Which young NBA stars are taking over, and which teams have the best collections of young talent in the league?
Bobby Marks, Kevin Pelton and Mike Schmitz rank their top 25 players under age 25 based on future potential, including Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, Zion Williamson, Ben Simmons and Trae Young.
Note: Each writer's individual rankings are listed at the bottom of this story. These rankings are an average of those ballots. You can find the 2019 version of these rankings here.
MORE: Ranking every NBA team by 2020 draft capital
1. Luka Doncic
Dallas Mavericks
G/F
Age: 21.0
Last year's top three players under 25 (MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic) all celebrated their 25th birthdays in the past year, leaving a void that Doncic filled by jumping up from No. 6 on the strength of an incredible sophomore season. Now Doncic has a chance to dominate this list for several more years.
Recording 21 career triple-doubles before celebrating his 21st birthday last week, Doncic has an outside chance of joining Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook as the fourth player in NBA history to average at least nine rebounds and nine assists per game. -- Pelton
2. Zion Williamson
New Orleans Pelicans
F/C
Age: 19.7
Williamson has as much long-term upside as anyone in the NBA. He has been nothing short of sensational offensively, averaging 24.1 points in just 28.3 minutes on 63% true shooting, with New Orleans in the playoff hunt. He goes after offensive rebounds on nearly every miss, and he's terrorizing opposing bigs on the block.
He has been bad defensively, his playmaking hasn't yet stabilized and he has attempted only 12 triples in 433 minutes. But that's what makes Zion so intriguing -- he's already dominant, with so much room to improve. -- Schmitz
3. Jayson Tatum
Boston Celtics
F
Age: 22.0
This probably will be the high-water mark for Tatum, with Doncic and Williamson projected to hold the top two spots for the foreseeable future. Still, Tatum, who turned 22 on Tuesday, moves up five spots from last season, emerging as an All-Star and a franchise player for the Celtics.
Besides being one of the most durable players in the NBA, Tatum has become the Celtics' No. 1 option, as demonstrated by his being only the sixth Celtics player to average 30 points in a month. He's eligible for a contract extension this summer and will command a max salary. -- Marks
4. Ben Simmons
Philadelphia 76ers
G
Age: 23.6
Simmons moves up one spot based in part on his stellar play on the defensive end. The 23-year-old ranks first in steals per game, fourth in deflections per game (first in total deflections) and second in loose balls recovered, per NBA.com.
The room for growth comes at the offensive end -- and in particular, shooting. Despite the urging of his team, Simmons has shown little improvement, attempting only 15 shots outside of the paint this season. -- Marks
5. Karl-Anthony Towns
Minnesota Timberwolves
F/C
Age: 24.3
Tops among players still under 25 in last year's rankings at No. 4, Towns was surpassed by a number of younger players in the midst of a disappointing season marred by injuries and Timberwolves losses. Minnesota has gone just 10-25 in games in which Towns has played.
Still, Towns' skill set and versatility are impossible to ignore. New Timberwolves lead executive Gersson Rosas came from the Houston Rockets, who have decided to play without a traditional center. Minnesota can do the same thing with Towns, whose 3.3 3-pointers per game this season are 0.8 more than any other player 6-foot-11 or taller has ever made, according to Basketball-Reference.com. -- Pelton
6. Donovan Mitchell
Utah Jazz
G
Age: 23.5
Mitchell is among the league's top three-level scorers at a young age. No player in the NBA has made more off-the-dribble jumpers than Mitchell this season, per Second Spectrum tracking, and he's doing so at a fairly efficient rate. On top of that, he's an above-average finisher for the first time in his career while continuing to show glimpses of promise as a playmaker.
He's still no stranger to inefficient scoring nights and hasn't quite developed into a defensive menace, but Mitchell's ability to generate offense with high volume and play on or off the ball has major value. -- Schmitz
7. Ja Morant
Memphis Grizzlies
G
Age: 20.6
It's not often we see players with Morant's skill level and creativity who can also fly up and down the court. His ability to shift from Russell Westbrook-esque downhill dunker to Trae Young-like savant is unlike any other guard in the league.
Sure, he can defend with more intensity, finish better in the half court and shoot the ball more consistently, but Morant is a star in the making. He has given the Grizzlies an identity for the future. -- Schmitz
8. Trae Young
Atlanta Hawks
G
Age: 21.5
At age 21, Young was voted a starter for his All-Star debut behind a dominant offensive performance. He could join Oscar Robertson, Russell Westbrook and Tiny Archibald as the only players to average at least 30 points and 9 assists per game.
Young's potential remains one of the most polarizing topics in NBA circles because his defense has been nearly as ineffective as his offense has been great. ESPN's real plus-minus (RPM) ranks Young's defense 493rd among 495 rated players this season. That we're debating just how great Young can be is progress -- he didn't rank in our top 25 last year before a late-season surge. -- Pelton
9. Brandon Ingram
New Orleans Pelicans
F
Age: 22.5
One of the most improved players in the NBA, Ingram looks like a star in the making with his combination of size (6-foot-9), length (7-3) and shot creation.
He has upped his scoring average by over 6 PPG, has increased his 3-point shooting from 33% to 39.2% (on triple the attempts per game) and is shooting 86.1% from the free throw line. Even if he'll always be on the slender side, the late bloomer has shown considerable promise as a primary shot creator on a potential playoff team. -- Schmitz
T-10. Devin Booker
Phoenix Suns
Guard
Age: 23.3
For the second consecutive year, Booker rates 10th on this list. The difference is that he has now converted more of his potential into production, which has helped Phoenix compete for a playoff spot. Booker was rewarded with his first All-Star selection as a replacement for an injured Damian Lillard.
Playing alongside a true point guard in Ricky Rubio has helped Booker improve his efficiency. His 61.7 true shooting percentage is easily the best of his career. Booker is still handing out 6.4 assists per game, excellent playmaking for an off guard. -- Pelton
T-10. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Oklahoma City Thunder
G
Age: 21.6
Gilgeous-Alexander is quietly turning in an excellent sophomore season as the leading scorer for a surprise Thunder team. His development curve has been eye-opening. At age 17, he was a rail-thin, raw 171-pound guard, looking like a multiyear college player. He started coming off the bench at Kentucky before emerging as the team's most valuable player and a potential top-10 pick.
Among the guards in the top 10, none has a higher defensive upside than Gilgeous-Alexander, given his tools and instincts. Don't be surprised to see SGA closer to the top five on next year's list. -- Schmitz
12. Bam Adebayo
Miami Heat
C
Age: 22.6
When we last ranked the NBA's top players under 25, Adebayo was still a day away from replacing Hassan Whiteside in the Heat's starting lineup, so it's no surprise he didn't get a single vote. His rise from promising reserve to All-Star -- the culmination of a development process recently chronicled by our Zach Lowe -- has been breathtakingly rapid.
Adebayo's calling card is his versatility. He's capable of running Miami's offense and protecting the rim as well as checking perimeter scorers if the situation calls for it. That adaptability has played a crucial role in the Heat's return to the playoffs, most likely as a top-4 seed. -- Pelton
13. Jaylen Brown
Boston Celtics
G/F
Age: 23.4
After barely cracking the top 25 last season, Brown moves up 12 spots. Like Tatum, Brown has benefited this season from having a more defined role. He is now a full-time starter, playing a career-high 34 minutes per game.
Brown's per-game stats have likewise reached career highs, as has his true shooting percentage (59%). His play has been a positive on both ends, according to ESPN's real plus-minus. -- Marks
14. D'Angelo Russell
Minnesota Timberwolves
G
Age: 24.0
Russell's ability to make shots off the dribble, see over the top of the defense and drop in touch shots from different angles earned this spot. His ball-dominant style of play and up-and-down defense isn't for everyone, but the game comes easily to him.
Russell and Towns make up one of the league's most offensively gifted duos. With Minnesota potentially adding another top-five pick in June, Russell will eventually have the weapons around him to take his game to yet another level. -- Schmitz
15. De'Aaron Fox
Sacramento Kings
G
Age: 22.2
A severe ankle sprain that sidelined him more than a month slowed Fox's ascent into the next tier of point guards but couldn't stop his development. Since the calendar turned to 2020, Fox has averaged 22.0 points and 6.9 assists.
Though his 37% 3-point shooting from his sophomore campaign has proved unsustainable, Fox has still slightly improved his efficiency by virtue of making a career-best 52% of his attempts inside the arc and getting to the free throw line more frequently. At a position where players tend to develop through their late 20s, Fox's future remains bright. -- Pelton
16. Zach LaVine
Chicago Bulls
G
Age: 24.9
LaVine cracks the top 20 one week shy of his 25th birthday. With comparable stats this season, why did LaVine make our top 25 this year but not last year?
For one, LaVine is a benefactor of some major names turning 25 in the past year, particularly Antetokounmpo, Embiid, Jokic and Pascal Siakam. Second, LaVine has proved his durability after missing 19 games last season coming off a major knee injury. LaVine has played in all but one game this year and is on pace to play 80-plus games for the first time since 2015-16. -- Marks
17. Jaren Jackson Jr.
Memphis Grizzlies
F/C
Age: 20.5
With Morant ranked seventh and Jackson at No. 17, the foundation in Memphis is strong. Jackson's 3-point shooting has gone from good to excellent this season, at 39.7% on 6.3 attempts per game.
If there is a concern moving forward it would be his durability. Jackson played in only 58 games in 2018-19 and is currently out because of a sprained left knee. -- Marks
T-18. Deandre Ayton
Phoenix Suns
C
Age: 21.6
First, the bad news: Following a dominant season opener, Ayton was suspended for the next 25 games after testing positive for a diuretic banned under the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program, and then he suffered an ankle sprain. Upon his return, Ayton split time playing power forward next to replacement Aron Baynes and coming off the bench.
Now the encouraging update: Since returning to the starting center role in mid-January, Ayton has averaged 20.9 points on 56% shooting with 12.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. His development defensively has been particularly impressive after he looked lost at times as a rookie. We're seeing the potential that made Ayton the top pick in a loaded draft. -- Pelton
T-18. Jamal Murray
Denver Nuggets
G
Age: 23.0
How important is Murray to Denver? The Nuggets went just 6-4 in the 10 games that he missed in January because of a sprained left ankle, and the offensive rating for the Nuggets drops from 115.3 to 111.2 when Murray is off the court.
While Murray's points per game have increased only slightly from 18.2 to 18.8, the Nuggets are 25-9 when he has scored 15-plus points in a game this season. -- Marks
20. Kristaps Porzingis
Dallas Mavericks
C
Age: 24.6
Porzingis is hitting his stride in Dallas. His long-term potential will be dictated by his health, along with his willingness to play center -- his clear position in today's game. Having a stretch-5 like Porzingis gives Doncic plenty of room to operate, and the fact that he can go get a bucket in the mid-post gives Doncic relief.
As long as the two are able to find the right balance in offensive responsibility, they look like one of the most exciting young pairings in the NBA. -- Schmitz
21. Jonathan Isaac
Orlando Magic
F
Age: 22.4
It's easy to forget about Isaac's development because he has been sidelined since New Year's Day by a scary knee sprain and bone contusion in his left knee. The Magic aren't expecting Isaac to return this season.
Before the injury, Isaac was a strong contender for All-Defensive Team honors. Previously listed at 6-foot-10, he was among the few players to add an inch when remeasured accurately last fall. That size along with the quickness that allows Isaac to defend perimeter scorers made him a fearsome paint presence, and he increased his block rate by 80%. Isaac might never be an above-average offensive player, but he can be a valuable contributor at the other end. -- Pelton
22. Domantas Sabonis
Indiana Pacers
F/C
Age: 23.8
It hasn't taken long for the Pacers -- and the rest of the NBA -- to realize that Sabonis is Indiana's best young big. The 23-year-old still isn't a defensive anchor or a consistent floor spacer, but he emerged as Indiana's primary scorer and rebounder and one of its best facilitators.
If Sabonis is able to make 3s consistently in the future, he can continue his climb up the NBA ranks. -- Schmitz
23. Michael Porter Jr.
Denver Nuggets
F
Age: 21.7
After missing all of last season rehabbing his back, Porter debuts on the 25-under-25 list despite averaging only 14.2 minutes and 7.9 points this season. In his 44 games, Porter's true shooting percentage is 60.6%, including 42.3% from 3-point range. His per-36 minutes averages are better than 20 points and 11 rebounds.
With Jerami Grant, Paul Millsap and Mason Plumlee free agents in July, expect Porter's role to increase next season. -- Marks
24. John Collins
Atlanta Hawks
F/C
Age: 22.4
If the list were based solely on the month of February, Collins would be higher than No. 24. In 13 games last month (Atlanta was 6-7), Collins put together his most efficient stretch, averaging 25.6 points and 10.4 rebounds with 63.6% shooting from the field and 53.5% on 3-pointers.
The big question for the future is how Collins will fit next to center Clint Capela, who has remained out because of an injury since being acquired from Houston at the trade deadline. In the past three games with Collins starting at center in place of Dewayne Dedmon, Atlanta has averaged 130 points. Collins is eligible for a rookie extension this summer. -- Marks
25. Lonzo Ball
New Orleans Pelicans
G
Age: 22.4
Although he has missed eight games this season because of an injury, Ball has already played the most games in his NBA career. While his free throw shooting is still below average for a guard, Ball has seen improvement, going from 41.7% last season to 58.4%. In the month of February, that number was 83.3%.
Ball is on pace to join LeBron James, Luka Doncic, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Nikola Jokic, Jimmy Butler and Ben Simmons as active players who have averaged more than six points, six rebounds and six assists per game. He is eligible for an extension this summer. -- Marks
The ballots
Marks
Luka Doncic
Jayson Tatum
Zion Williamson
Karl-Anthony Towns
Ben Simmons
Donovan Mitchell
Ja Morant
Brandon Ingram
Devin Booker
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Bam Adebayo
Trae Young
Jaylen Brown
Zach LaVine
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Michael Porter Jr.
Jamal Murray
Jonathan Isaac
Kristaps Porzingis
D'Angelo Russell
John Collins
Domantas Sabonis
De'Aaron Fox
Lonzo Ball
Deandre Ayton
Pelton
Luka Doncic
Zion Williamson
Karl-Anthony Towns
Trae Young
Ben Simmons
Jayson Tatum
Donovan Mitchell
Devin Booker
Bam Adebayo
De'Aaron Fox
D'Angelo Russell
Ja Morant
Brandon Ingram
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Deandre Ayton
Jaylen Brown
Jonathan Isaac
Zach LaVine
Jamal Murray
Kristaps Porzingis
Domantas Sabonis
Jaren Jackson Jr.
John Collins
Lonzo Ball
Michael Porter Jr.
Schmitz
Luka Doncic
Zion Williamson
Jayson Tatum
Ja Morant
Shai GIlgeous-Alexander
Brandon Ingram
Ben Simmons
Donovan Mitchell
Trae Young
Bam Adebayo
Karl-Anthony Towns
Devin Booker
Jaylen Brown
D'Angelo Russell
De'Aaron Fox
Deandre Ayton
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Kristaps Porzingis
Domantas Sabonis
Jamal Murray
Zach LaVine
John Collins
Jonathan Isaac
Michael Porter Jr.
Markelle Fultz