The 24 Best NBA Players Under 24 (2022)

MEMPHIS, TN - APRIL 14: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks and Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies embrace during the game on April 14, 2021 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Age: 20

We know, it’s wild to put a guy who hasn’t played an NBA game yet on this list but I think it’s fair to say that Paolo Banchero will provide instant production when he steps on an NBA floor for the first time. Pairing his skill with his physical attributes is not something we see often even at the highest level and while we can’t base this off assuming the player he will become in a few years, we can see how he’ll make some noise off the bat in the 2022-2023 NBA season. You just won’t find many guys that are pushing 6’11’’, 260 pounds with the ability to score on all three levels. While many questioned why he was taken No. 1 after the draft, I think we’ve seen some flashes this summer of why the Magic made that decision.

Age: 23

Whew, the future of the Detroit Pistons is blindingly bright. Saddiq Bey has fallen under the radar playing for an abysmal Pistons team the past two years but the Villanova product is fresh off another double digit scoring season, tallying 16.1 points per game which included a 51-point game against the Orlando Magic this past season. Bey’s  While Bey needs to work on his efficiency, you can expect that to improve with maturity and more talent, especially from the guard position, with Jaden Ivey and Cade Cunningham surrounding him. 

Age: 20

Franz Wagner wasn’t the headliner of the Orlando Magic’s 2021 draft class, with that distinction belonging to Jalen Suggs on draft night. But by the end of the 2021-2022 season, Wagner made it clear that he might not only be the best rookie on the team, but could be the best player in general. The 6’10 forward averaged 15.2 points and 4.5 rebounds as a rookie while shooting 35.4% from 3-point range. He displayed the exact traits that are coveted for a stretch power forward in today’s NBA, which makes him a no-brainer to build around for the future.

Age: 22

Many NBA fans did not watch the Spurs much last season but Keldon Johnson quietly put together an impressive third year in the association. The Kentucky product was fresh off his securing a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team and that summer seemed to help him take his game to the next level as he averaged 17.0 points per game while shooting 39.8 percent from deep. Keldon Johnson now looks to be the player the Spurs will build around following the departure of Dejounte Murray. Anytime you can get a wing with that production and efficiency at 22 years old, you have something special in the works.

Age: 23

Gary Trent Jr. was an absolute steal as a second round pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. After spending his first two seasons developing and waiting for an opportunity with the Portland Trail Blazers, he broke out in his third year averaging 15.3 points per game between his time with the Trail Blazers and Raptors. Trent proved his bubble performance was not a fluke and in fact the trajectory of what he could become in this league. This past season, Trent tallied 18.3 points per game while shooting 38 percent from deep. In a Duke draft class that featured two lottery picks in Marvin Bagley and Wendell Carter Jr. in addition to late first round pick Grayson Allen, Gary Trent Jr. has been the best NBA player so far. 

Age: 20

Jalen Green may not have been drafted first overall or even won the rookie of the year, but you would be hard pressed to find a more exciting rookie last season than him. His explosive leaping ability in the open and half court make him an instant highlight reel, combine that with his shooting ability and he is easily must-see tv. The next step for Green this season is taking the hot streak he went on the last two months of the 2021-2022 season and doing it consistently all season. Once that happens, he is likely to fly up this list.

Age: 20

As weird as it may sound for a player who was selected with the first overall pick, Cade Cunningham seemingly flew under the radar during his rookie season. He isn’t quite as explosive as Jalen Green, and didn’t have the team success that Evan Mobley and Scottie Barnes had, but he was just as effective as them all. Cade averaged 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.6 assists, showing the versatility and all-around game that made him the consensus top prospect in the 2021 NBA Draft class. With the addition of Jaden Ivey alongside him in the back court this coming season, look for Cunningham’s efficiency to rise as well as his regular counting stats, which could make Detroit one of the more interesting teams to watch out East.

Age: 21

The first of many Cavaliers as you’ll soon see will—and I’m absolutely not going out on a limb here—end up being the best of the bunch. Book it. The No. 3 pick in this summer’s draft is ridiculously gifted defensively for someone his size—not only does he block shots, but have you seen him body guards 10 inches shorter than him on the perimeter and make them give up the ball when they’re used to cooking centers on switches? Offensively there’s an excellent foundation to build on and it’s going to be scary to see what Mobley, at 6-foot-11 yet so athletic and agile, develops into in a few short seasons. He’s not just future All-Star material; he’s future All-NBA material. Should he be higher on our list after only a few months in the league? We felt like we couldn’t put him over other established young stars just yet. But I (Charles Barkley voice here) GUAAARAUNNTEEE Mobley’s going to win a DPOY award.

Age: 21

Who ends up being the best rookie from the 2021 draft class is impossible to project, but through the first season it’s hard to argue that Toronto’s selection at No. 4 hasn’t had the most surprising run out of all the lottery picks. Scottie Barnes was supposed to be a massive work-in-progress offensively once he stepped foot on an NBA court, but the Florida State product has proven to be way more adept at scoring than scouts and draft prognosticators gave him credit. While Cade Cunningham, the No. 1 pick, or Jalen Green, the No. 2 selection, could ultimately end up being the most dynamic offensive players in the draft, the 2022 NBA Rookie of the Year already brings it defensively and his offensive numbers are way better than we reasonably could’ve expected from him. 

Age: 23

Players that put up eye-popping numbers on bad teams are usually unfairly labeled looters in a riot. But it was hard to ignore what Simons did this past season in the absence of Damian Lillard and with CJ McCollum being traded, even if it didn’t translate to wins for the Blazers. The fourth year guard averaged 17.3 points while shooting 40.5% from 3-point range on a ridiculous 7.8 attempts per game. At just 23 years-old, Simons appears ready for his star turn as the starting shooting guard alongside Lillard. And if he is indeed ready, the franchise could find itself right back in playoff contention in 2022-2023.

Age: 23

Collin Sexton only lasted 11 games this season before a tear of the meniscus in his left knee caused him to undergo season-ending surgery in November. When the Cavs shooting guard is healthy, he has the ability to light up the scoreboard in ways a lot of other guys on this list wish they could, as evidenced by the 20.8 and 24.3 PPG he averaged the previous two seasons. His numbers in brief action this season didn’t properly demonstrate how deadly he can be with the basketball. However, Sexton is all offense and no defense. So if you prefer your two guards to be one-dimensional bucket getters, he is absolutely your kind of guy. If you want a more well-rounded player, look elsewhere. Chances are he isn’t there for the long haul in Cleveland, but his talents on the offensive end are undeniable.

Age: 22

After an excellent rookie season largely coming off the bench for the Kings, Tyrese Haliburton is a full-fledged starter going into his third season. While his numbers to start his sophomore campaign didn’t live up to expectations, we’ll cut him a little slack since Sacramento forever remains a mess. Following a trade to Indiana, Haliburton’s numbers jumped as he averaged 17.5 points per game on 50.2 percent from the field to go along with 9.6 assists per game. After earning First-Team All Rookie honors last season, connecting on 40.9 percent of his shots downtown, Haliburton looks to be the new focal point of Indiana’s rebuild after the franchise let go of Domantas Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon. 

Age: 22

The Knicks guard is kind of forgotten since he went third to New York in the 2019 NBA Draft that, of course, was the Zion Williamson sweepstakes. Plus Ja Morant, the second pick, is already one of the best point guards in the league, so RJ’s progression kind of gets ignored. But Barrett’s proven himself to be more than a serviceable NBA player in his three seasons. While his three-point numbers regressed this season and don’t look nearly as sexy as last season’s impressive stats, Barrett’s upped his scoring total to 20.0 points per game this season. He is a rugged wing who plays hard, can drive to hole with authority, and, let’s not forget, showed he can knock down the outside shot if left open, as evidenced by the 40.1 percent clip he connected on from beyond the arc during the 2020-21 campaign. His ceiling may not be as high as Morant’s or Williamson’s, but Barrett’s going to be an NBA player for a long time.  

Age: 22

No Ben Simmons, no problem for Philly since Tyrese Maxey did a great job filling in for the MIA point guard and then took his game even further when playing alongside James Harden. Providing way more offense than Simmons ever could, Maxey’s game has took a leap in his second season as he got way more minutes than any of us expected. Maxey was arguably the Sixers’ second best player last season on a team with an NBA Hall of Famer in James Harden and max contract player in Tobias Harris. While Maxey will probably never be as gifted defensively or as deft a passer as Simmons, you think Sixers fans care? They have a guard who plays hard, brings energy every night, and can hit a 3-pointer at an above-league average clip.

Age: 22

The Miami Heat super sub was scintillating in his third season averaging 20.7 points per game and hitting 39.9 percent of his 3-point attempts while only starting a sixth of Miami’s games. Herro took home Sixth Man of the Year honors because who the hell was lighting it up off the bench like the third-year guard? Nobody. After adding some size to his small frame during the summer and getting a proper chance to rest following two arduous seasons in quick succession, Herro has taken his game up a few notches and it’s been damn impressive to watch. He’s upped his scoring every after he averaged 13.5 PPG during his rookie campaign—and had that breakout performance in the Eastern Conference Finals—then put up 15.1 PPG during his second season. His 2021-22 campaign was his most efficient season so far and he puts Miami in a predicament of whether to extend him to a big contract. 

Age: 23

If you bought stock in Jaren Jackson Jr. when he entered the league in 2018, you might be a little disappointed with the results. But do not sell. After an impressive rookie campaign and an excellent second season, JJJ’s inability to stay on the court last season—he only played 11 games—represented a disappointing regression, stunting his ascension. When he’s healthy, he trends toward future elite status since there isn’t much that Jackson can’t do even with his drop in efficiency this season. From scoring to rebounding to, most spectacularly, blocking shots, JJJ’s On-Off numbers are eye-popping. He and Ja Morant make for one of the most dynamic young duos in the league, and Memphis smartly locked up Jackson with an extension in October. 

Age: 23

There were a few candidates on this list that were in the running for the 2021-22 Most Improved Player award, but Jordan Poole might’ve made the largest leap from season to season. The third-year player elevated his game to surprising levels and he’s a big reason why the Warriors have exceeded expectations and returned to throne as NBA champions. Averaging career-highs across the board—and those numbers, like PPG, 3FG%, and eFG% have taken huge leaps from his rookie averages two seasons ago—Poole has become the kind of potent scoring threat from outside the Warriors really lacked last season. The Warriors have themselves a young, dynamic offensive threat who can switch from shooting guard to point guard. And when he’s really feeling it, he can light up opponents almost as efficiently as Curry.  

Age: 22

A kid—because, at age 22, he’s basically a kid—shouldn’t be schooling grown men like LaMelo Ball does on a nightly basis. But props to the most talented Ball brother who has exceeded expectations and taken the NBA by storm after being passed over for the Nos. 1 and 2 sections in the 2020 NBA Draft. Last season’s Rookie of the Year is one of the most exciting players in the league thanks to his incredible vision, his ability to bomb-it-away from beyond the arc, and his fearlessness driving to the basket despite looking like he’s trying to take on defenders that outweigh him by 100 pounds. Few guys finish as smoothly and stupendously around the rim as Ball. And even when he misses, you marvel at how he contorts his body to finish off drives with the most acrobatic layup you’ve ever seen. If we’ve only seen a small percentage of basketball brilliance from Ball so far, he’ll top this list in short order.

Age: 21

Nobody—including a healthy Zion Williamson—comes close to matching the dunking prowess of Anthony Edwards. Nobody in the league elicits more excitement when he has a clear path to the rim. And nobody looks like he’s having as much fun out there as Ant. The Wolves drafted a character who forever leaves us laughing with his answers in press conferences and flashes that huge smile after embarrassing defenders stupid enough to try and block his dunks. But Edwards is obviously more than just one of the best in-game dunkers in the NBA. Averaging 19.3 PPG during his rookie season, I hear those of you who argue he deserved Rookie of the Year honors over LaMelo Ball. Edwards’s debut season in the Association was beyond impressive, but it was even more impressive that his stats and advanced metrics improved significantly in season No. 2. This is a guy who dropped 36 points in his playoff debut. The Timberwolves have something special in Ant Man. 

Age: 22

The backcourt of Darius Garland and Collin Sexton will probably be broken up at some point soon with Sexton the one most likely to be taking his talents elsewhere (unless he takes less money to remain). That’s because Garland is the one the Cavaliers should hitch their wagon to since the point guard has diligently improved his metrics, most notably his PER and true shooting percentages, in each of his three seasons in the league, and is the more well-rounded player compared to Sexton. Coming off his first All-Star campaign, Garland is now the main building block of the Cavs young core and is trending to become one of the five best point guards in the NBA. The Cavs are primed to become a consistent playoff team this upcoming season as Garland continues to take his game to the next level. 

Age: 22

Some will argue against Williamson’s placement on this list, seeing as how he missed the entire 2021-2022 season and has only played 85 total games across his three-year career thus far. If worries about his durability and commitment to being in shape are enough for you to push him down this list, it would be hard to argue against you. But what can’t be denied is the production Williamson brings when he is on the floor. 25.7 PPG and 7 RPG on 60% shooting from the field have been his averages so far in his career, proving to be the most dominant paint scoring presence in the NBA and a highlight reel waiting to happen. There is reason to believe that if he can stay healthy and focused, he could vault even higher up this list and still become one of the most dominant players in the NBA. The New Orleans Pelicans commitment to him with their five-year, $192 million extension they offered him this offseason. They still see value and potential in their 2019 No. 1 overall pick, and so do we.

Age: 23

The 2019-2020 NBA Rookie of the Year has only continued his ascension into superstardom since then, leading the Grizzlies to the playoffs in 2021 after stunning the Golden State Warriors in the play-in round, before making his first All-Star appearance this past season. There isn’t a more electric player in the open floor currently in the NBA than Morant, who is a highlight waiting to happen due to his blinding speed and otherworldly vertical. The Grizzlies made a leap to the top of the Western Conference in 2021, and if Morant didn’t get injured in their series against the Warriors in the conference semifinals, who knows what would have happened. As long as he is in the fold, the Grizzlies should be well-positioned to contend for the foreseeable future.

Age: 23

The numbers for Trae Young alone speak for themselves. There aren’t any other point guards in the NBA pouring in 29 points and 10 assists nightly while being a threat to score from just about anywhere on the floor. And after two consecutive trips to the playoffs, it appears Ice Trae has officially turned Atlanta Hawks into a perennial playoff staple, which speaks to the impact his singular talent has on the rest of the franchise. Once you combine all of those elements with the fact that he is perfectly fine with being the NBA’s villain, it’s the perfect recipe for the makings of one of the most box office players currently in the NBA. Young has quickly ascended to being one of the premier point guards in the NBA, and with the flare he has for the dramatics, and the highlight play, he is one of the league’s biggest draws as well.

Age: 23

Four years into his career, Luka has not only established himself as the best young player in the NBA, but also one of the best players in the league in general who is tracking to be one of the best the league has seen. Already a three-time First Team All-NBA selection and three-time All-Star starter, Doncic has a resume that is Hall of Fame worthy already. After dismantling the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Semifinals to advance to his first Western Conference Finals, the sky’s the limit for Luka. It won’t be long before he is challenging for the title of the NBA’s best player regardless of age.