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SLAMonline releases their list of top 25 players under 25 years-old
- Thread starter RamiTheBullsFan
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derrick rose should be higher than josh smith and arguably higher than rondo
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My favorite teams
Al Horford is low, Stephon Curry is high
STEAL
New member
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I don't like that Brandon Jennings is rated 25th. Behind Wilson Chandler and Eric Gordon? Ehhhh.
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eric gordon is pretty good but jennings was also just a rookie this year
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and Marvin freakin' Williams. hahahahaha
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1) Kevin Durant | SF | OKC Thunder
Age: 21 years, 8 months and 24 days
Years Pro: 3
Durantula earned the highly coveted top spot on this list, but his selection was definitely not a no-brainer. There are two elite players under the age of 25: Dwight Howard and Kevin Durant. Howard is the best low-post defender and rebounder in the League, but Kevin Durant is a much more complete player. He’s starting to rebound and defend very well. Oh and one other thing…KD led the League in scoring this season. I prefer sticking with the Durantula nickname because of his long arms (those same long arms hindered him in the bench press during the pre-Draft workouts) that allow for defensive deflections and exhilarating dunks. Anyway, Durant was the floor leader for a Thunder team that went from third-worst in the League (23 wins) to a 50-32 team that took the Lakers to six games in the first round of the Playoffs. Durant has improved in countless areas of his game, but I’d like to emphasize his ability to get to the line. Durant attempted 10.2 freebies per game, which tied LeBron James for the League lead. The difference between LeBron and Durant with regard to free throws, is that Durant made considerably more than LBJ, at a mark of 90 percent.
2) Dwight Howard | C | Orlando Magic
Age: 24 years, 6 months and 14 days
Years Pro: 6
The Magic have been an elite team in the East for the last three seasons, and it is no coincidence that over that stretch, their starting center was an elite player in the NBA. It’s just like I said. Howard is the best low-post defender and rebounder in the Association. In fact, Superman has led the League in rebounding for three years running, each season leading the next guy by at least one whole rebound per game. In ‘07-08, Howard boarded a superhuman 14.3 per game and has managed to grab 13+ in each of the two seasons since. He’s also led the League in blocks in the last two seasons. Here’s another astonishing stat: Howard has recorded at least 60 double-doubles in five consecutive seasons. That’s in an 82-game schedule. He’s been able to do that, because of his rebounding talent along with his durability. Staying healthy his entire career is impressive considering that the guy is 7-foot and gets banged up pretty well in the post. Aside from Howard’s inside dominance, there are two primary concerns about his game. First of all, Howard’s offensive game is not very diversified, to say the least. All Howard really can do is get deep in the post and dunk or take a short hook shot. He can’t really step back just yet and he’s scoring just as much as he did four years ago. He’s got to add more facets to his offensive approach. Secondly, he faces the same problem that his Superman predecessor continues to face…free throw shooting woes. It’s OK, though. The next two guys are pretty bad free throw shooters too.
TIER 2: Nearly Elite
3) Rajon Rondo | PG | Boston Celtics
Age: 24 years, 3 months and 29 days
Years Pro: 4
Every single season, Rondo has increased his minutes, FG%, points and assists. Unfortunately, the only disappointing area has been the point guard’s free throw shooting, which remains in the low 60s. With that said, Rondo is one of the most exciting players in basketball (especially on the break) and has been a huge part of the Celtics’ success in the last three years. If and when Rondo develops a consistent outside shot, look out! At this point in time, Rondo’s lack of a consistent outside shot allows defenders to sag off of him in a half-court setting, partially negating his speed and ingenuity to go around defenders. It’s pretty amazing though to consider that Rondo recorded 40 doubles-doubles in his ‘09-10 campaign. Tying for eighth in the League in a category that is dominated by big men is a pretty impressive feat for a 24-year-old point guard. Coined “Grand Theft Rondo” by former point guard and current ESPN analyst Mark Jackson, when Rondo steals the ball, it is nearly assured that he’ll convert the turnover in to two points (either with a strong finish or via a nice dish to one of his teammates).
4) Josh Smith | F | Atlanta Hawks
Age: 24 years, 6 months and 17 days
Years Pro: 6
Smith is one of the rare southpaws on this list! After five years of launching three-pointers, Josh Smith finally figured out that he’s most effective sticking to mid-range jumpers, hook shots and electrifying dunks. Although he’s been known to gamble on defense (like Rondo), Smith’s long arms enable him to steal and block shots at an alarming rate. He’s also a solid rebounder for his height. Like Rondo and Howard, Smith is not the guy you want to take a crucial free throw down the stretch. Still, without J-Smoove, the Hawks would not have appeared in three consecutive postseasons.
5) Derrick Rose | PG | Chicago Bulls
Age: 21 years, 8 months and 18 days
Years Pro: 2
Rose is a player, who loves to attack the basket, but in doing so, he’s been able to stay healthy (only missing five games over two years). In his second professional season, Rose took the offensive BULL by the horns as he took over 17.5 shots per game, making an impressive 48.9 percent of them. In fact, Rose was the main reason why the Bulls took the Celtics to seven games in the opening round of the 2009 Playoffs. Over the three games in which Chicago beat Boston, the point guard average 29 ppg, 9 apg and 7.7 rpg. More importantly, each of those three big games resulted in overtime wins against the then-defending champions. He also came up big against the Cavaliers in the first round of the Playoffs in 2010 although the rest of his team didn’t really show up (except Noah and Deng). Averaging over 42 minutes per game and scoring nearly 27 points per contest, Rose did all he could against the overmatched Bulls. Even with Derrick Rose’s heroics, it has never been more obvious that the front office needs to get the man some help. Maybe then, he can raise his assist average from 6 closer to what he’s capable of achieving (at least 8 considering the PG’s good court vision).
6) Tyreke Evans | G | Sacramento Kings
Age: 20 years, 9 months and 3 days
Years Pro: 1
Memphis should not have passed on this hometown favorite. Rather than selecting the eventual Rookie of the Year, the Grizz took a chance on Hasheem Thabeet. That’s ancient history, but there’s little doubt in my mind that Tyreke Evans will be an NBA superstar one day…maybe even as soon as 2012. I see ‘Reke as more of a shooting guard than a point guard, but regardless of the role he assumes, he does exceptionally well. You want points? He’s your man. If you want him to set up a guy for an easy score, he’s also the guy. At this point in his career, what makes Evans so good is his ability to absorb contact while going to the basket. This also helps Evans’ passing game (that’s right…Daunte Cullpepper isn’t the only QB in Sacramento these days) in that the opposing defenders are drawn to covering him and away from the men they should be guarding. As the defenders leave to crowd Evans, outside shooters are open for him to find. Now that Kevin Martin has been traded, Geoff Petrie has shown that he’s counting on Evans to be the franchise player. In time, I thoroughly trust he can be that player, especially with another high draft pick coming in. This past season, Tyreke became just the fourth rookie in NBA history to average 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game, joining a star-studded list of Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson, and LeBron James. Still, Tyreke’s main weakness is his lack of consistency with his outside shot. How will opponents guard this man if he can scorch them from the outside, inside and everywhere in
7) Monta Ellis | SG | Golden State Warriors
Age: 24 years, 7 months and 27 days
Years Pro: 5
Monta has been the best player on the Golden State Warriors for some time now though Stephen Curry is starting to give him a run for his money. Although Monta’s on the struggling Warriors, he is too talented to place lower than seventh. At this point in time, he possesses the second best offensive game of anyone on this list (Durant is clearly No. 1 in that department). Ellis can score in a plethora of ways, which include but are not limited to fast break points, mid-range jump shots and three-pointers. He’ll even shoot from the tunnel though those shots won’t be accounted for on the scoreboard or stat sheet. The 6-3 guard also fills the stat sheet with over 5 assists per game along with 4 rebounds per contest. What’s not to like about this guy’s game? Well, Ellis turns the ball over 3.8 times per game (that leads the League). He’s also not a very good defender (despite what his high steal averages would suggest) which hurts worse for a shooting guard, who typically has to guard the opponent’s best scorer. In addition, Ellis is an inefficient scorer. He averages 25.5 ppg on 22 field goal attempts per game. By comparison, Dirk Nowitzki only needs 18.5 shots per game to get to his average of 25. Durant takes 20.3 FGs per game, and he sports a 30-point average. Finally, whether it’s a moped or a basketball injury, Monta’s slim frame is very injury-prone.
8 ) Al Horford | F/C | Atlanta Hawks
Age: 24 years, 0 months and 19 days
Years Pro: 3
Al Horford plays like a veteran, regularly making smart decisions and rarely turning the ball over. The two-time NCAA Champion has really perfected his mid-range jump shot since coming in to the League three years ago. That mid-range jumper is pretty automatic like that of LaMarcus Aldridge, but there are two things that separate those guys. Horford’s superior rebounding ability and overall physicality catapult him above and beyond Aldridge.
9) LaMarcus Aldridge | PF | Portland Trail Blazers
Age: 24 years, 11 months and 3 days
Years Pro: 4
Aldridge and longtime T25-U25 mainstay, Brandon Roy (he’s since graduated from the list and is no longer eligible), have headed a strong youth movement in Portland. Honestly, B. Roy has been THE guy, but Aldridge is the Robin to Roy’s Batman or the Barney to his Fred, if you prefer. As mentioned earlier, this power forward has a killer mid-range shot, but there are countless concerns about his lack of physicality across all facets of the game. I think building muscle can only help him, but for Aldridge, improving his inside play will take more of a mental effort than anything else.
10) Andrew Bynum | C | L.A. Lakers
Age: 22 years, 7 months and 26 days
Years Pro: 5
Andrew Bynum is an absolute beast down low. There’s no getting around that. There’s also no getting around Bynum’s all-too common injury history. He’s missed an average of 32 games over each of the last three seasons. If not for durability concerns, Andrew Bynum would surely be on this list’s top 5. Injuries aside, this 7-footer is still only 22 years old. If he can remain healthy and that’s a big IF, then his future is very, very bright!
11) Russell Westbrook | PG | OKC Thunder
Age: 21 years, 7 months and 10 days
Years Pro: 2
Westbrook shoots a horrible percentage from the field and turns the ball over way too much for a point guard. Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, Westbrook is a tremendous player, who really seems to be improving on his shooting…though it still has a ways to go. Put simply, he is Rondo Jr. Like Rajon Rondo, Westbrook is an extraordinary rebounder (for a PG), an innovative passer, and one of the best at running a fast break. I can’t help but wonder how much better of a shooter Westbrook would be today if he had stayed at UCLA for one more year. Still, I think he learned a lot from all the losing his team incurred during his rookie season. This past season, Westbrook, along with the Durantula (KD, if you prefer), spearheaded a fairy-tale season in which the 23-win Thunder transformed themselves in to a 50-win team, worthy of giving the Lakers fits in the Playoffs’ opening round.
12) Stephen Curry | G | Golden State Warriors
Age: 22 years, 3 months and 8 days
Years Pro: 1
Curry and teammate/list-mate Monta Ellis should throw a decadent feast. They should invite Rajon Rondo, Lou Williams and Shaun Livingston (my all-time favorite player who unfortunately fell short of making the list…way short). Why not invite the person atop this list as well? Skinny jokes aside, let’s get back to some substance. Like Evans, there was a lot of talk about Curry’s true position. I’m pretty sure the former Davidson standout put that issue to bed. He’s a point guard! As most rookies do, Curry turned the ball over a lot. But as the season progressed, Curry’s assists went through the roof. He sure did jack up a lot of treys last season, but Golden State is glad he did. The man ranked fourth-best in 3PT% among players with at least 200 attempts. He’s also a thief, using his long arms to place third in the League in steals, behind two guys who are both on this list (teammate Monta Ellis and Rajon Rondo). Also rare for a rookie, Curry placed in the top 10 in the League in FT% at a clip of 88.5.
13) Rudy *** | SF | Memphis Grizzlies
Age: 23 years, 10 months and 5 days
Years Pro: 4
Like this list’s top spot holder, *** hails from the Washington DC area. He made a huge offensive improvement from his rookie season to his second NBA season. That was three years ago. Since, however, Rudy *** has been stuck on star level (around 19 and 20 ppg). Many including myself would love to see Rudy *** take that next step (to superstardom) like Durant was able to do this season. So far, *** has been unable to put the Grizzlies on his back and march them to the Playoffs. Still, I have to say that his offensive consistency, for the last three years, is a nice sight. He also logs nearly 40 minutes per game, but doesn’t commit many turnovers. Last season, the Grizz made huge improvements. While many have attributed last season’s improvements to the addition of Zach Randolph, it’s at least a step in the direction for ***, who is seen by many as the best player on this team. Rudy *** is a restricted free agent this offseason, so the Grizzlies will have to decide whether or not to match any offers that exceed what they believe *** is truly worth. You can bet at least one team will overspend to try to get him.
14) Brook Lopez | C | New Jersey Nets
Age: 22 years, 2 months and 21 days
Years Pro: 2
The Nets set some records last season. Bad records. Accordingly, the 12-70 Nets only have one player on this list. I seriously believe the Nets would not have even won double-digit games if Brook Lopez was not on their roster. Lopez did not miss a single game and easily led the team in scoring at a clip of 18.8 points per game. He also had a nose for offensive rebounds, in which he placed fifth in the entire league. On the flip side, Lopez is a very average defensive rebounder, but let’s look on the positive side of the coin. Offensive rebounding is an important skill that can allow your team additional opportunities to score. Furthermore, Brook is only 22 years old and is a respectable selling point for the Nets who are trying to convince high-profile free agents to sign with them this offseason.
15) Michael Beasley | SF | Miami Heat
Age: 21 years, 5 months and 13 days
Years Pro: 2
Expectations remain sky high for Michael Beasley who was drafted two years ago after playing just one season with K-State. By the way, Beasley is the second lefty on this list. Anyway, Beasley has not been the strong second presence to Dwyane Wade that many had hoped for. He’s also not a very rebounder in the NBA. Part of his rebounding deficiencies stem from the type of offensive game he employs. Beasley is most comfortable taking mid-range shots rather than working closer to the basket. In each of his two pro seasons, we’ve seen flashes of something special, but Beasley has not been able to put together a full season of strong play. During his rookie year, he started slowly and finished strong. This past season, it was the opposite as Beasley really tailed off from February until the end of the season.
16) Kevin Love | PF | Minnesota Timberwolves
Age: 21 years, 9 months and 15 days
Years Pro: 2
Love makes the second Bruin on this list, which ties the Texas Longhorns and Memphis Tigers. He’s already averaging a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounders per game. In ‘09-10, Love also incorporated a consistent three-point shot in to his offensive repertoire. While Love has played on two miserable Minnesota teams, he’s one of their bright spots. In fact, Jonny Flynn, Corey Brewer, Wayne Ellington and a few others provide some hope though only Love was able to make the list. Minnesota fans are starting to fall in love with this power forward, and he’s only been on the team for two seasons. Although Love only started 22 games last season, expect the 21-year-old to earn a starting gig next season. Then, we will see how spectacular he can truly play.
17) Jeff Green | F | OKC Thunder
Age: 23 years, 9 months and 25 days
Years Pro: 3
Green and Westbrook each had fantasy Februaries (pardon me for my alliteration), as the Thunder went 9-2. He’s a reliable player who is really more of a small forward than power forward because of his size. Green’s solid 15 and 6 were a huge boost to the Thunder all season long, but he did not show up in the Playoffs. Against the Lakers in the opening round, Jeff Green made just 23-70 shots (32.9 percent), couldn’t make threes though he kept trying, and he only had one strong rebounding performance in six games.
18) George Hill | PG | San Antonio Spurs
Age: 24 years, 1 months and 18 days
Years Pro: 2
Hill is way more valuable to the Spurs than his statistics indicate. Hill serves as a safety valve for San Antonio, considering that Tony Parker gets injured from time to time. Even with a healthy Parker, the former IUPUI standout is the perfect fit for a mature team that knows what it’s doing. For only playing in the League two seasons (and not playing a whole lot his rookie season), Hill may possibly have the highest basketball IQ of anyone on this list. He just always seems to make the right decisions on the court. Hill is a good defender and an even better three-point shooter. If not for Hill’s contributions in Games 3, 4 and 6, the Mavericks probably would have beaten the Spurs in the opening round of this past postseason.
19) JR Smith | SG | Denver Nuggets
Age: 24 years, 9 months and 13 days
Years Pro: 6
Smith has shown little progress over six NBA seasons. It’s no secret that he has great athletic ability and a deadly three-pointer when he’s feeling it, but JR Smith still hasn’t learned to play team ball. If the ball goes to him, his teammates are well aware that it may not come back (see Kevin “The Black Hole” McHale). As I alluded to earlier, JR is a very streaky shooter and because he’s not one to turn down a shot, this results in offensive inconsistency. Let’s take his last week of 2009, for example. In Memphis, Smith made only 2-12 shots, but three days later he exploded for 41 points, including 10 three-pointers. Two days after that, he scored 20 but wasn’t very efficient. Finally, he ended the calendar year with 3-12 and 1-9 shooting nights, respectively. Those eight days (five games) are truly a microcosm of JR Smith’s career. He’s hot and cold like that horrible, yet catchy Katy Perry song.
20) OJ Mayo | SG | Memphis Grizzlies
Age: 22 years, 7 months and 17 days
Years Pro: 2
OJ Mayo just may be the best pure shooter on this list. There are a lot of things to like about Mayo. He’s a great three-point shooter (38 percent for two straight seasons), a good free throw shooter, and logs big minutes for his team. In fact, he almost plays as much as his teammate, Rudy ***. Mayo is also very good at getting other players involved. Finally, unlike his time spent at USC, OJ doesn’t constantly need the ball in his hands in order to be effective. He’s become very good at moving without the ball and using screens to get open.
21) Andrea Bargnani | F/C | Toronto Raptors
Age: 24 years, 7 months and 27 days
Years Pro: 4
Bargnani has improved his offensive output and rebounding numbers in each of the last two seasons. Other than Chris Bosh, the former first overall pick was the only consistent offensive performer for Toronto last season (I’m calling you out, Hedo!). For the first time in his career, Bargnani did not have a single bad month. Inconsistency (see JR Smith) used to be this 7-footer’s problem, but it may be a thing of the past for him. He loves to take three-pointers as opposed to posting up. Like Beasley and Aldridge, this may explain why he doesn’t grab more rebounds. Still, Bargnani has been a great three-point shooter over his four-year career, so I don’t see any need for him to abandon those shots anytime soon. If Bosh leaves Toronto and the Raptors are not able to sign a star free agent, Bargnani will have to be THE GUY for Canada’s only remaining team. I don’t think Bargnani is ready to take on the task, but if the opportunity arises, he’ll have to do his best to prove me wrong.
22) Marvin Williams | SF | Atlanta Hawks
Age: 24 years, 0 months and 3 days
Years Pro: 5
Although this former Tar Heel is a 30-minute per game player on a Playoff team, his lack of individual progress is disappointing, to say the least. Maybe it’s unfair being the second overall pick, ahead of CP3 and DWill, but you can bet the Hawks envisioned Williams to be making a bigger impact, especially by his fifth season in the League. Williams shies away from contact and is content to play almost exclusively on the outside. Finally, Marv has been known to disappear in the Playoffs.
TIER 5: The Rest
23) Wilson Chandler | SF | New York Knicks
Age: 23 years, 1 months and 12 days
Years Pro: 3
He’s 6-8 and very athletic for anyone who hasn’t seen him play. Despite playing in a huge media market, Chandler doesn’t get much attention at all, likely because he’s been stuck on the low-achieving Knicks for the last three seasons. Last season’s numbers of 15.3, 5.4 rpg and 2.1 apg were respectable, but I am impressed at Chandler’s FG% improvement from 43 to 48 percent. Chandler did so by taking less threes and improving on his mid-range game. Chandler is a tough guy, but it is a little disconcerting that he’s mixed an extended amount of time due to injury, twice in his three-year NBA career. While the rest of the Knicks are hoping for the arrival of a big-name free agent, Wilson Chandler must appear in court on July 1 because marijuana was found in his car a month ago when he was stopped in Queens. Knicks’ fans have to hope Chandler will be smarter in the future, because he has a really good thing going in NY.
24) Eric Gordon | SG | L.A. Clippers
Age: 21 years, 5 months and 28 days
Years Pro: 2
After being an Indiana Hoosier for only a season, EJ (he’s affectionately referred to as EJ short for Eric Jr…not EG) has been a blessing for the Clippers. He has the rare combined ability to slam it down (he lost to DeRozan in the all-star dunk-in, but EJ is a better in-game dunker than anything else) and drain the three. Also rare for such a young shooting guard, he shoots a very high percentage and rarely turns the ball over. Gordon’s biggest problem is that he’s undersized. Still, he plays feisty defense to make up for the fact that he’s only 6-2. I think LeBron and EJ would be great together if you add in Chris Kaman and a healthy Blake Griffin, but LBJ to the Clippers will be a tough, tough sell. I’m just saying combo of guys can post, drain threes, play the mid-range game, and run the fast break well.
25) Brandon Jennings | PG | Milwaukee Bucks
Age: 20 years, 8 months and 30 days
Years Pro: 1
The Bucks did some big things in 2010, considering the obstacles they were up against. Michael Redd had the worst season of his career and only played in 18 games. The 2005 first overall pick, Andrew Bogut, suffered a dislocated elbow, sprained wrist and broken hand, all on the same play on a fateful Saturday in early April. Even without the sharpshooter, Michael Redd, and the Aussie’s big inside presence, this rookie was there to lead the Reindeers to a 4-2 record over their last six games. During the regular season, Jennings scored 55 points in just his seventh ever NBA game. That feat alone tells you how much potential this lefty has. Unfortunately for BJ, this list, as mentioned in the criteria section, weighs more heavily a player’s consistency in the here and now. He only had two other 30+ games, but he did have a ton of performances in which he just couldn’t buy a bucket. For example, BJ had a 34-point game in Game 1 against the Hawks, followed up by a miserable 3-15 showing. When Milwaukee went up 3-2 in that series, he stunk in the two close-out games, combining for just 6 assists and 10-33 shooting.
Age: 21 years, 8 months and 24 days
Years Pro: 3
Durantula earned the highly coveted top spot on this list, but his selection was definitely not a no-brainer. There are two elite players under the age of 25: Dwight Howard and Kevin Durant. Howard is the best low-post defender and rebounder in the League, but Kevin Durant is a much more complete player. He’s starting to rebound and defend very well. Oh and one other thing…KD led the League in scoring this season. I prefer sticking with the Durantula nickname because of his long arms (those same long arms hindered him in the bench press during the pre-Draft workouts) that allow for defensive deflections and exhilarating dunks. Anyway, Durant was the floor leader for a Thunder team that went from third-worst in the League (23 wins) to a 50-32 team that took the Lakers to six games in the first round of the Playoffs. Durant has improved in countless areas of his game, but I’d like to emphasize his ability to get to the line. Durant attempted 10.2 freebies per game, which tied LeBron James for the League lead. The difference between LeBron and Durant with regard to free throws, is that Durant made considerably more than LBJ, at a mark of 90 percent.
2) Dwight Howard | C | Orlando Magic
Age: 24 years, 6 months and 14 days
Years Pro: 6
The Magic have been an elite team in the East for the last three seasons, and it is no coincidence that over that stretch, their starting center was an elite player in the NBA. It’s just like I said. Howard is the best low-post defender and rebounder in the Association. In fact, Superman has led the League in rebounding for three years running, each season leading the next guy by at least one whole rebound per game. In ‘07-08, Howard boarded a superhuman 14.3 per game and has managed to grab 13+ in each of the two seasons since. He’s also led the League in blocks in the last two seasons. Here’s another astonishing stat: Howard has recorded at least 60 double-doubles in five consecutive seasons. That’s in an 82-game schedule. He’s been able to do that, because of his rebounding talent along with his durability. Staying healthy his entire career is impressive considering that the guy is 7-foot and gets banged up pretty well in the post. Aside from Howard’s inside dominance, there are two primary concerns about his game. First of all, Howard’s offensive game is not very diversified, to say the least. All Howard really can do is get deep in the post and dunk or take a short hook shot. He can’t really step back just yet and he’s scoring just as much as he did four years ago. He’s got to add more facets to his offensive approach. Secondly, he faces the same problem that his Superman predecessor continues to face…free throw shooting woes. It’s OK, though. The next two guys are pretty bad free throw shooters too.
TIER 2: Nearly Elite
3) Rajon Rondo | PG | Boston Celtics
Age: 24 years, 3 months and 29 days
Years Pro: 4
Every single season, Rondo has increased his minutes, FG%, points and assists. Unfortunately, the only disappointing area has been the point guard’s free throw shooting, which remains in the low 60s. With that said, Rondo is one of the most exciting players in basketball (especially on the break) and has been a huge part of the Celtics’ success in the last three years. If and when Rondo develops a consistent outside shot, look out! At this point in time, Rondo’s lack of a consistent outside shot allows defenders to sag off of him in a half-court setting, partially negating his speed and ingenuity to go around defenders. It’s pretty amazing though to consider that Rondo recorded 40 doubles-doubles in his ‘09-10 campaign. Tying for eighth in the League in a category that is dominated by big men is a pretty impressive feat for a 24-year-old point guard. Coined “Grand Theft Rondo” by former point guard and current ESPN analyst Mark Jackson, when Rondo steals the ball, it is nearly assured that he’ll convert the turnover in to two points (either with a strong finish or via a nice dish to one of his teammates).
4) Josh Smith | F | Atlanta Hawks
Age: 24 years, 6 months and 17 days
Years Pro: 6
Smith is one of the rare southpaws on this list! After five years of launching three-pointers, Josh Smith finally figured out that he’s most effective sticking to mid-range jumpers, hook shots and electrifying dunks. Although he’s been known to gamble on defense (like Rondo), Smith’s long arms enable him to steal and block shots at an alarming rate. He’s also a solid rebounder for his height. Like Rondo and Howard, Smith is not the guy you want to take a crucial free throw down the stretch. Still, without J-Smoove, the Hawks would not have appeared in three consecutive postseasons.
5) Derrick Rose | PG | Chicago Bulls
Age: 21 years, 8 months and 18 days
Years Pro: 2
Rose is a player, who loves to attack the basket, but in doing so, he’s been able to stay healthy (only missing five games over two years). In his second professional season, Rose took the offensive BULL by the horns as he took over 17.5 shots per game, making an impressive 48.9 percent of them. In fact, Rose was the main reason why the Bulls took the Celtics to seven games in the opening round of the 2009 Playoffs. Over the three games in which Chicago beat Boston, the point guard average 29 ppg, 9 apg and 7.7 rpg. More importantly, each of those three big games resulted in overtime wins against the then-defending champions. He also came up big against the Cavaliers in the first round of the Playoffs in 2010 although the rest of his team didn’t really show up (except Noah and Deng). Averaging over 42 minutes per game and scoring nearly 27 points per contest, Rose did all he could against the overmatched Bulls. Even with Derrick Rose’s heroics, it has never been more obvious that the front office needs to get the man some help. Maybe then, he can raise his assist average from 6 closer to what he’s capable of achieving (at least 8 considering the PG’s good court vision).
6) Tyreke Evans | G | Sacramento Kings
Age: 20 years, 9 months and 3 days
Years Pro: 1
Memphis should not have passed on this hometown favorite. Rather than selecting the eventual Rookie of the Year, the Grizz took a chance on Hasheem Thabeet. That’s ancient history, but there’s little doubt in my mind that Tyreke Evans will be an NBA superstar one day…maybe even as soon as 2012. I see ‘Reke as more of a shooting guard than a point guard, but regardless of the role he assumes, he does exceptionally well. You want points? He’s your man. If you want him to set up a guy for an easy score, he’s also the guy. At this point in his career, what makes Evans so good is his ability to absorb contact while going to the basket. This also helps Evans’ passing game (that’s right…Daunte Cullpepper isn’t the only QB in Sacramento these days) in that the opposing defenders are drawn to covering him and away from the men they should be guarding. As the defenders leave to crowd Evans, outside shooters are open for him to find. Now that Kevin Martin has been traded, Geoff Petrie has shown that he’s counting on Evans to be the franchise player. In time, I thoroughly trust he can be that player, especially with another high draft pick coming in. This past season, Tyreke became just the fourth rookie in NBA history to average 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game, joining a star-studded list of Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson, and LeBron James. Still, Tyreke’s main weakness is his lack of consistency with his outside shot. How will opponents guard this man if he can scorch them from the outside, inside and everywhere in
7) Monta Ellis | SG | Golden State Warriors
Age: 24 years, 7 months and 27 days
Years Pro: 5
Monta has been the best player on the Golden State Warriors for some time now though Stephen Curry is starting to give him a run for his money. Although Monta’s on the struggling Warriors, he is too talented to place lower than seventh. At this point in time, he possesses the second best offensive game of anyone on this list (Durant is clearly No. 1 in that department). Ellis can score in a plethora of ways, which include but are not limited to fast break points, mid-range jump shots and three-pointers. He’ll even shoot from the tunnel though those shots won’t be accounted for on the scoreboard or stat sheet. The 6-3 guard also fills the stat sheet with over 5 assists per game along with 4 rebounds per contest. What’s not to like about this guy’s game? Well, Ellis turns the ball over 3.8 times per game (that leads the League). He’s also not a very good defender (despite what his high steal averages would suggest) which hurts worse for a shooting guard, who typically has to guard the opponent’s best scorer. In addition, Ellis is an inefficient scorer. He averages 25.5 ppg on 22 field goal attempts per game. By comparison, Dirk Nowitzki only needs 18.5 shots per game to get to his average of 25. Durant takes 20.3 FGs per game, and he sports a 30-point average. Finally, whether it’s a moped or a basketball injury, Monta’s slim frame is very injury-prone.
8 ) Al Horford | F/C | Atlanta Hawks
Age: 24 years, 0 months and 19 days
Years Pro: 3
Al Horford plays like a veteran, regularly making smart decisions and rarely turning the ball over. The two-time NCAA Champion has really perfected his mid-range jump shot since coming in to the League three years ago. That mid-range jumper is pretty automatic like that of LaMarcus Aldridge, but there are two things that separate those guys. Horford’s superior rebounding ability and overall physicality catapult him above and beyond Aldridge.
9) LaMarcus Aldridge | PF | Portland Trail Blazers
Age: 24 years, 11 months and 3 days
Years Pro: 4
Aldridge and longtime T25-U25 mainstay, Brandon Roy (he’s since graduated from the list and is no longer eligible), have headed a strong youth movement in Portland. Honestly, B. Roy has been THE guy, but Aldridge is the Robin to Roy’s Batman or the Barney to his Fred, if you prefer. As mentioned earlier, this power forward has a killer mid-range shot, but there are countless concerns about his lack of physicality across all facets of the game. I think building muscle can only help him, but for Aldridge, improving his inside play will take more of a mental effort than anything else.
10) Andrew Bynum | C | L.A. Lakers
Age: 22 years, 7 months and 26 days
Years Pro: 5
Andrew Bynum is an absolute beast down low. There’s no getting around that. There’s also no getting around Bynum’s all-too common injury history. He’s missed an average of 32 games over each of the last three seasons. If not for durability concerns, Andrew Bynum would surely be on this list’s top 5. Injuries aside, this 7-footer is still only 22 years old. If he can remain healthy and that’s a big IF, then his future is very, very bright!
11) Russell Westbrook | PG | OKC Thunder
Age: 21 years, 7 months and 10 days
Years Pro: 2
Westbrook shoots a horrible percentage from the field and turns the ball over way too much for a point guard. Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, Westbrook is a tremendous player, who really seems to be improving on his shooting…though it still has a ways to go. Put simply, he is Rondo Jr. Like Rajon Rondo, Westbrook is an extraordinary rebounder (for a PG), an innovative passer, and one of the best at running a fast break. I can’t help but wonder how much better of a shooter Westbrook would be today if he had stayed at UCLA for one more year. Still, I think he learned a lot from all the losing his team incurred during his rookie season. This past season, Westbrook, along with the Durantula (KD, if you prefer), spearheaded a fairy-tale season in which the 23-win Thunder transformed themselves in to a 50-win team, worthy of giving the Lakers fits in the Playoffs’ opening round.
12) Stephen Curry | G | Golden State Warriors
Age: 22 years, 3 months and 8 days
Years Pro: 1
Curry and teammate/list-mate Monta Ellis should throw a decadent feast. They should invite Rajon Rondo, Lou Williams and Shaun Livingston (my all-time favorite player who unfortunately fell short of making the list…way short). Why not invite the person atop this list as well? Skinny jokes aside, let’s get back to some substance. Like Evans, there was a lot of talk about Curry’s true position. I’m pretty sure the former Davidson standout put that issue to bed. He’s a point guard! As most rookies do, Curry turned the ball over a lot. But as the season progressed, Curry’s assists went through the roof. He sure did jack up a lot of treys last season, but Golden State is glad he did. The man ranked fourth-best in 3PT% among players with at least 200 attempts. He’s also a thief, using his long arms to place third in the League in steals, behind two guys who are both on this list (teammate Monta Ellis and Rajon Rondo). Also rare for a rookie, Curry placed in the top 10 in the League in FT% at a clip of 88.5.
13) Rudy *** | SF | Memphis Grizzlies
Age: 23 years, 10 months and 5 days
Years Pro: 4
Like this list’s top spot holder, *** hails from the Washington DC area. He made a huge offensive improvement from his rookie season to his second NBA season. That was three years ago. Since, however, Rudy *** has been stuck on star level (around 19 and 20 ppg). Many including myself would love to see Rudy *** take that next step (to superstardom) like Durant was able to do this season. So far, *** has been unable to put the Grizzlies on his back and march them to the Playoffs. Still, I have to say that his offensive consistency, for the last three years, is a nice sight. He also logs nearly 40 minutes per game, but doesn’t commit many turnovers. Last season, the Grizz made huge improvements. While many have attributed last season’s improvements to the addition of Zach Randolph, it’s at least a step in the direction for ***, who is seen by many as the best player on this team. Rudy *** is a restricted free agent this offseason, so the Grizzlies will have to decide whether or not to match any offers that exceed what they believe *** is truly worth. You can bet at least one team will overspend to try to get him.
14) Brook Lopez | C | New Jersey Nets
Age: 22 years, 2 months and 21 days
Years Pro: 2
The Nets set some records last season. Bad records. Accordingly, the 12-70 Nets only have one player on this list. I seriously believe the Nets would not have even won double-digit games if Brook Lopez was not on their roster. Lopez did not miss a single game and easily led the team in scoring at a clip of 18.8 points per game. He also had a nose for offensive rebounds, in which he placed fifth in the entire league. On the flip side, Lopez is a very average defensive rebounder, but let’s look on the positive side of the coin. Offensive rebounding is an important skill that can allow your team additional opportunities to score. Furthermore, Brook is only 22 years old and is a respectable selling point for the Nets who are trying to convince high-profile free agents to sign with them this offseason.
15) Michael Beasley | SF | Miami Heat
Age: 21 years, 5 months and 13 days
Years Pro: 2
Expectations remain sky high for Michael Beasley who was drafted two years ago after playing just one season with K-State. By the way, Beasley is the second lefty on this list. Anyway, Beasley has not been the strong second presence to Dwyane Wade that many had hoped for. He’s also not a very rebounder in the NBA. Part of his rebounding deficiencies stem from the type of offensive game he employs. Beasley is most comfortable taking mid-range shots rather than working closer to the basket. In each of his two pro seasons, we’ve seen flashes of something special, but Beasley has not been able to put together a full season of strong play. During his rookie year, he started slowly and finished strong. This past season, it was the opposite as Beasley really tailed off from February until the end of the season.
16) Kevin Love | PF | Minnesota Timberwolves
Age: 21 years, 9 months and 15 days
Years Pro: 2
Love makes the second Bruin on this list, which ties the Texas Longhorns and Memphis Tigers. He’s already averaging a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounders per game. In ‘09-10, Love also incorporated a consistent three-point shot in to his offensive repertoire. While Love has played on two miserable Minnesota teams, he’s one of their bright spots. In fact, Jonny Flynn, Corey Brewer, Wayne Ellington and a few others provide some hope though only Love was able to make the list. Minnesota fans are starting to fall in love with this power forward, and he’s only been on the team for two seasons. Although Love only started 22 games last season, expect the 21-year-old to earn a starting gig next season. Then, we will see how spectacular he can truly play.
17) Jeff Green | F | OKC Thunder
Age: 23 years, 9 months and 25 days
Years Pro: 3
Green and Westbrook each had fantasy Februaries (pardon me for my alliteration), as the Thunder went 9-2. He’s a reliable player who is really more of a small forward than power forward because of his size. Green’s solid 15 and 6 were a huge boost to the Thunder all season long, but he did not show up in the Playoffs. Against the Lakers in the opening round, Jeff Green made just 23-70 shots (32.9 percent), couldn’t make threes though he kept trying, and he only had one strong rebounding performance in six games.
18) George Hill | PG | San Antonio Spurs
Age: 24 years, 1 months and 18 days
Years Pro: 2
Hill is way more valuable to the Spurs than his statistics indicate. Hill serves as a safety valve for San Antonio, considering that Tony Parker gets injured from time to time. Even with a healthy Parker, the former IUPUI standout is the perfect fit for a mature team that knows what it’s doing. For only playing in the League two seasons (and not playing a whole lot his rookie season), Hill may possibly have the highest basketball IQ of anyone on this list. He just always seems to make the right decisions on the court. Hill is a good defender and an even better three-point shooter. If not for Hill’s contributions in Games 3, 4 and 6, the Mavericks probably would have beaten the Spurs in the opening round of this past postseason.
19) JR Smith | SG | Denver Nuggets
Age: 24 years, 9 months and 13 days
Years Pro: 6
Smith has shown little progress over six NBA seasons. It’s no secret that he has great athletic ability and a deadly three-pointer when he’s feeling it, but JR Smith still hasn’t learned to play team ball. If the ball goes to him, his teammates are well aware that it may not come back (see Kevin “The Black Hole” McHale). As I alluded to earlier, JR is a very streaky shooter and because he’s not one to turn down a shot, this results in offensive inconsistency. Let’s take his last week of 2009, for example. In Memphis, Smith made only 2-12 shots, but three days later he exploded for 41 points, including 10 three-pointers. Two days after that, he scored 20 but wasn’t very efficient. Finally, he ended the calendar year with 3-12 and 1-9 shooting nights, respectively. Those eight days (five games) are truly a microcosm of JR Smith’s career. He’s hot and cold like that horrible, yet catchy Katy Perry song.
20) OJ Mayo | SG | Memphis Grizzlies
Age: 22 years, 7 months and 17 days
Years Pro: 2
OJ Mayo just may be the best pure shooter on this list. There are a lot of things to like about Mayo. He’s a great three-point shooter (38 percent for two straight seasons), a good free throw shooter, and logs big minutes for his team. In fact, he almost plays as much as his teammate, Rudy ***. Mayo is also very good at getting other players involved. Finally, unlike his time spent at USC, OJ doesn’t constantly need the ball in his hands in order to be effective. He’s become very good at moving without the ball and using screens to get open.
21) Andrea Bargnani | F/C | Toronto Raptors
Age: 24 years, 7 months and 27 days
Years Pro: 4
Bargnani has improved his offensive output and rebounding numbers in each of the last two seasons. Other than Chris Bosh, the former first overall pick was the only consistent offensive performer for Toronto last season (I’m calling you out, Hedo!). For the first time in his career, Bargnani did not have a single bad month. Inconsistency (see JR Smith) used to be this 7-footer’s problem, but it may be a thing of the past for him. He loves to take three-pointers as opposed to posting up. Like Beasley and Aldridge, this may explain why he doesn’t grab more rebounds. Still, Bargnani has been a great three-point shooter over his four-year career, so I don’t see any need for him to abandon those shots anytime soon. If Bosh leaves Toronto and the Raptors are not able to sign a star free agent, Bargnani will have to be THE GUY for Canada’s only remaining team. I don’t think Bargnani is ready to take on the task, but if the opportunity arises, he’ll have to do his best to prove me wrong.
22) Marvin Williams | SF | Atlanta Hawks
Age: 24 years, 0 months and 3 days
Years Pro: 5
Although this former Tar Heel is a 30-minute per game player on a Playoff team, his lack of individual progress is disappointing, to say the least. Maybe it’s unfair being the second overall pick, ahead of CP3 and DWill, but you can bet the Hawks envisioned Williams to be making a bigger impact, especially by his fifth season in the League. Williams shies away from contact and is content to play almost exclusively on the outside. Finally, Marv has been known to disappear in the Playoffs.
TIER 5: The Rest
23) Wilson Chandler | SF | New York Knicks
Age: 23 years, 1 months and 12 days
Years Pro: 3
He’s 6-8 and very athletic for anyone who hasn’t seen him play. Despite playing in a huge media market, Chandler doesn’t get much attention at all, likely because he’s been stuck on the low-achieving Knicks for the last three seasons. Last season’s numbers of 15.3, 5.4 rpg and 2.1 apg were respectable, but I am impressed at Chandler’s FG% improvement from 43 to 48 percent. Chandler did so by taking less threes and improving on his mid-range game. Chandler is a tough guy, but it is a little disconcerting that he’s mixed an extended amount of time due to injury, twice in his three-year NBA career. While the rest of the Knicks are hoping for the arrival of a big-name free agent, Wilson Chandler must appear in court on July 1 because marijuana was found in his car a month ago when he was stopped in Queens. Knicks’ fans have to hope Chandler will be smarter in the future, because he has a really good thing going in NY.
24) Eric Gordon | SG | L.A. Clippers
Age: 21 years, 5 months and 28 days
Years Pro: 2
After being an Indiana Hoosier for only a season, EJ (he’s affectionately referred to as EJ short for Eric Jr…not EG) has been a blessing for the Clippers. He has the rare combined ability to slam it down (he lost to DeRozan in the all-star dunk-in, but EJ is a better in-game dunker than anything else) and drain the three. Also rare for such a young shooting guard, he shoots a very high percentage and rarely turns the ball over. Gordon’s biggest problem is that he’s undersized. Still, he plays feisty defense to make up for the fact that he’s only 6-2. I think LeBron and EJ would be great together if you add in Chris Kaman and a healthy Blake Griffin, but LBJ to the Clippers will be a tough, tough sell. I’m just saying combo of guys can post, drain threes, play the mid-range game, and run the fast break well.
25) Brandon Jennings | PG | Milwaukee Bucks
Age: 20 years, 8 months and 30 days
Years Pro: 1
The Bucks did some big things in 2010, considering the obstacles they were up against. Michael Redd had the worst season of his career and only played in 18 games. The 2005 first overall pick, Andrew Bogut, suffered a dislocated elbow, sprained wrist and broken hand, all on the same play on a fateful Saturday in early April. Even without the sharpshooter, Michael Redd, and the Aussie’s big inside presence, this rookie was there to lead the Reindeers to a 4-2 record over their last six games. During the regular season, Jennings scored 55 points in just his seventh ever NBA game. That feat alone tells you how much potential this lefty has. Unfortunately for BJ, this list, as mentioned in the criteria section, weighs more heavily a player’s consistency in the here and now. He only had two other 30+ games, but he did have a ton of performances in which he just couldn’t buy a bucket. For example, BJ had a 34-point game in Game 1 against the Hawks, followed up by a miserable 3-15 showing. When Milwaukee went up 3-2 in that series, he stunk in the two close-out games, combining for just 6 assists and 10-33 shooting.
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MARVIN WILLIAMS??????
lopez and mayo would be higher if their teams didnt suck
lopez and mayo would be higher if their teams didnt suck
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This list is a joke. Beasley is way too high and guys like Love and Lopez are too low. I also think they should bring how young they are into the equation. I would put Evans and Rose above Smith and Rondo because they are a few years younger. Rondo at 21 was nowhere near Rose. Right now Rondo is better but i still think Rose should be ranked higher because of the age difference.
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jr smith shouldnt be on their either
he's been in the league 6 years
he's been in the league 6 years
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Westbrook is too low as well.
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here's mine:
1) Kevin Durant | SF | OKC Thunder
Age: 21
2) Dwight Howard | C | Orlando Magic
Age: 24
3) Derrick Rose | PG | Chicago Bulls
Age: 21
4) Tyreke Evans | G | Sacramento Kings
Age: 20
5) Russell Westbrook | PG | OKC Thunder
Age: 21
6) Josh Smith | F | Atlanta Hawks
Age: 24
7) Al Horford | F/C | Atlanta Hawks
Age: 24
8 ) Brandon Jennings | PG | Milwaukee Bucks
Age: 20 years
9) Stephen Curry | G | Golden State Warriors
Age: 22
10) LaMarcus Aldridge | PF | Portland Trail Blazers
Age: 24
11) Rajon Rondo | PG | Boston Celtics
Age: 24
12) Rudy *** | SF | Memphis Grizzlies
Age: 23
13) Monta Ellis | SG | Golden State Warriors
Age: 24
14) Brook Lopez | C | New Jersey Nets
Age: 22
15) Andrew Bynum | C | L.A. Lakers
Age: 22
16) Jeff Green | F | OKC Thunder
Age: 23
17) Kevin Love | PF | Minnesota Timberwolves
Age: 21
18) OJ Mayo | SG | Memphis Grizzlies
Age: 22
19) Greg Oden
Age: 68
20) Michael Beasley | SF | Miami Heat
Age: 21
21) George Hill | PG | San Antonio Spurs
Age: 24
22) Andrea Bargnani | F/C | Toronto Raptors
Age: 24
23) JR Smith | SG | Denver Nuggets
Age: 24
24) Eric Gordon | SG | L.A. Clippers
Age: 21
25) Marvin Williams | SF | Atlanta Hawks
Age: 24
1) Kevin Durant | SF | OKC Thunder
Age: 21
2) Dwight Howard | C | Orlando Magic
Age: 24
3) Derrick Rose | PG | Chicago Bulls
Age: 21
4) Tyreke Evans | G | Sacramento Kings
Age: 20
5) Russell Westbrook | PG | OKC Thunder
Age: 21
6) Josh Smith | F | Atlanta Hawks
Age: 24
7) Al Horford | F/C | Atlanta Hawks
Age: 24
8 ) Brandon Jennings | PG | Milwaukee Bucks
Age: 20 years
9) Stephen Curry | G | Golden State Warriors
Age: 22
10) LaMarcus Aldridge | PF | Portland Trail Blazers
Age: 24
11) Rajon Rondo | PG | Boston Celtics
Age: 24
12) Rudy *** | SF | Memphis Grizzlies
Age: 23
13) Monta Ellis | SG | Golden State Warriors
Age: 24
14) Brook Lopez | C | New Jersey Nets
Age: 22
15) Andrew Bynum | C | L.A. Lakers
Age: 22
16) Jeff Green | F | OKC Thunder
Age: 23
17) Kevin Love | PF | Minnesota Timberwolves
Age: 21
18) OJ Mayo | SG | Memphis Grizzlies
Age: 22
19) Greg Oden
Age: 68
20) Michael Beasley | SF | Miami Heat
Age: 21
21) George Hill | PG | San Antonio Spurs
Age: 24
22) Andrea Bargnani | F/C | Toronto Raptors
Age: 24
23) JR Smith | SG | Denver Nuggets
Age: 24
24) Eric Gordon | SG | L.A. Clippers
Age: 21
25) Marvin Williams | SF | Atlanta Hawks
Age: 24
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not bad list