard to the basket and finishes above the rim. On defense he is a strong rim protector, giving up just 49.5 percent shooting at the rim according to NBA.com’s Player Tracking stats.
Next: 25-under-25 -- The best young players in the NBA
That is going to make him incredibly valuable for the Rockets this coming season. Their defense will rely on his shot blocking and the Rockets will need his screening to free up their aggressive ball handlers in the pick and roll.
Capela may not be the best individual player on this list, but he might be the one who makes the biggest impact in the NBA season.