There is a lot of great talent in the NBA, but who are the best players under 25 right now?
Let’s take a look at the best young NBA players in 2022 and what they’ve done so far.
10 Best Young NBA Players in 2022
Bam Adebayo
Born: 18 July 1997
2021-22 stats: 19.1 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists
NBA draft: 2017 (Round: 1 / Pick: 14)
School: University of Kentucky
Current team: Miami Heat
The Miami Heat drafted him in the first round of the 2017 NBA draft after one season of playing college basketball at the University of Kentucky for the Kentucky Wildcats.
Adebayo was chosen for the NBA All-Defensive Second Team on two occasions, in seasons 2019-20 and 2020-21, and participated in the 2020 NBA All-Star Game as a member of Team Giannis.
During his five seasons with the Miami Heat under one of the best coaches in the game, Erik Spoelstra, Adebayo has averaged 12.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 310 regular-season games.
Jayson Tatum
Born: 3 March 1998
2021-22 stats: 26.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists
NBA draft: 2017 (Round: 1 / Pick: 3)
School: Duke University
Current team: Boston Celtics
Born: 3 March 1998
2021-22 stats: 26.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists
Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum is one of the best under-the-radar young NBA players.
Tatum was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft after playing one collegiate season for the Duke Blue Devils at Duke University.
When it comes to Jayson Tatum’s position, he combines elite perimeter defence with an impressive scoring profile, making him a perfect power-forward player.
Jamal Murray
Born: 23 February 1997
2021-22 stats: injured
NBA draft: 2016 (Round: 1 / Pick: 7)
School: University of Kentucky
Current team: Denver Nuggets
Jamal played one season of collegiate basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats before being drafted by the Denver Nuggets in the 2016 NBA Draft.
Murray became the first player in NBA history to score 50 points without shooting a free throw and the second player to achieve 50 points while shooting over 80% from the field and three-point range.
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Ja Morant
Born: 10 August 1999
2021-22 stats:
NBA draft: 2019 (Round: 1 / Pick: 2)
School: Murray State University
Current team: Memphis Grizzlies
Temetrius Jamel “Ja” Morant is a basketball player playing at the point guard position for the Memphis Grizzlies.
Ja Morant’s Grizzlies career started with the 2019 NBA draft when the Grizzlies picked him as the second overall pick, and he was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 2020.
Zion Williamson
Born: 6 July 2000
2021-22 stats: injury
NBA draft: 2019 (Round: 1 / Pick: 1)
School: Duke University
Current team: New Orleans Pelicans
Zion Williamson plays as a power forward for the NBA team New Orleans Pelicans and he is also one of the NBA players with a shoe deal.
He earned AP Player of the Year and Sporting News College Player of the Year awards during his one season at Duke University, when he averaged 22.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.
He was the fourth-youngest NBA player to be selected to an All-Star game in 2021, scoring 10 points and 1 rebound in 14 minutes for Team Durant.
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LaMelo Ball
Born: 22 August 2001
2021-22 stats: 20.1 points, 7.6 assists and 6.7 rebounds
NBA draft: 2020 (Round: 1 / Pick: 3)
School: SPIRE Institute and Academy
Current team: Charlotte Hornets
LaMelo Ball’s contract with the Hornets was signed when they called in to officially select the point guard with the third overall selection in the 2020 NBA draft.
He made his debut in Lithuania at age 16, making him the youngest American to sign a professional basketball contract.
In 2018, Ball played for Los Angeles Ballers in the Junior Basketball Association (JBA), a league alternative to collegiate basketball.
Trae Young
Born: 19 September 1998
2021-22 stats: 28.4 points, 9.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds
NBA draft: 2018 (Round: 1 / Pick: 5)
School: The University of Oklahoma
Current team: Atlanta Hawks
Rayford Trae Young is player who plays at the point guard position for the Atlanta Hawks.
When it comes to his collegiate basketball career, he played for the Oklahoma Sooners and became the first player in NCAA history to lead in both points and assists in the same season.
In the 2018 NBA Draft, Young was selected by the Dallas Mavericks and then traded to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the rights to third overall selection Luka Doncic.
He was selected to the 2019 NBA All-Rookie First Team alongside Luka Doncic and participated in the 2020 NBA All-Star Game, playing for Team Giannis.
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Jordan Poole
Born: 19 June 1999
2021-22 stats: 18.5 points, 4.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds
NBA draft: 2019 (Round: 1 / Pick: 28)
School: University of Michigan
Current team: Golden State Warriors
Jordan Poole is one of the best young players in the league right now, and the fact that he won the award for the most improved player in the 21/22 season proves just that.
Poole can is a diverse player, as he can play both as a point guard and as a shooting guard as well.
The young American already has one NBA ring to his name, and if he continues to play with some of the best such as Curry and Thompson, he will surely add more rings to his collection.
Anthony Edwards
Born: 5 August 2001
2021-22 stats: 21.3 points, 3.8 assists, 4.8 rebounds
NBA draft: 2020 (Round: 1 / Pick: 1)
School: Daniel McLaughlin Therrell High School
Current team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards plays for the Minesota Timberwolves and is one of the hottest NBA players.
Similar to Zion, Anthony Edwards is also well known for his powerful dunks.
Edwards, also known as the Ant-man, had an impressive debut in one of the most profitable sports leagues, the NBA.
The Ant-man is not scared of getting to the rim or being challenged by some of the big guys in the league.
The fact that he scored 36 points on his playoffs debut shows you that Minnesota has a really special talent in their squad.
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Luka Doncic
Born: 28 February 1999
2021-22 stats: 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.7 assists
NBA draft: 2018 (Round: 1 / Pick: 3)
School: /
Current team: : Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic currently plays as a point and shooting guard for the Dallas Mavericks. and is a member of the Slovenian national basketball team.
Doncic rose to prominence after joining Real Madrid at the age of 16, becoming the club’s youngest player ever. He led Real Madrid to the 2018 EuroLeague championship victory, earning nearly every international “rising star” award, and was named MVP of the Round, becoming the youngest player ever to do so.
Doncic was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2018 NBA Draft but was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. He has set numerous records as one of the best young NBA players under 25.
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Conclusion
Thanks to these promising players, it can be said that the NBA has a bright future ahead.
With their impressive stats, achievements, and overall careers, it’s no wonder why precisely these 10 are considered the best young NBA players right now.
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